Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Living with a large reduction in permited loading by using a hydrograph-controlled release scheme.

Paul A Conrad1, William P Martello, Nancy R Sullins

  • 1U.S. Geological Survey, 720 Gracern Road, Columbia, SC. 29210, USA. pconrads@usgs.gov

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
|March 7, 2003
PubMed
Summary

A variable loading scheme was developed for the Myrtle Beach area to meet Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements. This approach allows increased assimilative capacity during high streamflow, ensuring water quality standards are met without prohibitive costs.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same journal

Environmental assessment of heavy metal contamination from petroleum industry wastes across environmental media in the Idku coastal zone, Egypt.

Environmental monitoring and assessment·2026
Same journal

Influence of land use on soil properties and organic carbon pool distribution in deep soil layers of subtropical India.

Environmental monitoring and assessment·2026
Same journal

Simple endpoint PCR assay using portable devices for Escherichia coli quantification in water samples.

Environmental monitoring and assessment·2026
Same journal

Integrated trend and risk assessment of hydrochemical dynamics and discharge-pollution interactions in the Chirchik River Basin (1991-2021).

Environmental monitoring and assessment·2026
Same journal

Integrated geochemical and PAH analysis with benthic foraminifera to assess environmental quality in a tropical estuary.

Environmental monitoring and assessment·2026
Same journal

Temporal dynamics of forest cooling efficiency: A multi-year remote sensing perspective for climate-adapted urban planning.

Environmental monitoring and assessment·2026

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Water Quality Management
  • Wastewater Treatment

Background:

  • The Pee Dee, Waccamaw, and Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway system near Myrtle Beach faces a 60% reduction mandate for point-source loading due to ammonia and biochemical oxygen demand.
  • South Carolina's "0.1 rule" limits cumulative dissolved oxygen impact to 0.1 mg/L for permitted dischargers in waters with naturally low dissolved oxygen.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a variable loading scheme for municipal water-reclamation facilities to accommodate rapid growth near Myrtle Beach.
  • To enable dischargers to utilize increased assimilative capacity during high streamflow while complying with TMDL and "0.1 rule" regulations.

Main Methods:

  • Established an extensive real-time data-collection network in the Waccamaw and Pee Dee River watershed for continuous water quality and streamflow measurements.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Calibrated and validated dynamic BRANCH/BLTM models to simulate water quality and tidal dynamics.
  • Analyzed assimilative capacities for various streamflows and established total loadings for three streamflow levels.

    • Main Results:

    • Model simulations indicated that the variable loading scheme resulted in less than a 0.1 mg/L reduction in dissolved oxygen.
    • Redesigned the real-time network to monitor streamflow and dissolved oxygen "sags" within the study area.
    • Demonstrated that permit holders can implement restrictive limits without significant capital expenditure or lengthy appeals.

    Conclusions:

    • A variable loading scheme effectively balances wastewater treatment facility needs with stringent water quality regulations.
    • The study provides a practical framework for managing water quality in dynamic estuarine systems facing development pressures.
    • Real-time monitoring and dynamic modeling are crucial for optimizing wastewater discharge strategies and ensuring regulatory compliance.