Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Committee Chair

Roger C. Viadero, Jr.

Abstract

In order to reduce pollutant loading nationwide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), working in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is in the process of developing effluent management guidelines and standards for private and public aquaculture operations. The purpose of this study is to provide industry, State, and Federal stakeholders with baseline effluent water quality data specific to West Virginia flow-through facilities, in an effort to help concerned parties make informed decisions regarding impending regulations and to examine the potential to increase production, based on effluent pollutant load and permit limitations.;WVU-CEE researchers examined both large and small-scale facilities in this project with varying water sources, rearing capacities, and effluent treatment methods. All facilities reared Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout). The influent and effluent of the six anonymous facilities were monitored approximately every six weeks for flow, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, total ammonia nitrogen, nitrite, nitrate, and total phosphorus. Using flow rate and pollutant concentrations, mass loadings were then calculated for each constituent.;Average concentrations and mass loadings of regulated parameters were within acceptable ranges as well as anticipated regulatory limits. Potential for increased production exist at each facility based on effluent pollutant load and permit limitation.

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