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NPDES Reporting
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TMWRF
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Sparks Marina Lake Park (SMLP)
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Wildcreek Golf Course
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Sparks Parks Irrigation
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University of Nevada, Reno Farm Irrigation
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River Water Quality Analysis
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Chemical Analysis
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Continuous Analysis of Temperature, pH, DO, EC, from 7 sites on the Truckee River
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Computer Model Development
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Ground Water Analysis
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Process Control
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In order for the plant to operate in a cost-effectvie manner, data are required to assess the water quality as it goes through the treatment process. Many types of tests are performed including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended solids. The daily testing may be done many times in a day so that the correct amount of chemical additives are applied at each processing step. Process control test for this purpose amount to approximately 39,000 analyses.
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Biosolids Quality Reporting
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The wastewater facility disposes of the biosolids collected through the treatment of the sewage at a farm in Gerlach, Nevada. A permit for this disposal requires the lab to collect and analyze samples 6 times a year. The analysis describes the metal, phosphorus, and nitrogen concentration in the biosolids. This has resulted in 120 tests.
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Environmental Control
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The analysis of wastewater entering the facility from the commercial and industrial community impacts the cost of operating the facility. High strength nutrient rich waste may cost more to treat than domestic sewage. The laboratory assesses the strength of this waste so the proper operation can be performed and the commercial establishment can be charged for the extra effort in treatment.
The industrial community concerns the facility in a different way. The facility runs biologically. The toxic chemicals from the processing of metal products or any other industry can impair or kill the biological system. The lab routinely obtains samples from these communities to assess their quality. Last year the lab made approximately 2270 analyses.
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Sparks Marina Park Analysis
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The lab participated with the establishment of a permit for the dewatering of the Sparks Marina Lake. As part of that permit the lab collected weekly samples from various sites near the lake and river. During this annual reporting period, 247 samples were collected on which approximately 3100 analyses were performed.
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Effluent Toxicity Testing
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In addition to quantifying the chemicals that leave the facility, the lab tests the suitability of the wastewater for the maintenance of biological populations in the river. Once a month animals, both fish and fragile little invertebrates, are incubated in our wastewater to observe their survival. In the many yearst that the lab has tested the toxicity of the effluent, the test has not resulted in failure.
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Snail Control
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Nitrogen control at the facility has been hampered by infestation of snails that eat the biomass responsible for the conversion of ammonia to nitrate. The impact of the snails has added a terrible burden to the operation of the facility. Continual analysis of the nitrogen species for the operators has accounted for approximately 26,380 tests.
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Modeling
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Consultants have developed computer models that predict water quality when different scenarios are suggested. This model must have real data periodically to demonstrate that it can reproduce actual situations. The laboratory collects data on the river at each bridge all the way to Pyramid Lake. The importance of checking the model is reflected in the fact that the State of Nevada Division of Environmental Protection uses this modal to set limits at the wastewater facility. Slight manipulations of the model could cost the cities millions of dollars in operational and capital changes in order to meet the computer-generated limits. The laboratory made 1600 analyses for this model year alone.
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Continuous River Monitoring
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TMWRF maintains YSI monitoring units in the Truckee River at nine locations. These units give us the condition of the water for the propagation of fish and all that they eat. The units collect data once an hour on a daily basis.
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