Association of Central Oklahoma Governments

PROJECT PURPOSE

This project is a basin-wide approach for a wasteload allocation study on the North Canadian River in Canadian, Oklahoma, and Pottawatomie Counties in central Oklahoma. Similar to a previous ACOG wasteload allocation study on the Canadian River to the south, the study will develop a mathematical model (WASP) that will accurately simulate water quality in the streams under critical conditions. This model will then be used to generate simulations for the purpose of determining appropriate permit limits for point source discharges on the river. As in the previous Canadian River study, the participants in the study will be the municipalities which are dischargers to the North Canadian River. This includes Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Del City, Choctaw, Harrah, El Reno, Yukon, and Shawnee. Most of these entities are members of ACOG, a substate 208 agency. Associated entities which will review the project are the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

EVIDENCE

According to the ODEQ database, a minimum of eight municipalities discharge effluent into the North Canadian River between El Reno and Shawnee, a distance of approximately 100 miles. In order to maintain minimum water quality standards, one must have a calibrated model to determine the effluent load on the river and the ability of the river to absorb the effluent. A calibrated model will also determine the individual discharge water quality that each municipality must attain.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Newly emerging technology is showing that one can monitor issues like coronavirus impact utilizing sewage effluent. All communities utilizing municipal waste treatment can benefit from an approach such as mandating coronavirus monitoring at the treatment plant during pandemics. The watershed model could be useful in simulating the fate of coronavirus in the effluent and the river. This would benefit those in the population of the watershed who use the Canadian River for recreation such as fishing and boating who would be in contact with the water.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

ACOG will submit to ODEQ and EPA a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) which defines the process for measuring project performance and required programmatic data. This QAPP includes the task organization, which can be grouped into three basic units: a compilation of background information on the watershed, actual sampling of the watershed during two low flow events, and model setup and calibration utilizing the sampling information gathered during the low flow events. Each of these units has quality standards listed in the QAPP. Water chemistry analyzed by the chosen laboratory will follow the QAPP and standard operating procedures (SOP) of the laboratory.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma