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Technical Users Background Document and Appendices

Technical Users Background Document for the Water Pollutant Loading Tool (PDF) (143 pp, 2.4 MB)


Addendum to Section 3.3.1

3.3.1.10 Radioactive Pollutant Categories in Water Pollution Search

The Loading Tool calculates annual pollutant loadings for specific radioactive isotopes or radionuclides, as listed in Table 3-20. Radionuclides can be measured in units of mass or radioactivity (in curies (Ci)). For all measurements, the Loading Tool first converts to standard units, either Ci or grams. For measurements of radioactivity, the specific activity of the radionuclide is used to convert from curies to mass.

Specific Activity (Ci/g) = [(1600/T) * (226/A)] where T = half life in years and A = Atomic Mass Number (unitless)
Radioactivity (Ci/L)/Specific Activity (Ci/g) = Mass Concentration (g/L)

Source: Turner, James E. (1992). Atoms, Radiation, and Radiation Protection. Mc-Graw Hill.

Table 3-20. Radionuclide Parameter Pollutant Category
Parameter Name Parameter Code Pollutant Name Information for Radioactivity to Mass Conversions Grouping Hierarchies
Half Life (Years)a Atomic Massa Specific Activity (SA) (Ci/g) Mass Conversion Factor (Ci/kg)b Concentration Conversion Factor (Ci/mg)c Group Priority Category Priority
Cesium-137 (CS-137), Total 28401 Cesium-137 30.08 136.907 87.8061 1.1E-05 11.3887 1 1
Cesium 137 51607 Cesium-137 30.08 136.907 87.8061 1.1E-05 11.3887 2 1
Potassium-40 (K-40), Total 75038 Potassium-40 1.2E+09 39.964 7.3E-06 137.929 1.4E+08   1
Radium 223, total 20501 Radium-223 0.03129 223.019 51811 1.9E-08 0.0193   1
Radium 224, total 24501 Radium-224 0.01002 224.02 161080 6.2E-09 0.00621   1
Radium 226, total 09501 Radium-226 1601 226.025 0.99926 0.001 1000.74 1 1
Radium 226, dissolved 09503 Radium-226 1601 226.025 0.99926 0.001 1000.74 2 1
Radium 228, total 11501 Radium-228 5.75 228.031 275.782 3.6E-06 3.62605   1
Strontium 90, total 13501 Strontium-90 28.79 89.9077 139.698 7.2E-06 7.15831 1 1
Strontium 90, dissolved 13503 Strontium-90 28.79 89.9077 139.698 7.2E-06 7.15831 2 1
Technetium 99, total (14) 22100 Technetium-99 0.00069 98.9063 5332584 1.9E-10 0.00019   1
Thorium 230 26501 Thorium-230 75380 232.038 0.02067 0.04837 48371.2   1
Thorium 232 22501 Thorium-232 1.4E+10 232.038 1.1E-07 9015.86 9E+09   1
Tritium, total 07000 Hydrogen-3 12.32 3.01605 9731.49 1E-07 0.10276 1 1
Tritium, total 82126 Hydrogen-3 12.32 3.01605 9731.49 1E-07 0.10276 2 1
Uranium, natural, total (in pCi/L) 28012 Uranium-238 4.5E+09 238.051 3.4E-07 2941.4 2.9E+09   1

aSource: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Nuclear Structure and Decay Data Network. Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF) DatabaseExit
bRadioactivity (Ci/d)/[SA (Ci/g)*(1000 g/kg)] = Mass (kg/d)
cRadioactivity (Ci/L)*(1000 mg/g)/(SA (Ci/g)) = Concentration (mg/L)

Parameters included in the Radionuclides Category. All parameters measuring radioactivity of a specific radionuclide are included in this category.

Parameter Grouping/Category Priorities. All parameters with the same pollutant name are grouped together as shown in the "Group Priority" column of Table 3-20. The radionuclide category does not have a category-level aggregation hierarchy and includes all radionuclides with equal priority. Therefore the category priorities for all radionuclide parameter codes are assigned a '1' in Table 3-20.

Pollutant Load Aggregation. For category aggregation, all pollutant loads are summed together to calculate the total load.

Table 3-21 below provides the pollutant group and category priority for all parameters in the General Radioactivity category.

Table 3-21. General Radioactivity Parameter Pollutant Category
Parameter Name Parameter Code Pollutant Name Group Priority Category Priority
Alpha emitting radium isotopes, dissolved 00149 Alpha emitting radium isotopes, dissolved 1 1
Radiation, gross alpha 82077 Alpha, total 1 1
Alpha gross radioactivity 80029 Alpha, total 2 1
Alpha, gross particle activity 80045 Alpha, total 3 1
Radiation-gross alpha tot suspended 80040 Alpha, total 4 1
Radiation-gross alpha tot dissolved 80030 Alpha, total 5 1
Produced water, gross alpha radiation 04241 Alpha, total 6 1
Gross beta 85817 Beta, total 1 1
Radiation, gross beta 03520 Beta, total 2 1
Produced water, gross beta radiation 04242 Beta, total 3 1
Dissolved radioactive gases 82370 Dissolved radioactive gases 1 1
Radioactivity 00189 Radioactivity 1 1
Radioactivity, gross 82066 Radioactivity 2 1
Radium, total 51767 Radium 1 1
Radium, dissolved 51768 Radium 2 1
Radium 226 + radium 228, total 11503 Radium 226 & 228, dissolved 1 1
Radium 226 & 228, dissolved 11500 Radium 226 & 228, dissolved 2 1

Parameters included in the General Radioactivity Category. All parameters measuring gross radioactivity or radioactivity of more than one radionuclide are included in this category. Pollutant loadings are not calculated for these parameters.

Parameter Grouping/Category Priorities. All parameters with the same pollutant name are grouped together as shown in the "Group Priority" column of Table 3-21. The general radioactivity category does not have a category-level aggregation hierarchy and includes all radioactive pollutants with equal priority. Therefore the category priorities for all general radioactivity parameters are assigned a '1' in Table 3-21.

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3.3.1.11 Color Pollutant Category in Water Pollution Search

The Loading Tool provides data for measurements of color in wastewater. Color measurements may be reported using a variety of units, such as Platinum Cobalt (Pt-Co) units or pound/ton produced. The Loading Tool presents the measurements in the units reported on DMRs, and does not convert the measurements into standard units.

Parameters Included in the Color Category. All parameters measuring color are included in this category. A complete list of the color parameters is provided in Table 3-22 below.

Table 3-22. Parameters included in the Color Pollutant Category
Parameter Name Parameter Code
Color (PT-CO units) 00080
Color, apparent (unfiltered sample) 00081
Color, spectrophoto, water smpl at 7.6 pH 00082
Color, spectrophoto-metric filter 00083
Color 00084
Color (admi units) 01290
Color 51201
Apparent Color (Admi Units) 51486
Color, concentration at wavelength 80114

Parameter Grouping/Category Priorities. There is no grouping or prioritization in the color pollutant category.

Pollutant Load Aggregation. There is no load aggregation in the color pollutant category.


3.3.1.12 Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Pollutant Category in Water Pollutant Search

The Loading Tool provides data for wastewater parameters measuring WET. WET refers to the aggregate toxic effect to aquatic organisms from all pollutants contained in a facility’s wastewater. WET tests measure a wastewater's effects on specific test organisms' ability to survive, grow and reproduce. WET measurements may be reported using a variety of units, such as percentages or pass/fail. The Loading Tool presents the measurements in the units reported on DMRs, and does not convert the measurements into standard units.

See Whole Effluent Toxicity Methods for more information about Clean Water Act WET test methods.

Parameters Included in the WET Category. All parameters measuring WET are included in this category. A complete list of the WET parameters is provided in Water Pollutant Loading Tool WET Parameters (CSV) (80 K).

Parameter Grouping/Category Priorities. There is no grouping or prioritization in the WET pollutant category.

Pollutant Load Aggregation. There is no aggregation in the WET pollutant category.


3.3.1.13 PFAS Pollutant Category in Water Pollution Search

The Loading Tool provides data for measurements of  Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in wastewater. PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many other chemicals. The Loading Tool calculates pollutant loadings for individual pollutants within this category.

Parameters Included in the PFAS Category. The list of parameters is provided in Table 3-23 below.

Table 3-23. Parameters included in the PFAS Pollutant Category
Parameter Description Parameter Code Pollutant Description Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) Number
1,1-Difluoroethane, total, water ug/L 49538 HFC-152a 75376
Ammonium perfluoroctanoate 51065 Ammonium perfluoroctanoate 3825261
1,1,1,2,2-Pentafluoroethane 38672 HFC-125 354336
Chlorodifluoromethane 45028 HCFC-22 75456
Perfluorooctanoic Acid 51521 PFOA 335671
Perfluorooctanesulfonamide 51525 Perfluorooctanesulfonamide 754916
Perfluoropentanoic acid 51623 Perfluorovaleric acid 2706903
Perfluorohexanoic acid 51624 Perfluorohexanoic acid 307244
Perfluoroheptanoic acid 51625 Tridecafluoroheptanoic acid 375859
Perfluorononanoic acid 51626 Heptadecafluorononanoic acid 375951
Perfluorodecanoic acid 51627 Perfluorodecanoic acid 335762
Perfluoroundecanoic acid 51628 Perfluoroundecanoic acid 4234235
Perfluorododecanoic acid 51629 Perfluorolauric acid 307551
Perfluorotridecanoic acid 51630 Perfluorotridecanoic acid 72629948
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid 51631 Perfluoromyristic acid 376067
Perfluorobutane Sulfonate 51632 Perfluorobutane Sulfonate 45187153
Perfluorohexane Sulfonate 51633 Perfluorohexane Sulfonate 108427538
Perfluoroheptane Sulfonate 51634 Perfluoroheptane Sulfonate  
Perfluorodecane Sulfonate 51635 Perfluorodecane Sulfonate  
8:2 Fluorotelomer Alcohol 51636 8:2 Fluorotelomer Alcohol 678397
10:2 Fluorotelomer Alcohol 51637 10:2 Fluorotelomer Alcohol 865861
4:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid 52607 4:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid 757124724
6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid 52608 6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid 27619972
8:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid 52609 8:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid 39108344
N-ethylperfluorooctane Sulfonamidoethanol 51641 N-ethylperfluorooctane Sulfonamidoethanol 1691992
N-methylperfluorooctane Sulfonamidoethanol 51642 N-methylperfluorooctane Sulfonamidoethanol 24448097
2-(N-ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid 51643 2-(N-ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid  
2-(N-methylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid 51644 2-(N-methylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid  
C3 Dimer Acid/Salt 51715 C3 Dimer Acid/Salt  
Pentadecafluorooctanoic acid 52601 Pentadecafluorooctanoic acid 335671
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid 52602 Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid 375735
Perfluorodecanesulfonic acid 52603 Perfluorodecanesulfonic acid 335773
Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid 52604 Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid 375928
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid 52605 Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid 355464
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid 52606 Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid 1763231
Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid 52610 Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid 2706914
Perfluorononane sulfonic acid 52611 Perfluorononane sulfonic acid 474511074
Perfluoro-2-methoxyacetic acid 52613 Perfluoro-2-methoxyacetic acid 674135
PFESA Byproduct 2 52614 PFESA Byproduct 2 749836202
Perfluoro-3,5,7,9-tetraoxadecanoic acid 52615 Perfluoro(3,5,7,9-tetraoxadecanoic) acid 39492905
Perfluoro-3,5,7,9-trioxaoctanoic acid 52616 Perfluoro-3,5,7,9-trioxaoctanoic acid 39492892
Perfluoro-3,5,7,9-dioxahexanoic acid 52617 Perfluoro-3,5,7,9-dioxahexanoic acid 39492881
1,1-Dichloro-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane 38675 1,1-Dichloro-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane 374072
Chlorodifluoromethane 45028 HCFC-22 [Water] 75456
1-Chloro-1,1,2,2,2-pentafluoroethane, water 49541 CFC-115 76153
Perfluorobutanoic Acid 51522 Perfluorobutanoic Acid 375224
Perfluorobutanoicsulfonate 51523 Perfluorobutanoicsulfonate  
Perfluorobutanesulfonamide 51524 Perfluorobutanesulfonamide 30334691
Perfluorooctanesulfonate 51526 Perfluorooctanesulfonate 45298906
10:2 Fluorotelomer Acrylate 51639 10:2 Fluorotelomer Acrylate  
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid 52612 Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid 13252136
Perfluoroethoxypropyl carboxylic acid 52618 Perfluoroethoxypropyl carboxylic acid 26739612
Perfluoro-4-isopropoxybutanoic acid 52619 Perfluoro-4-isopropoxybutanoic acid 801212599
Perfluoromethoxypropyl carboxylic acid 52620 Perfluoromethoxypropyl carboxylic acid 13140299
Perfluoroethoxypropanoic acid 52621 Perfluoroethoxypropanoic acid 773804629
Perfluoroethoxypropionic acid 52622 Perfluoroethoxypropionic acid 69087463
Perfluoro-2-methoxypropanoic acid 52624 Perfluoro-2-methoxypropanoic acid 93449219
Pentafluoropentionic acid 52625 Pentafluoropentionic acid 422640
Perfluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid 52626 Perfluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid 151772586
Perfluoro-3,5,7,9,11-pentaoxadodecanoic acid 52627 Perfluoro-3,5,7,9,11-pentaoxadodecanoic acid 39492916
Perfluoroethoxysulfonic acid 52628 Perfluoroethoxysulfonic acid  
Perfluoroethoxyethanesulfonic acid 52629 Perfluoroethoxyethanesulfonic acid 113507827
PFESA Byproduct 1 52630 PFESA Byproduct 1 29311679
10:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid 52631 10:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid 120226600
Perfluorododecanesulfonic acid 52632 Perfluorododecanesulfonic acid 79780395
Perfluorohexadecanoic acid 52633 Perfluorohexadecanoic acid 67905195
Perfluorooctadecanoic acid 52634 Perfluorooctadecanoic acid 16517116
4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoate 52635 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoate 958445448
4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid 52636 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid 919005144
Sodium 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoate 52637 Sodium 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoate  
Potassium 9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonate 52638 Potassium 9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonate 73606196
Potassium 11-chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonate 52639 Potassium 11-chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonate 83329899
N-Methylperfluorooctanesulfonamide 52641 N-Methylperfluorooctanesulfonamide 31506328
N-Ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamide 52642 N-Ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamide 4151502
PFESA Byproduct 4 52643 PFESA Byproduct 4  
PFESA Byproduct 5 52644 PFESA Byproduct 5  
PFESA Byproduct 6 52645 PFESA Byproduct 6  
1,1,1,3,3-Pentafluorobutane 85670 1,1,1,3,3-Pentafluorobutane 141529320
PFAS Sum 87006 Unknown  

Parameter Grouping/Category Priorities. There is no grouping or prioritization in the PFAS pollutant category.

Pollutant Load Aggregation. There is no load aggregation in the PFAS pollutant category.

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