Technical Users Background Document

 

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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.

 

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

Table 3-20. Radionuclide Parameter Pollutant Category
Parameter NameParameter CodePollutant NameInformation for Radioactivity to Mass ConversionsGrouping Hierarchies
Half Life (Years)aAtomic MassaSpecific Activity (SA) (Ci/g)Mass Conversion Factor (Ci/kg)bConcentration Conversion Factor (Ci/mg)cGroup PriorityCategory Priority
Cesium-137 (CS-137), Total28401Cesium-13730.08136.90787.80611.1E-0511.388711
Cesium 13751607Cesium-13730.08136.90787.80611.1E-0511.388721
Potassium-40 (K-40), Total75038Potassium-401.2E+0939.9647.3E-06137.9291.4E+08 1
Radium 223, total20501Radium-2230.03129223.019518111.9E-080.0193 1
Radium 224, total24501Radium-2240.01002224.021610806.2E-090.00621 1
Radium 226, total09501Radium-2261601226.0250.999260.0011000.7411
Radium 226, dissolved09503Radium-2261601226.0250.999260.0011000.7421
Radium 228, total11501Radium-2285.75228.031275.7823.6E-063.62605 1
Strontium 90, total13501Strontium-9028.7989.9077139.6987.2E-067.1583111
Strontium 90, dissolved13503Strontium-9028.7989.9077139.6987.2E-067.1583121
Technetium 99, total (14)22100Technetium-990.0006998.906353325841.9E-100.00019 1
Thorium 23026501Thorium-23075380232.0380.020670.0483748371.2 1
Thorium 23222501Thorium-2321.4E+10232.0381.1E-079015.869E+09 1
Tritium, total07000Hydrogen-312.323.016059731.491E-070.1027611
Tritium, total82126Hydrogen-312.323.016059731.491E-070.1027621
Uranium, natural, total (in pCi/L)28012Uranium-2384.5E+09238.0513.4E-072941.42.9E+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 NameParameter CodePollutant NameGroup PriorityCategory Priority
Alpha emitting radium isotopes, dissolved00149Alpha emitting radium isotopes, dissolved11
Radiation, gross alpha82077Alpha, total11
Alpha gross radioactivity80029Alpha, total21
Alpha, gross particle activity80045Alpha, total31
Radiation-gross alpha tot suspended80040Alpha, total41
Radiation-gross alpha tot dissolved80030Alpha, total51
Produced water, gross alpha radiation04241Alpha, total61
Gross beta85817Beta, total11
Radiation, gross beta03520Beta, total21
Produced water, gross beta radiation04242Beta, total31
Dissolved radioactive gases82370Dissolved radioactive gases11
Radioactivity00189Radioactivity11
Radioactivity, gross82066Radioactivity21
Radium, total51767Radium11
Radium, dissolved51768Radium21
Radium 226 + radium 228, total11503Radium 226 & 228, dissolved11
Radium 226 & 228, dissolved11500Radium 226 & 228, dissolved21

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 NameParameter Code
Color (PT-CO units)00080
Color, apparent (unfiltered sample)00081
Color, spectrophoto, water smpl at 7.6 pH00082
Color, spectrophoto-metric filter00083
Color00084
Color (admi units)01290
Color51201
Apparent Color (Admi Units)51486
Color, spectrophoto, water smpl at 7.6 pH51573
Color, concentration at wavelength80114

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 the DMR Pollutant Parameters Used and Not Used by the Loading Tool (CSV) (650 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 DescriptionParameter CodePollutant DescriptionChemical Abstract Service (CAS) Number
1-Chloro-1,1,2,2,2-pentafluoroethane, water49541CFC-11576153
Perfluorooctanoic Acid51521PFOA335671
Perfluorobutanoic Acid51522Perfluorobutanoic Acid 
Perfluorobutanoicsulfonate51523Perfluorobutanoicsulfonate 
Perfluorobutanesulfonamide51524Perfluorobutanesulfonamide 
Perfluorooctanesulfonamide51525Perfluorooctanesulfonamide754916
Perfluorooctanesulfonate51526Perfluorooctanesulfonate 
Perfluoropentanoic acid51623Perfluorovaleric acid2706903
Perfluorohexanoic acid51624Perfluorohexanoic acid307244
Perfluoroheptanoic acid51625Tridecafluoroheptanoic acid375859
Perfluorononanoic acid51626Heptadecafluorononanoic acid375951
Perfluorodecanoic acid51627Perfluorodecanoic acid335762
Perfluoroundecanoic acid51628Perfluoroundecanoic acid4234235
Perfluorododecanoic acid51629Perfluorolauric acid307551
Perfluorotridecanoic acid51630Perfluorotridecanoic acid72629948
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid51631Perfluoromyristic acid376067
Perfluorobutane Sulfonate51632Perfluorobutane Sulfonate45187153
Perfluorohexane Sulfonate51633Perfluorohexane Sulfonate108427538
Perfluoroheptane Sulfonate51634Perfluoroheptane Sulfonate 
Perfluorodecane Sulfonate51635Perfluorodecane Sulfonate 
8:2 Fluorotelomer Alcohol516368:2 Fluorotelomer Alcohol678397
10:2 Fluorotelomer Alcohol5163710:2 Fluorotelomer Alcohol865861
10:2 Fluorotelomer Acrylate5163910:2 Fluorotelomer Acrylate 
N-ethylperfluorooctane Sulfonamidoethanol51641N-ethylperfluorooctane Sulfonamidoethanol1691992
N-methylperfluorooctane Sulfonamidoethanol51642N-methylperfluorooctane Sulfonamidoethanol24448097
2-(N-ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid516432-(N-ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid 
2-(N-methylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid516442-(N-methylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) acetic acid 
C3 Dimer Acid/Salt51715C3 Dimer Acid/Salt 
Total PFOA and PFOS51911Perfluorooctanoic Acid [PFOA] + Perflurooctanesulfonate [PFOS] 
Pentadecafluorooctanoic acid52601Pentadecafluorooctanoic acid335671
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid52602Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid375735
Perfluorodecanesulfonic acid52603Perfluorodecanesulfonic acid335773
Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid52604Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid375928
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid52605Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid355464
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid52606Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid1763231
4:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid526076:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid757124724
6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid526084:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid27619972
8:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid526098:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid39108344
Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid52610Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid2706914
Perfluorononane sulfonic acid52611Perfluorononane sulfonic acid68259121
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid52612Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid13252136
Perfluoro-2-methoxyacetic acid52613Perfluoro-2-methoxyacetic acid674135
PFESA Byproduct 252614PFESA Byproduct 2749836202
Perfluoro-3,5,7,9-tetraoxadecanoic acid52615Perfluoro(3,5,7,9-tetraoxadecanoic) acid39492905
Perfluoro-3,5,7-trioxaoctanoic acid52616Perfluoro-3,5,7-trioxaoctanoic acid39492892
Perfluoro-3,5-dioxahexanoic acid52617Perfluoro-3,5-dioxahexanoic acid39492881
Perfluoroethoxypropyl carboxylic acid52618Perfluoroethoxypropyl carboxylic acid26739612
Perfluoro-4-isopropoxybutanoic acid52619Perfluoro-4-isopropoxybutanoic acid801212599
Perfluoromethoxypropyl carboxylic acid52620Perfluoromethoxypropyl carboxylic acid13140299
Perfluoroethoxypropanoic acid52621Perfluoroethoxypropanoic acid773804629
Perfluoroethoxypropionic acid52622Perfluoroethoxypropionic acid69087463
Perfluoro-2-methoxypropanoic acid52624Perfluoro-2-methoxypropanoic acid93449219
Pentafluoropentionic acid52625Pentafluoropentionic acid422640
Perfluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid52626Perfluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid151772586
Perfluoro-3,5,7,9,11-pentaoxadodecanoic acid52627Perfluoro-3,5,7,9,11-pentaoxadodecanoic acid39492916
Perfluoroethoxysulfonic acid52628Perfluoroethoxysulfonic acid 
Perfluoroethoxyethanesulfonic acid52629Perfluoroethoxyethanesulfonic acid113507827
PFESA Byproduct 152630PFESA Byproduct 129311679
10:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid5263110:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonic acid120226600
Perfluorododecanesulfonic acid52632Perfluorododecanesulfonic acid79780395
Perfluorohexadecanoic acid52633Perfluorohexadecanoic acid67905195
Perfluorooctadecanoic acid52634Perfluorooctadecanoic acid16517116
4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoate526354,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoate958445448
4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid526364,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid919005144
Sodium 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoate52637Sodium 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoate 
Potassium 9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonate52638Potassium 9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonate73606196
Potassium 11-chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonate52639Potassium 11-chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonate83329899
R-EVE52640R-EVE 
N-Methylperfluorooctanesulfonamide52641N-Methylperfluorooctanesulfonamide31506328
N-Ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamide52642N-Ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamide4151502
PFESA Byproduct 452643PFESA Byproduct 4 
PFESA Byproduct 552644PFESA Byproduct 5 
PFESA Byproduct 652645PFESA Byproduct 6 
PER-AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES52703Polyfluoralkyl ether (generic) (P-04-0417) 
1,1,1,3,3-Pentafluorobutane856701,1,1,3,3-Pentafluorobutane141529320
PFAS Sum87006Unknown 
11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acidPF004PFAS 763051-92-976305192
3-Perfluoroheptyl propanoic acidPF005PFAS 812-70-4812704
Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acidPF006PFAS 863090-89-586309089
2H,2H,3H,3H-Perfluorooctanoic acidPF007PFAS 914637-49-391463749

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.