Evaluation of the Effects of AFFF Inputs to the VIP Biological Nutrient Removal Process and Pass - through Toxicity-Phase IA

This report discusses the results of a bench scale study conducted to evaluate the potential inhibitory effects of untreated AFFF wastewater to the Virginia Initiative Plant (VIP) biological nutrient removal process. A bench-scale study was conducted to evaluate the potential inhibitory effects of untreated AFFF wastewater to the nitrification process of the Virginia Initiative Plant biological nutrient removal system. Under this testing, bench-safe reactors simulating the nitrification process were loaded at various AFFF concentrations and the influence on the process performance was evaluated. The purpose of this effort was to determine the level of AFFF that could be incorporated into the influent of a biological nutrient removal process without causing inhibitory effects. The results of the nitrification inhibition study showed that the AFFF concentrations tested in the range between 10 ppm to 60 ppm did not show any significant inhibition to biological nitrification. The effluent from each reactor did not exhibit any pass-through toxicity as well.