Effects-based tools to support water reuse in protein processing facilities
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Protein processing operations utilize large volumes of water for hair/hide/feather removal, carcass washing, chilling, trimming and cutting, cooking, cleaning and sanitation, etc. The generated wastewater is typically treated onsite and discharged to municipal wastewater treatment plants or surface waters following NPDES permits. Also, water can be reused in many on-site scenarios, however treatment requirements for potable reuse of this unique source of water have not been clearly defined. In a collaborative effort with Tyson Foods we proposed to characterize untreated protein processing wastewater effluents (source characterization), including effects-based activity, to determine risk-based treatment needs for on-site potable reuse purposes. This presentation contains preliminary estrogenic and androgenic biological activity concentrations detected across anonymized facilities, many reported above a preliminary benchmark action value for public health. This presentation will serve as an example of effects-based sample analysis research conducted in our laboratory for the collaboration-generating purpose of the Interagency Water Research Planning Workshop hosted by USEPA. Therefore the presentation additionally highlights potential areas for collaboration (e.g., modelling of effects-based benchmark action value and correlation between analytical detections and effects-based activity).