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Evaluating Impacts of Microplastics in a Resort Community
Summary
A sampling campaign at a Utah ski resort's wastewater treatment facility found that microplastic concentrations and types shifted with the tourist season — higher in winter when hotel occupancy peaked, with textile-related polymers dominant — and that 73-99% of microplastics were removed overall, mostly captured in dewatered solids. The study shows that tourism and hospitality activities contribute meaningfully to microplastic loads in municipal wastewater, with management implications for resort communities.
Evaluating Impacts of Microplastics in a Resort CommunityAbstractA comprehensive microplastics sampling campaign was undertaken at Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District’s East Canyon facility in Park City, Utah to quantify microplastics during high and low flow periods. Sampling occurred at the influent flume, downstream of the secondary and tertiary treatment processes, and the centrate recycle stream to determine the fate of microplastics within the East Canyon system. Concentrations of influent microplastics were higher in March, when the winter tourist population and hotel occupancy is high, compared to samples collected in early November, during low flows. The composition of detected microplastics in the March influent, was predominantly polymers associated with textiles and apparel which was not consistent in November’s samples. Overall, high removal efficiencies (73- 99%) were observed with most of the removal occurring in the primary/secondary processes; A mass balance revealed the majority (~98%) of removed microplastics were captured in the dewatered solids.A comprehensive microplastics (MPs) sampling campaign at Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District's East Canyon facility in Park City, Utah confirmed high MPs removal efficiencies through the existing process and highlighted interesting differences between MPs concentration and composition during high flow periods associated with an increased tourist population and low flow periods. A mass balance revealed that the majority of the removed microplastics were captured in the dewatered solids.SpeakerAndersen, ErinPresentation time09:30:0009:50:00Session time08:30:0010:00:00SessionUpdates on Microplastics Occurrence, Regulation, and RemovalSession locationRoom S404a - Level 4TopicAdvanced Level, Disinfection and Public Health, Microconstituents and Contaminants of Emerging Concern (Non-PFAS), Research and InnovationTopicAdvanced Level, Disinfection and Public Health, Microconstituents and Contaminants of Emerging Concern (Non-PFAS), Research and InnovationAuthor(s)Andersen, ErinAuthor(s)E. Andersen 1; C. Ashcroft 2 ; M. Luers 3; C. Burrell 3; T. Adams 3; E. Andersen 1;Author affiliation(s)Carollo Engineers, Inc. 1; Carollo Engineers, Inc. 2 ; Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District 3; Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District 3; 3; 1;SourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Oct 2023DOI10.2175/193864718825159076Volume / Issue Content sourceWEFTECCopyright2023Word count9