When Compost Does Bad Things to Groundwater

David J. Tonjes Department of Technology and Society

Stony Brook University Andrew Rapiejko

Suffolk County (NY) Department of Health Services John Norgard

Stony Brook University

Controlled bio-degradation of organic matter CHO → CO2 + H2O (mediated by organisms) Residues: mostly recalcitrant humic-fulvic acids Useful soil amendment Some nutrient content Lots of C (soil C ↑ good)

• Improves yield • Reduces H2O demand • Carbon sequestration (?)

Compost Benefits & Impacts

Compost & Groundwater Some pollutant potential: air (odors, NH4 + VOCs, odors, CO2 + CH4, odors) soil (physical, pesticides, metals, coliform) Groundwater? Jan 2018 Web of Science search Compost* and (ground water or groundwater) (625 hits)

5: compost liquor & potential for impact 36: compost-amended soils & potential for impact 3: composting impacts on groundwater USEPA (1995): potential is “slight” Platt et al. (2014): no mention

1. Cheng J., J. Qiao, Y. Chen, and Z. Yang. 2015. Nutrient loads of small-scale swine manure composting to groundwater and its prevention by covering: a

case study. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International 22:15646:-15655

Small compost piles of swine manure created and sampled over 120 d w/o and under 3 different covers Samples were put into columns and treated with synthetic rainwater Resulting leachate was tested for N & P concentrations peaked ~60 d (for uncovered) TN ~ 60 mg/L, NH4 ~ 13 mg/L NO3 ~ 3 mg/L TP 2 mg/L, DP ~ 0.35 mg/l Poor English; interesting references

2. Caputo, MC, AM de Girolamo, and A. Volpe. 2013. Soil amendment with olive mill wastes: Impact on groundwater. Journal of Environmental

Management 131:216-221.

Focus of study was application of untreated olive mill wastes (OMW) (pomace) to 2 soils Composted OMW also used (applied at 120 kgN/ha) Tested pH, spec. cond., K, NO3, phenols pH ↑to 7-8; spec. cond ↑9-33% mean K: 3-5.5 mg/L mean NO3: 10-12 mg/L mean phenols: 0.3-0.4 mg/L “minimum impact to groundwater”

3. Rao, GT, VVSG Rao, G. Padalu, R. Dhakate, and VS Sarma. 2014. Application of electrical resistivity tomography methods for delineation of groundwater contamination and potential zones. Arabian Journal of Geoscience 7:1373-

1384.

Nonsensical study; 48 km2 study area, measured TDS Contamination detected by resistivity surveys Significant plume: TDS 480-2680 mg/l (pre-monsoon) as great as 3400 mg/l post-monsoon

Not in Web of Science: Black, G., and M. Zbinden. 2014. Understanding the chemistry of compost

contact water. Part II. BioCycle 55(8):48-53. 4 lysimeters under static aerated compost piles (YW, YW-

SSO), 2 upgradient, 2 downgradient, + control (2010) Sampled sheet flow once 19 parameters (pH, metals, nutrients), after rainfalls

(except when ground frozen) (as vols. allowed) 1-8 samples at each point for various parameters Upgradient : some high COD, N, K, Cu, TKN Downgradient: some ~elevated K, TDS, Pb Run-off (4 samples, 1 event): TDS, K, As, Pb

Results “low” compared to Minn. DOH Human Risk Limits

1) Lysimeters and runoff pans, various materials into piles, artificial rainfall (2012)

Runoff elevated in B, Mo, Ni, Se, Zn, P, K, TKN, TDS, BOD, PFCs, compared to native soil runoff

2) 3 piles built on liners, artificial rainfall, food waste-leaf-grass mix; sampled 3x (2013) As, Ba, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg, Mo, Ni, Zn, Lindane, PFCs detected N, P, K, TDS, BOD, COD, BPA at high levels

Zbinden, M., K. Kish, T. Halbach, A. Ludvick, and G. Black. 2015. Scientific evaluation of potential environmental impacts of contact water generated from

composting source separated organic material. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Technical Report.

Ballestro, T. and E. Douglas. 1996. Comparison between the nitrogen fluxes from composting farm wastes and composting yard wastes. Transactions of the ASAE 39(5):1709-1715.

N-balance exercise for composting 100 mg/L, as much as 900 mg/L NO3 measured in soil moisture beneath food waste compost piles “Ambient” levels beneath yard waste piles

Cabrera, ML, JA Rema, DE Radcliffe, LT West. 1998. Monitoring water quality at a food waste composting site. pp. 163-167. In: Composting in the Southeast (1998 Proceedings). University of Georgia.

Composted food waste on dirt pad, funneled run-off directionally; 1 well downgradient of site Run-off (means): 4.87 mg/L NH4 0.09 mg/L NO3 + NO2 0.10 mg/L ortho-P Groundwater: 0.50 – 1.49 mg/L NO3 + NO2

University of Georgia (2003): Large Scale Composting in Georgia (report)

2 pg. discussion of potential nutrient contamination Kennedy-Jenks Consultants (for Oregon DEQ) (2007)

apparently related nutrient impacts to soil, water and run-off from compost leachate referenced in Cheng et al. (accessed it in 2014) no longer available at address, not searchable at Oregon DEQ site

LI Groundwater

Humid climate 48 in/yr precipitation, 50% recharge Shallow flow: primarily horizontal predictable: high head to low head, 1 ft/d Quality: mostly good (sand filtered) low conductivity (TDS, salts) high DO (saturated), very low pH (4.5-5.5) older water: low DO, higher pH (5.5-6.5) Land use affects (shallow) WQ road salts, septic, fertilizers, industry, landfills

Suffolk County Department of Health Services

Groundwater investigation resources Auger well drilling & Geoprobe capabilities

State-certified environmental testing laboratory (inorganics & metals, VOCs, SVOCs, pest & herbs)

Charged to investigate potential sources of pollution to protect water resources

Large (250,000 tpy+) (62 ac.) organic waste facility Opened in 1999 Operations:

Yard waste (leaves and grass) Land clearing debris (trees, stumps) Uncontaminated wood Food waste (small amounts) Manure (small amounts)

Yard & food waste & manure transferred to local farms for composting Trees/stumps/wood ground-trommeled on site to produce mulch & soil Compost returned to site for screening and bagging

Local groundwater flow: NW to SE established in fireworks factory perchlorate contamination investigation (2000) Local residence (~1950) shallow well (~10 ft deep) (basement) Anecdotally: no water quality issues Testing in 2000: no exceedances of stds. no perchlorate! (plume was deeper than well) (LI Compost began operations 1999)

1994

2013

After LI Compost had been operating (2002) … owner complained about water quality. SCDHS re-tested the well water

Sam

ple

Dat

e

pH

Con

duct

ivity

(uS)

Alum

inum

(ppb

)

Bar

ium

(ppb

)

Cob

alt (

ppb)

Chr

omiu

m (p

pb)

Cop

per (

ppb)

Man

gane

se (p

pb)

Nic

kel (

ppb)

Lead

(ppb

)

Sele

nium

(ppb

)

Stro

ntiu

m (p

pb)

Thal

lium

(ppb

)

Tita

nium

(ppb

)

Vana

dium

(ppb

)

Zinc

(ppb

)

Mag

nesi

um (p

pm)

Iron

(ppm

)

Sodi

um (p

pm)

Cal

cium

(ppm

)

Pota

ssiu

m (p

pm)

Gro

ss A

lpha

Gro

ss B

eta

Adju

sted

Gro

ss

Bet

a*

Chl

orid

e (p

pm)

Sulfa

te (p

pm)

Nitr

ate

(ppm

)

Amm

onia

(ppm

)

Tota

l Alk

alin

ity

(m

g C

aCO

3/L)

MB

AS (p

pb)

Perc

hlor

ate

(ppb

)

Chl

orof

orm

Caf

fein

e

Dic

hlor

vos

Die

thyl

tolu

amid

e (D

EET)

29-Jun-00 4.9 39 389 5.6 <1 1 225 50 1.9 1.1 <2 NA <1 <1 <1 <50 NA <0.1 3.55 NA NA NA NA - 4 5 0.5 <0.02 NA NA <4 2 NA NA NA

27-Mar-02 5.3 272 463 166 1.7 3 167 476 2.2 1.9 <2 NA <1 <1 <1 53 NA <0.1 27 NA NA NA NA - 48 42 0.5 <0.02 NA NA <2 1 NA NA NA

10-Mar-04 6.3 474 12.1 91 <1 <1 39.6 488 1.5 <1 <2 NA <1 <1 <1 <50 9.7 0.12 16 12 54 4.7 84.2 40 43 49 1 0.75 NA <0.1 <2 0.7 NA <0.6 NA 24-Mar-04 - - 45.4 71 <1 11.9 28.5 314 3 <1 <4 NA <1 1.4 3.3 93 10 <0.1 19 11 50 2.7 69 28 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

19-Nov-07 6.6 998 7 88 <1 <1 130 21,100 4 1 <4 NA 1 <1 <1 <50 14 <0.1 68 55 59 1.7 NR - 147 46 0.3 3.25 204 <0.1 <10 <0.5 NA <0.6 <0.2

Mn: 60 µg/L to 21,100 µg/L (std.: 300 µg/L) Conductivity: 39 µS to 998 µS K: 59 mg/L (background 1-2 ppm) NH4: <0.02 ppm to 3.25 ppm pH: 4.9 to 6.6 Alkalinity: 204 mg/L (background <20 mg/L) Na: 3.55 mg/L to 68 mg/L Ba: 5.6 µg/L to 68 µg/L SO4: 5 mg/L to 46 mg/L Detectable radiation But: No NO3 Al, Cu, chloroform decreased Mn contamination not treatable New well (51-54 ft deep) installed (2008)

Sam

ple

Date

pH

Cond

uctiv

ity (u

S)

Alum

inum

(ppb

)

Bariu

m (p

pb)

Coba

lt (p

pb)

Chro

miu

m (p

pb)

Copp

er (p

pb)

Man

gane

se (p

pb)

Nick

el (p

pb)

Lead

(ppb

)

Sele

nium

(ppb

)

Stro

ntiu

m (p

pb)

Thal

lium

(ppb

)

Tita

nium

(ppb

)

Vana

dium

(ppb

)

Zinc

(ppb

)

Mag

nesi

um (p

pm)

Iron

(ppm

)

Sodi

um (p

pm)

Calc

ium

(ppm

)

Pota

ssiu

m (p

pm)

Gro

ss A

lpha

Gro

ss B

eta

Adju

sted

Gro

ss B

eta*

Chlo

ride

(ppm

)

Sulfa

te (p

pm)

Nitra

te (p

pm)

Amm

onia

(ppm

)

Tota

l Alk

alin

ity

(m

g Ca

CO3/

L)

MBA

S (p

pb)

Perc

hlor

ate

(ppb

)

Chlo

rofo

rm

Caffe

ine

Dich

lorv

os

Diet

hylto

luam

ide

(DEE

T)

29-Jun-00 4.9 39 389 5.6 <1 1 225 50 1.9 1.1 <2 NA <1 <1 <1 <50 NA <0.1 3.55 NA NA NA NA - 4 5 0.5 <0.02 NA NA <4 2 NA NA NA

27-Mar-02 5.3 272 463 166 1.7 3 167 476 2.2 1.9 <2 NA <1 <1 <1 53 NA <0.1 27 NA NA NA NA - 48 42 0.5 <0.02 NA NA <2 1 NA NA NA

10-Mar-04 6.3 474 12.1 91 <1 <1 39.6 488 1.5 <1 <2 NA <1 <1 <1 <50 9.7 0.12 16 12 54 4.7 84.2 40 43 49 1 0.75 NA <0.1 <2 0.7 NA <0.6 NA

24-Mar-04 - - 45.4 71 <1 11.9 28.5 314 3 <1 <4 NA <1 1.4 3.3 93 10 <0.1 19 11 50 2.7 69 28 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

19-Nov-07 6.6 998 7 88 <1 <1 130 21,100 4 1 <4 NA 1 <1 <1 <50 14 <0.1 68 55 59 1.7 NR - 147 46 0.3 3.25 204 <0.1 <10 <0.5 NA <0.6 <0.2

09-Mar-09 6.4 129 13 80 <1 <1 42 10 <0.5 18 <4 NA <0.3 <1 <1 <50 3.1 <0.1 9 5.8 4.8 NA NA - 19 10 0.3 NA 14 <0.1 16 NA NA NA NA

17-Apr-09 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA <1 4.3 - NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

28-Dec-09 7.1 1,037 12 289 <1 <1 165 3,350 7.5 87 5 156 0.5 <1 <1 406 16 <0.1 24 29.8 159 13.6+/-2.1 177.1+/-6.7 47 104 22 <1.5 11.8 320 0.1 3.1 0.7 <0.2 1 <0.2

19-Apr-10 7.1 785 <5 213 <1 5 19 5,480 1.8 5 <4 155 0.5 <1 2 <50 17 <0.1 18 35.4 100 6.5 +/- 2.4 116.3 +/-5.4 47 83 17 <1.5 4.12 231 <0.1 3 NA NA NA NA

8-Nov-10 7.1 279 <5 113 <1 <1 14 2,700 0.7 2 <4 46 0.4 <1 <1 <50 2.9 2.7 5.8 9.3 37 2.4+/-0.9 36.4+/-2.7 5.7 22 9 <0.01 1.45 82 <0.1 22.4 <0.5 <0.2 <0.6 <0.2

14-Mar-11 7.2 537 <5 285 <1 <1 16 3,360 1.7 2 <4 87 0.7 <1 <1 <50 5.1 <0.1 18 14.9 75 6.6+/-2.2 68.9+/-4.5 7.7 53 14 <1.0 6.73 150 <0.1 11.5 <0.5 Trace <0.6 Trace

First two samples in 2009: No Mn, but perchlorate Then: Dec. 2009: water “green, smelly & foamy” Mn, K, radiation, conductivity, Ba, NH4, alkalinity Continued elevated parameters through 2011

2009: 7 more wells 5 profile wells 2 permanent wells

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Iron

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Gro

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Gro

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eta

HB-1

10-15 9/1/2009 2.44 7 74 <1 2 121 <0.3 3.7 <0.1 10.4 <0.02 0.5 <1 5.8+/-0.9 20-25 9/1/2009 0.12 6.6 99 <1 3 7,710 0.9 8.6 <0.1 77.3 <0.02 <0.4 1.6+/-0.5 104+/-5.6 30-35 9/1/2009 1.66 6.5 63 <1 <1 283 <0.3 3.6 <0.1 9.5 <0.02 3.9 <1 10.5+/-1.1 40-45 9/1/2009 0.12 6.4 167 <1 2 23 <0.3 7 <0.1 10.3 0.26 3.8 1.0+/-0.6 14.6+/-1.3 50-55 9/1/2009 0.17 6.1 356 <1 3 67 <0.3 10.7 <0.1 14.1 0.9 4.6 <1 19.8+/-1.5 60-65 9/1/2009 2.12 5.9 34 <1 2 23 <0.3 13.6 <0.1 1.5 <0.02 19.2 <1 1.3+/-0.6 70-75 9/1/2009 9.02 6.7 9 <1 1 132 <0.3 1.8 <0.1 0.6 <0.02 105 <1 <1

HB-2

10-15 1/7/2010 1.98 7.4 227 2 <1 1,040 <0.3 6.8 0.15 26.1 0.21 <0.4 4.0+/-1.8 15.3+/-1.4 20-25 1/7/2010 0.26 7.5 171 1 <1 8,390 <3 15.7 <0.1 103 1.38 <0.4 7.4+/-1.8 115+/-1.4 30-35 1/6/2010 0.13 7.1 531 2 1 22,300 <3 27.6 0.16 153 6.95 <0.4 21.1+/-3.5 185.7+/-7.5 40-45 1/6/2010 0.16 7 975 1 <1 14,800 0.5 26.1 <0.1 179 10.5 2 15.2+/-3.0 188.9+/-7.6 50-55 1/6/2010 0.57 7 308 <1 1 37 <3 21.5 <0.1 155 10.4 3.6 13.8+/-5.8 142.4+/-5.8 60-65 1/6/2010 5.55 7.3 14 <1 <1 26 <0.3 2.6 <0.1 0.5 <0.02 19.3 <1 <1 70-75 12/28/2009 8.3 6.3 24 <1 1 70 <0.3 6.1 <0.1 0.9 <0.02 37.3 <1 1.1+/-0.6

80-85 12/28/2009 9.34 6.9 8 <1 1 36 <0.3 1.7 <0.1 0.5 <0.02 57.1 <1 <1

100-105 12/28/2009 10.06 7.3 6 <1 1 3 <0.3 1.5 <0.1 0.4 <0.02 13.5 <1 <1

110-115 12/28/2009 10.2 8 4 <1 1 4 <0.3 1.4 <0.1 0.4 <0.02 1.7 <1 <1

HB-3

10-15 1/12/2010 3.92 6.7 104 <1 2 78 <0.3 3.1 0.1 4.8 <0.02 <0.4 4.0+/-1.8 15.3+/-1.4 20-25 1/12/2010 0.18 7 66 1 2 5,500 <0.3 3.6 <0.1 5.1 0.2 <0.2 <1 6.1+/-0.9 30-35 1/11/2010 0.17 6.5 37 <1 2 2,520 <0.3 3.1 <0.1 4.4 <0.02 0.9 <1 4.5+/-0.8 40-45 1/11/2010 1.58 6.3 40 <1 2 17 <0.3 2.9 <0.1 4.6 <0.02 4.7 <1 5.1+/-0.9 50-55 1/7/2010 7.16 5.9 12 <1 1 7 <0.3 1.3 <0.1 1.3 <0.02 28.9 <1 1.7+/-0.6 60-65 1/7/2010 8.66 5.7 9 <1 1 9 <0.3 2 <0.1 0.5 <0.02 19 <1 <1 70-75 1/7/2010 9.15 6.1 6 <1 1 21 <0.3 1.9 <0.1 0.4 <0.02 36.7 <1 <1 80-85 1/6/2010 9.13 7 9 <1 3 14 <0.3 1.8 0.12 0.4 <0.02 94.2 <1 <1

100-105 1/6/2010 9.7 7.6 9 <1 3 12 <0.3 1.7 <0.1 0.4 <0.02 3 <1 <1 110-115 1/6/2010 9.49 8.4 7 <1 4 9 <0.3 1.3 <0.1 0.3 <0.02 <0.2 <1 <1

HB-4

10-15 1/13/2010 5.41 6 41 <1 1 24 <0.3 3.4 <0.1 6.7 0.03 1.7 <1 1.5+/-0.7 20-25 1/13/2010 0.79 6.3 13 <1 1 6 <0.3 2.3 <0.1 4.5 <0.02 2.8 <1 4.3+/-0.8 30-35 1/13/2010 3.31 6.5 18 <1 <1 2 <0.3 2 <0.1 2.9 <0.02 0.7 <1 3.1+/-0.7 40-45 1/13/2010 4.74 6.5 10 <1 <1 2 <0.3 0.8 <0.1 1.7 <0.02 24.1 <1 2.0+/-0.7 50-55 1/12/2010 3.78 5.5 36 <1 <1 12 <0.3 3.7 <0.1 1.5 <0.02 4.9 <1 1.6+/-0.6 60-65 1/12/2010 5.71 5.7 6 <1 <1 4 <0.3 4 <0.1 0.6 <0.02 31.6 <1 <1 70-75 1/12/2010 8.56 5.7 8 <1 1 10 <0.3 2 <0.1 0.5 <0.02 24.1 <1 <1 80-85 1/11/2010 8.48 5.7 11 <1 1 7 <0.3 2.4 <0.1 0.6 <0.02 29.1 <1 <1

100-105 1/11/2010 9.26 6.1 12 <1 2 8 <0.3 2.7 <0.1 0.7 <0.02 1.7 <1 <1 110-115 1/11/2010 9.34 6.3 15 <1 2 9 <0.3 2.6 <0.1 0.6 <0.02 1.7 <1 1.2+/-0.6

Shallow contamination downgradient of LIC (only) except for deeper perchlorate Along road: road salt (shallow) compost (shallow-mid) perchlorate (deeper)

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ppb)

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pb)

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)

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pm)

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onia

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)

Perc

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ate

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)

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eta

HB-5 (shallow) 20-25

1/7/2010 0.26 7.35 151 <1 14 8,150 1.3 12.8 <0.1 116 2.17 <0.4 11.6+/-2.1 121.7+/-4.9

6/28/2011 1.74 6.77 129 6 6 15,300 1.4 13.6 <0.1 99.3 6.15 <0.2 7.3+/-3.1 92.4+/-6.5

7/25/2013 0.4 6.95 874 88 2 18,035 3.4 11 0.27 129 8 NS 24±1.0 118±2.4

3/18/2014 0.25 7.01 263 65 1 6,729 1.3 9.9 7 96 1.67 NS 20.1±1.0 78.9±2.7

HB-6 (deep) 75-80

1/7/2010 8.41 7.13 5 <1 <1 2 <0.3 1.9 <0.1 0.4 <0.02 52.4 <1 <1

3/18/2014 6.87 6.8 16 <1 1 115 <0.2 0.5 0.1 12.5 <0.5 NS <1 10.6±0.3

HB-7

10-15 2/3/2010 0.25 6.25 293 27 5 28,100 0.4 19.1 0.36 49.2 1.98 <4 11.5+/-3.3 70.2+/3.9

20-25 2/3/2010 0.23 6.21 572 39 <1 25,000 3.1 36.5 0.82 205 3.79 <4 45.7+/-5.6 253.1+/-10.3

30-35 2/3/2010 0.18 6.17 265 7 3 13,200 1.5 10 <0.1 54.2 7.5 2.9 10.8+/-2.5 76.6+/-3.7

40-45 2/3/2010 0.28 6.08 38 <1 <1 752 0.3 1.6 <0.1 12.3 0.5 11.6 <1 14.4+/-1.2

50-55 2/3/2010 6.79 5.76 23 <1 <1 53 <0.3 <50 <0.1 3.5 <0.02 15.7 <1 4+/-0.7

60-65 2/2/2010 8.52 5.81 5 <1 <1 60 <0.3 1.7 <0.1 0.5 <0.02 18.2 <1 1.1+/-0.6

70-75 2/2/2010 8.8 5.97 6 <1 <1 88 <0.3 1.6 <0.1 0.5 <0.02 19.4 <1 <1

80-85 2/2/2010 9.09 6.1 8 <1 1 63 <0.3 1.8 0.13 0.5 <0.02 13 <1 <1

90-95 2/2/2010 10.49 6.33 5 <1 1 23 <0.3 1.4 <0.1 0.4 <0.02 <2 <1 <1

100-105 2/2/2010 10.21 6.74 6 <1 2 10 <0.3 1.4 0.12 0.4 <0.02 <2 <1 <1

110-115 2/2/2010 10.47 6.95 6 <1 2 3 <0.3 1.5 <0.1 0.4 <0.02 <2 <1 <1

Most degraded WQ @ HB-7 (residence back yard) Mn: 28,100 ppb Gross Alpha: ~48 pCi/l (std.: 15 pCi/l) Tl: 3.1 ppb (std: 2 ppb) K: 205 mg/L (no std.) but leads to elevated gross beta NH4: 7.5 mg/L (std. ~ 2 ppm) DO: <1.0 mg/L

Additional work: 9 more profile wells

(3 upgradient) 4 solid samples 2 pooled water samples Results: Solid samples: nothing unusual Upgradient samples: perchlorate, no other impacts Downgradient samples: similar results to other dg samples

Ambient Conditions (1982-2016) Parameter

LIC “worst”

Landfill upgradient Mean Range N

Mn (filtered) Mn (total)

28100 ppb 138 ppb 72 ppb

0-16000 ppb 0-1350 ppb

443 442

Gross alpha ~48 pCi/L Tl (filtered) Tl (total)

3.1 ppb 0 0.00

0-13

47 321

K (filtered) K (total)

205 ppm 1.3 ppm 1.4 ppm

0-6.04 ppm 0-20.6 ppm

451 422

NH4 7.5 ppm 0.15 ppm 0-4.01 ppm 456 DO <1.0 ppm 8.6 ppm 0-17.0 ppm 396

July 2011-October 2014: Samples @ 11 other organic waste facilities

30 profile & 6 permanent wells 233 groundwater samples 2 surface water (run-off) samples

Site #

Site Name Location

Impacted Groundwater from VOWM

Activity Observed

1 Fifth Avenue Speonk Yes

2 Moriches-Riverhead Rd

Farm Eastport Yes

3 Papermill Rd Facility Manorville Yes

4 Exit 69 LIE Ramp Manorville Yes

5 South Street Farm Manorville Indeterminate

6 Moriches-Yaphank Rd Farm Manorville Indeterminate

7 East Main Street Yaphank Yes

8 LIE North Service Rd Farm Yaphank Indeterminate

9 Islip Town Compost Facility Ronkonkom

a Yes

10 Conklin St. Site Farmingdale Yes

11 Peconic Ave Site Medford Yes

Summary

7: groundwater impacts like LI Compost 1: lesser groundwater impacts 3: indeterminate

Summary of Compost Impacts Elevated metals

Primarily, Mn exceeding standards

Elevated radioactivity gross beta: mostly K40 gross alpha: mostly Ra

Elevated pH, depressed DO Trace pharmaceuticals and personal care products Low concentrations dichlorvos (pesticide)

Why?

Leaching from piles salts, C; pests, PCPPs (?)

Reactions in subsurface microbes consume C “redox” reactions reduction & oxidation (shifting electrons) leads to changes in valence states C-C to C-O (C0 to C+4) (C was oxidized) O-O to C-O (O0 to O-2) (O was reduced)

energy released

Hierarchy of electron acceptors O2 >> NO3 ≥ Mn >> Fe >> SO4 > C Aerobic organisms reap more benefits (so ecologically dominate) NO3 -> NH3 (ammonification) or N2 (denitrification) Mn+4 (insoluble) -> Mn+2 (soluble) Fe+3 (insoluble) -> Fe+2 (soluble) Products can react further

LI Minerals

LI sand mostly quartz contains inclusions lots of Mn, Fe Redox reactions can occur with substitutes result in dissolution of parts of crystals Ra, Ca, Cr, Co … etc. become soluble As too So: leaching & redox reactions (too much C) explain most

Conclusions & Implications Large compost sites can impact water resources

(ditches-ponds make it worse) (“mulch” is not that different)

Compost runoff will need treatment (BOD) Impermeable pads required (?) Lined ponds/ditches needed (?) Increased costs for large sites

Growing number of states ban disposal of YW those that don’t – gw impacts additional incentive

for disposal (not recovery) Growing push to increase recycling through organics incentivize alternative technologies? AD, pyrolysis & gasification (where allowed) Re-consider composting LCAs? Suburban-urban composting (even more) NIMBY? Forced air systems gain advantages?

Questions? Contact us: david.tonjes@stonybrook.edu AndrewJ.Rapiejko@suffolkcountyny.gov Email either of us for the reports: Comprehensive SCDHS report (all sites): Investigation of the Impacts to Groundwater from Compost/Vegetative Organic Waste Management Facilities in Suffolk County Joint NYSDEC-SCDHS LI Compost report: Horseblock Road Investigation, Yaphank NY