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MERC BIO-SEA Test Plan
7 June 2012
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Toxicity endpoints will include survival in acute fish and invertebrate tests, survival and
growth in chronic fish and invertebrate tests, and population growth in chronic algal tests as
required in Section 5.2.4 of the G9 document (IMO, 2008). Tests are designed with a dilution
series to allow calculation of daily LC50 (concentration yielding 50% lethality) values from
acute and chronic mortality data. In addition, chronic tests will include sufficient treatment
replication to allow calculation of NOEC (no observable effect concentration), LOEC (lowest
observable effect concentration) and EC25 (percent concentration yielding a 25% effect) values
for all toxicity endpoints as required in Section 5.2.5 of the G9 (IMO, 2008). Statistical analyses
will be performed using ToxCalc statistical software (TSS, 2006) according to methods from
USEPA (2002) and ASTM (2006) guidance documents. A test trial will be considered a failure
on the grounds of residual toxicity upon discharge if acute lethality (as indicated by
determination of an LC50 of less than 100%) occurs in any test species.
6. Test Trials
After the successful commissioning (see SOPs and ETV Protocols), and successful
completion of the O&M verification trials (with no more than one mechanical failure, described
above), MERC will conduct a maximum of six test trials of the BIO-SEA treatment system to
assess its ability to meet IMO D2 standards, under various conditions, in land-based testing
during the summer of 2012. For any test that is considered valid (and for which the facility
testing system functioned properly and the average discharge from the control water is greater or
equal to 10 times D2), an inability to: (a) successfully treat ballast water without interruption
and/or (b) to meet D2 discharge standards upon discharge, will be considered a “failure”.
Results of tests regarded as failures will be noted and included in the final report. Two failures
on the part of the treatment system may result in the termination of testing prior to the maximum
of six test trials depending on the nature of the failures. MERC Senior Management will make a
final decision on early termination of the tests, in consultation with BIO-UV representatives.
This evaluation will be based on physical and biological characterization of water upon
ballasting (uptake of water) and comparisons of organisms in control versus treated water after a
five-day, in-tank holding time for the different D2 biological categories. Results will also be
presented as concentration of viable organisms per biological category in treated water upon
discharge versus D2 standards.
Table 3. A summary of the trials to be conducted, including target TSS and percent UV transmittance
levels. TSS and UVT levels listed are only targeted estimates. Precise level will be quantified but can
not be guaranteed because of variability in ambient water. Targets for Trials 6 – 8 will be established
based on results from Trials 3 – 5. Two options under consideration for trials 6 – 8 are to conduct
identical trials but with increasing TSS levels (e.g., 60 mg/L, 70 mg/l and 80 mg/l) or decreasing hold
times (4 days, 3 days and 2 days).
Trail #
Treatment
Trial Type
Target TSS
UVT
1
BIO-SEA
40
µ
m filter + mono-lamp UVs Commissioning
~ 50 mg/L
~ 70%
2
BIO-SEA
40
µ
m filter + mono-lamp UVs
O&M
Ambient
Ambient
3
BIO-SEA
40
µ
m filter + mono-lamp UVs
Biological
~ 50 mg/L
~ 70%
4
BIO-SEA
40
µ
m filter + mono-lamp UVs
Biological
~ 50 mg/L
~ 70%
5
BIO-SEA
40
µ
m filter + mono-lamp UVs
Biological
~ 50 mg/L
~ 70%
6
BIO-SEA
40
µ
m filter + mono-lamp UVs
Biological
TBD
TBD
7
BIO-SEA
40
µ
m filter + mono-lamp UVs
Biological
TBD
TBD
8
BIO-SEA
40
µ
m filter + mono-lamp UVs
Biological
TBD
TBD