Basic HTML Version
MERC BIO-SEA Test Plan
7 June 2012
4
Prior to any formal testing, one mechanical commissioning run of the BIO-SEA system
will be provided to assure appropriate treatment operations. This run will identify and correct
initial mechanical or operating issues. Any data collected during the commissioning run will
only be used for test preparations and will not be provided in the final report.
After treatment system commissioning has been completed and accepted by BIO-UV,
MERC will conduct two types of trials to evaluate the BIO-SEA treatment system in Baltimore,
MD: (a) operations and maintenance (O&M) verification and (b) logical efficacy evaluations.
(a) O&M Testing - Prior to initiating any biological testing of treatment performance,
MERC will evaluate the operational and mechanical reliability of the BIO-SEA system options
as it treats at least 1,200 m
3
of water from the Port of Baltimore, at 100 m
3
/hr (two days, 6 hours
of operations each). Since an active substance is not used in the BIO-SEA system, water will be
treated (passed through the filter + UV system), then discharged directly overboard using a sea-
to-sea pumping mode. MERC will monitor power consumption, the various other O&M
parameters listed in the ETV protocols, and failures (if any).
(b) Biological Efficacy - MERC will conduct series of up to six biological efficacy tests
in Baltimore. See descriptions below and in MERC QAPP and SOPs. The first three test trials
will involve 5-day hold times and TSS, POC and DOC levels of approximately 50 mg/L, 5 to 6
mg/L and 4 to 5 mg/L, respectively, in challenge water by adding Arizona Test Dust, micronized
humate, and instant ice tea (as described in MERC SOPs and ETV Protocols). The second set of
three BE test trials will be determined based on results of first three trials and may include either
trials with increasing TSS levels of approximately 60 mg/L, 70 mg/l and 80 mg/l or decreasing
hold times of 4 days, 3 days and 2 days (see Table 3).
5. Summary of Land-Based Testing and Sampling Design
The simulated ballast system of the MERC Mobile Test Platform
has been designed to
allow for water to be split equally, and delivered simultaneously, to a “control” (untreated) tank
and a “treated” tank (passing first through the treatment system). BIO-UV has selected a flow
rate of 100m
3
/hr for this set of evaluations. The mimic ballast tanks to be used for the five-day
holding times are identical in size (310 m
3
) and structure. Each tank will be filled to a minimum
of 150 m
3
for each test trial. Water entering the control and test tanks is handled as close to
identically as possible, (e.g., passing through similar pumps and piping), aside from treated water
passing through the BIO-SEA treatment system. Detailed drawings of the MERC Mobile Test
Platform and ballast system can be found in SOPs.
Statistically-validated (Miller et al., 2011), continuous, time-integrated samples will be
taken for each of the following: (A) uptake water for both control and treated conditions, (B)
control and treated water upon discharge after a five-day holding time. Sample volumes and
details of the physical, chemical, and biological analyses for each sample are described below.
All samples collected to quantify live organisms or water quality will be taken by inline
sampling of water during the entire filling or discharge of water from the tanks through sample
ports located on appropriate filling or discharge pipes. All sample ports include a valve and
sample tube with a 90
o
bend towards the direction of flow, placed in the center of the piping
system (based on the design developed and validated by the US Naval Research Laboratory, Key
West Florida, see ETV protocols).
Water for biological examination is split for sampling the >50µm size fraction (nominally
zooplankton), and the other fractions (10-50 µm size fraction, bacteria, water quality, etc.). See
Table 2 for the list of samples to be collected, with corresponding volumes and purpose. At the