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MERC Hyde Test Plan
12 April 2012
3
example, rapid changes in physical conditions (such as salinity or total suspended solids) as
supplemental organisms are being added to influent ballast water may cause significant
mortality, independent of treatment. Nevertheless, in cases where natural challenge conditions
fall substantially short of the G8 guidelines and/or ETV protocols, MERC has the ability to
augment total suspended solids (TSS), particulate organic carbon (POC) and dissolved organic
carbon (DOC) and both phytoplankton and zooplankton. While MERC does not make any
guarantees on the precise conditions of challenge water, intake water can be modified to more
consistently approach the initial challenge conditions described in the G8 guidelines and ETV
protocols during testing. Arizona Test Dust, micronized humate (Micromate) and
Camellia
sinensis
(tea) (as described in ETV protocols) can be injected inline during initial filling of
control and test tanks to increase TSS, POC and DOC levels. Similarly biological conditions can
be augmented with native zooplankton and algae. Details on these procedures are available in
MERC SOPs. Finally, it is important to note that G8 MEPC 58/23 ANNEX 4, Part 2, Section
2.3.36 is utilized by MERC as the standard for a valid test trial: “If in any test cycle the average
discharge results from the control water is a concentration less than or equal to 10 times the
values in regulation D-2.1, the test cycle is invalid”.
Table 1. Ranges of various physical and biological parameters in ambient water during the testing season
(March/April – October/November) in the Port of Baltimore in comparison to ETV and G8 listed
challenge conditions. Port of Baltimore data collected by MERC and various academic and agency
studies or monitoring efforts in the general location of the MERC test barge
(Patapsco River).
Parameter
ETV
†
G8
‡
Historic Ranges*
Port of Baltimore
Temperature (
o
C)
4 - 35
No Requirement
4 - 28
Salinity (psu)
0 - 36
Two salinities, >10
psu difference
1 - 18
Total Suspended Solids
(mg/L)
Min. 24
> 50
1 – 60
Mineral Matter
(mg/L)
Min. 20
No Requirement
< 1 – 50
Particulate Organic Carbon
(mg/L)
Min. 4
> 5
<1 – 6.0
Dissolved Organic Carbon
(mg/L)
Min. 6
> 5
2 – 10
Live Organisms > 50
µ
m/m
3
Min. 100,000
> 100,000
10,000 – 500,000
Live Organisms 10 - 50
µ
m/ml
Min. 1,000
> 1,000
500 – 15,000
Culturable Bacteria
cfu/ml
Min 1,000
>1,000
10,000 – 10,000,000
†
ETV Generic Protocol for the Verification of Ballast Water Treatment Technologies, 2010.
‡
IMO Guidelines for the Approval
of Ballast Water Management Systems (G8), October 2008, Annex 4 Resolution MEPC.174 (58). *TSS, POC and DOC (2004-
2007) MD DNR Chesapeake Bay Water Quality database: www.chesapeakebay.net/data_waterquality.aspx. Zooplankton (1998–
2002) and phytoplankton (2004-2007) Chesapeake Bay Program: www.chesapeakebay.net/data_plankton.aspx. Bacteria (1998-
present) Cowell and Huq, University of Maryland; Louis et al. 2003, AEM 69:2773-2785.
‡‡
The dissolved and particulate
minimum concentrations are within the salinity range of <3 – 32 psu. The minimum concentrations for the dissolved and
particulate parameters at salinities >32 psu are > 1mg/L.