Investigating Seasonal Water Quality Dynamics in Humid, Subtropical Louisiana Facultative Waste Stabilization Ponds

Waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) in humid, subtropical climates rely on stable temperatures and mechanical aeration to promote microbial activity. These critical infrastructures can lack operational resources to ensure efficient treatment, which can impact downstream communities. This study aims to use remote water quality sensor data to establish trends in a yearly dataset and correlate various water quality parameters for simplistic identification of pond health. A facultative WSP was monitored in two stages: the primary settling over a period of 14 months to evaluate partially treated water, and the secondary treatment pond for a period of 11 months to monitor final stage water quality parameters. A statistical analysis was performed on the measured parameters (dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity, pH, turbidity, nitrate, and ammonium) to establish a comprehensive yearly, seasonal, and monthly dataset to show fluctuations in water parameter correlations. Standard relationships in dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, and temperature were traced during the seasonal fluctuations, which provided insight into nitrogen processing by microbial communities. During this study, the summer period showed the most variability, specifically a deviation in the dissolved oxygen and temperature relationship from a yearly moderate negative correlation (−0.593) to a moderate positive correlation (0.459), indicating a direct relationship. The secondary treatment pond data showed more nitrogen species correlation, which can indicate final cycling during seasonal transitions. Understanding pond dynamics can lead to impactful, proactive operational decisions to address pond imbalance or chemical dosing for final treatment. By establishing parameter correlations, facilities with WSPs can strategically integrate sensor networks for real-time pond health and treatment efficiency monitoring during seasonal fluctuations.