Nemura, Adrienne

Adrienne Nemura is a professional engineer with Geosyntec Consultants in the Cleveland/Akron region. She has 40 years of experience helping clients...

Joined:

About Nemura, Adrienne

Adrienne Nemura is a professional engineer with Geosyntec Consultants in the Cleveland/Akron region. She has 40 years of experience helping clients leverage the flexibilities within the Clean Water Act. In her spare time, she enjoys working with her Paso Fino, a haflinger/pony cross, and two Papillions and volunteering with the Medina Creative Therapy Ranch.

Nemura, Adrienne

Titles from this speaker

Description: Addressing Nutrient Impairment in Illinois Watersheds: Challenges for...

Addressing Nutrient Impairment in Illinois Watersheds: Challenges for Watershed-based Permitting

Abstract

Excess nutrients from point sources (e.g., wastewater treatment plants and municipal separate storm sewer systems [MS4s]) and nonpoint sources (e.g., stormwater runoff, agricultural runoff) have impaired many water bodies around the United States. Nutrient-related impairments, including harmful algal blooms (HABs), threaten freshwater and marine ecosystems, recreation in surface waters, and public drinking water supplies. Since 2000, EPA has been working with states, US territories, and tribes to address nutrient-related impairments. For example, in 2018, the Illinois EPA, the Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies, and environmental nongovernmental organizations negotiated the Nutrient Assessment Reduction Plan (NARP) special conditions for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for major publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). The NARP conditions allow POTWs to understand the relative contribution of sources and the benefits (or lack of benefits) of reducing point sources, nonpoint sources, and other measures (such as dam removals). Illinois EPA allows the POTWs to develop a stand-alone NARP or adopt a watershed-based approach by working with other POTWs and local stakeholders to address the phosphorus-related impairments. Joining a watershed group enhances stakeholder engagement and provides cost savings but may require a longer timeline to complete the NARP. While the NARP requirements allow POTWs to understand the system and determine an effluent phosphorus limit based on site-specific conditions, it can be a significant undertaking for smaller municipalities discharging to large rivers like the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Furthermore, regional agencies might be better suited to lead the assessment of nutrientrelated impairments on larger rivers often impacted by nutrient loads from multiple states. Lessons learned from addressing nutrient impairment at a watershed-based level can be applied to other impaired waters around the United States.

Nutrient pollution in surface waters threatens freshwater and marine ecosystems, recreation, and drinking water supplies. Illinois EPA developed the Nutrient Assessment Reduction Plan special condition for discharge permits for major publicly owned treatment works. The conditions include a watershed-based and a stand-alone approach, each with pros and cons. Lessons learned from Illinois' NARP efforts can benefit other impaired waters nationwide.

SpeakerQasem, Karoline

Presentation time

14:30:00

14:50:00

Session time

13:30:00

15:00:00

SessionNutrient Management: Growing Water Quality

Session locationRoom S504a - Level 5

TopicIntermediate Level, Nutrients, Watershed Management, Water Quality, and Groundwater

Author(s)

Qasem, Karoline

Author(s)K. Qasem 1; A. Nemura 2 ; K. Qasem 1;

Author affiliation(s)Geosyntec Consultants 1; Geosyntec Consultants 2 ; Geosyntec Consultants 1;

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2023

DOI10.2175/193864718825158998

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count11

Description: Fox River Implementation Plan: A Roadmap for Improved Water Quality for the Fox...

Fox River Implementation Plan: A Roadmap for Improved Water Quality for the Fox River, Illinois

Abstract

The Fox River Implementation Plan (FRIP) is a roadmap to address water quality impairments in Fox River, Illinois. The FRIP identifies four main management actions for implementation to address water quality impairments dam removal, wastewater treatment plant upgrades, upstream load reductions, and tributary load reduction. This paper discusses the overview, stakeholder engagement, implementation obstacles, and funding sources for each recommended management action. It also describes an adaptive management framework for assessing the performance of management actions and responding to potential challenges. The information presented in this paper would be useful to wastewater treatment plants and stakeholders in developing their implementation plans to address water quality issues in other larger watersheds.

The Fox River Implementation Plan (FRIP) is a roadmap for improving water quality in the Fox River, Illinois. The FRIP identifies four main recommended actions for implementation: dam removal, wastewater treatment plant upgrades, upstream load reductions, and tributary load reduction. The information presented in this paper would be useful to wastewater treatment plants and stakeholders in developing their implementation plans to address water quality issues in other larger watersheds.

SpeakerMahajan, Rishab

Presentation time

09:00:00

09:15:00

Session time

08:30:00

10:00:00

SessionLet Me Know About BMPs

Session locationRoom S405 - Level 4

TopicIntermediate Level, Small Communities and Decentralized Systems, Utility Management and Leadership, Watershed Management, Water Quality, and Groundwater

Author(s)

Mahajan, Rishab

Author(s)R. Mahajan 1; A. Nemura 2 ; R. Mahajan 1; C. Skrukrud 3;

Author affiliation(s)Geosyntec Consultants 1; Geosyntec Consultants 2 ; Fox River Watershed Group 3;

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2023

DOI10.2175/193864718825159154

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count16

Nutrient Reduction Planning: Illinois' Journey and Lessons Learned

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:
Efforts to reduce nutrient loading from both point sources and non-point sources are intensifying to tackle major environmental issues. These issues include hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico, harmful algal blooms in Western Lake Erie, and various nutrient-related problems in local water bodies across the U.S. The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy aims for a 45% reduction in total phosphorus and nitrogen loading by 2045. A key tool in this strategy is the Nutrient Assessment Reduction Plan (NARP), which is a special condition included in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for major wastewater treatment plants with a design flow of one million gallons per day.

OBJECTIVE:
The primary purpose of the NARP is to identify phosphorus input reductions and other necessary measures to address phosphorus-related impairments. The NARP special condition requires permittees to develop an implementation plan and schedule for the identified measures to address water quality impairments effectively. The WWTPs are required to achieve an annual geometric mean effluent TP target of 0.5 mg/L by 2030. The NARP determined whether a local TP effluent target was required to address the phosphorus-related impairments in receiving waters

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:
The NARP development NARP was tailored to the unique characteristics of each wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and watershed. At WEFTEC 2022, various approaches to NARP development were presented (Mahajan et al., 2022). This presentation will cover implementation plans for three completed NARPs: one for a headwater stream by a single WWTP, another by a large regional utility for a network of receiving water bodies, and a watershed-wide NARP by a group of WWTPs.

STAKEHOLDER ROLE:
The Water Research Foundation Project #4974 has identified three pillars for nutrient management: Practice, Policy, and Partnerships (Clark et al., 2023). Partnerships with relevant stakeholders are a critical aspect of nutrient reduction efforts and are often overlooked. The NARP development included many stakeholders, including government agencies, municipalities, non-profits, environmental groups, and the community. This presentation will discuss the role of different stakeholders in the NARP development, and the strategies used to solicit input from them. Example strategies utilized in the NARP development included public meetings, watershed group meetings, surveys, and workshops. Engaging stakeholders ensures that diverse perspectives are considered, and collaborative solutions are developed.

OBSTACLES TO IMPLEMENTATION:
The NARPs were due by the end of 2024. This presentation will discuss the obstacles to the NARP implementation recommendations. These include, but are not limited to:
1. Financial Constraints: Many WWTPs in Illinois, especially smaller ones, face financial constraints in meeting the NARP TP effluent limits of 0.5 mg/L. The State Revolving Fund (SRF) in Illinois does not have enough funds to assist with upgrading all the major WWTPs to meet the effluent TP target of 0.5 mg/L. Another example is the funding for dam removal recommended in some NARPs for addressing phosphorus-related impairments.
2. Technical Constraints: An example of a technical constraint is the inability of a large WWTP to meet the effluent TP target of 0.5 mg/L due to the industrial nature of a large proportion of its effluent. This presents a significant challenge in achieving the desired nutrient reduction goals.
3. Uncertainty about the Role of Environmental Groups' Comments for NPDES Permit Renewal: Environmental groups were part of the NARP development process. However, they provided comments urging the Illinois EPA to set the target effluent TP concentrations to 0.1 mg/L or below. It remains to be seen how the Illinois EPA will respond to these comments during the NPDES permit renewal process, adding a layer of uncertainty to the implementation.
4. Public Engagement: During the NARP development, WWTPs found it challenging to engage with the public on wastewater topics. This is likely to remain a challenge for implementation, as it is difficult to generate public interest and excitement about 'wastewater' issues. Effective public engagement strategies are essential for gaining community support and ensuring successful implementation.

PATH FORWARD: This presentation will discuss the recommended path forward to overcome the described obstacles. Adaptive management is an iterative process that involves continual monitoring to assess the performance of management actions and enable responsiveness to potential challenges. The NARP implementation would need to include adaptive management to address the implementation challenges. The NARP implementation will also focus on the three Ps of nutrient management: incorporating technological advancements and cost-efficient WWTP upgrades, flexible regulatory policies that encourage innovation, and continuing to foster partnerships to achieve the nutrient reduction goals. By adopting an adaptive management approach, stakeholders can ensure that the NARP implementation remains effective and responsive to changing conditions and new information.

SIGNIFICANCE:
The lessons learned from the development of Illinois NARPs will be invaluable to stakeholders in other states as they address nutrient-related impairments in receiving waters.

This paper was presented at WEFTEC 2025, held September 27-October 1, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

Presentation time

16:00:00

16:30:00

Session time

15:30:00

17:00:00

SessionBalancing Act: Nutrients, Water Quality, and Ecosystems

Session locationMcCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, USA

TopicWatershed Management

Author(s)

Mahajan, Rishab, Nemura, Adrienne

Author(s)R. Mahajan1, A. Nemura1

Author affiliation(s)Geosyntec Consultants1

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Sep 2025

DOI10.2175/193864718825159982

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count9

Description: Roadmap! Taking Integrated Planning for Municipal Wastewater and Stormwater on the...

Roadmap! Taking Integrated Planning for Municipal Wastewater and Stormwater on the Road

Abstract

Current Clean Water Act regulations affecting municipal wastewater and stormwater discharges inhibit collective efforts as individual stakeholders are forced to address rigid and narrowly focused regulations. EPA’s Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Planning Approach Framework (EPA, 2012) applies systems thinking based on a one water principle, coupled with local accountability. A more effective one-water regulatory framework can create more economical and sustainable outcomes that result in better overall water quality. Integrated planning is a concept that supports prioritization of capital investments in all forms of water infrastructure designed to protect human health and the environment, and to incorporate societal objectives in the most cost-effective, affordable way. Integrated planning also provides more coordination and up-front planning at the local level along with local stakeholder accountability. The result is less overall cost to achieve ultimate goals, compliance with regulations, and successful outcomes. While the framework has existed for a decade and is now part of the Clean Water Act, less than 0.5 percent of municipalities are taking advantage of it.

This paper was presented at WEFTEC 2023 in Chicago, IL.

SpeakerNemura, Adrienne

Presentation time

08:30:00

10:00:00

Session time

08:30:00

10:00:00

SessionRoadmap! Taking Integrated Planning for Municipal Wastewater and Stormwater on the Road

Session locationRoom S401a - Level 4

TopicFundamental Level, Stormwater and Green Infrastructure, Utility Management and Leadership, Watershed Management, Water Quality, and Groundwater

Author(s)

Nemura, Adrienne

Author(s)A. Nemura 1; B. Koltz 2 ; J. Phillips 3; S. Dominick 4; S.W. Vallabhaneni 5;

Author affiliation(s)Geosyntec Consultants 1; Brandon Koltz Water and Environmental Consulting, Carthage College and Milwaukee School of Engineering 2 ; Parametrix 3; Hazen & Sawyer 4; AECOM 5;

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2023

DOI10.2175/193864718825158979

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count13

Description: Watershed Management and NPDES Permitting Complexities with Nutrients for the City...

Watershed Management and NPDES Permitting Complexities with Nutrients for the City of Medford, Oregon

Abstract

One of US EPA's priorities for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program is to establish technology-based effluent limits (TBELs) and water quality-based effluent limits (WQBELs) for total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN). As detailed in a National Association of Clean Water Agencies' report that reviewed US EPA methods for establishing WQBELs for nutrients, these limits are one of the chief regulatory and economic issues that wastewater utilities have and continue to face (NACWA, 2014). While there have been numerous attempts to evaluate TBELs, none of the studies have identified an approach that can be broadly applied and state program managers settle on various levels of control such as one milligram per liter (mg/L) monthly average and 1.5 mg/L weekly average for TP (Ohio Lake Erie discharges); 0.5 mg/L seasonal geometric mean for TP (Illinois), etc. Similarly, state managers recognize that nonpoint source contributions and other environmental conditions must be considered when establishing WQBELs (Illinois). In other instances, very stringent WQBELs have been established by nutrient total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) including the Chesapeake Bay, Truckee River, and Boise and Snake Rivers or even in the absence of a TMDL, such as the Blackstone River which was one of the first permitting cases for translation of narrative criteria in a NPDES permit.

The City of Medford, Oregon (City) was the first utility where the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) applied the state's biological criteria (biocriteria) to establish TP and TN WQBELs. DEQ used the results of various water quality studies of the Rogue River to establish a linkage between the recognized limiting nutrient, TN, but also for TP. Due to the complex relationship between nutrient loads from the regional water reclamation facility (RWRF), non-point sources, and other environmental conditions on the biota (macroinvertebrates), the proposed limits were challenged by the City of Medford and the Northwest Environmental Advocates. Ultimately, the final permit included interim and final TN and TP limits; an optimization study for the RWRF (due September 2022); a draft facility plan for the RWRF upgrades (due September 2023); construction of projects to achieve the final TN and interim TP limits (due September 2028); another optimization of the RWRF (due September 2029); achievement of the final TN and interim TP limits (by September 2030); and subsequent upgrades to achieve the final TP limit (by September 2035).

The permit also included requirements for a stressor analysis in accordance with the US EPA's Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System (CADDIS,) which must be submitted by September 2025. The CADDIS study is designed to evaluate various physical and chemical stressors (including nutrients) that could be managed to address the macroinvertebrate based biocriteria impairment (see Figure 1). The study is also required to address the impact of stressors on periphyton biomass (cell density and biovolume) downstream of the RWRF's outfall. Consistent with the CADDIS approach, a data gap analysis was performed on the existing studies that DEQ relied on for the permit decision (see Table 1). Based on the analysis, co-located biological, chemical, and physical data was collected between March and October of 2023 both upstream and downstream of the RWRF outfall. In analyzing the data, there are 12 candidate causes and 11 types of evidence, for a total of 132 lines of evidence. Results of the analysis of the lines of evidence are shown in Figure 2. At the time of this submittal, data analysis is ongoing.

In addition to the CADDIS study, the City is also required to conduct additional monitoring of the river through the Rogue River Ambient Monitoring Plan (RRAMP). The RRAMP monitoring frequency, parameters, and methods will be informed by the CADDIS study and the timeline for monitoring must include both pre- and post-implementation final TN and TP limits. While the permit does not require monitoring for pre- and post-implementation of projects to achieve the interim TN and interim TP limits, the City plans to incorporate this into the RRAMP.

The City also participates in temperature trading in the Rogue Basin which was initiated in 2011. In 2019, US EPA disapproved Oregon's natural condition for temperature which serves as the foundation of temperature TMDLs and trading programs in the state. DEQ is therefore embarking on an update of temperature TMDLs and the Rogue River is schedule for 2026. The challenges associated with meeting the future temperature TMDL remain to be determined; however, the linkage between temperature, nutrients, and attainment of the biocriteria are difficult to understand. This presentation will provide an overview of the work conducted to date and the plans for the future. It will also include a discussion of the pros, cons, and challenges of embodying watershed studies within the context of an individual NPDES permit. The City's experience will help other dischargers and permit writers consider options for navigating permit conditions associated with nutrient limits intended to protect biological uses in surface waters.

This paper was presented at WEFTEC 2025, held September 27-October 1, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

Presentation time

09:00:00

09:30:00

Session time

08:30:00

10:00:00

SessionDon't Feed the Algae! Watershed Management for Nutrient Control

Session locationMcCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, USA

TopicWatershed Management

Author(s)

Nemura, Adrienne, Luebbering, Cody, Adkison, Chris, Leavy, Johnny, Anderson, Kenneth

Author(s)A. Nemura1, C. Luebbering1, C. Adkison1, J. Leavy2, K. Anderson2

Author affiliation(s)Geosyntec Consultants1, City of Medford, Public Works - WRD2, Veolia3

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Sep 2025

DOI10.2175/193864718825160072

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count15

Base text size -

Nemura, Adrienne

About Nemura, Adrienne

My Recent Activity