Effluent and production impacts of flow-through aquaculture operations in West Virginia

Average concentrations and mass loadings of regulated parameters were within regulatory limits and increased in direct proportion to the mass of fish reared. However, when comparing effluent pollutant concentrations and loads with West Virginia National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limitations, the potential for increased production existed at each facility. Based on the current West Virginia NPDES limit of 30 mg/L for total suspended solids (TSS), each facility could increase production from 147 to 819%. However, with a more stringent TSS limitation of 5 mg/L net used in states in the western US, two facilities would have to reduce production from 37 to 44%, while the other sites could increase production from 19 to 170%. Consequently, the opportunity to increase production under any set of regulatory constraints was a function of annual fish production, legal requirements, and the implementation of effective effluent treatment processes.