EPA Goes to BAT Against Toxic Industrial Wastewater

Bartos, Michael J.; ,

EPA Goes to BAT Against Toxic Industrial Wastewater

by Michael J. Bartos, Jr., (A.M.ASCE), Asst. Editor; CIVIL ENGINEERING�ASCE, New York, N.Y.,

Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1979, Vol. 49, Issue 9, Pg. 87-90

Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

Industrial wastewater discharged into municipal sanitary sewers can pass untreated through the treatment plant and into the receiving water. Some industrial wastes can also harm biological treatment processes. Even those industrial toxics removed by municipal wastewater treatment plants can cause problems, because they contaminate sludge. Such contamination can restrict uses of sludge, such as land application, adding to already critical sludge-disposal problems. The article describes pretreatment program of Grand Rapids, Michigan, designed to protect the city's treatment plant and to reduce discharge of toxics to Grand River. Also described is federal general pretreatment regulation, which requires cities to develop and enforce pretreatment programs by 1983. EPA is to develop effluent limits, based on best available technology economically achievable (BAT), for 34 industries and including 65 toxic chemicals.

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