Water Pollution Research: A Key to Wastewater Management Author(s): G. J.

Stander Reviewed work(s): Source: Journal (Water Pollution Control Federation), Vol. 38, No. 5 (May, 1966), pp. 774-788 Published by: Water Environment Federation Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25035551 . Accessed: 04/02/2013 07:10
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

Water Environment Federation is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal (Water Pollution Control Federation).

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH?A KEY

TOWASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
G. J. Stander
Water is the lifeblood of socio-eco nomic development. Worldwide popu in man's the upsurge lation explosion, standard of living, ad breathtaking vances on the scientific and front, in exploiting man's scien ingenuity cumu all are placing tific knowledge, on water resources. lative demands on this is the problem of Superimposed water af which profoundly pollution fects the usefulness of available sup plies. A general awareness of the pollution and of the importance of re problem search as the principal for pathway the many issues resolving conflicting of pollution control is reflected most in and dis the strikingly presentation cussion of scientific papers at the 1962 on and 1964 International Conferences Water held in Lon Pollution Research, don and Tokyo, respectively. The sub establishment of an Interna sequent on Water tional Association Pollution and to its decision Research, organize and sponsor international conferences as every two years, must be regarded a call to arms by scientists and engi neers from many countries. This is a move a solidary to establish research front with well-defined di spearheads rected at the enhancement of the re standard of scientific knowledge water at the pro garding pollution, motion of continuity in socioeconomic
G. J. Stander is Director, National Insti tute for Water Council Besearch, for Scien Industrial Be tific and Besearch, Pretoria, public of South Africa. was The at the 88th An paper presented nual trol Conference Federation, 1965. 10-14, Pollution of the Water Atlantic City, N. J., Con Oct.

and at the curtailment of progress, the ever-widening gap between water demand and available supplies. In South Africa, the pollution of a pattern more water or is following less similar to that experienced in other Since World War parts of the world. has de II, South African industry an at veloped ever-increasing rate, and in the last 10 yr this development has been so phenomenal that it might well be termed an industrial explosion. One of the mainsprings of sustained industrial expansion is, of course, the of water supplies sufficient availability is not blessed and, since South Africa with unlimited water Resources, inten sive scientific of study of all aspects the treatment, use, and reuse of water is vital. The above realization the prompted South African for Scientific Council and Industrial Research (SACSIR) a Division to establish for Water Re search in its National Re Chemical search Laboratory as early as 1948. the of Subsequently, responsibilities the Division to such an ex increased tent that in 1958 it was converted to a fully-fledged National Institute for Water Research (NIWR). a humble beginning, From the In stitute now has regional laboratories in Durban, Natal; the West Bellville, ern Cape; Bloemfontein, the Orange Free State; and in Windhoek, South West Africa; while a Research Group for Hydrobiology has been established at the Rhodes Grahams University, town. Increased activities also have necessitated to the extensions building main in Pretoria. These laboratory 774

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Vol. 38, No. 5

WATER

POLLUTION double

RESEARCH 775

will extensions approximately accommodation. the existing Finance

effort research Institute's re fundamental from ranges purely and development to applied search research The fundamental projects. is made possible by an annual grant which forms part of the funds voted to the SACSIR Ap by Parliament. are financed mostly by plied projects from and contracts with grants-in-aid ad provincial agencies, government and local authorities, ministrations, The industries. Special Facilities

of Southern Engineers Municipal Insti and the South African Africa, tution of Civil Engineers. ex and Through correspondence tries NIWR the of publications change to keep in close contact with overseas concerned with water re organizations
search.

Organization

of Research

on the prin The NIWR functions cannot be research ciple that water of a single to the confines limited and that it should scientific discipline a front where broad advance along takes of various disciplines interaction
place.

of the Insti The research program such disci involves tute, therefore, chemi engineering, plines as sanitary cal engineering, (including chemistry and bio inorganic, physical, organic, zoology, and microbiology, chemistry), is carried out This program botany. and the four Groups by six Research The activities Laboratories. Regional South services; Africa; publishing of each Research a Group are orientated and translation services; language a rather field to problem specific and public relations division ; publicity a in while than to specific discipline, overseas scientific liaison offices in Lon are the Laboratories techni problems Regional and Cologne; don, Washington, studied which are specific to the areas services and statistical cal services; are situated. in which the laboratories for Institute by the National provided Sciences. Mathematical of Research Fields a constituent of the Institute Being dis at its has NIWR the SACSIR, several services, specialized posal by the SACSIR. centrally provided These services include the SACSIR Li is the most important brary, which in and technological scientific library Cooperation Cooperation other research with depart government SACSIR; ments such as Water Affairs, Health, and Planning; Bantu Administration, with with administrations; provincial and with local authorities; industry. are carried out of projects A number on a joint basis with these organiza cases in other specific tions, while attach industries person temporarily to work on the prob nel to the NIWR lems of that industry. with Close links also are maintained bodies such as the Insti professional Purification tute of Sewage (South of the Institution African Branch), is maintained laboratories with the of Anaerobic Digestion

The application of the process of an of to the treatment aerobic digestion is gain effluents polluted organically Fundamental ing importance rapidly. is still very of the process knowledge and large-scale however, inadequate, often must operate on a prin digesters It is common ciple of trial and error. for instance, that the per experience, formance of a digester which has op for an extended erated smoothly pe fall off in per riod may suddenly formance without any apparent reason. to The NIWR, subscribed therefore, of that basic knowledge the viewpoint the process with regard to such factors as its nutritional and the requirements

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

776 JOURNAL WPCF effect of temperature, feeding rate, and nature is necessary of the substrate in order to ensure maximal efficiency In of the process. in the application a Re accordance with this viewpoint, has been search established Group whose efforts are directed exclusively re and microbiological to biochemical search on anaerobic digestion. Coop eration also has been established with of California and a the University has microbiologist joined temporarily a team of sanitary at Berk engineers on the problem. eley working In various methods of studying stimulating digesters which have failed, the Institute has developed the rein oculation It was found that technique. a defective could be restored digester addition of the sludge from an in by on a mixed oculum digester maintained feed of the relevant effluent and sew to refine research Basic age sludge. this technique is presently being pur sued intensively. In parallel with the laboratory stud on pilot ies, practical investigations scale and full-scale digesters treating are proceed various industrial wastes ing in the Western Cape Regional at Bellville. One method Laboratory under investigation is shown schemati sue 1. Considerable cally in Figure cess

May

1966

has been achieved with already with large-scale notably applications, the treatment of effluent from a glu and with wine-dis cose-starch factory on the tillery effluents. Investigations latter type of effluent are being con a view to improving tinued with the treatment. of Other economy types of are receiving effluent which attention are those from slaughterhouses, yeast and beer breweries. factories, In the Natal Regional Laboratory, an into the Durban, investgation raw sewage of treating in feasibility an anaerobic also has com digester
menced.

Arid

Zone

Research

The Regional in Wind Laboratory South West is concerned hoek, Africa, with of water exclusively problems in South West the supply Africa, can be classified greater part of which as arid region is (Figure 2). Water indeed the limiting in the de factor of the economic velopment potential of the area. rivers water of the low rainfall, consequence flow very and intermittently sea reaches the before dis rarely into the river beds. appearing sandy If it also is taken into account that
tank. Foqm breaker /~\

In

SHAFT SCRAPER 1REV/7-5MINS

>

<*>
Ir _Bridge-suppgxiipg, ^ scrgp_ejL_orrpA.

XL ~ _[J_pqP

G?s dome. \

-_-_-_-_-_-_]

-?nl Woste injection Hh

B

droin. /f^^^^^ |^,

DIGESTER COMPARTMENT X \o

._?tf_: FIGURE 1.?Generalized the reverse-flow principle, industrial wastes. of a clarigester, section converted for treatment of organically highly to employ polluted

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Vol. 38, No. 5

WATER

POLLUTION

RESEARCH

777

"ffi"WKS
1. ONDANGUA 2. SESFONTEIN 3. NAMUTONI 4. TSUMEB 5. KARAKUWISA 6. GROOTFONTEIN 7. HENTIES-BAY 8. SWAKOPMUND 9. WALVISBAAI ?. WINDHOEK GOBABIS 11. 12. AUS KEETMANSHOOP 13. 14. KARASBURG ?. UPINGTON 16. POFADDER 17GOODHOUSE PORT 18. NOLLOTH 19. SPRINGBOK 20.KAMIESKR00N 21 GARIES FIGURE 2.?Map of South West average Africa, showing = (In. X 2.54 cm.) rainfall for different areas.

SOUTH AFRICA

ta

'"//I

an extremely high evaporation rate ex it can be realized ists in the area, a water constitutes that subterranean source for West of South supply major and that it is essential that Africa, sources be evaluated these quanti in order to and qualitatively tatively of enable rational develop planning in the region. The efforts of the ment

are, Laboratory therefore, Regional toward this end. largely directed A of the most survey important such as the Kuiseb, rivers "dry" Swakop, and Omaruru Rivers has been A portion for some years. proceeding is shown in Fig of the Swakop River ure 3. The aspects in the involved
survey are measurement of subsurface

S?SillS

FIGURE
South West technique

3.?Pumping
Africa's for measuring

tests being done in the Swakop River,

form beds. part

one of
of a

tests The rivers. pumping "dry" of dry river flow the subsurface

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

JOURNAL WPCF

May

1966

FIGURE previous surveys Omaruru water

4.?Henties supply and subsurface which River,

Bay, a was

a fishing resort. The and town's seaside well seismic refraction single but, through that the flow measurements, it was established into the sea near the town, could pro discharges

vide 6mgd

(23,000 cu m/day). sunshine and is especially unfailing of solar dis suited to the application tillation. 2. Evaporation control 5). (Figure for 3. Preparation of a water map consid The main South West Africa: reliable erations are, first, to compile of subsur records on the composition in in South West Africa face waters and to provide order industrialists consumers with other the necessary data for the planning of processing to pinpoint installations and, second, areas in which harmful components occur in the water, in order generally a reliable to conduct epidemiological
survey.

chan of the subsurface flow, tracing nels which have been eroded into the have been river beds and subsequently sand and filled up and covered with and a study of the degree of gravel, re and of the factors mineralization mineralization. These for the sponsible are hampered by the investigations of these rivers relative inaccessibility of the area because of the ruggedness flow. which they through In order to measure subsurface flow and to trace the subsurface channels, to be devel had special techniques success considerable already has oped ; in the application of been achieved In the cases of the these techniques. Rivers Kuiseb and Omaruru (Figure that sub 4), it has been established been formed have surface deltas of where high large quantities quality are available. In the case of water the mineralization River, Swakop in the lower reaches un renders water and investi for consumption suitable this for abating into methods gations
process are being made.

for the 4. Development of methods waters con beneficiation of mineralized taining magnesium, and fluorides. Marine Before Disposal sulfates, nitrates,

of Effluents

in South West Africa Other projects are: that are receiving attention 1. The solar distillation South West Africa water: of brackish has almost

or in local authority any can Africa in South dispose of dustry effluent into the sea, a permit must of be obtained from the Department a permit will Water Affairs. Such is be granted only if the Department conditions satisfied that no unaesthetic or a threat to public health will result

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Vol.

38, No.

WATER

POLLUTION

RESEARCH

779

FIGURE

5.?Units

for studying factors and transpiration

responsible of water.

for

the

evaporation

The onus rests with from the outfall. or industry con the local authority cerned to provide the Department with indicate data which will the effluent can be that pattern expected dispersion a monitoring and to maintain pro in after of a pipeline gram laying order to gauge the long-term effect of the outfall. Certain which consid organizations ered the marine of effluents disposal to do the have contracted the NIWR work. This necessary investigatory work is being done by the Natal Re in Durban. gional Laboratory Extensive industrial development certain of the South stretches along can be foreseen coast African and, hence, increased practice of the marine of effluents can be expected. disposal These remarks to apply particularly the coastline north and immediately south of Durban contract and, under with the Town and Regional Planning Commission of the Natal Provincial a survey of this stretch Administration, of coast is being conducted. The sur vey includes a study of current regimes and wind and wave action as factors in effluent disposal and a bacteriologi cal and chemical survey of beaches and

nearshore

waters. and The chemical will survey bacteriological provide can serve as a valuable data which basis of reference when future pipe In doing lines are laid. the work it
necessary to develop new oc?ano

was

and to refine ex graphie techniques An example of the isting techniques. results of a dye study of effluent dis is shown in Figure 6. persion
DYE TEST ONTHE20-6-63 SCALE "="=

DYE RELEASE Q SOOFT 10-36

FIGURE structed

6.?Outlines from aerial

of dye patch photographs.

con

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

780 JOURNAL WPCF work is being The oc?anographie with the National done in collaboration and the Research Physical Laboratory Re Mechanical National Engineering
search Institute.

May

1966

Sewage The

Purification South

African Water Act was In terms in of the 1956. promulgated all effluents must comply with Act, before allowed fixed standards being
to enter a watercourse. Many local

to the stage where the drawing up of has been com design criteria virtually Stabilization pleted. provide ponds small communities with an inexpensive treatment method and also can serve as an interim treatment method for new and fast-developing be townships fore conventional works purification can be constructed. The use of the
primary pond in a series as an an

authorities
standards,

find
so an

it difficult
urgent

to meet
need

the
exists

of for improving conventional methods On the other sewage purification. hand many of the smaller local authori and ties cannot to construct afford
maintain conventional works, so in

there is a need for dis sphere that are relatively in posal systems and efficient. One such yet expensive is that has been system investigated In view of these 7. shown in Figure areas of need, several is the NIWR to attention sani considerable paying this
tation problems.

into Investigations of sewage stabilization

8), under experimental

the performance ponds (Figure

as well as un

der applied

conditions,

have

proceeded

aerobic pond and recirculating effluent from the secondary pond to the pri re mary pond has yielded interesting sults and it has been found that the of the ponds could be in capacity creased substantially. as a The use of maturation ponds in conventional final sewage stage ex also has been studied purification the efficiency of tensively. Although in the elimination maturation ponds cannot quite compare with of bacteria that of chlorination and sand filtration, the simplicity of the process is a great A minimum of advantage. supervision is required and this is an important factor, especially with small communi An added advantage ties. of a ma turation pond system is that it consti tutes a safety barrier which can absorb shock loads. In instances where storm

FIGURE on erates in small cu m/day).

Huisman 7.?The extended-aeration The communities. the

sewage principle unit pilot

purification and has shown

unit. been treats

The evaluated 40,000

device for gpd

op use (151

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Vol.

38, No.

WATER

POLLUTION

RESEARCH

FIGURE 8.?Stabilization wastewater two major from ponds treating new near Durban. The will have to treat townships ponds eventually twice the amount of wastewater for which Efficient they were designed. treatment is maintained as anaerobic the primary units by using ponds and recirculating to the primary effluent secondary pond ponds.

water

reaches

purification

works,

op

Algae
ponds experiments is,

formation
of course, are being a

in
made

maturation
nuisance to and under

erators often are forced to let part of the flow bypass the works and directly enter the receiving course. The use of maturation this ponds can eliminate
dangerous practice.

drain the final pond of a series and to use it as a slow sand filter. It also is being attempted to remove the algae

FIGURE 9.?Experimental to study on algal built its effect cal and bacteriological quality

river

about

11,000 pond

ft

from removal of effluents.

(3,360 effluent

m) and

in on

length, chemi

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

782 JOURNAL WPCF from pond effluent by means of an algal river (Figure 9). An algal river is also capable of effecting remarkable of the chemical improvement quality of an effluent and for this reason direct introduction of humus tank effluent into the river also is being in been achieved with the a of mobile latrine development (Fig ure 10) incorporating aerobic fermen use in mines. tation, for underground As a logical extension of this work, the of a domestic development sanitary unit which the recircula incorporates tion of effluent is being investigated. In South Africa the marketing of is practically lim synthetic detergents ited to the hard varieties. The first for soft de signs of a breakthrough in the country is perhaps the tergents of a advent manufactured locally On behalf of sulfonate. alkylbenzene a sponsor, the NIWR assessed the bio of the product logical degradability in a series of laboratory experiments and subsequently collaborated with the in the Johannesburg Municipality In plant-scale testing of the product. vestigated. Success has both the

May

1966

and plant-scale laboratoryof well tests, biological degradability over 90 percent was The observed. way now has been paved for detergent in the country to in manufacturers the of this using vestigate possibility base in their products. Further sanitation studies involve the evaluation of an aerobic purifica for use by tion unit which is suitable small communities and the use of an in the treatment anaerobic of digester raw sewage. hoc Ad investigations
into quently. sanitation problems are made fre

In addition to design criteria for stabilization ponds which are in prepa ration, design criteria for sewage puri fication tank and for septic plants in have South Africa practice already been published. Purification of Effluent for Reuse

FIGURE
on the activated underground

10.?Mobile
sludge mines.

latrine operating
principle for use in

In with the accordance general to assist in pro of the NIWR policy motion of the optimal of exploitation resources con in South Africa, water siderable attention has been already as as do well to the industrial given reuse of sewage mestic effluent. The limited water supplies of Wind and the rela hoek, South West Africa, cost of additional tively high obtaining an investigation necessitated supplies, effluent for into the reuse of sewage The project, which domestic purposes. has been carried out in collaboration of Windhoek, with the City Council has been completed and it successfully is estimated that a purified water of can be supplied to the high quality consumer at 10^/1,000 gal (2.6^/cu m) less than the water from the present water works. of Design purification the plant-scale will be units, which integrated with the existing water puri fication plant, is proceeding. One of the main features of the investigation was the development of a flocculation flotation for the removal of technique effluent. algae from maturation pond The successful conclusion of this proj

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Vol. 38, No. 5

WATER

POLLUTION

RESEARCH 783

- '*^J?z?y&*c&& -^

FIGURE 11.?Pilot effluent by flotation. The the foreground.

from maturation of algae for removal unit pond in shown from the pipe water is issuing Algae-free off mechanically. is scraped layer algal

as a major break ect can be regarded in South Africa, where water through resources will be taxed to the utmost in the near future and where the reuse of wastewater effluent eventually could
become common practice.

a more stable system which represent of intermittent shows evidence pollu tion for longer periods than the water. also may react more dis The deposits tinctly to a chronic low degree of pol in pass unnoticed lution, which might
the water.

into the possibilities investigation of reusing sewage effluent for industrial In this is still in progress. purposes it is planned to recover ground project water from the sandy soil on which the wastewater particular purification is situated. The groundwater plant will be replenished from maturation as well as from specially con ponds, structed fed with filtration galleries maturation pond effluent. Thus, efflu ent can be reclaimed the me through dium of a natural sand filter. Studies on Bottom Sediments

An

in the Institute Studies have shown that an analysis of bottom sediments can provide an indication of water more re is frequently pollution which liable than that provided by an ex amination of flowing water. While the latter is a dynamic re system which covers rapidly when the source of pol lution is removed, bottom sediments

that the It also has been established in bottom activities deposits enzymatic an important role in the self play takes place process which purification of rivers, lakes, in the natural waters as well as in waste and impoundments, and maturation water stabilization a program was ponds. Subsequently, the assess to initiated quantitatively activi various degradation enzymatic ties in bottom sediments. have been en results Exploratory to the since they pointed couraging, between of differentiating possibility and protein of proteins degradation in purification degradation products and and systems self-purification sources of specific also might indicate in a river. In view of this pollution and of the fact that high protease was in stabilization found activity for pond sediments, optimal conditions the determination of protease activity

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

784 JOURNAL WPCF were in the studied, and this resulted and standardization of a development and suitable method for practicable the determination of actual protease Utilization Wastes

May of Municipal

1966 and Industrial

activity. in this field will Further work in clude the adaptation and standardiza tion of methods for determining other such as urease, biochemical activities, and carbohydrase, lipase, dehydro in order to get a genase activities, more specific and comprehensive pic ture of the most important degradation in wastewater activities purification
systems.

Industrial

Effluent

Management

Various in South Africa industries the NIWR for as regularly approach sistance in solving their effluent prob a view to com with lems, especially the with of the plying requirements Water Act.
In some cases obvious mechanical

in the plant which defects existed could have been rectified quite easily or chemist in charge by the engineer before the approach to the NIWR was made. These "false" approaches place an unnecessary on the Insti strain tute's manpower resources and it now is planned to publish information for use in guides or codes of practice certain related of and types industry which will apply to the particular con ditions existing in South Africa. While it is realized that problems may differ from factory in the same to factory there are certain industry, problems common to an industry occur which can and which be solved frequently with the aid of a guide on based extensive knowledge gained through practical experience. The basic industries in which investi gations have been made so far include the textile industry; the paper-, pulp-, and board-milling the dairy industry; and milk-processing the industry; fruit- and vegetable-canning industry; and the slaughterhouse and breweries;
meat-processing industry.

The knowledge gained of aerobic and anaerobic processes investiga during tions into the treatment of organically has led to a polluted liquid wastes and study of the aerobic degradation stabilization of solid municipal wastes. It also was realized that the injudicious of municipal wastes can cause dumping serious pollution of surface by way can runoff and that such pollution be obviated through proper processing of the wastes. the course of During a mechanical com the investigation was unit with which posting developed a product from a health acceptable of view could be The obtained. point unit is shown in Figure 12. The experience gained in this investi the scope of this gation has broadened field of research, and the possibilities of the biological of various processing industrial are receiving solid wastes attention. For this purpose, experi mental units for laboratory studies as as compact, well units transportable for field studies have been designed. The initial program includes the wastes from abattoirs and a paper and pulp Other factory. types of waste which are kept in mind are sunflower seed husks, peanut shells, waste from pine
apple canneries, and sawdust.

As part of the work on the utiliza tion of solid wastes, services advisory are given to those local authorities which are considering the introduction of composting schemes. Microbiology work in the NIWR Microbiological is directed mainly toward evaluating the efficiency of systems of wastewater and water purification in the removal of pathogenic and bacteria, viruses, the effect of vari ;measuring parasites ous types of pollution on the bacterio of natural waters; and logical quality the effect of sea dis determining on bacteriological of charges quality
the marine environment.

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Vol. 38, No. 5

WATER

POLLUTION

RESEARCH 785

;.-#?

'%!

FIGURE

12.?Experimental

unit municipal

for investigating wastes.

the

composting

of

investi out the various In carrying that in many found it was gations the bacteriological existing aspects were and new inadequate, techniques or to had be developed techniques modified. Among techniques existing were quanti the techniques developed determination the methods for tative of S. typhi and Pseudomonas aerugi nosa and the use of the bacteriophage as an index of of Serratia marcescens in puri the survival of human viruses a fication introducing systems. By filter of the membrane modification the time and labor required technique,

to perform the test were reduced con siderably. into the ma investigations During rine disposal of effluents, y-irradiated
Serratia marcescens was used as a

tracer for bacteriological of sewage the dispersal A the sea (Figure 13). the from fact that emerged significant oc marine studies was that naturally car curring S. typhi (from typhoid to showed much less resistance riers) the marine than labora environment die-off occurring within tory cultures, to a minimum 5 days compared of 12 quantitative estimating in effluent

?A04O ACTlVf TMCII TAACIt ACTINAL

FIGURE 13.?Comparative counts bacterial per milliliter Settatia and gamma-irradiated

and counts of Geiger per minute tracings material radioactive in a deep-sea trial with marcescens.

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

786 JOURNAL WPCF for lab days that had been reported An cultures. oratory investigation as into the use of oysters and mussels also integrated bacteriological samples
has been made.

May

1966 and ap col

of South African large number overseas to be had specialists to identify the material proached lected during the river surveys.

the develop Present work includes ment test of a rapid bacteriological to serve as an index of human entero viruses and evaluation of the levels at which and parasites bacteria, viruses, occur in hospital wastes and the sub fate wastes. of these sequent Hydrobiology in the Hydrobiological investigations a series of NIWR commenced with river surveys. The purpose of these on to gain information surveys was the biology inland of South African serve waters. would This information as a basis of reference to measure the influence of pollution that inevitably will accompany industrial development and population in the catch increase ment areas of the rivers. It also is hoped that, on the basis of information criteria for water biological gained, can be formulated quality eventually for the assessment and determination of pollution under local conditions. Surveys of river systems which drain areas the major in industrialized South Africa have been con already cluded and a fairly detailed biogeo and the fauna of graphical picture flora in South African natural waters has emerged. A survey of the Orange River is about to commence and is of in view of the importance special River Scheme Orange Development which already has taken its first strides. At the outset of the surveys, it was realized that tremendous gaps existed in the knowledge of the systematics of South African freshwater biota and be possible to that it never would water establish criteria for biological was not if this knowledge pollution of the systematic available. Some in work could be done by specialists on diatoms the NIWR and (working the Trichoptera), but for the rest a

Special problems which necessitated were the hydrobiological investigation outbreak of a species of bloodsucking

black fly

(Simuliidae)

in the Vaal

stock affected adversely River, which ac in the area; the biological farming cumulation in waters of radionuclides receiving radioactive wastes ; the causes of field fish mortalities; the possible culture of fish in sewage stabilization and maturation ponds; and estimation of the age and origin of sediments in a large lagoon through a study of the diatom in the water and associations sediments. The lagoon is a popular nature and holiday resort which is up gradually. use is being made of ex Increasing perimental investigations, mainly with a view to gaining on the information effects of various kinds of pollutants on aquatic biota. These investigations include studies of the toxicity of pol to selected lutants and the species effects of varying food supply on the of these species. popluation dynamics silting Water Purification

A definite need in South existed can Africa for design criteria which be used in the construction of water purification plants and which take into account local conditions and the special wa of typical South African qualities an extensive ters. After the of study and performance of various design treatment units in the used being country, such design criteria now have been drawn up by the NIWR. A basic study on the flocculation of the Vaal River water has been con cluded and now will be extended to the main in South types of water occurring Africa (Figure 14). are Other aspects receiving attention and the engineering of control aspects and the ef removal of microorganisms

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Vol.

38, No.

WATER

POLLUTION

RESEARCH

787

FIGURE flocculant 80 mg/1 taining

a effect between 14.?Photomicrographs binding illustrating in river water, colloids of suspended Precipitate (left) con in filtered river water, in water Floe A12(S04)* (right) 222 mg/1 solids. suspended and

feet

of river

silt on water

purification

processes.

The

Research

Frontier

The current enthusiasm of pollution control authorities for cleaning up the

water mendable environment and warrants is certainly encouragement com

and Fowler, Ardern, Phelps, Streeter, have been Rudolfs to the exploited in the full, and today find application of innovations the activated many in the evaluation of process, sludge of biodegradability organic products, in the measurement and of stream
recovery. These advances, however,

at all
the

levels. and

Disturbing,
conception,

however,
at adminis

is

erroneous

levels of pol technological data to that scientific control, the foresee stamp out pollution within and available able future is readily to off the shelf. be taken needs merely The fact is that the dearth of knowl can lead and nothing edge is great, to pollution to greater embarrassment than the pur control administration suance of a course not supported by number scientific of cases fact. Any can be quoted where corrective meas ures have not effected anticipated im with loss of provements consequent in the competence confidence of control and sci authorities, sanitary engineers, to identify entists the causes of the problems they seek to solve. No one will deny that achievements on the sanitary frontier engineering have been spectacular, particularly with respect to the exploitation of the activated The basic process. sludge scientific data developed by Lockett, trative lution

have been essentially in breadth, and current awareness of the dearth of on scientific data to proceed further the technological frontier of wastewa ter management is evidence of a lack in depth to water research. pollution In fact, during the past 20 yr there has been no major re with breakthrough of new scien spect to the generation tific knowledge. A great responsibility rests, there
fore, on sanitary engineers and scien

tists in building facts on up scientific which water pollution abatement pro Pollution grams can be implemented. control and authorities, consultants, manufacturers must take equipment due note of the limitations of, and since gaps in, current information, their enthusiasm and dedication in could lead to fighting water pollution
embarrassment, antagonism, complete

congestion ultimately, legislation inadequacies

of pollution control and, to the adoption of new to overcome the so-called of previous laws.

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

788 JOURNAL WPCF circle is almost symp This vicious control and tomatic of water pollution a careful actual rea the of appraisal one fact only? sons for this reveals lack of basic knowledge. Only scien the key to un tific facts will provide and lock the confusion congestion of water pol caused by administration This key can be forged lution control. of the application only by research, the results of research, and ultimately of pollution control administration art of with the proved compatible
science.

May

1966

and industries. Surely water a as is control important pollution man as into national putting project should receive space and, therefore, in the alloca the same consideration resources to research, tion of national to the development of wastewater puri and to the construc fication processes, tion of effluent purification plants. to note that It may be of interest in his conquest of space man will come to grips with the very problems which he has to solve in cleaning up the wa ter environment. It well may be a thorities
glamorous achievement and a war

Conclusion Water is man's hence, its lifeblood; are just as and protection conservation the much national issues as defense, the and of space, harnessing conquest No of atomic energy. country will for the risk leaving the responsibility latter tasks in the hands of local au

to put man ranted financial investment a similar invest into space; however, ment in cleaning up only one major in the world, be it the Rhine, the or the the the Ohio, Delaware, R?hr, would to bring Potomac, happiness millions of people. river

MEETINGS OF INTEREST
May June 16-20 6-7 Water Colo. Denver Hilton Hotel, Denver, New York, N. Y. 10017. St., ASCE, and Waste Industrial Water Rice Sixth Annual Conference, A. W. Busch, Dept. Tex. Professor of Houston, University, Rice University, Box 1892, Houston, Chemical Engineering, Tex. 77001. on Environmental 1966 Gordon Research Conference Sci ences and Engineering?" and Phosphorus Nutri Nitrogen ' ents in Natural Water/ New Hampton School, New Hamp Gordon Research ton, N. H. Dr. W. George Parks, Director, of Chemistry, of Rhode Island, Conference, Dept. University R. I. Kingston, 13th Ontario Industrial Waste Park Motor Ho Conference, L. M. Tobias, Ontario Water Ont. Re tel, Niagara Falls, sources Commission, 801 Bay St., Toronto Ont. 5, on Quality National Standards for Natural Wa Symposium Ann Arbor, of Michigan, Mich. ters, University ASCE; School of Public Health, of Michigan; University WPCF; and the Conference of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators. Professor John J. Gannon, Gen eral Conference of Public Health, School Uni Chairman, of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. versity on Water 3rd International Conference Pollution Research, Conference Center, Messegel?nde Theresienh?he, Munich, B. B. Berger, 3rd International Con Germany. Secretary, ference on Water Pollution Box 5557, Friendship Research, D. C. 20016. Station, Washington, Resources Conference, 345 East 47th

June

13-17

June

19-22

July

19-22

Sept.

5-9

This content downloaded on Mon, 4 Feb 2013 07:10:04 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions