Industrial Wastes Waste-disposal problems created by decentralization of industry can be solved by careful study and planning by Sheppard T. Powell URING
the past two decades there
D has been an enormous gron t h of
industry in this country, with intensive concentration of factories in many localities. This industrial development has created many problems which cannot be solved under policies that have been satisfactory in the past. K i t h the concentration of industries, there has been a related concentration of people. due to the heavy demands for laboi in basic industries and in satellite developments. The effects of centr Ilized industry must be apparent after even a cursory review of many localities where water supply and IT Rste-disposal works, housing, highwaj s, and other facilities have been badly overtaxed. The concentration of industries has recently taken on a sinister aspect, even more pressing than thcse considerations of economic and social necessity. If the overconcentration of industry is not curbed, the national security will be seriously jeopardized by the possibility of enemy attsck. Fortunately, there is now emerging a realization of the problems and hazards of localized industrial overexpansion. A fexv farsighted persons, eonceined over the future economic and military security of the nation, have voiced the need for decentraI’ization of industries and their attendant populations. In a recent ac!dress ( I ) , General Leslie R. Groves‘ forcefully pointed out that “dispersal of industries and centers of population would help cut the countiy’s vulnerability.” He illustrated the hazard of concentration by citing the damage caused in Hiroshima by a single atomic bomb. Such destruction would have been impossible had the concentrated industries been located several miles apart. The urgent need for scattering industries and population is fairly well recognized and planning along that line is being stepped up. Such planning is sound and should be encouraged. Hoir eT-er, this development demands a July 1955
new look from the standpoint of the effects on long-term planning for water supply and liquid-v aste disposal. It is important to consider alternative means of disposing of the wastes from scattered industries and their related populations. local vs. regional treatment plants
The “used” mater from scattered industrial communities can be treated in one or more plants serving each community, or in large central disposal systems serving groups of industries or population centers in a relatively large area. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages; neither would be satisfactory in all situations. The plan most satisfactory for a given area should be selected only after a comprehensive study and evaluation of the numerous factors involved. These criteria would apply equally to existing industries and communities and to new developments resulting from decentralimtion. Too often in the past, neglect of many of the economic and practical aspects of providing collection and disposal facilities has resulted in various degrees of failure. I n some cases, this neglect caused chaotic conditions and new unsolved problems of considerable magnitude. The assets and liabilities of separate us. combined treatment of municipal and industrial wastes, as well as community us. re@onal disposal plants, should be n-eighed. local treatment plant
The principal advantage of local disposal plants is that the individual community has complete jurisdiction over the project. This avoids many complications and obviates the need for coordinating conflicting interests in diversified communities. Ordinarily i t is simpler to finance local projects, as only locpl interests must be satisfied. If the particular plant is large enough to warrant the employment of the necessary trained technical personnel to operate the system, and
is properly designed for existing and predicted waste loads, satisfactory treatment can be obtained to meet the requirements of state and federal regulatory agents. Another advantage of separate plants is that mater taken from a surface stream for industrial and municipal use can be returned to the watercourse after treatment, to maintain stream flows adequate for other beneficial water uses in the immediate area. The principal objection to individual community plants especially in small population centers, is the difficulty of obtaining adequate technical supervision. Control is necessary for proper treatment of domestic sewage, and is especially important where industrial wastes are mixed with the sanitary sewage. The treatment of such mixed waste is complicated in both the design of the system and its operation. Small plants usually cannot afford or attract highly trained supervisory personnel. There are numerous examples of failure of disposal systems due to poor operation, although satisfactorily designed. Central disposal systems
I n areas where there are several small or medium-sized communities, the municipal administrations must decide whether to install individual treatment works or pool interests and create a disposal plant serving several communities. The latter type of system can be planned to serve a large area and may be of sufficient size to justify the employment of qualified personnel in the design and operation of the treatments works. -4number of financial arrangements can be made to carry out a regional plan for the collection and disposal of liquid nxstes a t a central treating plant. It is common practice to create a semage or, preferably, a mater and sewage authority, provided enabling acts have been passed by state legislatures for the creation of
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Industrial Wastes
DO YOUR SCALES ADD UPjTO A
TODAY IT PAYS TO TAKE A PLANT-WIDE LOOK AT WEIGHING
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Do you have t h e right scales i n the right places? A m o d e r n Weighirzg System w o r k s h a n d i n h a n d with your a c c o u n t i n g system a n d m a k e s a bia difference i n h e l-p i n-g .y o u w i n
your w a r o n costs. W e i g h t r e & r d s that o r i g i n a t e at scales flow to the accounting areas a n d directly affect costs, inventories a n d customer billings. W e i g h i n g e r r o r s c a n n o t b e corrected laterw e i g h t s must b e r i g h t t h e first time. That’s why it’s m o r e than ever i m p o r t a n t to t h i n k of w e i g h i n g not in terms of isolated scales, but as a vital p a r t of your overall c o s t - c o n t r o l system. If you would like to e x p l o r e this in relation t o your plant, why not d r o p us a line today? No obligat’ Ask about t h e “ w e i g h i n g system p T o l e d o Scale Company,
such a n authority. I n most states, legislation covering the creation of such districts or authorities is clearly defined. Certain local conditions govern the action of authorities, but these generally present no insurmountable difficulties. In recent years such authorities have been developed within many states. It has been demonstrated that the solution of water and sewage problems often can be most economically and satisfactorily solved by such cooperative effort. There is a considerable background of experience accumulated from operations of this kind to guide new programs. Among the criteria influencing the choice or rejection of a district authority is whether or not existing small plants might have to be abandoned. Where separate facilities are provided for any of the communities contemplating a joint project, the legal and financial aspects involved in their abandonment must be studied. Often the existing facilities can be wholly or partly incorporated into the larger system to the mutual advantage of old and new owners. No general conclusion can be made, as the legal and financial structures vary widely from one community to another. Where plants are to be taken over, the retirement of outstanding bonds must be assumed by legal arrangement between the authorities and the individual communities. Communities and industries within the prescribed area must enter into contracts with the authority specifying their proportional shares of the operation and debt service charges. Here again there is ample precedent for establishing equitable agreements. 8
Disadvantages of central systems
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Although there are many advantages of a common waste collection and disposal system for a group of communities and industries, there are a number of disadvantages which cannot be passed over lightly. One problem, too often ignored, is the reduction of stream flows above the outfall sewer of the central disposal plant. The outfall is usually situated near the downstream limits of the district area. Interceptor sewers collect all wastes that would otherwise be discharged a t scattered points for several miles along the river. Thus water with-
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
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drawn is returned far downstream, resulting in diminished flows in the intervening stretch of the watercourse. On streams of limited size, this reduction of flow may seriously penalize municipalities, industries, and other water users depending on the stream for water supply, and may involve the district authority in extensive and costly litigation. Even on a relatively large stream, occasional extended drought periods may result in severe low-flow conditions that would be aggravated by the diversion of water from the river for several miles. Though important and demanding consideration, this problem of diminished flows is not always insurmountable. At a cost, the deficiency of water in the stream above the central plant can be replaced with compensation water from upstream storage reservoirs developed for the purpose. Occasionally it is possible to take advantage of flow regulation from reservoirs installed in headwater areas for other purposes, such as flood control or hydroelectric power. Another factor sometimes weighing against large central disposal systems is the high construction cost of large interceptor sewers required for collecting the wastes from the scattered sources. Also, if the terrain prevents gravity flow, pumping costs for the large volumes of wastes may be prohibitive. It may be cheaper to construct two or more plants, with smaller trunk sewers, taking advantage of local topography to reduce pumping requirements. The engineering studies preceding design should reveal the more economical choice between these alternatives. Decentralization of industry, though necessary, may bring about problems in the disposal of wastes from scattered communities. However, through careful study and advance planning, the difficulties can be overcome and domestic and industrial liquid wastes can be disposed of effectively and economically.
(1) Groves, Leslie R., General,
U. S. Army (Ret.), 75th Annual Convention, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Baltimore, Md., May 1955.
Correspondence concerning this column will be forwarded if addressed to the author, % Editor,
1155-16th
July 1955
AND
ENQINEERINQ
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But the story of Styrene Monomer is not finished. Its reactive chemical characteristics promise many more valuable applications. Styrene Monomer may be hydrogenated, halogenated, hydrohalogenated, hypohalogenated and oxidized-and it reacts with water, alcohols, sulphur compounds, and aldehydes to mention only a few of its possibilities. Write today for samples for your own experimentation-and for more detailed information about this chemical that may be the key to new or improved products in your field.
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