WATER POLLUTION CONTROL.

Abstract

A tremendous change in the basic approach to wastewater control is taking place today - a change as, or more, significant than the advent of the activated-sludge secondary treatment process or the adoption of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) as a standard test of waste strength. New sophisticated analytical techniques have detected the presence of specific pollutants in wastewaters, and control technology will have to be applied in innovative ways to remove these pollutants. A brief review of the major events of the last decade is followed by a discussion of the expected developments in the 1980s. It is pointed out that the technology exists today to provide the controls that will be mandated for this decade. However, since most of the technology is expensive, problem definition coupled with knowledge of alternative approaches will be the key to cost-effective wastewater control. Details are given on technology and trends in biological treatment; activated sludge, tertiary treatment, and in-plant control.