Policy, Principle, and Practice in Industrial Pollution Control: Views from the Regulatory Interface

There has been much criticism of the system for the control of industrial pollution, but not much is known about the views of the regulators and the industry. The objective of this study was to explore the attitudes at this regulatory interface towards the current and proposed regulatory system and make recommendations for improvements. The methodology involved a questionnaire survey sent to over 700 key personnel. Statistical analysis revealed similarities and significant differences between the views of industry and the regulator on the effectiveness of the current regime. Weaknesses related to the derivation and enforcement of standards were identified. The Environmental Quality Standards system was acknowledged to be flawed by both operators and regulators who agreed it should be improved by the expansion of listed chemicals, the introduction of sediment environmental quality standards and direct toxicity assessment of effluents. This paper concludes that these measures should be incorporated into the regulatory system, together with more rigorous enforcement of environmental performance standards including serious sanctions for non-compliance. In the longer term, a reappraisal of the regulatory system is required in order to establish an appropriate framework to ensure that environmental policy commitments are implemented.     

Results of a program to control phosphorus discharges from dairy operations in south-central Florida,USA

During 1987–1992, a mandatory program to control phosphorus discharges was implemented at dairy operations located to the north of Lake Okeechobee, Florida, USA. Thirty of 48 dairies participated in this program and implemented best management practices (BMPs), which included the construction of intensive animal waste management systems. Eighteen dairies closed their milkproducing operations under a government-funded buyout program. In this paper, we compare trends in runoff total phosphorus (TP) concentrations among the dairies that remained active and implemented BMPs. A central feature of the dairy waste management system is the high intensity area (HIA), defined as the milking barn and adjacent vegetation-free land, encircled by a drainage ditch and dike. Animal waste from the HIA is diverted into anaerobic lagoons and storage ponds, from which water is periodically removed and used for irrigation of field crops. The impacts of BMP construction on runoff TP concentrations were immediate and, in most cases, dramatic. Average TP concentrations declined significantly (P < 0.001), from 9.0 to 1.2 mg TP liter^–1 at dairies in one basin (Lower Kissimmee River), and from 2.6 to 1.0 mg TP liter^–1 in another (Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough). Some sites experienced greater declines in TP than others. To elucidate possible causes for the difference in response, a multivariate statistical model was utilized. Independent variables included soil pH, soil drainage characteristics, spodic horizon depth, and the areas of different BMP components (pasture, HIA, spray fields). The analysis significantly separated dairies with the highest and lowest runoff TP concentrations. Lowest TP occurred at dairies having particular soil characteristic (shallow spodic horizon) and certain BMP features (large HIA and small heard pastures).     

Evaluation of a System to Automatically Sample Zooplankton From the Discharge of Dams1

ABSTRACT: Automatic plankton samplers installed at two dams on the Connecticut River Continuously monitored crustacean zooplankton from October 1977 through 1979 and allowed a significant reduction in man-hours involved in an extensive sampling program. Automatic samplers efficiently sampled most species and size classes of crustacean zooplankton in a similar, but not consistently identical manner as a commonly used towed-net plankton sampler. The smallest sized zooplankton were captured more efficiently than the largest. Mesh selection and sampler avoidance exerted different influences on automatic samplers and towed nets. Future use of the samplers and direct comparison of results to results obtained by other methods was supported.     

APPLICATION OF AN ACOUSTIC STREAMFLOW-MEASURING SYSTEM ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER AT THE DALLES,OREGON1

ABSTRACT. The need for accurate, independent records of flow on the Columbia River at The Dalles, Oregon, has been met by the installation of an acoustic streamflow-measuring system. This device provides an index of the velocity of flow by measuring the difference in traveltimes of acoustic pulses transmitted through the water in each direction along a diagonal path across the river. The flow of water along the path increases the speed of one signal and retards the speed of the other. The difference in time of travel is related linearly to the water velocity along the path. Installation of the system, which is the first application of an acoustic flowmeter in a large natural channel, was completed in April 1969. It has been in continuous operation since that date. The velocity index and water-surface elevation are used as a two-variable index in the computation of flow. These variables, correlated against current-meter measurements made by use of specialized boat equipment, provide a reliable basis for computations of instantaneous and daily mean discharges.     

EXPANSION OF SALT-WATER ZONE DUE TO WELL DISCHARGE1

ABSTRACT: In coastal confined aquifers, the extent of the salt-water wedge due to natural ground-water flow can be determined by available methods. If water is pumped by a discharge well, the quality of the water depends upon the rate and duration of pumping as well as the location of the well. A study has been made to find the extent of the progress of salt-water intrusion due to the operation of one discharge well taking into account various conditions of aquifer properties, pump capacities, natural flows, time effects, and well locations. Dimension-less solutions for specific conditions have been obtained by means of a simple computer program. Range of most common conditions is discussed. One of the main findings of this study was that salt water may be pumped out of a well even if it is located in an initially totally fresh-water zone beyond the natural salt/fresh-water interface.     

ESTIMATING PEAK RUNOFF FROM FIELD-SIZE WATERSHEDS1

ABSTRACT: A simple nonlinear runoff model was developed and tested for use on field-size agricultural watersheds. A Wooding idealization of the watershed topography was used. Kinematic wave equations were used with an assumed, instead of computed, overland flow, watersurface profile in order to simplify the numerical computations. The approach was used to synthesize runoff hydrographs for an agricultural watershed in Iowa. The accuracy of the synthesized hydro-graphs was judged by comparing the estimated and observed peak discharges and by comparing estimated and observed stages at the measuring weir. The mean errors were 0.01 in/hr and 0.05 ft, respectively. A qualitative comparison was also made with a detailed kinematic wave study. The largest variability occurred during the seedbed period for both models, which was attributed to changes in surface roughness. The roughness was more constant and the results more consistent for the canopy and ground residue periods.     

A REEVALUATION OF THE GROUND WATER BUDGET FOR LAS VEGAS VALLEY,NEVADA, WITH EMPHASIS ON GROUND WATER DISCHARGE1

ABSTRACT: An essential component to the ground water budget for the Las Vegas Valley (LVV) in southern Nevada is discharge from the ground water system. Discharge for the LW has been based on estimates made more than 50 years ago of 35,524,224 m3 per year as evapotranspiration (ET) and 0 m³ per year as subsurface outflow. Newly published values for recharge based on a more robust data set (70,308,360 m³) indicate a large imbalance associated with the earlier discharge estimates, providing the basis for the reevaluation conducted in this study. ET estimates in this study, as opposed to previous studies, were assigned a range in values that included an approach that assigned higher weight to the unique soil, plant, water, and climatic conditions that existed in predevelopment (1905) LW. The earlier discharge estimates also assumed that the basin was hydrologically closed; however, based on our evaluation, a range in yearly discharge by subsurface outflow from 1,480,176 m³ to 19,735,680 m³ could be assigned. Likewise, a range in yearly ET from 20,475,768 m³ to 78,819,372 m³ could be assigned. Based on newly published recharge values, closure can only occur if higher values are assigned to both the subsurface outflow and/or ET components of ground water discharge. We cannot provide a complete water balance closure with our ground water discharge estimate of 64,140,960 m³. However our reevaluation gives support to the higher recharge estimates and provides the rationale for future studies to be conducted based on a more rigorous scientific assessment.     

用电凝聚装置去除废水中重金属离子

用一种新型电极结构的电凝聚装置,对废水中的重金属离子进行了去除实验研究.并对影响重金属离子去除率的各种因素进行了分析.结果表明,使用该装置在适当的实验条件下,可以有效去除废水中的Zn2+、Cd+2、Pb+2、Hg2+和Cu+2,使之达到达标排放或回用水平.该装置具有结构简单,自动化程度高,操作简便,占地面积小,污泥产量小的特点.     

丹巴县邛山沟特大灾害性泥石流汇流过程分析

在实际调查的基础上,对2003年7月11日发生在四川省丹巴县邛山沟的特大灾害型泥石流汇流过程进行了模拟.研究发现,邛山沟泥石流的产生,系由于流域基岩表面的残破积物在70多天的断续降雨过程中饱和或接近饱和,在7月11日晚突降暴雨的作用下,沿途坡面土体基本同时启动,坡面泥石流汇流,产生高容重的粘性泥石流,最后与左支沟(甲沟)的洪水汇合形成大规模的泥石流.沿途由于粗大颗粒的堵塞,峰值流量在有些断面迅速增大.     

Rainfall and Spring Discharge Patterns in Two Small Drainage Catchments in the Western Himalayan Mountains, India

Relationship between rainfall and spring discharge study is important to understand hydrological behaviour of springs and water resources management. In the Himalayan mountains springs are the freshwater sources for household consumption. We studied six springs of different recharge area characteristics in two micro-watersheds in western Himalayan mountains in India. Based on the recharge area geology these springs were divided into fracture/joint (FR/JT) and fracture/joint/colluvium (FR/JT/COLL). We found a strong positive relationship between rainfall and spring discharge. Peak spring discharge coincided with peak rainfall in two FR/JT/COLL springs, which was delayed by about one month in FR/JT springs. Mean annual discharge was about two times greater for FR/JT/COLL springs than the FR/JT springs (6.47 vs. 3.94 liter per minute). But spring discharge per 1000 L of rainfall in spring recharge area for FR/JT springs was about 2.3 times greater than the FR/JT/COLL springs (49 vs. 21 liter per minute). In the FR/JT springs, rainfall in spring recharge area and spring discharge were weakly related (r=0.174), while they were strongly related in FR/JT/COLL springs (r=0.595). In the former category of springs decline in discharge was gradual, while it was rapid in the latter category of springs. Therefore, with regard to sustained supply of water for household consumption FR/JT springs can be considered more suitable. Land use and land cover such as moderately grazed pasture, abandoned agricultural terraces and few trees but dense growth of bushes and oak forest in the spring recharge area were found conducive for spring discharge and may be promoted for long-term water resource conservation in this region.