OWNERSHIP AND WATER SYSTEM OPERATION1

ABSTRACT: Two types of organizational systems provide most of the water service in the United States. The investor-owned firm operates on a profit basis generally subject to state commission regulation. The government-owned firm is generally confronted by local control. The comparative efficiency of private versus government firm provision of water services is essentially an empirical issue. Unit costs and other operating statistics are examined for water firms of each ownership form. The analysis shows that private firms tend to have higher operation costs than do government firms, possibly attributable to wage-salary differentials. The analysis also indicates that capital investment in large government firms may result in diseconomies. The analysis creates serious doubt as to whether efficient provision of water services can be better facilitated by large mergers of either ownership form.     

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RECEIVING-WATER STANDARDS1

ABSTRACT: An important enforcement question is, “What should be the relationship between ‘Best Management Practices’ (BMP) and receiving-water standards?” Nonpoint pollution dischargers are concerned about implementing a BMP program, only to find themselves in violation because receiving-water standards still have not been met. They are also concerned about the procedures a regulatory agency will utilize to determine the relative success of a BMP program. Successful management of nonpoint pollution requires that these concerns be addressed. Three alternative relationships have been developed. The recommended alternative is to implement the BMP program and use standards as a measure of the effectiveness of the program. Failure to achieve the standards would lead to a reevaluation of the BMP program. Enforcement activities against nonpoint dischargers would be restricted to the failure on their part to implement the previously agreed upon BMP program. Recommendations are also made as to measures regulatory agencies should take if their procedures to judge the relative success of a BMP program are to be technically and politically effective.     

Small cetacean bycatch as estimated from stranding schemes: The common dolphin case in the northeast Atlantic

Death in fishing gear of non-target species (called ‘bycatch’) is a major concern for marine wildlife, and mostly worrying for long-lived species like cetaceans, considering their demographic characteristics (slow population growth rates and low fecundity). In European waters, cetaceans are highly impacted by this phenomenon. Under the Common Fishery Policy, the EC 812/2004 regulation constitutes a legal frame for bycatch monitoring on 5–10% of fishing vessels >15 m. The aim of this work was to compare parameters and bycatch estimates of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) provided by observer programmes in France and UK national reports and those inferred from stranding data, through two approaches. Bycatch was estimated from stranding data, first by correcting effectives from drift conditions (using a drift prediction model) and then by estimating the probability of being buoyant. Observer programmes on fishing vessels allowed us to identify the specificity of the interaction between common dolphins and fishing gear, and provided low estimates of annual bycaught animals (around 550 animals year⁻¹). However, observer programmes are hindered by logistical and administrative constraints, and the sampling scheme seems to be poorly designed for the detection of marine mammal bycatches. The analyses of strandings by considering drift conditions highlighted areas with high levels of interactions between common dolphins and fisheries. Since 1997, the highest densities of bycaught dolphins at sea were located in the southern part of the continental shelf and slope of the Bay of Biscay. Bycatch numbers inferred from strandings suggested very high levels, ranging from 3650 dolphins year⁻¹ [2250–7000] to 4700 [3850–5750] dolphins year⁻¹, depending on methodological choices. The main advantage of stranding data is its large spatial scale, cutting across administrative boundaries. Diverging estimates between observer programmes and stranding interpretation can set very different management consequences: observer programmes suggest a sustainable situation for common dolphins, whereas estimates based on strandings highlight a very worrying and unsustainable process.     

油田井场废水配制压裂液处理技术实验研究

针对油田井场废水高悬浮物、高色度、高金属离子浓度的特征,以处理后配制压裂液为目标,通过p H值调节及无机高分子絮凝法对井场废水进行了处理实验。结果表明,碳酸钠作为优选的p H值调节剂,可以在较低的p H值条件下有效去除废水中的高价金属离子;无机絮凝剂聚合硫酸铁在强碱性条件下对于悬浮物、色度的去除效果明显优于聚合氯化铝。聚合硫酸铁絮凝法可以使井场废水达到配制压裂液用水的要求。     

船舶载运煤炭甲烷释放特性研究

为了研究船舶载运煤炭甲烷释放规律,基于Fick扩散定律建立了货舱甲烷体积分数计算模型,分析了不同扩散系数条件下甲烷释放量与时间的关系,确定了空隙系数的取值范围,通过对某船舶煤炭运输过程中甲烷体积分数随船实测对模型进行了验证.结果表明,货舱甲烷体积分数随运输时间增加而增加,扩散系数为1.0×10-8 cm2/s时,甲烷释放量达到极大值;煤炭的空隙系数基本在0.53～ 0.57 m3/t之间.当煤炭极限甲烷解吸量为1.6 ～ 3.83 m3/t时,货舱甲烷最高体积分数在0.53％ ～ 1.22％,5个货舱中4个货舱的甲烷释放量与理论计算相吻合,1个货舱的最大甲烷释放量高出理论计算量6％,船运煤炭过程中的甲烷释放计算模型与实测结果较为吻合.对于甲烷体积分数超限的货舱,及时通风可使甲烷体积分数迅速降低,有效地解决船运煤炭过程中甲烷体积分数超限的问题.     

微生物聚磷及其酶学调控

本文论述了微生物细胞内磷酸盐转运机制和与聚磷相关的酶—PPK、PPX及两者对微生物聚磷行为的调控,并对今后研究重点做出展望.论文认为对于微生物聚磷的研究应从纯种微生物转移到强化生物除磷系统的混合微生物菌群,运用分子生物学和生物信息学手段分析聚磷优势菌种的PPK和PPX酶的结构特征及其在活性污泥中的变化规律,进一步深入认识生物除磷调控机理,开辟寻求提高系统除磷效率的新途径.     

中国污染物总量减排数据核算体系研究

"十一五"期间,中国对COD和SO2两种污染物开展总量减排工作,预期指标超额完成。"十一五"期间构建起来的总量减排数据核算体系为中央政府提供了相对准确的减排数据,是减排取得成功的基础。本文通过研究减排数据核算体系来对总量减排的成功进行制度性解释。本文采用文本分析和实地调研的方法,描述了中国减排数据核算体系的组织机构及其基本职责,整理出了自下而上的数据生成、流动机制和自上而下的数据核查、反馈机制,归纳出总量减排数据核算体系相较于传统环境统计的基本特征:一是设立了区域督查中心和各级总量控制部门等专门的组织机构;二是数据的双向流动机制,中央拥有对减排数据的审核权和最终确定权,并且会将正式确定后的数据逐级反馈给地方政府并应用于上级政府对下级政府的行政考核当中去;三是在数据核算中采用环境监测数据,并因此进行了全国范围的环境监测能力建设;四是减排工作全过程数据核算。这些新特征使得中国减排数据核算体系得以提升减排数据质量,对地方政府可能的违规行为进行约束;将减排绩效与地方政府考核相结合,通过政治激励促进地方政府开展减排工作;加强地方政府环境监管能力,保障减排工作的开展和完成。但现有数据核算体系仍然存在监测数据利用不到位而导致行政成本较高、减排量核算细则"一刀切"导致政策公平性缺失等亟需改进完善的问题。     

特长公路隧道火灾烟气沉降特性对人员疏散影响的研究*

为研究特长公路隧道火灾烟气沉降对人员疏散安全的影响,通过数值模拟方法,对0,1.0,1.5 m/s和临界风速值4种不同纵向通风风速下隧道火灾烟气沉降特征进行研究,并分析不同风速下烟气沉降对人员疏散的影响。研究结果表明:在无纵向风时,烟气沉降现象较为明显,烟气下沉造成的不均匀烟气温度、能见度分布,提前终止人员疏散的进行;随着纵向风速的增加,沉降现象仍存在,但沉降点后移,对人员疏散的影响减小;在1.5 m/s的纵向通风条件下,火源下游500 m范围内烟气基本不发生沉降且能维持分层,此时几乎不影响火灾下游人员疏散。在实际应用中,火灾初期可先以1.5 m/s的分层风速值进行通风,待下游人员疏散后,再施加临界风速加快烟气排出。研究结果可为特长公路隧道火灾防治和疏散救援提供参考。     

生物酶对初沉污泥厌氧发酵产短链脂肪酸的调控研究

旨在通过生物酶调节(碱性蛋白酶、中性蛋白酶和α-淀粉酶)提高初沉污泥的厌氧发酵效率,并通过微生物群落结构解析,SCFAs (short-chain fatty acids,SCFAs)组分分析等揭示其调控机理.结果表明,3种生物酶均可增强初沉污泥水解和产酸作用,碱性蛋白酶调控系统对初沉污泥厌氧发酵的促进效果最为明显,发酵第4d SCFAs的产量和产率分别达到1508mg COD/L和0.174g COD/g VSS.对比控制组,SCFAs的产量和产率分别增加了1129mg COD/L和0.13g COD/g VSS.微生物群落结构分析表明,在碱性蛋白酶调控发酵系统中,Lentimicrobium、Proteiniphilum和Bacteroides等发酵相关菌群的相对丰度得到了改善,Methanosaeta、Methanospirillum等产甲烷古菌的活性受到了抑制.同时,生物酶调控对促进发酵过程乙酸占比也有促进作用.     

我国取消电价补贴的经济影响——基于电价管制及完全竞争市场的分析

通过构建电力部门细分的CGE模型,分别在电价管制和完全竞争市场背景下,评估了取消电价交叉补贴和可再生能源电价补贴,以及引入碳税政策并将碳税收入转移支付给风电及光伏行业的经济影响.研究发现:取消电价交叉补贴对GDP有负面影响,而取消可再生能源电价补贴后GDP有所提升;相比完全竞争市场,电价管制市场背景下取消电价交叉补贴对GDP的负面冲击强度增加了0.003%,而取消可再生能源电价补贴对GDP的促进作用幅度则相对减小0.056%;同时取消两种补贴时,在电价管制市场背景下GDP相比基准情景下降了0.022%,而在完全竞争市场背景下GDP则增加了0.038%.电价管制市场背景下取消电价补贴对电力结构及能源结构影响较小;而在完全竞争市场背景下取消电价补贴将刺激传统电力消费并导致碳排放有所增加.引入碳税政策并将碳税收入转移支付给风电及光伏行业可以有效控制碳排放并促进电力结构和能源结构改善,但会对行业总产出和GDP产生更大的负面冲击.我国未来应适度放开电价管制,并采取诸如适时征收碳税并将其收入转移支付给风电和光伏行业的支持性政策,推动我国能源结构优化和节能减排目标的实现.