Groundwater Pollution Around an Industrial Area in the Coastal Stretch of Maharashtra State, India

The main objective of this paper is to examine pollution threat, especially to the groundwater resources, around Tarapur industrial area (also called the Tarapur MIDC area) located on the Arabian Sea Coast in Thane District of Maharashtra State, India and suggest remedial measures that may also be relevant to other industrial areas on the Indian Sea Coast. One hundred and thirty one samples were collected from various sources, such as dugwells, borewells, dug-cum-borewells, effluent sumps, drainage channels (effluent channels), creeks and ocean, for chemical analyses. These analyses show that the area in general is characterized by hard water and high salinity hazard, possibly due to its proximity and hydraulic connection with the sea. Although the potability of groundwater is questionable in certain pockets, it is good enough for irrigation purposes at present. Low pH value and high heavy metal contents in the adjoining Muramba creek water is a matter of great concern and may be attributed to the indiscriminate disposal of industrial effluents to the drainage channels connecting the creek. Muramba Creek is well connected with the Arabian Sea, and there are evidences of seawater intrusion around this creek. Because of the fact that Muramba Creek is highly polluted, and is hydraulically connected with the dugwells and borewells surrounding the creek, it cannot be ruled out that the groundwater around this creek is susceptible to contamination. Unless measures are not taken immediately to stop the indiscriminate disposal of the solid wastes and liquid effluents in open ground and drainage channels, and measures are not taken to maintain the appropriate pH values at the effluent treatment facilities before their disposal, the problem would indeed be formidable one day, and it will be too late then for the authorities to take care of the resulting maladies. Few suggestions have been given for controlling and managing the industrial pollution around the Tarapur MIDC area. These suggestions are relevant to other industrial areas situated on the 7,000 km long Indian Sea Coast.     

Changing effluent chemistry affect survival,growth and physiological function of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia nilotica</Emphasis> seedlings in northwestern region of India

Recycling and conservation efforts for water are the need of the day because of the lack of new water sources and the ever-increasing demand for drinking water. Seedlings of Acacia nilotica L. were irrigated with: canal water (T₁, control); municipal effluent (T₂); textile effluent (T₃); steel effluent (T₄); textile + municipal effluent in 1:1 ratio (T₅); steel + municipal effluent in 1:2 ratio (T₆); steel + textile in 1:2 ratio (T₈) and steel + municipal + textile in 1:2:2 ratio (T₇) with views to observe effluents effect on the seedlings and its adaptability and to recommend safe disposal of these effluents. Seedlings in T₆, T₇ and T₈ showed 50% lesser height and collar diameter than those in control. Seedlings in T₂ attained greatest height, collar diameter, numbers of branches and produced 140 g dry biomass seedling⁻¹. Highest concentration of manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) and lowest concentration of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in the seedlings of T₄, T₆, T₇ and T₈ resulted in nutritional imbalance, mineral toxicity and reduction in photosynthetic (Pn) and transpiration (E) rates and caused seedling mortality. Seedlings of T₃ had highest sodium concentration and low concentration of Ca, Mg and micronutrients resulting in nutritional imbalance, augmented chlorosis and reduced gas exchange and biomass by half as compared to control. Increased growth, Pn and E and biomass in seedlings of T₅ over T₃ and survival period in T₆, T₇ and T₈ seedlings suggested a beneficial effect of effluents mixing. Unscientific disposal should be avoided and toxic concentration of metal ions␣may be reduced for long-term application and harmless disposal of effluents in afforestation and urban development.     

Chemical conversion of paper industry effluents into carboxymethylcellulose

The synthesis of carboxymethylcellulose was investigated using effluents containing short cellulose fibers. Carboxymethylcellulose was synthesized according to the slurry process using different amount of sodium hydroxide and different incubation times at 30 °C after the etherification reaction as variables. Characterization of the product was conducted by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, degree of substitution, average degree of polymerization, water imbibing capacity, color, rheological properties, apparent viscosity and trace elements content. Incubation time slightly increased the yield of the reaction and the degree of substitution during the first 12 h. The reaction yield and degree of substitution both decreased when the initially concentration of NaOH was increased from 7.0 g/mL to 10.5 g/mL. The carboxymethylcellulose obtained was darker and had lower hydration properties than commercial samples. Trace elements content suggests that the product could be only used in paint factories or building materials industries.     

Evaluating aquacultural use of thermal effluents: An application of system dynamics to environmental problem solving

Given the ecological burden imposed by power plants located in the coastal zone, efforts to improve the marginal benefits realized from their operation are warranted. Indeed, if this source of environmental pollution can be utilized to compensate for past ecological damage, then the benefits will be magnified many-fold.This study addresses the economic feasibility of utilizing heated effluent water from power plants to invigorate the growth of oysters raised under controlled conditions. The preliminary findings indicate that given proper combinations of system capacity, supplemental nutrient supplies, sea water flow and temperature gradients, such an operation is feasible.This is also a demonstration of a viable application of a sophisticated computer modeling approach to environmental problems. System Dynamics a technique pioneered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is applied to evaluate the physical, biological, and economic interrelationships of the aquacultural system variables. It offers many advantages for the environmental manager and researcher, a number of which are realized in the present investigation.     

Monitoring total suspended solids by using nephelometry

Correlation curves were developed relating nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) with total suspended solids (TSS) for diked upland dredged material placement site effluents of three US Army Corps of Engineers (COE) maintenance dredging projects in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. The procedure was developed in an effort to ensure compliance with Maryland's 400 milligrams per liter (mg/l) TSS standard for COE dredging projects. Samples of the sediments to be dredged were collected and analyzed, correlating turbidity readings with TSS determined by standard gravimetric techniques. The correlation curves were provided to the COE inspectors to measure the effluent with a turbidity meter and to extract a TSS concentration from the correlation curve. Samples collected and analyzed after initiation of the dredging indicated that the correlation curves were an overestimate of the actual TSS concentrations of the effluent discharges. The procedure, endorsed by the State of Maryland, provided immediate on-site TSS analysis eliminating the previously encountered delays in obtaining gravimetric analysis of effluent discharges and potential contract management problems.     

Octachlorinated dioxin in pulps and effluents: Where does it come from?

Studies on the formation/destruction of dioxins associated with the pulping of wood artificially impregnated with an industrial grade of pentachlorophenol lend support to an earlier observation that ambient dioxins deposition may not necessarily be a unique source of the higher chlorinated dioxins occasionally found in pulps and final effluent discharges. These dioxins, which seemingly occur in products from a wide range of pulping technologies including recycle operations, may also originate from pentachlorophenol-based fungicides.     

Toxicity, uptake and metabolism of 4-n-nonylphenol in root cultures and intact plants under septic and aseptic conditions

4-Nonylphenol, a compound with estrogenic activity, has been shown to occur in sewage sludges and effluents of sludge treatment. This, as well as its use in the formulation of pesticides, may result in the contamination of crop plants and may therefore have an impact on the quality of food or feedstuff. The toxicity, uptake and metabolism of 4-n-nonylphenol (4-n-NP) were investigated as¹⁴C-labeled 4-n-NP in root cultures under septical and aseptical conditions and with intact plants grown in containers with soil and aseptically grown in nutrient media. 4-n-NP was toxic to all plant systems tested. The presence of microorganisms and the developmental state of the plant material appeared to have an influence on the EC₅₀ values. 4-n-NP was taken up by the roots and a metabolism to polar compounds was observed in the cases where sufficiently high uptake rates. With intact plants a transport from roots to the shoots was evident. Metabolism in roots changed quantitatively in the presence of microorganisms. The mineralization of 4-n-NP to₁₄CO₂ only occurred with microorganisms.