Municipal Sewage Treatment: Problems and Considerations

The coastal areas are vital to the economic and physical well being of the United States. Virtually every facet of our way of life is related in some fashion to these coastal areas. Ocean borne transportation moves not only vast quantities of raw materials, but also many of the intermediate and final products that are then manufactured to their related market areas. Fisheries provide vast amounts of food and employment for many of our people. In addition, the coasts are a continuing source of enjoyment and recreation for millions of our citizens. Coastal waters provide much of the water necessary for both domestic and industrial consumption. These waters also offer a very attractive and convenient place to dispose of various types of waste materials. Loss or damage of this area and it\u27s related resources would prove to be a catastrophic blow to the economy and people of the United States. The coastal oceans are in trouble. Explosive growth along these coastal areas in both population and industrial capacity have dramatically increased the number and volume of demands that are being placed upon this resource. Many of these demands are compatible. Most are compatible to a degree. Beyond that level they become to an increasing percentage mutually exclusive. In many areas of the coast, this benign level has been exceeded. The ability of the entire resource to continue to accommodate this increasing growth of demand is now in question. A major factor in this degradation of our coastal ocean resources is the treatment and management practices of municipal sewage plants. This paper will address many of the factors which must be considered in the design, construction and subsequent management of these municipal sewage treatment plants from an environmental impact perspective