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How Can Our Utility Prepare for Potential Residuals Regulations?
Author(s) -
Kline Pat
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
opflow
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1551-8701
pISSN - 0149-8029
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8701.2007.tb02740.x
Subject(s) - effluent , clean water act , pollutant , agency (philosophy) , environmental science , environmental planning , waste management , business , water quality , environmental engineering , engineering , ecology , philosophy , chemistry , organic chemistry , epistemology , biology
This month's question concerns possible new regulations for water treatment residuals and how to prepare for changes in treatment plant disposal practices. The answer depends on the results of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) survey of approximately 625 treatment plants to determine if national effluent guidelines for drinking water plants should be developed under the Clean Water Act. The collected information will include treatment practices, residuals characteristics, and residuals management methods. If new effluent guidelines are proposed, they may significantly affect future National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements for drinking water systems. The fact that landfills are at, or nearing, capacity is the cause of this examination of disposal practices. The article discusses practices that can reduce the amount of waste generated which will benefit the environment and help cut costs.