Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Engineering, Volume I and II

528 INDUSTRIAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

INDUSTRIAL WASTE SURVEY

Industrial waste surveys are conducted to develop knowledge

of the waste streams from a specific industry. A survey pro-

vides information on sewer lines, waste routing, and material

balance. Since an industrial waste survey provides an under-

standing of the waste flow through the plant, and the potential

for water and residual reuse, a majority of the industries find

that the survey expenditures yield an excellent return. 15,16

Sewer Map

Of prime importance for any industry in operation at a site is

the development of an up-to-date sewer map showing water,

wastewater, and sanitary and storm drains. Locating sewer

lines and establishing the manufacturing sources responsi-

ble for different waste streams becomes a time-consuming

and complex problem in older facilities. Piping diagrams

are seldom updated as changes are made over the years.

The sewer map should include details such as pipe size;

location and type of water supply and drain connections to

each processing unit; direction of flow; location of roof and

floor drains; manholes; catch basins and control points. To

develop a realistic sewer map tracer, studies may be needed.

Commonly used tracers are dyes, floats (wood chips, cork

floats, and stoppered bottles), and smoke.

Flow Sheet

A flow sheet is prepared for each operation in the entire plant.

It should show all raw materials, additives and products,

by-products, and liquid and solid wastes. All primary dis-

charges from each process, and the type, period, and duration

of each operation should also be indicated on the flow sheet.

Mass Balance

After developing the flow sheet the next step is to obtain the

amounts of raw materials, additives, products, and wastes for

each operation. From the material balance, the extent of solid

and liquid waste characteristics may be determined. This mass

balance acts as a check on the waste quantities determined in

the preliminary sampling and analysis. It also provides pre-

liminary estimates of flows and parameters to be measured.

Location of Sampling Stations

Sufficient sampling stations should be established to deter-

mine the waste load at all of the major processes which con-

tribute wastes. A desirable feature of the sampling station

is that the flow be known. If flow is not known, it may be

established by use of a flow measurement device. The sam-

pling stations should be easily accessible with adequate safe-

guards, and wastewater should be well mixed.

Coordination with Production Staff

It is necessary that the efforts of the production staff be fully

coordinated during the industrial waste survey. The input and

information supplied by the production staff is valuable in

identifying the frequency of batch dumps, spills, overflows,

and continuous discharges.

SAMPLING AND MONITORING

The basis for industrial pollution abatement programs rests

upon information obtained by sampling and monitoring

of various waste streams. Serious problems or inaccurate

TABLE 1

Major contaminants—industrial source and effect

Type of contaminant Industrial source (some examples) Some major effects

Inorganic salts Oil refinery, desalination plants, munitions

manufacturing and pickle curing

Interferes with industrial usage municipal (drinking

water), and agriculture (irrigation water)

Acids and/or alkalies Chemical manufacturing, tanneries Corrosion of pipelines and equipment, kills fish

Organic matter Tanneries, canneries, textile mills etc. Food for bacteria and thus depletes oxygen

Suspended matter Paper mills, canneries, etc. Suffocates fish eggs, degrades stream appearance

Floating solids and liquids Slaughterhouse, oil refinery Unsightly, odorous, interferes with oxygen transfer

Heated water Cooling waters from most industries and power plants Accelerates bacterial action, lowers total oxygen

saturation level

Color Textile, tanneries, metal finishing, and chemical plants Objectionable appearance

Toxic chemicals Munitions manufacturing, metal plating, steel mills,

petrochemicals, etc.

Alters stream biota and animal diversity

Microorganism Pharmaceutical, combined municipal—industrial plants Unsafe for drinking and swimming

Radioactivity Nuclear power plants, chemical laboratories Concentrates in fish, harmful for drinking

Foam-producing matter Glue manufacturing, slaughterhouse, detergent

manufacturing

Aesthetically objectionable

Source: Adapted from Ref (14).

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