United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Exploratory
Research
Washington, DC 20460
Research and Development
EPA/600/S9-86/007 May 1986
&EPA Project Summary
Developments at Twelfth
International Conference on
Water Pollution Research
Amsterdam, The Netherlands,
September 17-21, 1984
Under a grant from the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA), thirty-
two members of the U.S. American Na-
tional Committee (USANC) participated
in the twelfth biennial International
Conference on Water Pollution held in
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Septem-
ber 17-21, 1984. Basic themes of this
conference included ground water pol-
lution and recharge, water quality prob-
lems, river and lake management,
wastewater treatment and disposal,
sludge treatment and disposal,
stormwater and runoff management
and control, treatment and reuse of in-
dustrial wastewater.
The USANC participants prepared a
final report which analyzes formal and
informal conference developments in-
cluding pertinent remarks, comments
and ideas emerging from discussions of
papers on all aspects of water pollution
research and control presented by pro-
fessionals representing 50 countries.
Rather than a complete presentation of
conference papers with formal and in-
formal floor discussion, many of which
are published as Proceedings in Water
Science & Technology, the report sum-
marized herein includes presentations
prepared by official U.S.A. participants
in the conference. Specific emphasis is
placed on those topics of special inter-
est to U.S.A. researchers and practi-
tioners.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Office of Exploratory Re-
search, Washington. DC. to announce
key findings of the research project that
is fully documented in a separate report
of the same title (see Project Report
ordering information at back).
Background
The International Association on
Water Pollution Research and Control
(IAWPRC) is a professional organization
whose goal is to enhance the quality of
the earth's water resources. Through
conferences, workshops, symposia and
publications, e.g. Water Research and
Water Science and Technology,
IAWPRC provides a vehicle for interna-
tional communication of research re-
sults and new information relative to
water quality control. The organization
is governed by representatives on na-
tional committees of member countries.
Each national committee represents the
water quality research-related activities
in their respective countries.
The United States of America Na-
tional Committee (USANC) is recog-
nized by IAWPRC as the National orga-
nization representing U.S. water quality
research in IAWPRC. USANC is spon-
sored by six major professional organi-
zations: American Chemical Society;
American Institute of Chemical Engi-
neers; American Society for Microbiol-
ogy; American Society of Civil Engi-
neers; Association of Environmental
Engineering Professors; and Water Pol-
lution Control Federation.
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Since 1962, IAWPRC has sponsored a
biennial international conference. The
conferences represent the largest inter-
national gathering of research engi-
neers and scientists, consulting engi-
neers, and manufacturers of process
control programs.
Highlights
The individual presentation sessions
from which the following highlights are
derived are fully discussed in the final
report. Included are a description of in-
dividual papers, a critique of each ses-
sion and its significance to water pollu-
tion research in the United States.
Listed below in alphabetical order by
the originating country are some salient
findings of the final report:
Australia
• Models developed to predict aver-
age water quality of large estuary
segments reduce data-procurement
efforts as compared with rational
finite-element models based upon
material-balance principles.
Belgium
• Examination of ozone application
prior to granular activated carbon
treatment indicated the cost of this
ozonation could not be reconciled
by overall cost savings.
• Sodium aluminate addition as a po-
tentially effective technique to alle-
viate heavy-metal inhibition of bio-
logical treatment.
Canada
• Anaerobic treatment of diluted coal-
gasification wastewaters was
demonstrated with specific empha-
sis on removal of phenols and
cresols.
• Use of degree of nitrification as a
surrogate measure of trace-
contaminant removal.
• Use of anion exchange resins to re-
move iron cyanide from both syn-
thetic and actual gold-mill effluents.
• Afluidized-bed precipitation reactor
to treat radium in uranium mining
effluents.
Denmark
• The effect of Thiothrix on sludge
bulking and activated sludge plants
was defined with emphasis on the
significance of sulfide and thiosul-
fate oxidation under aerobic condi-
tions.
• Migration of viruses into ground
water resulting from land disposal
of sludges.
Federal Republic of Germany
• Techniques based upon return
sludge recycle containing a tracer
were developed for measuring
short circuiting in oxidation ditches.
• Inactivation of enteric viruses using
mesophilic sludge digestion fol-
lowed by pasteurization.
France
• Use of ferric-sulfate addition and fil-
tration for removal of hexavalent
chromium.
• Wet oxidation effective in treating
highly concentrated organic waste-
waters to acceptable levels.
Israel
• Ozone treatment alone was not fea-
sible for total removal of nonionic
surfactants from waste streams, but
partial ozonation made them more
amenable to subsequent biological
treatment.
Japan
• Polyphosphates of both low and
high molecular weight accumulated
in the sludge of an anaerobic-anoxic
process with the low molecular-
weight fractions mostly responsible
for release and uptake of phospho-
rus.
• Use of a phosphate-rock bed receiv-
ing wastewater containing seed
crystals to chemically remove phos-
phorus from a wastewater without a
corresponding production of
sludge.
Malaysia
• Treatment of palm oil and natural
rubber processing wastewaters
with water hyacinths.
Saudi Arabia
• Optimization of ozone-bubble size
to maximize both treatment effec-
tiveness and ozone utilization.
South Africa
• Effect of temperature on regenera-
tion of activated carbon with re-
spect to diminishing the extent of
micropore restoration was illus-
trated.
• Use of sludge volume index (SVI) in
design and operation of secondary
clarifiers using empirical relation-
ships between SVI and sludge flux
theory.
The Netherlands
• A model for fluidized-bed biologica
denitrification included intermedi
ate formation of nitrites.
• Removal of phosphorus from bio
logically treated wastewater accom
plished by precipitation of calciun
phosphate on the surface of sane
grains in a fluidized bed reactor.
• A comprehensive discussion o
models used to predict water qual
ity of new lakes affected by pollu
tants from agricultural sources.
• The sediment-water exchange o
phosphate in a shallow lake mod
eled as a function of temperatun
and phosphate concentration of th<
overlying water.
United Kingdom
• Water quality models developed fo
use in complex ecological system
require accurate biological compc
nents in order to provide a founds
tion for any prediction made witl
model.
United States of America
• A method for predicting inhibitor
impacts of multiple toxicants on bi
ological systems.
• An approach to quantify the stabi
ity of particles in lakes to permit a
estimate of stability in lakes of vary
ing chemical and physical charac
teristics.
• Several kinetic models for the act
vated sludge process related kinel
ics to the type of microorganism
generated and the type of organic
being degraded.
• Effect of addition of powdered act
vated carbon to activated sludg
systems on enhanced rate and e>
tent of biodegradation of phenols.
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The report was developed by the USA National Committee for Representation of
the U.S. to the International Association on Water Pollution Research and
Control.
Donald F. Carey is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Developments at Twelfth International Conference
on Water Pollution Research," (Order No. PB 86-163 417/AS; Cost: $34.95.
subject to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield. VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Office of Exploratory Research
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20460
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
MAY20'S6
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/S9-86/007
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