PROCEEDINGS
VOLUME 2
Conference
In the matter of Pollution of
the Interstate Waters of the
Mahoning River-and its Tributaries
February 16-17, 1965
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
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318
UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
DIVISION OF WATER SUPPLY AND POLLUTION CONTROL
In re:
ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE ON THE
MAHONING RIVER
Voyager Motor Inn,
129 Market Street,
Youngstown, Ohio,
Wednesday, February 17, 1965
MURRAY STEIN, Chairman.
CONFEREES:
Leonard Weakley - Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation
Commission
Edward Cleary - Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation
Commission
H. W. Poston - United States Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare
Richard Boardman - Pennsylvania Department of
Health
Dr. E. W. Arnold - Ohio Department of Health
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319
INDEX
Statement by:
Samuel McBride
Kenneth s. Watson
John E. Richards
Larry Cook
Fred Wampler
Walter Brazon
F. W. Kittrell
H;ayse Black
F. W. Kittrell
Kenneth M. Mackenthun
Dr. Graham Walton
Maurice LeBosquet
F. W. Kittrell
Robert Horton
Clyde Cupps
Page
329
357
368
377
388
402
413
437
456
490
504
525
536
555
373
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320
PROCEEDINGS
CHAIRMAN STEIN: May we reconvene. We
have some communications here which we have been asked to
put in and without objection of the conferees, we will
place them in. One is by Verne Harris, Acting Chairman
of the Pollution Committee, League of Ohio Sportsmen, with
a brief history of the League of Ohio Sportsmen.
Without objection, we will put that in the record.
(The communication referred to is as follows):
Conference on the Mahoning River.
I, Verne L. Harris, of 635 National City Bank
Building, Cleveland, Ohio> have been appointed to take
the place of W. Harold Yost who passed away in January of
this year.
Harold Yost has been chairman of the pollution
committee for the past 25 years and did a wonderful job
working with all of the Ohio state departments.
He has printed a report every year for the League
of Ohio Sportsmen and I am including the last year's report
with this statement.
The League of Ohio Sportsmen has been in exis-
tence since 1908 and one of our principal aims is to have
good clean water in the State of Ohio. I am also including
in my report a brief history of the League of Ohio Sportsmen.
The League has for a number of years made a special
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321
study of strip mining and the disposal of the mine runoff
water.
This I understand is one of the principal objects
of this meeting and the League has some ideas on its
control.
The League is having a special program on
strip mining Friday afternoon and evening, February 19, 19^5,
at our annual convention at Columbus, Ohio and you are
all welcome to attend. .,,....
Respectfully submitted, Verne L. Harris,
Acting Chairman Pollution Committee, League of Ohio Sportsmen.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: And the other is a
statement of Mr. Dale Whitesell of the. Ohip Department of
Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, and he was. here
yesterday and he left this statement to go in.
Without objection, we will put that in.
(The statement referred to is as follows):
Mahoning River Basin Hearing Statement of. the
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife,
Youngstown, Ohio, February 16, 1965..
The duty of the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources, Division of Wildlife, in cases of pollution
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322
killed fish is set by law. : All the wild animals in Ohio
not legally confined are held in trust by the state for
the benefit of the people, by virtue of Section 1531.02.
Revised Code0 Section 1531.04 places the responsibility
upon the Divsion of Wildlife through the chief for
enforcing by proper legal action or proceeding the laws
of the state protecting these wild animals.
Starting in May 1964, a review was held of.
the Divisions success in pollution fish kill cases.
It was determined that improvements were in order. The
pollution investigation procedure which had been in
effect for about 15 years.was completely reworked. A
written procedure was 'developed in standardizing the
investigative effort at a,quality devel; the collection
and preservation of legal evidence was particularly
strengthened. ... .. ; .
Since that time there have been 64 instances
wherein the Division has investigated wild animals
killed by water pollution. The estimated total animals
killed number more than 9,800,000 and consist mainly of
fish. About 46,000 of these wild animals were killed
in the Mahoning basin; 43 in Greenwalt Ditch on June 18
(insufficient evidence) and 46,170 in the West Branch
of the Mahoning River on August 13 (evidence being
evaluated).
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323
Trained law enforcement agents were added to
the investigative team which has consisted of the local
game protector and a fisheries biologist. Photographs
are taken, witnesses interviewed and those in charge of the
apparent source of pollution are contacted. A case file
is prepared. The biologist also prepares a biological
interpretation based upon water tests conducted at the
site, laboratory tests of water samples, kill counts
and fish autopsies. This is then related to data in
"Water Quality Criteria" published by the California
State. Water Quality Control Board.
The State Department of Health is contacted
at the outset of each investigation and is provided
copies of initial reports. That Department conducts
the laboratory analysis of water samples and provides
a copy of the analysis as well as an interpretative
statement of the findings.
Evidence is evaluated by staff personnel and,
when determined sufficient to proceed in civil court,
a claim is presented to those causing the kill.
Here is a summary of the statewide results
since last May compared with those of the preceding
17 years.
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Comparison with preceding 17 Years
since 1947
May 1964 thru 1963
Investigations resulting in
damage claims 28 44
Investigations inconclusive 26 685
Investigations under way 11
Investigation results under
evaluation 4
Total wild animal kills
investigated 64 729
Total investigation where
a kill did not occur 9 582
Total of all investigations 73 1,311
Number of damage claims collected 5 25
Total amount of damage claims
collected $27,133.58 $52,137.35
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325
The law provides that the people of Ohio are
to be compensated for the loss of their property whether
it be 1 or 100,000 wild animals. In the past, damage
claims were not made when only a few fish were killed
by pollution. However, at the same time a licensed
sport fisherman taking one fish illegally was arrested
and subjected to a fine of from $15 to $200 plus court
costs. Therefore, damage claims supported by sound evi-
dence are being pursued in all cases of pollution killed
fish regardless of the quantity involved.
Statewide fish killing pollution came in
many forms: treated sewage, untreated sewage, acid
coal mine waters, oil, meat packing plant wastes, food
processing wastes, farm silo drainage, livestock wastes,
pesticides, herbicides, road paving materials, industrial
materials or wastes including cyanide, ammonia, various
acids, phenol, heavy metals and other compounds.
Now let us briefly review the instances
of fish kills occurring in the Mahoning Basin since
1950.
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Pollution Source 1950-54 1955-59 1960-64
Kills Kills Kills
Industrial '10' 4 ' 3
Sanitary, 4 1 3
Strip Mine 4 3 ; 3
Sand 8: Gravel Oil
Industrial pollution cases involving fish kills
declined 70 percent from 1950 to 1964. Sanitary pollution
cases declined 25 percent, with a sharp reduction from
1950 to 1959. Strip mining pollution indicated a slightly
lesser decline.
In closing I will now briefly review the status
of the pit) lie fishery in this basin. The Mahoning River
below Leavittsburg has been polluted sufficiently to
eliminate it from any of Ohio's past fisheries management
programs. The present water conditions from Newton Falls
to Leavittsburg are better than they were during the
industrial boom and the last war. The large amount of
dilution water from the reservoirs on the tributaries
has also contributed to the improvement.
The fish pollution in the upper end of the Mahoning
River and the accompanying recreation have improved in recent
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327
years. White bass and walleye populations have been developed
as the result of the introduction of these species into Lake
Milton and Berlin Reservoir. Berlin is one of the best
inland walleye lakes in Ohio. The movement of these fish
downstream over the spillways at Berlin and Milton has
resulted in good fishing downstream. Deer Creek Reservoir,
upstream from Berlin, has been developed by the Division for
rauskellunge fishing. A fine population is present but
fishermen have not yet taken full advantage of it. Lake Park
in Alliance was purchased, developed, and opened to public
use by the Division. Its fish population has recently been
rehabilitated and good bass angling is expected to result
fromthis action. The walleye, perch, and crappie angling
in Mosquito Creek Reservoir and in Mosquito Creek below is
a result of fish management work by the Division.
Finally, I must say, water pollution is recognized
as a problem throughout the nation, a problem of the States
and their individual citizens. The need for improving the
quality of our surface water was the theme of National
Wildlife Week several years ago and is being repeated again
this year.
The Ohio Division of Wildlife is not a pollution
abatement agency. However, the authority which the law
provides for pollution work by this agency is being used in
a full and effective sense.
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328
CHAIRMAN STEIN: What is your judgment on
these brief histories? Shall we just take that as an exhibit
or print it in the record?
MR. CLEARY: As you see fit.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Well, let's see if this
brief history will be made an exhibit and we will include
the statement of the League of Ohio Sportsmen for the record.
At this point, we would like to call on Pennsylvania for
a continuation of the statement and Mr. Richard Boardman,
as you know, is with us as conferee from Pennsylvania.
Before we start, though, I would like to give you
our tentative schedule for the day and we hope we will be
able to adhere to this depending on the length of the
presentation. I think Mr. Boardman of Pennsylvania has
one person to make a statement. Then we will have the
Federal Government presentation. Other Federal agencies
other than the Department of HEW will be asked to make
statements first, then the HEW statement will follow.
This should take us, if we are lucky, hopefully
until about one o*clock.
DR. ARNOLD: Ohio still has four
participants. We yielded yesterday so Pennsylvania could
get out.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I stand corrected.
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329
Ohio still has four participants. Do you have any notion
how long this will take?
DR. ARNOLD: I think not too long.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Well, in that, case, we
would hope for at least 1:30, Then the conferees will
adjourn and we will make an announcement at that time as
to when we may come back. If at all possible, I think
this is the consensus that we would try to be completed
today and hopefully we can conclude the conference." But
I think this will have to wait on developments and state-
ments.
Now, may we have Mr. Boardman?
MR. BOARDMAN: Our final invitee is
Mr. Samuel McBride who is Manager of the Beaver Falls Water
Authority. Mr. McBride is representing the Pennsylvania
section of the American Waterworks Association.
MR. McBRIDE: 'Before I start, there
seemed to be a lot of discussion yesterday as to who called
this conference and why0 I want to assure you that Beaver
Falls Municipal Authority has not put in a complaint.
The appearance of the writer1 at this conference was
requested by the Ohio River Sanitation Commission and the
Pennsylvania section of the American Waterworks Association.
The writer also welcomes the opportunity to appear and present
these statements on behalf of Beaver Falls Municipal Authority,
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330
the only public water supply purveyor, obtaining its source
of supply from the Beaver River.
Description and History.
The Beaver Falls Municipal Authority provides
water service to approximately 15,600 customers comprising
a population of about 65,000 persons in the.City of Beaver
Falls, the Boroughs.of Fallston, Eastvale, Freedom, East.
Rochester, New Brighton, Patterson Heights,.Rochester, West
Mayfield, West Bridgewater, Big Beaver and six surrounding
townships, all in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The district
that served the Water Authority is roughly 30 miles down
the Ohio River from Pittsburgh and about midway between .
Pittsburgh and Youngstown,-Ohio.
In 1902 the Beaver Valley Water Company was
formed and consolidated the several water companies in the.
Beaver Valley. . All of these waterworks were interconnected
and served by the new company which operated two pumping
and purification plants.,. one in Eastvale, across the Beaver
River from Beaver Falls, and the,other in New Brighton.
In 19^0 the Beaver Falls Municipal Authority was created
and it purchased the Beaver Valley Water Company.
Description of- Existing Plant Facilities.
The Authority operates the two plants, whose
source of supply is the Beaver River which is formed by the
Mahoning River and the Shenango River and whose drainage
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331
area is slightly in excess of 3,000 square miles.
The Eastvale plant, enlarged in 1957 by the con-
struction of a 4.0 mg settling and filtering facility,
brought the filtration capacity to 10.0 mgd. The treatment
consists of coagulation, primary and secondary sedimentation,
filtration and chlorination. The finished water is pumped
to the distribution system and storage facilities by
hydraulic electric or diesel powered pumps.
The New Brighton plant which has a filtering
capacity of approximately 3.5 mgd. also contains facilities
for the same type of treatment as practiced at Eastvale.
An interconnecting line and pumping facilities make it
possible to pump approximately 210 mgd from the Eastvale
plant to the New Brighton system.
Early History of Taste and Odor Problems.
The writer has been acquainted with the operation
of the water system since 1937 when employed as chemist
of the Shenango Valley Water Company of Sharon, Pennsylvania.
rj
oth water companies were owned by the same holding company.
The late Mr. E. C. Goehring, chemical engineer for the
Beaver Valley Water Company, was consultant to the Shenango
Valley Water Company.
The early history of taste and odor problems
in the Beaver River can best be told by including in this
statment excerpts from a paper presented by Mr. Goehring
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332
at a meeting of the Pennsylvania Water Works Operators
Association June 4, 1942, entitled "Taste and Odor Control
for Phenols with Activated Carbon."
The Beaver Falls Municipal Authority, formerly
the Beaver Valley Water Company, started using activated
carbon in October 1931. Inasmuch as it was still in an
experimental stage at that time, the normal dosages recom-
mended as being sufficient to control ordinary taste and
odor conditions, as given by the manufacturers, were
applied. While some benefits were obtained from its use
with relatively small dosages, it was indicated that with
our water considerably larger dosages would have to be
applied in order to get a complete, or at least a satis-
factory, removal of the taste and odor producing materials
which are found in the Beaver River, particularly phenols.
The first several years of its use must be
considered as experimental, during which time a gradual
increase in dosages was applied with proportionately
better results in the finished quality of the water.
During this experimental period, the industrial activity
in the Youngstown area, on the Mahoning River, was
relatively low. It wasn*t until 1937, and thereafter, that,
with the increase in industrial activity, a greater con-
centration of taste producing substances, particularly phenols,
made it necessary to increase carbon dosages.
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333
In order to graphically indicate.the carbon
requirements and the fluctuation in carbon dosages at our
plant, the curve called "Carbon Dosage Fluctuation" was
plotted for the years 1938 through April 1942. This
curve shows the average moiithly dosages, as well as the
maximum and minimum daily dosage for. that particular month.
This curve clearly shows that during the winter months,
starting in November and running through March, as being
our most critical period in which the higher dosages -are
used. It is during these months that we are affected by
the phenolic wastes from the Youngstown. steel area, which
is introduced by way of the Mahoning River.into the Beaver.
The highest dosage on record is that of 948 pounds per
million gallons for a.single day.
Because of the increased cost involved in the
use of such high carbon dosages, considerable experimenta-
tion was carried out during the years .starting April 1938
to March 1940, to determine whether or. not some other method
of purification might not be available to remove the taste
and odors, not only more effectively but also at a more
reasonable cost. Mr. John R. Baylis, the well known water
consultant, was employed during that.period of time and laid
out experimental work which was carried on for a considerable
period of time. Some of the taste and odor removal,processes
tried were; aeration, superchlorination, potassium permanganate^
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334
bleaching-clay, ozone, and storage, as well as a thorough
study on activated carbon requirements. The most effective
method found for taste and odor removal, especially for
phenols, was activated carbon.
The effect of the temperature of the raw water
on the carbon dosage is graphically shown on the curve
on which is plotted the four-year average monthly carbon
dosage for the years 1938, 1939, 1940 and 1941, along
with the temperature of the water for an average year.
These two curves show very plainly that whenever the water
drops to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit the carbon dosage
increases very markedly and, conversely, when the temperature
increases above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the carbon dosage
drops very rapidly. The period coincides with the before-
mentioned 'period, November to March, when phenolic wastes
are present at our intakes. This phenomenon has been
observed "fb'r. the past 17 years and is a good index of when
we can expect our troubles. The explanation for this has been
offered by the fact that with temperatures above 40 degrees,
the biological activity in the stream removes the phenolic
compounds or reduces them to non-taste and non-odor pro-
ducing substances. our most critical periods are during
the time when the river is frozen over, and even the maximum
amounts of carbon applied have proven uneffective in com-
pletely removing the phenols.
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336
After several years* study of our problem, in
the report made by Mr. John R. Baylis, he makes the
following statement concerning the pollution of the
Mahoning River as follows:
"No water, regardless of its use, should be
so highly polluted, if the pollution is lessened,
water of good quality can be supplied without
difficulty in the treatment all of the time.
This is now being done but sometimes at a cost
more than any waterworks should be required to
expend for water treatment."
While this conclusion is quite a criticism on
the type of water with which we have to start, some
recognition must be given to the State Health authorities
for the remarkable work which has been carried out during
recent years. Along with the lessening of the wastes in
the Mahoning River and the increased fl-ow of water from
the Pymatuning Reservoir, a beneficial effect has been
felt in the Beaver Valley plants. This is effectively
shown in the decrease in the carbon dosage required in
the year 1941 and 1942 when it would have been expected
that due to increased industrial activity, a more critical
problem should have been present under the conditions
formerly found. We are very much encouraged in this decrease
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30° 160
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of temperature of
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Carbon Dosage .
EXHIBIT
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338
and hope that with continued efforts being applied, not
only by our aggressive State Health Department but also by
the continuation of Interstate and Federal regulations,
that our problems at the Beaver Valley plants ^will decrease
to the extent that our carbon dosages will more nearly
approach normal. So states Mr. Goehring in his 1942
paper. I will just break here for just a minute.
When I was asked to appear here, I tried to
find a common element whereby I could compare the waters
previously and at the present time and due to various
methods of treatment used and types of treatment, changes,
I have come up with a cost of purification analysis which
I think is an indication as to the condition of the river.
From the above report and an analysis of the
records with regards to the cost of chemical treatment,
Figure 3, entitled "Chemical Treatment Costs - Eastvale
plant" shows graphically the treatment costs from 1927
through 1964. All chemicals are priced at the 1964
prices.
Assuming that the same quality of water has
been produced at Beaver Falls, the curve indicates that
the cost of treatment has decreased considerably from
1940 to 1954. The cost from a high of $25.59 per million
gallons to a low of $7.43 per million gallons. From 1954
to 1957 the treatment cost was stabilized at about $8.28
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339
per million gallons. From 1958 through 1964 the costs of
treatment have been increasing.
The methods of treatment used at the Eastvale
plant over the years are as follows:
1927 to 1931 - Aluminum sulphate or alum for
coagulation, lime for pH correction and chlorine
for disinfection.
1931-1949 - Same as above with the addition
of activated carbon for taste and odor control
and a small amount of ammonia for chloramine
treatment, also for taste and odor treatment.
(See next page.)
-------
Chemical Treatment Costs
Eastvale Plant
$25.00
$20.00
$15.00
$10.00
$5.00
Total Chemical Cost
Alum & Carbon Cost
1925 1930 1935
CO
o
Fig. 3
191*0 19U5 1950 1955 I960 1965
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341
TABLE NO. 1
Chemical Costs
Year Alum Lime Chlorine Carbon
Sodium Potassium
Chlorite Perman-
ganate Total
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
• 1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
4.38
3.60
3.16
2.86
4.13
4.00
3.46
3.70
4.20
4.04
5.95
6.26
7. .20
6.16
4.65
4.63
4.06
4.30
3.92
3.98
3.92
4.14
4.31
4.56
3.63
3.38
3.03
3.89
3.79
3.97
3.87
4.57
4.70
4.81
4.16
4.17
4.6.2
3". 80
1.29
1..26
1.30
.98
..93
1.32
1.01
1.11.
.95
.93
1.09
1.22
1.06
.99
.90
.87
.94
.88
.91
1.27
•1.47
2.09
1.87
1.78
1.91
1.89
.89
.97
.80
.87
.93
1.01
1.00
1.06
.94
.98
.96
1.01
.95
1.01
.97
1.10
1.06
1.27
1.27
1.18
1.79
3.23
3.52
3.90
3.27
3.59
.81
1.46
1.87
1.96
2.00
5.46
10.72
16.15
16.25
9.60
4.79
3.27
5.56
5.60
3.26
1.73
2.70
3.15
2.96
2.43
2.06
2.14
1.97
2.04
1.79
1.98
1.53
1.36
.64
1.27
1.58
1.36
.61
.22
.54
.72
.43
.39
.47
.32
.33
.29
.34
.36
.13
.29
.42
.26
.20
4.38
3.60
3.16
2.86
4.13
4.81
4.92
5.57
6.16
6.04
11.41
16 . 98
25.59
;;; 24.57
16.45
11.27
9.19
12.19
11.53
9.41
7.54
8 . 75
9 . 73
10.2.8
8.78
7.86 '
7.43
8.30*
8.15
8.24
8.32
8.89
9.68
10.91
11,12
.20 12.04
1.85 13.27
1.97 12.06
All costs based on 1964 prices
Alum - $2.49 cwt
Lime - 1.14 cwt
Chlorine - 0.05 per Ib.
Carbon - 0.08 per Ib.
Sodium Chlorite - 0.53 per Ib.
Potassium permanganate - 0.32 per Ib.
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342
1949 to 1958 - Same treatment with the exception
of chlorine dioxide being used on the finished water
instead of chloramine. The use of chlorine dioxide,
has been very.beneficial in the control of taste and.
odor.
Late in 1956 the Beaver Falls Municipal Authority
began construction of a 4.0 mgd addition to the Eastvale :
plant which increased the capacity from 6.0 mgd to 1.0 mgd.
The additions consisted of a new chemical feed house, a new
settling basin and two 2.0 mgd filters. This plant began
operation December 1957. With this addition, the plant
became very flexible for various types of treatment. The
general treatment consisted of coagulation, primary and
secondary sedimentation, filtration and chlorination.
Immediately after operations of the new addition
began, along with new chemical control tests, it was
found that a clearer water with less residual color could
be produced at an increased alum dosage, along with the
additional alum being used, the lime requirements increased.
In addition to this, for years the plant effluent had a
pH of about 7.2 and red water conditions began to appear
throughout the distribution system, the pH was raised to
7.6 and again raised to a pH 8.4 in 1960. Since:1961
the pH has been controlled by the stability point as
determined by the calcium carbonate test.
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343
In 1959 we began the practice of break-point
chlorination for taste and odor control, bacterial quality
and manganese removal, and in 1963 we began using potassium
permanganate for manganese removal in the wintertime when
break-point chlorination is discontinued.
Figure 4 shows graphically the manganese content
of the raw and finished waters from 1960 through 1964.
It also indicates the pre-chlorination dosage in relation
to the finished water manganese content along with the
potassium permanganate use. This graph clearly indicates
the effect of break-point chlorination and potassium
permanganate in the removal of manganese. It also shows
that we are providing a better water consistently in
relation to the manganese content.
The use of break-point chlorination in the
warmer seasons of the year has been very effective in
taste and odor control and the potassium permanganate in
the colder waters has also effected some taste and odor
reduction., along with manganese removal.
The above statements concerning the present
methods of treatment also explain the increased cost in
chemical treatment since 1957.
The writer does not wish to convey the thought
that we do np.-t experience any taste and odor in the finished
water. We still have problems and cannot control it as we
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344
would like to. On occasion we have had an algae taste in
the summer for very short periods. We also have some
difficulties in the winter especially when the river is
frozen over and the water does not receive natural aeration,
we still at times produce an unsatisfactory water as far as
taste and odor is concerned. Also, on occasions, we
experience taste and odor in the finished water after a
heavy rain and a rise in the river, probably due to
washouts along the river banks. Pipe line breaks of oil
carrying transmission lines and breakdowns in waste
treatment facilitde s of plants in the Youngstown area will
give us additional problems. Mr. Wallace of the Youngstown
Sheet and Tube Company has been very cooperative in notifying
us about spills or pipe line breaks that he is aware of.
(See next page.)
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345
160
1.
•<=••(-—
••rt^y^rtT
... FIG, k j- i
Beaver T*llf> Muhioipsl; Airt^crrity
JL^T..f AP * Oul-0 Ittftfll vXQll.
.pbtaiasiua; Renuaoganata
i—i-rtr-'-i'l
1 ^T7 1
HHs I III 5!
• •BB» B^bCrii"
? 5 ! 5 J 5 3 3 S S § S
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TABLE NO. 2
' Manganese - Sastyale..
I960 1961 1962
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
R
.60
.70
.51
.34
.42
.30
.39
.31
T
1 02-"
0
0
.01.
.03 :
.04
.15
. 14:
R
.51
,68
..54t,
:.45.
.30-
.35
.30
.50
.48>
.47
.46
.36
T
.20
.15
0. '•'
: • .6 :
0
0
0
.01
f-\ r* -
.05
.15
.13
.10
R
.74
•&
.88
.44
.44
.31
.33
I " r^
.49
.34
.,30
.29
.- -T -
.09
.11
.08
.06
.05
.06
.01
r\r"
.05
0
.04
,o4
-R. . : •-; T .-. R T
.37 .12 .38 .02
.31 .02 .38 .01
.1,5 .02 .52 .03
.51 il'O .39 0
.32 ; 0 : .29 0
.28 0 .37 .06
.40 .04 .45 .06
.39. .04 .36 o
.28 0 i33 o.
.40 0 .39 0
.30 0 .36 0
,35 .01 .46 .01
U)
-------
TABLE NO. 3
347
I960
Pre Chlorination in p.p.m.
1961
1962
1963
19614.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Pre 01
1765"
1.28
1.39
5.35
9.50
9.60
12.01
12.65
lit. 32
9.35
2.53
2.75
PH
£714-
8.3
8.U
8.2
8.2
8.2
8.1
8.0
8.0
7.9
7.9
7.9
Pre Cl
1.83
3.73
It. 75
it. 95
7.1Ut
10.20
12.70
16.20
20.25
3.5/t
3.1|.o-
2.87
PH
7.9
7.8
7.7
7.6
7.7
7.7
7.5
7.6
7.7
8.2
8.2
8.3
Pre Cl
3.21
3.01
1.73
2.26
14-.96
3.50
16.50
17.70
22,. 00, -
16.60
2.56
2.05
PH
7.9
7.7
7.5
7.it
7.it
7.8
7.5
.7.it. •
.7.5....
7.5
7.5
7.5
Pre Cl
2.09
1.62
1.13
1.58
3.3it
3.73
16.05
-l£;,90'.-
18.30 ....
16.14.0
3.80
3.02
PH
775
7. it
7. it
7. it
7. it
7.6
7.5
•-7;5r
,7;.S-
7.5
7.5
7.5
Pre Cl
"23*3-
1.70
it. 35
6.71
8.95
7.90
114..20
19.V70.
23v60; •
U.it2
3.614.
2.83
PH
775
7,5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.it
7.'it
7vit
7.5
7.5
7.5
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
I960
Pre Cl PH
Potassium Permanganate Usage
1961
Pre Cl PH
1962
Pre Cl PH
.9itO 6-30
1.16
)ays
1963
Pre Cl PH
1.17
0.9U
1.014.
1.05
1.10
1.16
19614-
Pre Cl PH
1.32
l.:3it
2.00
.98
1.51
l.Tlj.
1.614-
-------
348
On a few occasions the past two years while
operating on break-point chlorination, we have experienced
considerable difficulty. For instance on September 9, 1964,
the pre-chlorination dosage was at 17.20 ppm with a satis-
factory free chlorine residual, the demand for chlorine
kept increasing to 58.51 ppm on September 14th and a satis-
factory free chlorine residual could not be obtained; that
is in the pretreated water. After a day or two the chlorine
residual was satisfactory -and the dosage decreased. The
writer has not been able to explain this, however, it was
noted from the ORSANCO robot monitor located at our plant
that the dissolved oxygen content of the river water was
running considerably lower than normal.
The conclusions, from the data studied and pre-
sented by the writer covering a period of 37 years from
1927 through 1964, from personal knowledge and discussions
with the operating personnel from 1937 to 1957 and employed
by the Beaver Falls Municipal Authority as its manager from
1957 to date, it is my opinion that the water of the Beaver
River is quite difficult to treat in order to produce a
satisfactory product at all times. It is also believed
considerable improvement has been shown in the raw water
between 1940 and 1954 along with improved quality of water
delivered to our customers as a result of the method of
treatment used.
-------
3^9
With the new facilities and the increased
flexibility of the treatment plant since 1957, the intro-
duction of break-point chlorination, free chlorine residual
and the use of potassium permanganate, has enabled us to
produce a better quality water than had been produced in
the preceding years. The increased cost amounts to approxi-
mately $4e25 per million gallons over the 1955-57 costs.
I would also like to state here in this con-
clusion that the number of times that we have had taste
and odor problems has greatly decreased over the period of
years along with our treatment of the way we are doing it.
While the Beaver River has improved in the years
to about 195^, it appears that a static condition has
existed since that time and in order to improve conditions
of the river water, considerable improvements in waste
treatment processes and sewage treatment facilities must
be considered.
From our experience, the quality of water received
at Beaver Falls is below the accepted standards. However,
we will favor any program which would improve the water
quality for the Beaver River Basin and I was very delighted
to have been here yesterday to hear all of the improvements
that have been made.
The fact that the Youngstown sewage treatment
plant is now in operation and the fact that the New Castle
-------
350
sewage treatment plant will be enlarged, they have asked
for bids for that, that makes us very happy down in Beaver
Falls. .
CHAIRMAN STEIN: = Thank you, Mr.
McBride.
(See next page.)
-------
351
Without objection, your charts and tables will be included
in the presentation. There may have to be one adjustment.
We reproduce in black and. white and you used a little color.
With your permission, we will ask the people who
handle the reproduction to see if they can make that meaning-
ful. I think it won*t change your chart.
MR. McBRIDE: It was black and white,
I colored it up so you could see it better.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: It will appear in black
and white.
MR. McBRIDE: That's all right.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Are there any questions
or comments?
MR. POSTON: I think Mr. McBride is
to be commended for a very fine report that he has presented
here this morning. I know that he works hard at producing
the best possible water for the people of Beaver Falls.
Having been a waterworks operator myself, I am appreciative
of some of his problems and some of the things that he has
done here and I note particularly-on page 9 where he has
used some 58.5 parts per million of chlorine. I think this
is somewhat of a record for the country.
While I am sure that he has produced safe water at
all times, I would submit that his factor of safety decreases
with every increased demand on the treatment capacity of his
-------
352
plant. I would like to ask Mr. McBride how many times
during the past year he has received reports from Mr. Wallace
of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company relative to a
pollution spill coming down the river toward them.
MR. McBRIDEs Well, to tell you the
truth, I don«t keep track of them but he has called me
and he stated yesterday that he called three times in «64,
and I would -••< agree .with him. .-I don^t; have: "the. exact number.
I don*t keep a count on them.
MR. POSTON: Mr. McBride, I stopped
in your office on Monday and talked with you briefly and
you indicated that there is a type of grass that has
appeared in the river in the last two or three years since
1963. Would you describe what the situation is and how
this influences your operation?
MR. McBRIDE: During the summer
of 1963, we noticed a lot of green flowers, you might say,
or seeds or pods on the Beaver River. It was so prolific
that the newspaper -- one of the newspapers called and
said "What»s the green on the river?" We had noticed a
few times before that. There is long grass, maybe that
long (indicating) in great big clumps that would come
down the river. A friend of mine took me in an airplane
trip up the river and we found this green pod or the seeds
prevalent all the way up on the western -- on the eastern
-------
353
bank of the river above the Conoquenessing. From fiere on
we did not have the green seeds on it.
Then on up the river to New castle and on up
the Mahoning it was very prevalent; although the color
of it was not green, it was gray, more or less. It was
a septic condition, you might say, where the effluents of
sewage plants and so on had accumulated on the grass.
Now, with the rise of water we get a lot of it that still
comes down, we have a boat dock there, a boat club by
the plant. They have a cable across the river and at
times we have had to have them cut the cable in order to
let the grass through. It comes in our intake. We
operate by hydraulic power partially and this grass
shuts it down as far as hydraulic power is concerned.
.It doesn*t seem to have caused any taste and
odor problems to amount to anything. It is more a
mechanical problem of clogging.
MR. POSTON: Your experiences
with chloririationn of some 58 parts per million, do you
know of any other waterworks in this area or to your
knowledge where they use these quantities of chlorine?
MR. McBRIDE: No, I don«t. Thatts
the highest we ever used and that was four a day during a
24-hour period with an increase a few years earlier.
-------
354
A few years earlier, we had one up to 35 parts per million.
MR. POSTQN: . That's all I have.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Do you have any, Mr.
Cleary?
MR. CLEARY: Mr. McBride, I am ;
wondering if you have an opinion as to why the water
between 1940 and '5^ showed some improvement, which I
would presume that the pollution was increasing, and then
after that period you have experienced more difficulties.
Have any theories been elicited as to why this period of
j
19^0 to '5^ might have been different than before?
MR'i McBREDE: I am talking chemical
costs. Over the years I feel that the taste and odor
condition at Beaver Falls has been improved greatly. No,
as far as I am concerned •— as far as my analysis shows,
we still have some treatment problems. We are trying
to put out a better water and I think we have, since we
have made our addition to the Eastvale plant. The cost
of lime is higher when you are watching that closely.
The permanganate and manganese removal pre-chlorination,
it naturally will cost more at the basic point chlbrination.
We try to put but-the best water possible arid
in order to put it out, you pay for it.
MR. CLEARY: I wondered if any
theories had been stated if the water before 195^ was better
-------
355
after 1954 which was the period in which the improvement
program was set forth in Ohio. I am just curious as to
what might have happened during the great war activity
and the industrial development, that the water might have
been better than afterwards.
MR. McBRIDE: Well, on my basis,
the only way I can figure I could do it was on a cost basis,
now, assuming that the quality of the finished product was
the same.
MR. CLEARY; I see. Thank you
very much.
MR. POSTON: I have one more question.
I noticed your last sentence in yo.ur statement, you say that
you would recommend higher standards be developed for the
Ohio River basin both in Ohio and Pennsylvania. I wonder
whether you or the Pennsylvania American Water Works
Association would;have any suggestions or thoughts on what
these higher standards might be.
MR. MeBRIDE: Well, I didn«t make
that statement. That's in my written statement but I didn't
read it. I changed that last sentence.
MR. POSTON: Do you care to comment
on that?
MR. McBRIDE: Well, yes, I will
comment, on .that. I :had submitted this or .given a copy of
-------
356
this report to a member of the State Health Department in
Pennsylvania and he says, "Do you want the standards, the
water standards increased?"
I said, "I Just want better water coming to our
intake." He says, "Well, the standards are set up on the
drinking water standards," and he says we have to get down,
If we meet those standards, we are doing a fine Job; and
then I eliminated the increase in standards.
MR. POSTON: That's all.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: As I understand it,
then, I think I know what the drinking water standards
are. That deals with the quality of water you get in a
water intake, is that what you are talking about?
MR. McBRIDE: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: And you would like
to have water of that caliber coming past your intake?
MR. McBRIDE: I sure would.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Okay, thank you.
Dr. Arnold.
DR. ARNOLD: I have no questions.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you very much,
Mr. McBride. Do you want to continue?
DR. ARNOLD: Ohio would like to
continue with their participation and would call on Mr.
Kenneth Watson, Water Consultant of the General Electric
-------
357
Companyj Niles, Ohio.
MR. WATSON: Mr. Chairman, conferees,
ladies and gentlemen of the conference: My name is Kenneth
S. Watson. I am 'the Manager of the Water'Management Labora-
tory, General Electric Company, Louisville, Kentucky. I
have worked for the company for over 14 years serving as the
consultant on water management arid waste control for the
first 11 years of this period.
Perhaps before starting my presentation, for
the benefit of the record, I should briefly outline my
qualifications for appearing before such a conference.
I have Bactilor and Master*s degrees in Chemical Engineering
with Sanitary Options. I am registered as a"professional
engineer in New York, Ohio and West Virginia. The American
Sanitary Engineering Intersociety Board has certified me
as a Diplomat in the American Academy of Sanitary Engineers.
Prior to going to work for General Electric,
I served as Executive Secretary-Engineer of the West Virginia
Water Commission and Assistant Director of the Ohio River
Valley Water Sanitation Commission. It has further been
my privilege to. serve as President of the'Water pollution
Control Federation and the Chairman of the National Tech-
nical Task Committee/on Industrial Wastes.
The.General Electric. Company has oper.ated
manufacturing facilities in Ohio, since 1912. The company's
-------
358
lamp operation came into being in Cleveland as of that date
and its headquarters has been"based there since.
There are at present 2l| lamp plants, based in
13 cities operating in Ohio." Five of these plants have
been operating under permits from the Ohio Water Pollution
Control Board since 1953- The' remainder of the plants- or
19 are connected directly to municipal sewer systems so
the permit procedure does not apply oh these plants.
In addition to our lamp plants, we have a
number of other operations in Ohio. The company's jet
engine headquarters and manufacturing plants are located
in Evendale. Company vacuum cleaners are manufactured in
Cleveland. The Laminated Products Department, where
Textolite is manufactured, is located in Coshocton. All
of these plants discharge into the city sewer system, but
most of the process water from Coshocton and Evendale is
discharged to the stream. Evendale and Coshocton are
operating under permits from the Ohib Water Pollution
Control Board.
PUrther, the company operates a distribution
assemblies department plant at Blue Ash near Cincinnati.
Since this plant is not connected to a city sewer system,
it is operating under permit from the State for discharge
of both sanitary and process waste water into a small
stream.
-------
359
Company Efforts.
General Electric has a large stake in the water
resources of the nation. Adequate water of the proper
quality is absolutely necessary in the operation of most
of our plants. Recognising the importance of this water
resource, the company has had a water management program
under way for many years. This program is to a large
degree concerned with the conservation and re-use of water
so that this valuable water resource will not be squandered.
About 15 years ago, the company re-emphasized
her interest in the importance of the Nation's water
resources and .stepped up her efforts to properly control
pollution. Under this program, when a new plant is built,
if stream discharge is planned, necessary waste treatment
facilities are built along with the manufacturing facilities
to properly protect the environment. If the discharge is
into a city sewer system, pretreatment facilities are
built when necessary to protect the sewerage system.
In existing plants, it is the company policy
to cooperate fully.and comply with all stream pollution
control programs. .Under both phases of this program, the
j ' • •
company has built and is operating numerous rather expensive
waste treatment facilities in many .parts of the country.
In spite of this type of diligence, emergencies do occur
occasionally resulting in the discharge of some objectionable
-------
360
materials. In such cases, plant management corrects the
situation as soon as discovered and attempts to develop a
procedure for preventing a future reoccurrence.
Many of the company*s plants in Ohio are small
and not of the type of which would have serious pollution
problems, nevertheless, consistent with the company*s
general philosophy, every effort has been made to keep
wastes under control whether the plant discharged into a
stream or city sewer system. This policy is just as much in
effect today as it has been in the past as is borne out by
one of our lamp operations in Cleveland. Modernization of
these manufacturing facilities are in the planning stage
for this plant connected to the city sewer system. About
$200,000 worth of waste treatment facilities are projected
in th:E modernization program.
Under the company approach, facilities within
the Ohio plants range from a single limestone neutraliza-
tion bed to a complex facility in Conneaut in which acids
are neutralized, an oil emulsion is broken and solids are
removed from the effluent by precoat filtration. In
this-largest treatment facility which had a cost of
roughly $276,000, we worked closely with engineers from
the State Department of Health and the company was issued,
after appropriate review procedures, a permit for operation^
This treatment facility was built at an existing plant in
-------
361
1958 to comply with an area program impelled by the state.
At about the time our facility went into operation the
city also began operating a new treatment plant. The
plant's sanitary wastes here discharge into the city
system.
In the. Blue Ash plant already mentioned, where
electrical distribution equipment and motor control centers
are manufactured, the sanitary sewage is passed through a
package plant and then combined with the treated process
water. The industrial wastes treatment facilities consist
of a system for alkaline chlorination of cyanide concen-
trates and rinses and.facilities for neutralization of
acid and alkaline wastes. The combined wastes are then
passed through a lagoon where .stabilization and final
settling takes place.
Monthly reports are submitted to the state on
the quality and quantity of the effluent being discharged
from this facility which .was placed ,in operation in 1961.
This Blue Ash .system is somewhat comparable to a number
of other Ohio locations where either sanitary sewage or
process waste discharges or both are.taking place under
permits from the State of Ohio..
. Mahoning River. The company is at present
operating, five plants in the Mahoning River,basin. There
are two plants located at Niles on sites adjacent to each
other. Both of these operations have their sanitary sewage
-------
362
connected into the city sewer system. The process waters
from the lamp glass plant flow into Mosquito Creek and
thence into the Mahoning River proper so this is the
only plant in the basin at present operating under permit
from the Ohio Water Pollution Control Board.
This glass plant uses considerable quantities
of hydrofluoric acid to clean and frost glass. By
analyzing, in cooperation with the Ohio Department of
Health, the load going to the creek, a decision was reached
in 1956 to provide treatment facilities for the plant waste
water0 This was thus another treatment facility provided
for an existing plant. The treatment unit was placed in
operation in 1957 and has been inoperation since that date.
The treatment consists of neutralizing the waste water
stream with lime and then passing it through a clarifier
to remove most of the solids. Periodically the solids
which have been removed must be trucked to a dump.
The plant's monthly effluent reports to the
state, covering daily analyses, show thgtt the plant
averages a removal of about 96.5 percent of the fluoride
from the waste water before discharge. This treatment
facility has an annual operating cost of about $20,000.
The remaining three plants, two in Warren
ard one in Youngstown, are connected to the city sewer
systems and are thus not covered by state permits. No.
-------
363
pretreatment of these wastes is necessary except for a small
limestone neutralization bed or two.
Before 1964 the company operated another rather
extensive treatment facility in the Mahoning basin at the
Mahoning Valley Steel Company. This industrial wastes
facility which had a cost of over $250,000 was put into
\
operation in 1962. It provided treatment for spent pickle
liquor, spent cyanide baths and rinse waters from pickling
and plating operations. We have had no responsibility for
this operation since 1963 when the plant changed ownership.
During the planning of this treatment facility
for an existing plant we worked closely with the engineers
from the State Department of Health. After appropriate
review procedure the plant was issued a permit to discharge
waste waters after treatment.
During the period while the industrial treat-
ment facility was being built a major alignment of the
plant sanitary sewer system was made so it could be broken
loose from septic tanks and discharged into the city system.
The building of the treatment facility at Mahoning Steel
was part of a cleanup program for the whole area directed
by the state. As a part of this program, the City of Niles
also provided a new sewage treatment plant.
Progress in Ohio.
The company operates plants in many states and
-------
36U
thus is familiar with numerous pollution control programs.
We have been impressed with the pollution control efforts
and progress in the Ohio basin. The Ohio River compact has
been in place for many years coordinating and correlating
the total effort for the basin.
Under this regional program, the State of Ohio,
following up on groundwork laid even before the compact
came into being, is doing a good job. It would seem that
the permit approach represents a sound method of administer-
ing a proper program. We have further been impressed with
the dedication and competence of the engineers from the
State and ORSAWCO with whom we have worked.
The point can always be made that progress in
polution control is not rapid enough and I, at times, also
have this feeling. In thoughtful review of the subject,
however, it should again be realized that the pollution
problem has developed over a period of years and some time
is going to be required to bring it reasonably under control.
Progress in the Mahoning basin, which is part of the regional
effort also, would tend to indicate that the Water Pollution
Control Board is keeping pace with its responsibility.
The presentation from the state and municipali-
ties which we heard here yesterday certainly abundantly bear
out that statement.
In thinking of the National Welfare and pollution
-------
365
control progress nationwide, it would seem that the Ohio basin
now has the machinery in place well ahead of many other sec-
tions of the country to cope with the problem. ORSANCO is
the organization which permits the basin to be considered
as a total watershed and interstate matters can be .resolved
at this level. Complementing and supplementing this
basin-wide effort are the programs .of the individual states
working with their contributory citizens. Therefore, if
we as reasonable men conclude that progress in the Mahoning
is too slow, our efforts should be in the direction of
supporting the agencies leading the program by soliciting
additional funds from state and Federal levels to permit
the pertinent regulatory organizations to step up the pace.
CHAIRMAN STEIN; Thank you, Mr. Watson.
Are there any comments or questions?
MR. POSTON: Mrc Watson, I would
like to ask you whether or not General Electric Company
would be willing to give to the Federal Government that
information on effluents from its, plants?
MR. WATSON: Well, let's see if
I can kind of put that into context for you. As many of
you know, the General Electric Company is fairly extensively
decentralized and our local plants have a large degree
of autonomy but when you stop to think of the situation,
they have to face the matter of fact day-to-day situation
-------
366
of producing products which have appeal and will sell to
our customers and deliver a reasonable return to our
shareholders; and in this kind of a climate, duplication
of effort is not one of their strong points.
I ' .- - -
So they could, if they so elected, make this
information available to the Public Health Service. They
would normally work in the direction of cooperating fully
with the duly constituted authority if this was a plant
connected to the city sewer system; this would be the city.
if it were a plant discharge into the waters of the state,
it would be the state. And if they had any questions
about the situation, there is an organizational structure
at company level to which they could come for counsel.
And again, as I say, the information has
been presented through normal channels and they would
see no need for duplication of either. And if I may
editorialize here a little bit -- in thinking in terms of
a sound program for the benefit of the-citizens, duplica-
tion of effort does not represent a sound expenditure of
the taxpayer»s money.
MR. POSTON: Specifically, then,
I would like to ask in this Mahoning River interstate area
if we were to ask for information on the effluents from
plants in this area, tying it down a little bit closer
here, would we anticipate that we can get information?
-------
367
MR. WATSON: Well, again, I might
say the plant manager could decide to make this information
available.
MR. WEAKLEY: Mr. Chairman, could
I interrupt a moment? It seems a lot of time was taken up
yesterday on this same exploration and it looks like more
time is likely to be devoted to the same sort of inquiry
today. I think it is completely out of order for this
sort of discussion to take place in this particular confer-
ence. There is nothing in the Act or nothing under the
authority for the conference that justifies going into
this kind of an investigation or exploration, and I think
it is completely out of order.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Mr. Weakley, your
remarks certainly bear on the record but I think the procedure
we carry out under the conference is that we give the greatest
latitude to people we ask questions. No one has to answer
a question and I don»t know that questions have to be
asked, but I would suggest that Mr. Poston heard your
remarks and he is a free agent here and can determine what
to do.
MR. WATSON: Well, I really don't
think I have to answer that question today for the reason
that we have a reasonable standard operating procedure and
this procedure would be followed, and this procedure, I think,
-------
368
would indicate that most plant managers would not turn over
that information if they came to company level for counsel
on the matter.
We would again counsel them in the direction
of working closely and cooperating fully with the duly
constituted regulatory agency and I think we both understand
who that agency is today.
MR. POSTON: Thank you, Mr. Watson.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I am not sure I do.
Do you mean ORSANCO?
MR. WATSON: No, I do not mean
ORSANCO. if the plant is connected into a municipal sewer
system, it is that municipality. If it discharges in the
streams of the state, it is that state.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Okay, thank you, Mr.
Watson.
Are there any further questions or comments?
If not, thank you very much.
DR. ARNOLD: Mr. John E. Richards,
of the Ohio Department of Health staff, will present the
statement of Mr. Tom Anderson, who is the production engineer
of the Packard Electric Division, General Motors Corpora-
tion, Warren, Ohio.
MR. RICHARDS: Mr. Chairman, conferees,
ladies and gentlemen: My name is John E. Richards. I am
-------
369
engineer in charge of the sewage industrial unit of the
Ohio Department of Health, and the title of this paper is
Statement on the Waste Treatment Facilities at Packard
Electric Division, General Motors Corporation, prepared by
Thomas D. Anderson, Production Engineering, Packard Electric
Division, General Motors Corporation, Warren, Ohio.
Since December, 1961, the plating facilities at
Packard Electric Division, GMC, have been located in
Howland Township, Trumbull County. Plating and,allied
finishing solutions used on a production basis include
zinc, cadmium, silver, and cooper cyanide plating solutions;
cyanide, alkaline, and acid cleaning solutions; and chrornate
conversion coating solutions. A sulphuric acid pickling
system for cleaning drawn copper rod is also located in
this general plant area, and has been operating since
1956.
Treatment facilities were placed in operation
at the beginning of production in both of these areas.
The Lacy Integrated Treatment System is used for treatment
in the plating area while a conventional lime feeder-
cyclator-filtration system is used for the treatment of
pickling waste. Other waste materials such as oils,
solvents, and sludges, are hauled away and either buried
or burned.
The plating area is divided into four separate
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370
sections, which are production, waste treatment, chemical
storage, and a small control laboratory. In addition to
the treatment section of the plating area, the waste
treatment facilities include a settling tank, a chlorine
storage building, and two sludge beds.
The integrated system for plating waste is a
closed system in which the treatment solution is pumped
from a reservoir tank to treatment rinse tanks in each
plating line. The solution gravity drains from the
rinse into a collection tank and is then pumped back
into the reservoir, thus forming the closed system. All
parts leaving a tank containing cyanide or chrome solution
are rinsed in treatment solution before being rinsed
.' ; . I
in running water. Fresh chemicals to maintain the
treatment solution are added in the reservoir tank.
There are four separate treatment systems serving
the plating department. In the first system cyanide is
oxidized in the two-step alkaline chlorination reaction.
The raw cyanides are first oxidized to cyanates and the
cyanates are then broken down to carbon dioxide and nitrogen,
In the second system, hexavalent chrome is reduced to
trivalent chrome by the use of sodium hydrosulfite, and
the trivalent chrome is then precipitated with sodium
carbonate. The third system treats floor spill, which is
primarily alkaline cyanides, by collecting it in a hold
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tank and chlorinating the solution batchwise to oxidize
the cyandies to carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The fully
treated floor spill solution is then pumped a sludge
pond behind the plant, where the sludge settles out and
the supernatant liquid either evaporates or drains off.
Acid waste is neutralized in the fourth system. Spent
acids are pumped from the plating lines into a hold tank
in the treatment area. Sodium bisulfate is added to
neutralize the acid and precipitate the chrome. The
neutralized and treated acid is then pumped to the sludge
pond.
All effluent rinse water from the plating
department flows into a sewer settling tank just outside
the building. The minimum design retention time is two
hours, and the present flow rate is about 105 g.p.m.
Rinse water leaves the plating department, flows into
the retention tank, then flows over a weir. The weir
has two outlets, and the water can either be sent to the
plant salvage water system or be diverted to the city
storm sewer. The effluent rinse water in the settling
ank is analyzed once a week during normal operating
conditions and the monthly report sent to the State
Board of Health. The average analysis of the effluent
rinse waters is pH 8.2, chlorides 30 p.p.m., CN less
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than 0.2 p.p.m., hexavalerit chrome less than 1.0 p.p.m.,
and copper 0.00 p.p.m. Two sludge beds, primarily for
floor spill and acid waste, are located behind the plant.
Treated solutions flow into the first bed, then overflow
into the second bed with the second bed overflowing
periodically to a storm sewer.
The treatment facilities for the copper rod
pickling system consist of a plating-out system, a
cyclator and lime feeder, a filtration system, and a
sludge bed. Rinse waters from the pickling operation,
flowing at 25-30 g.p.m., are pumped through a sump to the
cyclator where a lime slurry of about 20 percent solids
is fed by pH meter. The treated water overflows the rim
of the cyclator, is pumped through a set of sand filters,
and flows into the storm sewer. Periodically, sludge is
collected from the bottom of the cyclator and pumped to
a separate sludge bed behind the plant. Here the solids,
primarily copper hydroxide and lime, settle out, and the
water either drains off or evaporates. In addition, the
pickle solution is constantly recirculated through a
plating-out system which regenerates the acid and also
reduces the amount of copper which must be treated in
the rinse water.
Samples of effluent water are analyzed once per
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week during normal operating conditions, and a report is
sent each month to the State Board of Health. The average
conditions during normal operation are raw wastes: 92.0
p.p.m. copper and a pH of U.^j and treated water, after
filtration: 0.1? p.p.m. copper and a pH of 8.5-
Packard's waste treatment facilities are complete
in their capability to destroy or otherwise render harmless
all waste materials generated by Packard's production
processes. Packard's goal is the continued successful
operation of its waste treatment facilities in full
compliance with the requirements of the Ohio State Board
of Health. A positive program of industrial waste treat-
ment is a major factor in solving the water pollution
problem, and Packard has given its full support to the
State of Ohio's water pollution control drive in the
Mahoning River Valley.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, Mr. Richards.
Are there any comments or questions? If not, thank you
very much.
DR. ARNOLD: We see now, Mr. Clyde
Gupps, plant engineer of the bumper division of Rockwell
Standard Manufacturing Corporation, Newton Palls.
MR. CUPPS: Mr. Chairman, conferees,
and ladies and gentlemen: I am Clyde Cupps. The correct
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name of the company is Rockwell Standard Corporation.
Rockwell Standard Corporation Bumper Manufacturing
Plant presently employs 850 people with an annual .payroll
of $5 million and is located at:Newton Falls between the
east and west branch of the Mahoning River about one mile
south of the confluence of the two rivers. The predecessor
company, The Standard Sted Spring Company, purchased what
was formerly the Newton Steel plant and started,to manu-
facture automobile bumpers in 1947. To date, 24 million
bumpers have.been produced at this plant. ,
The various operations that are performed..in,
the manufacture of an automobile bumper consist of: .• ,_ •
1. Rolled sheet steel as purchased from the
;teel mills are pickled to remove mill scale
2 sheets are.-polished with abrasive belts
to remove surface imperfections. •• . •
3. Bumpers are.formed on dies using two and
three thousand presses. ......
4. Finish polished to remove die marks and other
surface defects. ... .- . • , , v ... - , ;:, ,..-..-.
5. Cleaning operations in a sequence of,.alkali
and acid baths with intermediate .rinses in running-water.
6; Nickel plate in semi-brite and. brite nickel
baths. • . .'--."...
7. Buff the nickel to a high luster on cloth
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wheels.
8. Chromium plate.
9. Pack and ship.
Water for processing and cooling is pumped at a
rate of three million gallons per day from the east branch
of the Mahoning River, and is used without treatment.
Three-quarters of a million gallons a day is purchased
from the Newton Palls municipal plant for sanitary use
and for operations requiring filtered water. The quality
of the water from these sources has been satisfactory,
and no problem with water quality is anticipated in the
foreseeable future.
The waste waters are segregated and discharged
to three separate sewer systems.
First, storm, cooling and uncontaminated water
is discharged directly to the river.
Two, waste water containing alkalis, acids,
soaps and heavy metals are collected in a sump and pumped
to the waste treatment plant.
Three, sanitary wastes are discharged to the
Newton Palls sewers and sewage plant.
The treatment of the metal finishing wastes,
about eight-tenths million gallons per day consist of:
1. Reduction of hexavelent chromium using
waste pickle liquor with continuous O.R. and pH control.
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376
2. Neutralization of the chromium wastes combined
with other wastes to a pH of 7-5 - 8.5 using dolomitic
lime.
3. Continuous setting.
ij.. The clarified effluent is discharged to the
river.
5. Sludge is pumped to an earthen lagoon for
further dewatering and settling. Uj,0 acre feet sludge has
been accumulated in the abandoned lagoons. A new lagoon
was constructed and started in service during 1961j.. New
treatment facilities at today's prices would amount to
about a quarter million dollars.
The lime requirements for the treatment of wastes
averages about five tons per day of dolomitic oxide.
The treatment produces an effluent of pH value
of about 7.5 to 8.5 and substantially free from heavy
metals — iron, 1-3 ppm, chromium, less than one part per
million; and nickel, 5-10 ppm. Effluent analyses are
submitted periodically to the Ohio Department of Health.
Disposal of sludge is a major problem with
)
this method of treatment. Our Research and Development
Division located in Birmingham, Michigan, is currently
working on the sludge problem.
The Ohio Department of Health and ORSANCO have
furnished excellent leadership and the company has
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unhesitantly responded to demonstrable needs for the
protection of the Mahoning River.
The Ohio Department of Healti program for
the abatement of pollution in the Mahoning Valley is
realistic and will best serve the interests of its people
and industry. Any Federal action that is not coordinated
with Ohio State agencies would, in our opinion, only add
confusion and unduly delay the cleanup program.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, Mr. Cupps.
Are there any comments or questions. If not, thank you
very much for your statement.
DR. ARNOLD: The Secretary of the
Ohio Coal Industry Water Pollution Committee would wish
to make a statement.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Would you identify
yourself for the conferees?
MR. COOK: My name is Larry Cook.
I am appearing as Secretary of the Ohio Coal Industrial
Water Pollution Committee on behalf of the Ohio coal industry
in the Mahoning' Valley.
The Ohio segment of the Mahoning River watershed
embraces most of Mahoning County and portions of Trumbull,
Portgage, 'stark and Columbiana. The area of the basin in
the above counties amounts to 1076 square miles.
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Mineable coal beds underlie the entire basin.
The earliest recorded mining in the:area occurred in 1835.
Since then the area has produced over 50 million tons of
coal. AH of this production prior to 1920, and practically
all of it prior to 1938, was by underground mines. Since
1950 practically all of the production has been by strip
mining, and there are now no underground mines reported
in the area. The present annual production is approximately
600,000 tons, all by strip mining'. .-
Historically, the iron and steel and the coal
industries of the Mahoning Valley are intimately related.
The discovery of the Sharon .conglomerate .beneath the
Sharon coal along the Mahoning and Shenango Rivers led
to the location of the second blast furnace in the .United
States at:Youngstown in 1846. It was.not until the Civil
War that the pattern changed and iron ore brought in from
the upper Great Lakes demanded coking coal. Since then
most of this type coal has come from Pennsylvania, and
most of the steam coal has been produced in Ohio.
It is significant to note that in spite of,
coal mining in this. area, of Ohio, a.cid. drainage from
coal mines is not listed as a contributor to the pollu-
tion of the M.ahoning River by the Public Health Service
in its January 1965 pre-conference report on the quality
of these waters. This is taken to be silent evidence of
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379
the effectiveness of the controls exercised by the industry
and the State of Ohio both through reclamation procedures
and ORSANCO Resolution 5-60.
(Slide 1)
There are at present 15 active mines in the Valley.
The coals produced are the Bedford, the Brookvllle No. 4,
the Lower Kittanning No. 5* the Middle Kittanning No. 6
and the 6A or 7, as it is known locally. Although some
of these seams are overlain by limestone or calcareous shales,
others are associated with iron sulphide bearing materials
which produce acid upon contact with the air.
In spite of this, tests of the effluent from
each of these mines taken between October 1 and December 1,
1964, showed the following pH's:
1. Carbon Limestone - Poland Township, Mahoning
County - 7.3.
2. R & T Enterprises - Springfield Township,
Mahoning County - 6.5.
3. Marshall Mining - Springfield Township,
Mahoning County - 7.5.
4. East Pairfield Coal Co. - Springfield Township,
Mahoning County - 6.5.
5. East Fairfield Coal Co. - Beaver Township,
Mahoning County - 6.0.
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380
6. American Fire Clay & Products, Inc. - Beaver
Township, Mahoning County - 6.9.
7. G & K Coal Go. - Green Township, Mahoning
County - 6.0.
8. Buckeye Coal Mining Co. - West Township,
Columbiana County - 7.1.
9. East Fairfield Coal Co. - West Township,
Columbiana County - 7.2.
10. Sunnyside Coal Co. - Smith Township,
Mahoning County - 7.0.
11. H. S. Peterson & Son - Smith Township,
Mahoning County - 5.5.
12. Sunnyside Coal Co. - Lexington Township,
Stark County - 7.0.
13. Keller Mines - Smith & Lexington Townships,
Mahoning and Stark Counties - 8.0.
14. M & G Coal Co. - Lexington Township,
Stark County - 6.5.
15. Peterson Coal Co. - Atwater and Deerfield
Townships, Portage County - 5.5.
As an illustration of the close check maintained
by the coal industry on the chemistry of both the earth
and the water associated with the mining operations, are
the following actual analyses. Dr. Charles Riley, head
of the Department of Biology at Kent State University,
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381
who serves as a consultant to the industry, has over 120
of these tests for the strip mine region of Ohio.
(Slide 2)
Analyses of Spoil
#5 Coal, Springfield Twp. , Mahoning County
August, 1962
pH
Organic Matter %
Plant Foods - lbs./acre
Nitrate N. (N03)
Ammonia N.
Phosphate (P205)
Magnesium
Potassium
Calcium
Trace Elements - Ibs./acre
#1 Sample #2 Sample
5.0
3.3
0.2
51.0
3'. 3
186.0
1330.0
6.4
1.7
0.9
19.0
3.7
298.00
8400.0
Iron Ferric
Manganese
Boron
Copper
Zinc
Molybdenum (PP2B)
Sulphate (S04>
Chloride
Aluminum
Total Soluble Salts
0.4
2.98
0.34
2.8
T
50.
267.0
14.0
2.5
1600.0
0.4
8.69
0.33
4.8
14.0
200.0
85.0
3.9
3.54
1300.0
PP2B equals parts per 2 billion.
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(Slide 4)
Water Analyses
#7 Coal, Water Impoundment
1956
Age of Pond and Size
PH
Specific Conduc-
tance (MMhos/cm)
1 year
1 acre
6 yrs.
1.5 acs,
21 yrs,
2 acs,
7.28
7.60
7.86
245
Dissolved Oxygen (ppm) 9.6
Free C02 (ppm) 5.8
Total Acidity(ppm CaCC-3) 3.5
Total Alkalinity (ppm CaCO,3 ) 57.0
Total Hardness ppm(CaCO3) 120.
Sulfates (ppm 864) 71.7
Total Iron (ppm) 0.15
Silicia ppm (SiC-2) 2.4
(Slide 5)
Water Analyses
Lexington Twp., Stark County
1962
*F. Pond
0. 5 aefc.
7.8
525
7.96
3.2
2.5
36.0
290.
243.
1.05
6.5
330
8.80
1.52
1.0
54.0
174.0
119.7
0.55
6.0
145
9.54
1.10
5.0
35.0
72.0
35.8
1.00
0.90
PH
Total Acidity
Total Alkalinity
Sulfate (So-^)
Calcium.
Magnesium
#4 Coal Pit Pond
• 7.5
0.0
170.0 ppm
28.8 ppm.
65.0 ppm.
15.5 ppm.
*Deer Creek
7.8
0.0
180.0 ppm.
64.0 ppm.
84.4 ppm.
%
25.6 ppm.
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#4 Coal pit Pound * Deer Creek
Total Iron 1.0 ppm. 0.5 ppm.
Total Solids 261.6 ppm. 400.8 ppm.
Total Chlorides (NaCl) 32.7 ppm. 152.1 ppm.
The Ohio strip mine reclamation law requires,
where feasible, the impoundment of water in the last cut
of an operation for, among other purposes, that of con-
trolling water pollution. The efficacy of this procedure,
where the water impounded is acid, had been questioned.
Certain of the scientists who had worked with the problem,
among them Dr. Charles Riley, who had experience to prove
his point, contended that in a period of a few years the
acid impounding would lose its acidity.
In the fall of 1958, at the request of the state's
Strip Mine Board of Review, the Ohio Coal Industry Water
Pollution Committee set up an experimental project at an
abandoned pre-law, strip mine near North Lima, in Mahoning
County, on site which was described as practically hopeless.
Offering technical assistance were Dr. S. A. Braley,
Mellon Institute; Russell. A. Brant, Division of Geology,
Ohio Department of Natural Resources; Ernst P. Hall,
Secretary, Coal Industry Advisory Committee to ORSANCO;
Dr. Charles V. Riley, Kent State University, and Ned E.
Williams, Chief Engineer, Ohio Department of Natural Resources,
* Deer Creek sample collected upstream from where pit effluent
entered the stream.
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384
It was known as the Sheban Project after the company which
had originally carried on the mining.
For one year, exhaustive tests were made of
the entire area. Then in September 1959 an earthen dam
was placed in the final cut as required on all areas strip
mined in Ohio since 1949.
(Slide 6)
Before impoundment, this area had been bleeding
acid for 10 years at the rate shown in the series of tests
made in 1958 and 1959. Since the entire overburden was
acid there was no opportunity to seal it other than by
water, and without the impoundment it would have continued
to bleed acid indefinitely. Less than five years after
the impoundment was made, you will note the phenomenal
drop in both acidity and sulphates. As the note says,
this has been a steady decrease.
Sheban Experimental Impoundment
Before impoundment, water analyses by Dr. Braley,
between dates of October 1958 and September 1959 were as
follows:
pH 2.7 to 3.4 range
Acidity 3523. to 5240. ppm.
Sulfates S03 4393. to 5676. ppm.
Impoundment was made in the fall of 1959.
On June 18, 1964, tests by Wadsworth Testing Lab.,
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385
Canton, Ohio, showed the following results:
pH 3.1
Acidity 850. ppm.
Sulfates 1670.8 ppm.
Whether it will remain at this point or become
progressively better, remains to be seen. Tests were made
in 1959, after impoundment, then in 1960, 1961, 1962, and
1964. A progressive decrease in acidity was noted.
(Slide 7)
Fortunately, most of the water in strip mine
impoundments in Ohio is good and clean from the beginning.
This final cut strip mine lake in Springfield Township,
Mahoning County, is a half mile long, 35 feet deep, and
a hundred feet wide.
(Slide 8)
Over 225 acres of water have been impounded in
the strip mine pits of the Mahoning Valley. This lake in
Canfield Township has a pH of 6.8.
During the last 20 or more years, many of the old
underground mine workings in the Mahoning River' watershed
have been stripped around or into. The acid effluents
from these workings have complicated the pollution problems
of the strip mine operator, but in the process of correcting
them he•:'ha-s'. lessened the acid'mine-drainage problems of the
basin manyfbld for many years.
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Ul
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•«. t
, '
CO
oo
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386
Occasionally a situation arises which is unfore-
seen, and requires more than the ordinary measures to correct.
Such a condition has devloped above Dun Eden Lake in Goshen
Township, Mahoning County, in an area of former mining opera-
tions. Apparently, although all parties carried out their
obligations in good faith at the time, pollution has developed.
There are now legal as well as physical and financial obstacles
in the path of an easy solution. A court decision may be
necessary to resolve certain facets of the problem before
direct action can be employed. This is as regrettable to
the coal industry as to the other parties concerned.
The Ohio Coal Industry Water Pollution Committee
will,in the future as in the past, exercise its best efforts
to help correct the extraordinary situations which arise,
as well as to resolve the run of the mine pollution problems
of the industry. We are convinced of the soundness of the
measures for the control of acid mine-drainage contained in
ORSANCO Resolution 5-60, and we offer our support to both
ORSANCO and the Ohio Water Pollution Control Board in the
implementation of these measures throughout the Ohio coal
industry.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, Mr. Cook,
for an enlightening statement of your work on what we all
know is a very difficult problem, you are to be commended
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387
for that.
Are there any comments or questions? If not,
thank you very much, Mr. Cook, and may we have the lights
again, please.
DR. ARNOLD: Mr. Stein, this concludes
Ohio's presentation at this conference.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: The next presentation
will be by the Federal Government and we hope to push on
and see how much of that we can'accomplish. We would like
to take a short break of scarcely more than five minutes.
However, I should tell you that the management has coffee
and rolls outside but we are going to start and if you are
interested in that, go ahead.
Thank you.
(Recess had.)
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I wonder if we can
reconvene. As is inevitable"with a roomful of engineers,
the sound system has gone off and I understand there is
an electrician to come up. We will try to talk more
loudly, so you can either come up front or rest peacefully
in the rear but I don't guarantee you will hear everything
that is said.
We will now call on Mr. poston from the Federal
Government.
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388
MR. PQSTON: ...... . In line with the confer-
ence procedures that,the conferees.invite persons with
whom other Federal interests are involved in the case of
Federal agencies, I have.written letters to the Federal
agencies and invited them to participate and to give a
statment relative to their interests in this matter of
the Mahoning River.
I would like to call on, at this time, Mr. Fred
Wampler, Regional Coordinator for the Ohio River-Appalachian
area, U. S. Department of the Interior. Mr. Wampler will
talk to you about the Department of Interior interests in
the Mahoning River.
MR. WAMPLER: Mr. Chairman, members
of the conference, I am Fred Wampler, Regional Coordinator,
Ohio River-Appalachian Area, U. S. Department of the
Interior, and it is a pleasure to come before this committee.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Mr. Wampler, I thought
I recognized you. Mr. Wampler formerly was a member of
Congress, I understand, and has always been a strong
advocate of pollution control and interested in water
resources. It is a pleasure to see you again.
MR. WAMPLER: Thank you, I appreciate
it very much. With me today I have two members of the
Geological Survey. One is George Dove, the District
Geologist and Mr. Charles Collier, the District Engineer of
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389
water quality, and their headquarters are in the Mid-Continent
Sub Area in Cincinnati, Ohio. I wonder if you gentlemen
will stand so you know them. In order to clarify the
duties of the Regional Coordinator with the Department of
Interior, may I say that we divide the United States into
nine areas and within the Department we have a total of 29
bureaus. We try to integrate the activities of each and
every bureau with that of other Federal and local and state
agencies in developing resources.
With our headquarters in Cincinnati, why, we
feel this is a very vital spot in developing a five-state
area. To save time and not infringe on the presentation
of my distinguished colleagues, I shall give a concise
picture of the chief interests and concerns of the various
bureaus within the Department as it relates to water
pollution.
Each of these agencies has a direct concern with
aspects of water quality and are conducting programs in
this broad field.
Water, the problems and opportunities it carries,
ignores state, regional, and international boundaries. It
is important that the interrelationships of water use be
recognized, and that state, Federal and local government
agencies charged with various aspects of water management
and development work harmoniously in solving these many
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390
problems. The Department is pleased to meet with the States
of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and the Ohio River Valley Water
Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) are concerned with the matter
of pollution on the Mahoning River. We pledge our assistance
and cooperation to these agencies and to the Public Health
Service in the specific action designed to meet the pollu-
tion problems existing in the Mahoning River.
I know of no better way to express the views of
the Department of the Interior than to revert back to a
statement of Secretary Udall when he appeared before a
subcommittee of the House Committee on Government Operations,
during the first session of the Eighty-Eighth Congress early
in 1963. This statement expresses the Departments interest
in maintenance of clean water, as follows:
"...the focus of Interior effort is directed
to the maintenance of adequate national water
supplies and adequate water quality for whatever
uses man may wish to make of this valuable resource.
The Interior approach emphasizes the coordination
of and interrelation between uses, and the effect
of these uses on management and quality of the total
water supply system.
"Maintenance of water quality involves not
only the quality levels for human use but also
quality levels for use by other animal and plant
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391
life, for development of other natural resources,
and for industrial processes. These quality con-
siderations are interrelated. They can be understood
and controlled best from the point of view of water
as a resource, rather than from the point of view
of a particular quality need."
While each bureau has its own program in the
field of water quality, the Department exercises the
administration necessary to assure that all programs are
coordinated to avoid duplication and to achieve maximum
results. Therefore, I will attempt to outline briefly the
functional responsibility of those bureaus concerned in
the matter of pollution of the interstate waters of the
Mahoning River.
Mr. Chairman, during the statement that is to
proceed, should any questions be directed involving any of
our specific bureaus, the point will be well taken and with
your permission, we will ask each bureau to submit, for the
record, the reply to this specific question.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: We will certainly do
that. •
The Geological Survey provides scientific informa-
tion on the physical environment of; water that is required
for the successful development, use, and control of water.
All phases' of the survey*s work are designed.to obtain
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392
timely and appropriate water facts needed for the solution
of water problems. Topographic quadrangle maps prepared
by the survey give information on the surface features
of river basins; its geologic maps give information on rock
types and structure which, control ground water occurrence
and movement. Hydrologic maps and reports based on these
topographic and geologic data present information on the
quantity, quality, and distribution of the water resources
of the United States. Programs and individual projects are
designed cooperatively with state and local governments
and other Federal agencies; the survey has responsibility,
also, for the design of the national network of hydrologic
data collection. Results of these projects are available
to all in the form of maps and reports. The Geological
Survey wishes to continue its cooperation with Federal and
state agencies in the Mahoning River basin to obtain the
information on water and its environment that is most needed
in the solution of the pressing water problems. These
agencies and those to which data and information have been
furnished include ORSANCO, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio
Department of Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Department of
Forests and Waters, U. S. Public Health Service and the
Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District.
In the Bureau of Mines, the water problems with
which we are concerned today involve many situations which
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393
must be dealt with comprehensively in order to achieve co-
ordinated progress.
The Bureau of Mines is concerned with water both
as a commodity and because of its utility in the mineral
production and processing industries. Over a period of
years the Bureau has accumulated the experience, facilities,
and qualified manpower to deal with a wide variety of these
problems. The studies with which we are concerned are
chiefly those requiring knowledge of chemistry, geology,
metallurgy, engineering, and in some degree bacteriology.
We are particularly concerned with the effect of water
quality in the processes of developing and using mineral
resources and with the nature of water effluents from
operations Of the mineral industries.
In common with other agencies, the Bureau of
Mines has interests and responsibilities in the economic
and social aspects of water quality management. Quantity
requirements and competitive uses must be given considera-
tion in programs for multiple-purpose water development
projects. Particular account is taken of the economic
effect and other values that protection of water quality
and pollution abatement will have on the community.
In the Mahoning River basin minerals have been
produced and processed for many years. As mineral industry
activities and products play vital roles in our economy,
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394
it is obvious that this nation must continue to meet its
growing mineral demands. Output of these mineral products
requires process water and often generates waste effluents
that degrade the quality of the stream.
Stream pollution from process wastes and from
coal mine drainage now are generally recognized to be
serious problems. Enlightened management in the mineral
industries recognizes the need for meeting responsibilities
to the public. Within the limits of available technology
and economics, it adopts controls on its waste discharges.
However, pollution abatement programs take time to become
effective and sometimes industry, understandably so, does
not welcome controls for which current technology affords
no economically practical means of compliance.
For example, acid mine drainage problems often
are baffling. From laboratory research and field studies
a number of methods have been developed for control of
acid mine drainage. These measures generally fall into
the following categories:
(1) Reducing water entry into mines
(2) Minimizing the contact time between
water and acid-producing materials
(3) Regulating the flow of waste water to
the streams
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395
(4) Regulating the flow of receiving
streams
(5) Neutralizing acid water
(6) Covering the acid-producing materials
to prevent water flowing through them at the end
of mining operations.
Federal, state and private organizations all have
contributed to the progress that has been made.
But the means at hand have not yet solved the
problem as a whole. Further studies are being conducted
by the Bureau to demonstrate and appraise the effectiveness
of current methods, to develop new methods, and to increase
knowledge of the fundamental chemical and physical factors
that influence acid generation. Jn this work the Bureau
of Mines is cooperating with the Ohio River valley Water
Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), the U. S. Geological Survey,
the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and other
agencies. The Bureau is accelerating its water programs and
is confident that technically feasible solutions can be found
for most of the problems that are presently involved, it
welcomes opportunities to assist or cooperate with other
organizations that have similar objectives.
The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. The Mahoning
River basin encompasses an area of 1?133 square miles and
contains four reservoirs open for recreation use - Milton,
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396
Berlin, Mosquito Creek, and Deer Creek. These four impound-
ments have a total water surface area.in excess of 13,500.
acres. One additional reserved r, Meander, contains over
2,000 surface acres .of water but is .closed to recreation
use.
Total visitation at Berlin and Mosquito Creek
Reservoirs exceeded 1.5.million during 1963. Visitation
figures are not available at this.time for .Milton and Deer
Creek Reservoirs. Youngstown»s Mill Creek Park, containing
four small.lakes which total 175 acres on Mill Greek,
attracted over one million visitors in 1963.
In spite of a relatively high water-land ratio .
within the Mahoning River basin, water oriented recreational
opportunities are inadequate for the large population con-
centrations of nearby industrial centers. Seven major
metropolitan areas with population .of over six million
people are within one hour's driving time of the basin.
The ORRRC report has indicated that the majority of
recreation use to water-oriented recreation areas originates
from high pollution centers.
Preliminary demands and needs studies being
undertaken by this office in connection with the Corps of
Engineers* Ohio River Basin Comprehensive Study indicate
the demand for recreation within this portion of the Ohio
River basin will double by 1980 and quadruple by the year
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397
2010.
It should be noted that pollution of the Mahoning
River below Warren, Ohio, will seriously hamper efforts
to meet existing and projected recreation demands. Waters
of this river are subjected to thermal changes and entry
of polluting substances from industrial, municipal and
storm sewers which create a health hazard to persons
attempting water contact activities and cause visual
nuisancea, noxious odors and a near total destruction of
opportunities for water-based recreation.
The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife reports
that no original water quality analysis of this river has
been made directly by that bureau. Their information
is based on data gathered by other agencies.
The reservoirs of the Upper Mahoning basin pro-
vide considerable fishing opportunity adjacent to the most
heavily populated portion of Ohio. These include Pymatuning,
Lake Milton, Berlin, Mosquito, and Deer Creek Reservoirs.
West Branch and Shenango Reservoirs, which are presently
under construction by the Corps of Engineers, will provide
additional fishing opportunity. We estimate that in 1960,
impoundments supported 580,000 fisherman days use annually
in the Mahoning-Beaver River basin. These reservoirs are
all located out of the heavily polluted areas of the basin.
The Mahoning River itself, not including
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398
impoundments, supports a lightly used .fishery upstream from
Warren, Ohio. Water quality in the Mahoning River is so
poor downstream from Warren to its confluence with the
Shenango River to form the Beaver, that no sport fishery
exists in this reach.
The public land connected with the reservoirs
of the basin, especially at Berlin, Mosquito, and Pymatuning,,
sports a great deal of hunting pressure. The land along
the Mahoning, especially downstream from Warren, is so
heavily developed by industry and urban dwelling that
hunting is not possible or practical. Waterfowl use of
the Mahoning River upstream from Warren and on the
reservoirs of the basin is extensive especially during
spring and fall migrations. However, pollution and indus-
trial and urban development severely limit waterfowl use
of the Mahoning downstream from Warren.
Considerable improvement in water quality would
be necessary before a significant fishery can exist in
the Mahoning downstream from Warren. It is unlikely that
wildlife can be greatly benefited by pollution abatement
in this reach of the river due to extensive industrial
and urban development adjacent to the stream.
The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries reports that
there is no commercial fishery in the Mahoning River at
present. Potential for future development as part of a
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399
modernized commercial fishery operation throughout the Ohio
basin would require substantial abatement of the serious
existing pollution (including thermal pollution) situation
below Warren.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of the Interior
assures the conferees that every effort will be extended
toward achieving the goal of acceptable water quality in
the Mahoning River basin.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, Mr. Wampler,
on the very excellent presentation of the matter of the
Interior's activities. As you can see, the Department of
Interior is one of the major Federal water pollution
controls of water resources agencies and has a vital
interest in this area.
Are there any comments or questions?
MR. CLEARY: Mr. Chairman, may I
make a few comments?
I simply wanted to indicate that the measures
that Mr. Wampler set forth for the Bureau of Mines with
respect to ameliorating the mine drainage problem, I
think the record might, indicate that .those, measures
that are set forth are precisely, those, which were
enunciated by the eight states some years ago and I
think for the first time was set into form for practical
means whereby we might attempt familiarization, and I
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400
think that the eight states have demonstrated that respect.
Certainly very sympathetic, and in fact, imaginative
development of these practical means which heretofore
in the Ohio Valley I think we should remind each other
that none of our states are actually affected by acid
drainage in the enunciation of these principles that
Mr. Wampler has set forth. There was no basis in the
states for requiring control.
Now, that situation has changed. That is to
the effect that we acknowledge that there are some practical
means available.
I would only comment further with respect, Mr.
Wampler, to the recreational opportunities. On the one
hand, yesterday we heard witnesses, notably the Mayor
of Youngstown and also Congressman Kirwan, saying that
here a decision had to be made. Some years ago locally,
(
fish factories — you might take the liberty of using that
term — and the people made the decision that to maximize
their opportunities in this valley they would prefer to
spend their money as they did in building these reservoirs
and utilize the Mahoning as the workhorse. That was a
local decision and it was backed up with local funds and
I am a little uncertain with respect to what the antici-
pation may be in terms of planning on the degree of
cleanliness in the Mahoning River,
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401
Is it expected to support, for example, a commer-
cial fishery? Here again, we run into the matter of
what are the maximum or the optimum, I may say, uses
of the river and, as I say, I am -- I don't know what
the criteria will be for this sort of thing, but the
implications I get from the fish and wildlife service
commentaries that you have quoted here may be that
efforts ought to be made to restore this to a fishing
stream, commercial fishery, and so forth and from testi-
mony we heard yesterday, why, local decisions seem
to indicate otherwise.
I just wanted to make those comments in view
of the fact that here we have on one hand some implica-
tions that things ought to be, abatement programs ought
to be carried out to the point of fish -- and yesterday
they say the decision was made that fish are less
important than people. I was simply commenting along
those lines, Mr. Wam'pler.
I do appreciate the fine resume you provided
for us. Thank you.
MR. WAMPLER: Mr. Cleary, I think
I might add that the interests of commercial fisheries
is in the Ohio River basin as a whole and they have
activated some interests.
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402
Now, in trying to see what potential, inasmuch
as this particular over-all river basin would yield,
and I think in order to keep their interest in general
terms, they have included all of the sub areas as well
and I am sure that this analysis is not to the state
where they would be deciding this.
Thank you .
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Are there any further
comments or questions? If not, thank you, Mr. Wampler.
Mr. Poston.
MR. POSTON: I would like to call
next on Mr. Walter Brazon with the Corps of Engineers
from Pittsburgh District Office. Mr. Brazon.
MR. BRAZON: Mr. Chairman, members
of the conference: My name is Walter Brazon. I am with
the U. S. Army Engineers District, Pittsburgh,PennsyIvania.
The Pittsburgh District has prepared a statement to be --
CHAIRMAN STEIN: The reporter can't
hear you.
MR. BRAZON: The statement is entitled
The Responsibilities and Program of the Corps of Engineers
in the Mahoning River Basin as Related to Water Quality
and Water Supply.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Public
Law 660, as amended by Public Law 87-88 in 1961, Section 2
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403
(b), provides authority to the Corps of Engineers to
consider in the planning of any reservoir inclusion of
storage for regulation of stream flow for the purpose of
water quality control. Where storage for regulation of
stream flow is made available, the costs of water control
features are to be determined and where the beneficiaries
can be identified they are to be assessed a portion of
the cost commensurate with the benefits received. How-
ever, if the benefits are widespread or national in scope,
the costs of such features shall be nonreimbursable.
By this legislation, there is now a direct
provision for inclusion of storage for regulation of
stream flow for purposes of water quality control. Before
providing such storage, however, it is expected that
primary effort in water pollution abatement should be
oriented toward the reduction or elimination of polluting
wastes at the source by waste treatment plants or other
means. Dilution is not to be considered a substitute
for waste removal but should be looked upon as a supple-
ment to a program of adequate treatment.
Where storage for municipal or industrial water
supply is made available by multi-purpose projects, water
users are required to pay the costs allocated to such
storage. The water supply Act of 1958 (Title III, Public
Law 85-500), approved 3 July 1958, provides authority to
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404
the Corps of Engineers to include municipal and industrial.
water supply storage for immediate and 'anticipated future .
demand in any reservoir project, provided state or local
interests contract or give assurances that they will
contract for the use of such storage.
Basin Water Supply Storage.
Major water supplies in the Mahoning .River basin
are now obtained directly from reservoir storage or .
from stream flow as augmented by such storage. The
first such development was made by the Ohio Water Service
Company when it constructed Lake Hamilton in 1905. This
company has continued its program of .reservoir construe- .
tion and operation and now has eight, reservoirs in its
system. . ...
The City of Youngstown a few years later provided
Milton Reservoir to augment stream flow for water supply
purposes. Construction of Milton Dam.was initiated in
1916 and storage in the reservoirs was begun in 1917.
Primarily> the project provided for augmentation of low
river flows with some flood control. No provision was
made for direct water supply distribution.
v - • . - . : - _
In 1926, the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District
was formed and, in 1929, began construction of Meander
Reservoir for municipal water supply purposes. The dam
was completed and water supply storage began in 1931.
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405
The Corps of Engineers constructed Berlin and
Mosquito Creek Reservoirs during the period 1941-1944 to
provide flood protection and low water-augmentation to
aid World War II industrial production. They were put
in operation in July 1943 and April 1944, respectively.
Under contract arrangements with the United States,
municipal water supply storage was set aside at Mosquito
Creek Reservoir for the City of Warren and at Berlin
Reservoir for the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District.
The City of Alliance, for many years, obtained
its water supply directly from the Mahoning River above
a dam within the city limits. Because of pollution and
difficulty encountered in treatment of this water, a
dam was built on Deer Creek and put in operation in 1954.
It provides the city with an assured supply of six million
gallons per day.
Low Plow Regulation Program.
The low flow regulation program in the Mahoning
River basin of Ohio includes the municipally developed
Milton Reservoir, the two existing Federal projects,
Berlin and Mosquito Creek, and the Corps of Engineers
reservoir now being constructed on the West Branch, Mahoning
River. A contribution toward the cost of the latter project
commensurate with the low flow regulation function is being
made by Trumbull and Mahoning Counties.
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4o6
In the adjoining Shenango River basin the
/ i~-> -'•-.,
Shenango River Reservoir, now under construction by the
Corps of Engineers, will complement the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania's Pymatuning Reservoir, the existing multi-
purpose reservoir in the basin. As its primary objective,
the Shenango Reservoir will supplement Pymatuning Reser-
voir in providing flood control in the Shenango River
Valley below Sharpsville, and in the Beaver and upper
Ohio Rivers. Of secondary importance, it will provide
effective seasonal storage for supplementing the Pymatuning
Reservoir in augmenting the low flows in the Shenango
and Beaver Rivers.
Berlin Reservoir has a maximum storage capacity
of 33,600 acre-feet in winter and 56,600 acre-feet in
summer reserved for storage of excess runoff for sub-
sequent release to increase low flows in the Mahoning
River and for direct water supply. Berlin Reservoir was
built at a total cost, all Federal money, of $6,444,000.
Mosquito Creek Reservoir has a maximum
capacity reserved for low-water regulation and water supply
of 80,400 acre-feet in the summer and 69,100 acre-feet
in the winter. Mosquito Creek Reservoir was built at a
total cost of $4,035,000, all Federal money.
West Branch, Mahoning River Reservoir, is now
under construction. Its total cost will be about 15.3
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407
million dollars. Of that sum, 5.2 million dollars for
low-water flow regulation is paid by local interests.
Mahoning County's share is $3*449,842 and Trumbull County's
share is $1,750,158. The maximum capacity reserved for
low-water storage in summer is 52,900 acre-feet and in
winter 41,700, acre-feet.
Prior to construction of Berlin and Mosquito
Creek Reservoirs, the average of the minimum monthly
low flows over the period of record was 125 c.f.s. Plows
as low as 28 c.f.s. had occurred at Youngstown. After
Berlin and Mosquito Creek Reservoirs were placed in
operation, the flow on the same basis has averaged 275
c.f.s. When West Branch, Mahoning River Reservoir is
completed, it is expected that flows at Youngstown will
average 325 c.f.s., again on the same basis.
In order to compare storage cost with other
reservoirs, the following information is provided:
Total Total
Storage Cost Per
Reservoir Acre-Feet Acre-Foot
Berlin 91,200 $ 70.65
Mosquito 104,100 38.75
West Branch, Mahoning 78,.700 194.40
River
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408
The Shenango River Reservoir is scheduled for
completion in the late fall of 1966 at a total estimated
Federal cost of $34,800,000, The flow regulation storage
available in the summer will be 29,900 acre-feet. This
reservoir storage will augment the minimum discharge in the
Shenango and Beaver Rivers, as currently regulated by the
Pymatuning Reservoir operation, by 50 c,f.s. during May
and October and by 100 c.f.s. from June through September.
CHAIRMAN STEINi Thank you, Mr. Brazon.
Are there any comments or questions? If not,
thank you very much, sir, for your presentation. Mr.
Poston.
MR. POSTON: I would like to ask
if there are any other Federal agencies here today who
care to make a statement? The Soil Conservation Service
had indicated that they would make a statement. I have
not talked to anyone today. The Soil Conservation Service
has already left their statement which was submitted to
the reporter.
This concludes the part of the other Federal
agencies and now the Public Health Service will present
their narrative of the part which has been prepared for
this conference. I can't resist, after the fine presenta-
tions yesterday, to tell you a little bit about the
national interest in water.
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409
President Johnson recently, in his State of the
Union Message, indicated that we must stop poisoning our
rivers. He talked about water pollution in several of
his other talks, and most recently in his talk on America-
the-Beautiful, he indicated that we must prevent pollution
from occurring rather than abating pollution after it has
occurred. He is in sympathy with this theory and I think
that there is already legislation in our Congress. Our
Congress is greatly interested and has been interested
in the matter of water resources and particularly water
pollution control.
I would like to review with you -- first I
might say that Congress presently has a bill before them.
This bill has already gone through the Senate and passed
with a vote of some 68 to 8, this is Senate Bill 4.
This is the first bill that came before the Senate in
this present session of Congress.
This bill presently is to be heard, have a
hearing in the House of Representatives. Congress,
since 1948, has been increasingly interested and has
passed several amendments to the Water Pollution Control
Act to this time and it appears that now they will pass
additional amendments.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act provides
tools, tools that will help in this abatement program.
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410
It will help the state agencies which Congress recognizes
as having the primary responsibility for control of water
pollution. These tools I would like to elaborate on a
little bit on how they help you here in the Mahoning
Valley and how they are utilized to help in this matter
of water pollution.
First off, we have a tool of grants, and these
grants are given to the State Water Pollution agencies
and to the interstate water pollution agencies. The
Federal grants amount to some 1.4 million dollars over
the period of this Act since 1956 to the State of Ohio
Water Pollution Control Board to help them extend and
expand their program. About 1.6 million dollars has
been given to the Pennsylvania Sanitary Water Board
to help them extend and expand their program and over
$940,000 has been provided to the Ohio River Valley
Sanitation Commission to help them in their overran
program of pollution abatement.
The grants additionally are provided to
municipalities to help them construct sewage treatment
plants and interceptor sewers and in this Mahoning
River interstate area, I would say that there have been 3.9
million dollars given to communities as grants to help
them in this abatement program. This has been for some
16 plants, total construction cost of some 14.6
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411
million dollars.
We think that this has been a decided assis-
tance in this pollution program.
Another area whe^re we are interested in and
another tool that is available to industry, to the states,
to industries, is in the area of research. Research to
assist in solving water pollution problems, and we have
the Sanitary Engineering Center located in Cincinnati
where they do the major work for the Public Health Service
in this area of water pollution, water supply, and pollu-
tion control. This Center being located as it is in Ohio,
Ohio probably reaps the major benefits from their activities
in terms of assistance in research pertaining to the area.
Congress has also decided that this isn*t enough
and they have provided for seven regional research labora-
tories, one of which will be located in Ann Arbor, Michigan,
and it is anticipated that there will be some 150 people
employed just to do research on this problem of water supply
and pollution control.
Another area is comprehensive planning and it is
felt that it is needed to develop long-range plans.
President Kerinedy said that he wanted these completed by
1970. I think it will require to 1975 to complete these
comprehensive programs for all of the major river basins
in the country. Such study is being made by the Public
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412
Health Service in the Ohio River'basin-and this study is
presently under way. I might 'say that these comprehensive
studies have been cooperating with the state agencies, with
the interstate industries> and municipalities involved in
these programs are very well accepted by the state and the.
local agencies and by industry.
We come now to another tool in our program and
that's why we are meeting here today, /and"that is the
enforcement activities of our water pollution control programs,
and we have for purposes of pointing out the conditions as
we have seen them and as our technical people from the
Sanitary Engineering Center who have prepared this report
for us to see those, and we have here today Mr. P. W. Kittrell
who is going to start off this discussion and presentation
and he will talk about our main stream investigation plan,
and then followed by Mr. Hayse Black, industrial waste
expert; Mr. Ken Mackenthun, biologist; Mr. Graham Walton,
water supply investigator and expert; Mr. Maurice LeBosquet,
who you heard about yesterday and who had a part in the
preparation of this report will appear in sequence.
I would like to say -- make one other comment and
that is that I view this river as a kind of a living thing;
a thing tha:t we can expect to work for the people in this
area, work for you.
I heard the comments yesterday about how the
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413
river is used in major purpose, but then I also heard that
they are thinking of still further uses for this river,
namely, navigation. And I am sure that the people in this
community and the other communities nearby will look to this
river for the capabilities which it has for the area. I
think this river is to serve the people in their certain
way of life.
I would like to call on Mr. Kittrell now to
start our presentation. Mr. Kittrell.
MR. KITTRELL: Mr. Chairman, conferees,
ladies and gentlemen: I will present the report which Mr.
Poston has called for. I would like to say that there will
be a few departures from the report as prepared. First I
will cut out some of the material that I do not consider
essential in the interests of saving time. Secondly, there
are a few errors in the report which I would like to call
attention to and correct as I go along.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Mr. Kittrell, do you
want the whole report as prepared put in the record as read
or will you delete a portion?
MR. KITTRELL: I would like the whole
report included in the record.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: That will be done without
objection but you better make sure that the reporter gets the
corrections.
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414
MR. KITTRELL: And finally, we
received additional data on stream conditions from the
Ohio Health Department while the report was in process
of reproduction, and I have a few places in the report
where I would like to insert some comments on the addi-
tional data that we have received.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Be sure you indicate
when that is done for the purpose of the record.
MR. KITTRELL: Introduction; On the
basis of reports, surveys, or studies, having reason to
believe that pollution from sources in Ohio was endangering
the he'aTth or welfare of persons in Pennsylvania, and in
accordance with Section 8 of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. 466 et seq.), the
Secretary of Health, Education, and .Welfare called a
conference of the States of Ohio and Pennsylvania, the
Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, and the
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, on inter-
state pollution of the Mahoning River, to be held in
Youngstown, Ohio, on February 16, 1965.
This report on interstate pollution of the
waters of the Mahoning and Beaver River system is based on
previous reports; official records of the Public Health
Service; information furnished by interested state and
local agencies, individuals, and industries; and data
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415
obtained by the Public Health Service from limited field
studies conducted during January 1965, involving biological
aspects, industrial water supplies and wastes, municipal
water supply, ard selected indicators of stream quality.
The cooperation of the numerous agencies and
individuals is gratefully acknowledged.
The Area.
The Mahoning River drains an area of 1,131
square miles (See Figure I), of which 1,076 square miles
are in northeastern Ohio, and 55 square miles in western
Pennsylvania. The headwaters of the Mahoning River are
in the vicinity of Alliance, Ohio. It then flows north-
easterly to Warren, Ohio, where it continues southeasterly
through Youngstown, Ohio, crossing the state line about
nine miles downstream from Youngstown. The Mahoning River
flows through Pennsylvania for a distance of about 12 miles,
before it joins the Shenango River near New Castle, Penn-
sylvania, to form the Beaver River. The Beaver River then
flows in a southerly direction about 20 miles, before it
becomes confluent with the Ohio River at Rochester, Penn-
sylvania.
Little Yankee Creek receives wastes from metal
processing industries in Hubbard, Ohio, just north of
Youngstown, and flows northeast across the Ohio-Pennsylvania
state line to join the Shenango River southwest of Sharon,
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416
Pennsylvania. Also southwest of Sharon the Shenango River,
carrying the wastes from the Sharpsville-Sharon area, loops
across the Pennsylvania-OhjLp state line into Ohio for about
one-half mile and then returns' to Pennsylvania.
The Beaver River drainage area, including the
tributary areas of the Mahoning and Shenango rivers, is.
about 3,145 square miles. The Shenango River drains 1,080
square miles of which are in Ohio, and 795 square miles in
Pennsylvania.
The economy of the.region is heavily dependent
on manufacturing. The perqerrtage of total employment, engaged
in the manufacture of primary •'metals-is 12 times greater V
: *;-^-:i'?.V; :",. ...... "^ ;-<;•;• "
than the national average. Mucti\pf7"the' industry is located
along the 25-mile reach of Mahoning River between Warren •"
and Lowellville, Ohio. Other important industrial areas
are in and near Sharon and New-Castle, Pennsylvania.
(See next page.)
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417
RAVENNA
WEST BRANCH
RESERVOIR
ALLIANCE
FIGURE I
LOCATION MAP
MAHONING- SHENANGO S BEAVER RIVERS
8
12
MILES
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418
Water Uses. Reservoirs.
As shown on Table 1, several major reservoirs
now operating or under construction are located in the
Beaver River basin. The Corps of Engineers has constructed
four of these reservoirs, including Berlin, Mosquito Creek,
and West Branch Reservoirs, in the Mahoning River watershed,
and Shenango River Reservoir in the Shenango River basin.
These four reservoirs provide over 466,000 acre-feet of stor-
age capacity for flood control, water supply, and stream flow
regulation. Plow regulation in the Mahoning River has been
designed to meet water quality objectives which are highly
complicated by the many uses made of the stream, such as the
assurance of industrial water supply, for the control of the
temperature of industrial supplies, and for the disposal of
municipal and industrial wastes.
Milton Reservoir, located on the Mahoning River,
was constructed in 1917 by the City of Youngstown and private
interests for flow regulation purposes. This reservoir is
now operated in coordination with Berlin Reservoir. Meander
Creek Reservoir, on a tributary of the Mahoning River, was
constructed by the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District in 1931.
This reservoir serves as a source of municipal water to
communities served by the sanitary district, including Youngs-
town, Niles and other communities in this general area.
Arrangements have been made to augment the capacity of this
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419
reservoir by diverting water by pipeline from Berlin Reservoir.
Mosquito Creek Reservoir, located on Mosquito Creek, a
tributary of the Mahpning River, serves as a source of water
for the City of Warren, Ohio. P.ymatuning Reservoir was
developed by Pennsylvania in 193.3:. It is located in the
headwaters of the .Shenango River,, upstream of the Shenango
River Reservoir. This reservoir serves a number of purposes,
and is used intensely for recreation.
:There ,are several important smaller reservoirs
in the basin, such as Mill Creek, Yellow Creek, Dry Run
and others that are operated for water supply purposes.
(See next page.)
-------
Table 1
Date
Completed
Reservoir year
Ml It en 1917
Berlin 19^3
Pyaatunlng 1933
Meander Creek 1931
Mosquito Creek 19W»
Heat Branch Under
Construction
g>~*~"er< fllTor Under
Construction
Hajor Stora,
Beaver-Mahoning am
Location
of
Dam
ifahnT^nfl River
5 miles above
Bewton Falls
Mahon-fng River
35 miles above
Warren
Shenango River
1.6 miles above
Jamestown
Meander Creek
2 mllea above
mouth
Mosquito Creek
9 miles above
month
Wort Branch
11 Biles above
mouth
2 Kile* abowa
amrggrtlle
Total
gs Reservoirs
d Grand River '*•"<'«"
Drainaee Storaae Capacity, acre-feet
Area - ~~~~
sqoare Uoter flat Total*
miles Supply Regulation
276 29,150
8? 19,1*00 58,800 91,200
158 L9,l*00 159,900 196,200
2«»9 3O,8OO - 32,'»00
97 11,000 69,«»00 104,100
81 - 32,900 78,700
589 - 30,000 ise.'wo
-__ __^___ __^__^ — — _
1,537 80,600 371,000 726,150
OUBP t or Operator
City of Toungatown
Corps of- Engineers
CoBBonvealtb of Pennsylvania
i*»>»-ii ng Valley Sanitary
District
COTpS of EQ01 OBQ1TS
Carps of Kn^tneers
Cofpt of ffyg* "^*rff
•include* rtormfle for tilt, flood control, and otter pnrpoM*.
4=-
ro
o
-------
421
Municipal Water Supply.
The Mahoning River was used as a source of munici-
pal water for the Warren-Niles-Youngstown area for many years,
but was abandoned because of gross pollution, and the increased
demand for water. Supplies were developed in upland tribu-
taries that were relatively free of pollution.
On the lower Beaver River, the Beaver Falls
Municipal Authority and New Brightonvater plants use water
pumped from pools formed by lowhead dams and serve an esti-
mated 65,000 persons. Water supplies from this source are
difficult and costly to treat. High iron and manganese con-
centrations, oils, phenol-like and other taste and odor
producing substances, are some of the causes of water treat-
ment complications.
Industrial Water Supplies.
Industrial between Warren and Lowellville, Ohio,
use large quantities of Mahoning River water. The largest
use is for industrial cooling purposes, primarily in the
production of basic iron and st.eel in this highly developed
industrial complex. Average industrial use of Mahoning
River water by the principal firms has been reported to be
in excess of 1,500 mgd during peak production periods. As
the average annual flow of the Mahoning River at Youngstown
is less than half this quantity, it is obvious that reuse
of stream flow is often very high.
-------
Recreation.
Water-oriented recreation activities have increased
rapidly across the nation, especially near centers of pollu-
tion. The great recreational potential of the Mahoning and
Beaver Rivers for pursuits such as boating, swimming, and .
fishing, has not been realized, under present circumstances
because of the high degree of pollution that exists in these
waters.
The main stem of the Mahoning River, from Warren,
Ohio, to the confluence with the Shenango River in
Pennsylvania, is so polluted that it is practically unin-
habitable for fish. Thick black sludge deposits, floating
solids, greases, and oils are prevalent throughout, causing
the stream to be unusable for recreational activities.
Farther downstream on the Beaver River, and in the
general vicinity of the Beaver Palls area, there is a limited
fisher for carp, bullheads, and suckers, and the river
recently has been stocked with black crappies, bass, and
channel catfish. This is indication of downstream improve-
ment in the stream quality to support fish, although the
sanitary quality remains poor. Despite this fact, some
boating and aquatic sports take place in the pools created
by the dams in this area.
Sources of Municipal Water.
A summary of the principal municipal waste discharge^
-------
423
to the stream between Warren, Ohio, and the mouth of the Beaver
River is given in Table 2. The bacterial content and bio-
chemical oxygen demand of the was.te discharges are expressed
as population equivalents; one. population equivalent is that
quantity of a constituent that would be contained in the
daily untreated sewage produced by one person.
Bacteria.
Coliform bacteria that originate in the intestines
of warm-blooded animals, including man, are normally used
as indicators of bacterial pollution and accompanying health
hazards. The estimated bacterial loadings discharged from
principal municipal sources are shown on Table 2 and Figure II.
All of the principal municipal sources of sewage
receive some treatment at this, time, or have treatment
facilities under construction. The total sewered population
of the principal sources of municipal wastes in the study
area is about 467,000 and the waste treatment facilities
have a capability of reducing the bacterial content of the
sewage about 61 percent .(assuming.that the Youngstown primary .
waste treatment plant, now being constructed, is operating).
Of the estimated total waste load of 184,000 .bacterial .popula-
tion equivalents (BPE) originating in the study , are a, 78
percent is discharged in Ohio and 22 percent- in -Pennsylvania..
Biochemical Oxygen Demand.
Oxygen-demanding organic waste loads, discharged
-------
424
from municipal systems to the Mahoning River by communities
from Warren, Ohio, to the Pennsylvania state line, are
estimated to have sa population equivalent of 200,400 after
treatment. This constitutes about 71 percent of the total
organic wastes discharged in the study area via municipal
waste outfalls (see Figure III and Table 2).
A stream that is excessively depleted of oxygen,
because of overloading with oxygen-demanding wastes will not
support a good fish population and if the dissolved oxygen
is totally depleted, the decomposition of organic matter
will produce offensive odors.
(See next page.)
-------
Table 2
Estimated Characteristics of Municipal Wnstes
Jurisdiction
Warren
Nlles
McDoHld
Girard
Mahonlng Co.
Austintovn S.D
Mahonlng Co.
Boardoan S. D.
State
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Receiving Stream
Ms honing
Mahonlng
Ma honing
Mahoning
Mahoning
River
River
River
River
River
Mahonlng Co.
Pine Hollow S.D. Ohio
Youngstovn
Campbell
Poland
Strut here
Lovellvllle
Union Tvp.
Nev Castle
MB honing River
Hubbird
Sharon
Farrell
Hickory Tvp.
West Middlesex
Sbenango River
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Pa.
Pa.
Total
Ohio
Pa.
Ohio
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Fa.
Total
Ohio
Pa.
Ma honing
Mahoning
MB honing
Mahoning
Ma honing
River
River
River
River
River
L. Yankee Creek
Sbenango
Sbenango
Sbenango
Sbenongo
River
River
River
River
Type of
Treatment
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Youngstovn
Secondary
Youngstovn
Primary
Primary
Strut here
Prlnary & Cl.
Primary
Nev Castle
Primary & Cl.
Secondary
Secondary
Secondary
Secondary
Primary
I960
Population
59,61*8
19,51*5
2,727
12,997
(11*00)
(12,250)
(180)(2)
166,689
13,1*06
2,766
15,631
2,055
7,161
H1*,T90
361,21*5
309,291*
51,951
7,137
25,267
13,793
12,635
1,301
60,133
7,137
52,996
POPUWTJOH EQUIVAUSTS
Population
Served
53.000*1)
26,000<1>
2,730(1)
12,995(2)
(ll*00)(2)
12,250(2)
168,270(2)
llt,ltOO(l)
(2,765)(2)
18,UOO(3)
2,200(1>
(x) (2)
1*7,000<2>
357,21*5
7,135(2)
25,270(3)
15,000(2)
1»,000(2)
1,300<2>
52,705
Brcteris Oxygen Demand River
Humber
-------
Table 2 (Cent. )
Estimated Characteristics of Municipal WaBtes
Jurisdiction
Taylor Twp.
Wampum
Ellwood City
Koppel
Chlppewa Twp.
Davson Ridge
Patterson Hts.
Patterson Twp.
West Mayfield
White Twp.
Beaver Falls
New Brighton
Total Beaver River
Total for Basin
State
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
(All In Pa. )
Ohio
Pa.
Receiving Stream
Beaver River
Beaver River
ConnoqueneEBlng Cr.
Beaver River
Brady River
Beaver River
Beaver River
Beaver River
Type of
Treatment
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Beaver Falls
Beaver Falls
Beaver Falls
Beaver Fells
Primary
Primary
I960
Population
1,402
1,085
12,413
1,389
6,051
550
817
2,930
2,201
1,437
16, 240
8,397
54,911
476,289
309,294
166,995
Population
Served
900<2)
14, 000* 2^
1,390(3)
$
(x) (2)
(x) (2)
(x) (2)
(550)(2)
30, 000^ 2'
10, 000^ 2>
57,105
467,055
65*
35*
POPUIATIOH EQUIVALEHTS
Bncterix Oxygen
Number % of Total Dumber
450
350
7,000
700
40
20
15,000
5,000
28,560
184,010
144,500
39,510
1.6
1.2
24.5
2.5
0.1
0.1
52.5
17.5
100
78
22
600
450
9,100
900
50
30
19,500
6,500
37,130
283,300
200,370
82,430
Demnnd
% of Total
1.6
1.2
24.5
2.5
0. 1
- i-
0.1
52-5
17.5
100
71
29
River
Miles
21
14
12-2
11
7-2
6
5
?
(l) From Sewage Treatment Plant Operation and Maintenance Questionnaire, Reg. V.
(2) From 1962 Inventory of Municipal Waste Facilities.
(3) Estimated from I960 population figures.
;o
ov
-------
WARREN
FIGURE n
ESTIMATED BACTERIAL LOADS
BACTERIAL POPULATION EQUIVALENTS DISCHARGED
SHARON
PARRELL
HICKORY TWP
WEST MIDDLESEX
DIAMETER =
2O.OOO BPE
NEW CASTLE
ELLWOOD CITY
CHIPPEWA TWR
^BEAVER FALLS
NEW BRIGHTON
I
ro
LEGEND
O 246 8
MILES
-------
FIGURE nr
ESTIMATED OXYGEN DEMAND LOADS
OXYGEN DEMAND POPULATION EQUIVALENTS DISCHARGED
WARREN
SHARON
FARRELL
HICKORY TWP
WEST MIDDLESEX
DIAMETER:
2O.OOO PE
NEW CASTLE
ELLWOOD CITY
• CHIPPEWA TWP.
BEAVER FALLS
NEW BRIGHTON
CO
-------
429
MR. POSTON: Mr. Kittrell, on page
14 you talked about --in the report it says 200,400. You
commented 20,000. What is the correct figure?
MR. KITTRELL: 200,400 is correct; that
was a slip on my part.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Do you want to reserve
the questions to the end?
MR. POSTON: I would prefer, but I
will suit your pleasure.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: How long is your report
going to be?
MR. POSTON: It will take approximately
two hours.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Well, I think we better
delouse this. Let*s see if anybody has any questions?
MR. POSTON: Are there questions?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I have one that I want
to have a clarification on. And I might say that this has
been prompted by a conversation I had yesterday with Fred
Waring who used to have Mr. Eaglet job in Ohio, and I am
not sure, in reading this, what the situation is in Ohio.
Maybe you can help me with it.
As I understand it, after the plants are to go in,
the new treatment plants, there is some.disinfection. Is
this supposed to take place all year around or just in the
-------
430
summertime or intermittent periods?
MR. KITTRELL: My understanding of that
is planned only for summer periods.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Is this correct, for
summer periods, or when needed?
Now again -- and I just raise this as a question
that the conferees may consider -- if the stream is not used
for recreational purposes, you won*t necessarily have these
recreational periods. As I understand this, as I say, this
was based on a conversation with an old friend -- in fact,
he said that when the program was set up, the thinking was
to have this chlorination continuously. Has there been
any change in their thinking, or if there has, should this
be or what? I wonder, perhaps we can ask Ohio for its view
on this, or Mr. Kittrell what he thinks about this.
MR. KITTRELL: Well it is my opinion
that for the production of the bacterial quality at the
Beaver Falls water plant, that chlorination year around
would be desirable.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Well, I think there is
probably a lot closer agreement on this than maybe I thought.
I am sure your thinking is all the same. Thank you.
Mr. Boardman.-
MR. BOARDMAN: A little while ago you
made a statement about admitting the entire report into the
-------
431
record and I was going to wait until you finished "but, as
you recall, yesterday when Dr. Wilbar made his statement,
he made a specific request and nothing more was said about
it.
I would again like to make that statement and ask
each of the conferees for their views on this statement and
that is that Secretary Celebrezze*s conference call indicated
the subject of the conference would be the interstate pollu-
tion of the Mahoning River. The Public Health Service report
goes far beyond this question and also includes the following
material presumably as a subject for discussion at this
conference:
One waste sources in Pennsylvania on the Shenango
River; two, waste sources in Pennsylvania on the Beaver River;
three, alleged interstate pollution on Little Yankee Creek,
a tributary of the Shenango River; four, alleged interstate
pollution of the Shenango River below Sharon.
Since this material is not in any way pertinent to
the question before this conference, it seems appropriate at
this time to request that all this material be stricken from
the record of this conference. We realize that in order to
determine the effect on the Mahoning River that the quality
of the Shenango immediately before its confluence with the
Mahoning and the water quality of the Beaver River may have
to be considered.
-------
432
I do hot wish to imply by my statement that all
persons who are interested and concerned with waste sources
on the Shenango or the Beaver are not free to obtain this
information from the Pennsylvania Sanitary Water Board.
This; information is available to the Public Health Service
and to anyone else who has legitimate interest in this infor-
mation. This information does not appear to be a pertinent
part of the subject of this conference and has nothing to do
with any pollution that may flow over the Ohio-Pennsylvania
line into the Mahoning River.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, Mr. Boardman.
MR. POSTON: In order to be fair in
our evaluations of the Mahoning River, you can see that
there are tributaries, the Shenango, even tributaries to
the Shenango which come from the State of Pennsylvania, but
they do contribute to the total flow of the Beaver River and
the Mahoning which comes from Ohio carrying the principal
waste sources and is probably -- which is the concern of
this conference -- requires a careful evaluation.
We would not like to construe that all of the
wastes that come down as far as Beaver Falls comes from the
Youngs town-Warren area, but we would like to show that there
is a waste contribution from other areas so that we might be
fair in our total evaluation of the problem.
MR. BOARDMAN: May I make an answer to
-------
433
that question? We certainly realize, but the statement we
pointed out, we realize you have to consider water quality
at the mouth of the Shenango and its effect on the Beaver
if you are going to compare effects of pollution.
What we are objecting to is the inclusion of
information on specific waste sources in Pennsylvania,
Shenango, waste sources in the Pennsylvania Shenango, waste
sources on the Beaver. There is in Mr. Kittrell«s statement
interstate pollution of Yankee Creek and interstate pollution
of the Shenango which we do not feel is a subject in this
conference.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Mr. Kittrell is shaking
his head but I would like to make this comment. I donTt
know that we should get into the technical details here.
I think you have to remember that this is a conference.
Now, we have not made any rulings nor have there been any
objections as to the germaneness of material put in by the
various people making statements.
I think one of the key points in the conference is
when the states or the Federal Government to the interstate
agency makes a statement or their invitees, we allow them to
make a determination of what is appropriate and what is not.
The conferees then will be able to take that and make its own
determination on the call of the conference.
Now, I would not attempt to dispute the views that
-------
434
you have expressed on the substantive matter. I think the
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare did call a
conference in the matter of pollution of the interstate
waters of the Mahoning River but I do think that we should
give every participant to the conference the courtesy we
gave every other participant and that is the initial
determination for germaneness and appropriateness to them,
because if we are going to make these other judgments, I
think this could very well have been questioned by many
of the participants in the conference up to now.
MR. BOARDMAN: May I go just a little
further then? When statements are made concerning the
Shenango River and other statements, we didn*t have very
much of an opportunity to record a report on the Shenango.
In our limited review, we have found errors in the informa-
tion that has been presented especially on this table from
which the bacterial contributions were indicated, and the
treatment plants in Pennsylvania, the primary plants of
chlorination. This allowance wasn*t made at the table.
The figures are not correct but if the information
is deleted on the Shenango, it-will remove most of the errors
that we found.
MR. POSTON: I think we would be
very happy to include any corrections that we find indicated
here.
-------
435
MR. BOARDMAN: Our request is not for
corrections, our request is for deletions. I would like
to hear the comments from the other conferees on this
request.
DR. ARNOLD: I have to admit that I
have had this report such a short time that I haven*t
been able to give any great deal of study to it. This
report, my own copy of this report was made available to
me late last Thursday afternoon. In the Public Law, it
states that the Secretary may call a conference on a
pollution problem where a river from one state is flowing
into another and may be endangering the health of the people
in the other state.
I think primarily the Shenango River is a
Pennsylvania river. I think what we are primarily con-
cerned with here is the quality of the water at the state
line.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Does ORSANCO want to
comment or not?
MR. WEAKLEY: Mr. Chairman, I think the
observation of Mr.. Boardman is quite appropriate that this is
a conference called for the purpose of considering just one
area.
Now, I think it would be out of order to go beyond
that. I recognize that the Chairman has pointed out the
-------
436
rather broad privileges that have been given to other spokes-
men in presenting material but this still seems to me that
most of the material that has been presented by other spokes-
men has pretty much been aimed at the Mahoning problem. And
it seems to me that once you start going into areas beyond
the Mahoning itself, that you are really broadening the base
of the conference beyond not only what the call prescribed
but what the other spokesmen have aimed their remarks to-
wards themselves.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I am not disagreeing
with what you say, sir, -- I would not like to specify other
groups here, or other statements made here -- but there have
been statements by others here dealing with programs outside
this area; achievements outside this area and the programs
which do not materially affect the Mahoning River problem.
I think with this in mind as the sense of the
Board, let»s see if we can proceed, and if this gets to be
an area where we have a problem, we can bring this up at the
time. I think the feelings of the conferees are made clear
and if there is any question you have on the appropriateness
or the germaneness of a particular issue as it develops,
you may raise that question.
These matters, of course, are matters of opinion
and they differ. I have glanced at this report myself, sir,
and on the basis of your criteria if you thought all the
-------
437
statements made heretofore were reasonably concerned with the
Mahoning River problem, I don*t know that this is any farther
afield, but if it is at any particular point in the presenta-
tion, I would welcome the conferees coming in and we will see
what we will do at that time.
I wonder if we could continue on that basis, if
that«s agreeable. Mr. Kittrell.
MR. POSTON: Is there any other
question of Mr. Kittrell? Mr. Kittrell will be on a little
bit later again. We will now hear from Mr. Hayse Black who
will talk about sources of industrial waste.
MR. BLACK: Mr. Chairman, conferees,
ladies and gentlemen: There are some errors in the part
that I will present. They are not typographical errors, they
are changes that have come to our attention, some of them
as recently as yesterday. In making this statement, I am not
unmindful of the fact that over the years I have worked with
many of you people and in this contact have perhaps a better
appreciation of the conditions observed in the Mahoning River
than some of our other investigators. I hope that in making
this statement no information will be revealed that will
embarrass anyone.
Concerted effort has been made to interpret what
we have seen, to understand what is going on, to appreciate
what has been done, and to better understand what still needs
-------
438
to be done.
The streams under consideration drain one of the
most highly industrialized areas in the United States. Some
seven percent of this country*s steel production is concen-
trated in the Mahoning River Basin. Production of iron and
steel and fabrication of various steel products overshadow
all other manufacturing in this area.
Cognizance is taken of the waste control measures
and water pollution abatement programs that have been developed
at the steel mills operating in the Warren-Youngstown area.
However, residual steel mill wastes dis charged to the Mahoning
River are still cause for concern.
The principal industries discharging waste to the
Mahoning River and its tributaries are listed in Table 3.
This tabulated information indicates the types of wastes and
the approximate volumes. Effluent data for most of these
industries were not available.
Steel is produced from iron ore at the following
mills:
Community Name
Warren, Ohio Republic Steel Co.
McDonald, Ohio U. S. Steel Corp.
Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown Sheet &
Tube Co.
-------
439
Community Name
Youngstown, Ohio Republic Steel Co.
Campbell, Ohio Youngstown Sheet &
Tube Co.
(See next page.)
-------
Tthle 3
Data on Sources of Industrial Foliation
Sfi — — r.-— — ...—
1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9-
Silas,
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
IT.
18.
19.
l==j ft Location
ij Ohio
Aaerlcan Welding ft Mfg. Co.
Copparveld StMl Co.
Arlstoloy DlT.
Daman Robber Co.
Pittsburgh StMl Co.
Them Strip DlT.
Republic BtMl Corp.
Sharon StMl, Corp.
Bnlnard Strapping DlT.
n"1"J"rfl'"c-»-
Van Huff*! Tab* Corp.
Varran Tool Corp.
. OMo
Aaerlcan Welding ft Mfg. Co.
Jonas "ft Laughiin StMl Co.
Conduit DlT.
Mahonlng Olasa Plant DlT.
O.E. Co.
Bllas Class Plant DlT.
O.B. co.
Bat'l Oypsua Co.
ReaetlTa Ketals, Inc.
Republic BtMl Corp.
Container Dlf,
Republie StMl Corp.
tiling mils
Valley rabrlcators. Inc.
U. S. StMl Corp.
McDonald Mill*
Procesa
Welding ft Asarably
Prod, of Carbon ft
Alloy StMla frOB Scrap
Mfg. Tires, Tubes
Cold Rolled Strip
StMl
Tin Plate, Hot ft Cold
Strips ft Stevta, G*lT.
SbMtS' .
StMl Strapping
SI. - OalT. Strip
Welding Machinery
ft Control*
StMl Tubing ft Rolled
Metal SnepM
Railroad Tools
StMl Fabrication, •
DOOM, rraoes
StMl Dnot ft TDbing
Glass Part* for
Clear ft Treated
Olajs Envelope*
Fair, of Metal Prod.
Metal Lath
Tltanlm Ban ft Sb**t*
Zireonlua Toblnc
Steel Container!
Rolling MUU
StMl Stampings
Blast Pome* StMl
Works ft Rolling MillJ
Production
I
35,000 tons/no.
Max. 2500 HIM/
day
X
X
X
z
z
z
z
lift Billion ft.
ft. duct
X
X
X
H.400 T/BO.
Zr 30-50 TA».
X
z
z
X
Vater
0.10
24.53
0.18
1.40
119.5
0.12
0.05T
O.OT
0.038
0.03T
0.49
0.033
0.43
1.44
1.5
0.30
4.82
0.025
56.5
Source
of
VstCT
Mahonlng R.
ft Veils
Mahonlng R.
ft Warren
Well*
Kahooing R.
ft tfarran
Kfthoning R.
ftVarm
warr«
Varra
Warm
Warm
Biles
.a..
BilM
Bile*
aim
Bila*
Bllae
Mosquito
Cr.
Bile*
Mabonlng R.
ft Municipal
We eta Voluae. ogd
Cooling 'ZHdnstnal Tre*taent
0.10
».5
0.03
O.Jk
Tll.k
0.11
0.05
0.05
0.036
0.036
o.ts
z
X
1.2
0.03
-
0.91
"•'
0.0004
50 a/a
400 g/d
-
to Silas
Glass Pit.
0.20
0.04
0.9 0.6 +
BttckDlBp.
0.19
1.79
0.025
T.O
0.003
3.02
48.0
Boa*
Cooling - Settling
Znd. . Baut. ft Settling
Bow
Cooling - Bone
lod. . Cn.Trt.(Alk.
Color.)
Cooling - Bona
lad. . Clarlf., Beat.
ft Settling Pits
Cooling . SOB*
Znd. - Controlled Dlsch.
Bone
Cooling - Bone
lod. . Chsn. ft llo-
tat loo
Bona
Boa*
All. Color, for Of
Distraction
Bon*
L!B*S B*at. ft
Settling
Bone
Bon*
Bon*
Cooling - Boo*
led. . LIB* Bant.
. Bone
(Vailing . FlTIt
Znd. - Scale Pita,
Discharge CJ| Cr T Top. Oil Acid 8*3 Phenol re Susp. Sol.
Svander Cr. - - - Z Z --__ x
Mabonlng H. - - - XX x.-x I
Maboning R. - - - 120- ....
Mahonlng R. K- - I I I - - x X
Manning H. XX X X I XXXX X
RadRttD XX - X X i._x X
Mahonlng R. - - - X X ....
RedRun XX - X X X--X X
RadRua -- - X X .-..
Mahonlng R, - - - X X -...
Cr. to . > 0.49 19 . XXx-.X X
Hahonlng R.
Mosquito ... - i 3 x--- i
Cr.
MO*qOitO -- >SD X X XX-- X
Cr.
Habonlng a. .- - X X -.-.
Mabonlng R. - - 12,000-19,000 I X 1,000 + 3-5 - - - Z
f/BO in 3-5 Batch Dtop/
Batch Acid BO.
Duops
Mahonlng R. - Z I x . . » x
Mabonlna R. - - - X X Z . . X X
Z - - I X X . . x x
«•*•»* .^ R. X- X Z X X.-X Z
BOD e°^*
1
z visit
X Visit
1, 2
Z 1, 2
1
1
1, 2
1
1
Vlmlt
Visit
Visit
1
X Visit
Z 1
Z 1
1
X" i. a
o
-------
Bsae a Location
ToOTtow. Ohio
20. Allied Cbsalcal Corp.
21. ntzslffions Steel Co.. Inc.
22. Boom Product*, IDC.
23. CeBBlsr Products Co., IDC.
A. Eoppers Co., IDC.
Ter Prodocts Mv.
29. MscKarizlB Muffler Co.
26. Republic Steal Corp.
27. U. 3. Steel Corp
Ohio Steel Works'
28. VlUtoff Co.
Brier Rill Works
C°T'"U- °M°
atntthars^ Ohio
31. ^ragatovn Bbavt ft Tuba Co.
BdlBbnTg. Pa.
32. Aaerlcan Cyananld Co.
Soarcei.of Data:
1. I960 Indostnal awstlocnaU
2. Ohio OepajCineul. of Bealtb.
3. Pennsylvania Ds,«rtnent of 1
HotMt •
"O.W.8." - Ohio Wst.tr Service
"X* - Constituent ll*»ly to
'-• - Constituent not llkal;
ProceBB Production
Coal Tar oil X
Fractions ft Pitch
Cold Rollad Sheet, X
Strip ft BUB
GO*, ft Tors X
HlBC. Plaatlo Prod. X
Asphalt frits ft X
Coatings
Auto Parts ft X
Accessories
Blast Furnaces, Cake X
Rolling Hills
jt«*l Uorks ft
Rolling Hills
Fab. Hrtal Protect* X
Onus, 8t*el Vorks ft
Rolling Hills
Owns, 9tMl Works ft
Rolling Hills
Stml Conduit. Wlra. X
Bltroglmrlfi X
r». Stat* of Ohio, Dgyartagut of Ibtual Rcsou
1932-54 Kabonliig-Snsnaago River 8unvr D«t*.
tealth, Fkte. 3 Offlc* Rectirds.
. A prlnta mmsmj suppljlng «at«r to eonam«
oonor In vast* dlscbargss. Ho data awllabl*.
r to b« pratMOt in vmstsj dUchargs/s.
Data on Scarce* of Industrial Foliation
Ustcr Source Wssts Volase, ned TMicUrao OT Cr*6 T
Use, mgd Vm£r Cooling lodMtrlal TreaHaent ^ j/day ff^y f^f
X X 0.025 Oil Separator Ms honing R.
0.0*2 Ohio Vatvr 0.019 0.019 Cooling - Bon* Dry Run -
Service ft Ind. - Cotrtr. Dlsch.
Well
0.12 City 0.16 - Rone Stona Sever -
0.13 City 0.13 - Bone Stom Sever - -
Z X O.lk Oil Separator Craa Cr. to
Kabonlng R.
0.21 City 0.16 . BODS Store 8***r -
23k. k Hsboolns R. 165.6 ^9.9 Cooling - Bone
City ' . - ng ing R.
O.W.S. ft Xad. - Clarifying
City 9unps. Scale Pits
0.019 City ft 0.011 0.008 Bone Dry Rm -
O.V.3.
oirsAJ To., ' ""
Pimping
Vsst*s, Cok* Qomcb.
Ing, Acid SlrigB Ra-
l6-3 Kabonlng H. X X X Ksboalng R. X X X
X Mahonlng R. . 0.002 Beut. of Add Wash Kahoalng B.
Water
rees. Division of Water.
•"— »— — -^ "— -
Pl«nol S Sol BOD Sourc*
*?' g.Vd.y r/ilr r?3y v£? ,/5.y "%'*?" */Sy „£.
IXI-I-X 11
X X X - - X X - 1, 2
X . ..... - 1
I ------ - 1
X I - - I . I I 71.lt
X .--.-. .1
I I X - - X X .1, 2
XX I . - X I 12
X - - - X X 3
-------
442
In addition to the steel mills listed above, there
are three other large industrial water users. These are:
Community Name
Warren, Ohio Copperweld Steel Co.
Niles, Ohio Republic Steel Corp.
Struthers, Ohio Youngstown Sheet &
Tube Co.
There are a number of satellite industries in
the Mahoning River basin that fabricate steel products.
Other types of manufacturing include coal tar products,
titanium and zirconium products, rubber goods, and glass
lamps.
Based on available information, the total water
used by industries discharging wastes directly to the
Mahoning River and its tributaries amounts to 820 mgd.
It is significant that the nine industrial plants listed
above account for 99 percent of this total water use.
Review of effluent data for manufacturing plants, other
than steel, reveal them to be relative minor sources of
industrial wastes. Industrial pollution evidenced by
Mahoning River data originates primarily at the steel
manufacturing and fabricating plants.
Now as to acid wastes, the removal of oxide
scale from steel prior to further processing is an essential
step in the manufacture of many steel products. Such major
-------
443
items as sheets, strip, wire and pipe are descaled "by immer-
sion in an acid "bath for a short period. This operation is
called pickling. Dissolution of part of the scale and some
of the base metal results in depletion of the acid and
accumulation of iron scale in the bath; for this reason the
solution eventually loses its effectiveness and must be dis-
carded.
Spent pickling solutions and acid rinse waters
continue to be major sources of acid discharged to the
Mahoning River. Sulfuric acid is generally used for steel
pickling, accordingly these discharges are high in dissolved
iron salt and sulfates. It has been reported that some of
the steel mills treat spent pickle liquor with lime to
neutralize free acid. Other mills discharge spent pickle
liquor onto slag dumps. Drainage from these neutralizing
processes would be expected to be high in magnesium sulfate
and calcium sulfate. These sulfate salts contribute un-
desirable permanent hardness to the Mahoning River waters.
Rinse water following pickling operations are a continuing
source of acid. The oxygen demand of ferrous sulfate dis-
charged to the Mahoning River may be a significant factor in
reducing oxygen levels in this strean.
Hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid are employed
by two manufacturing plants in the Niles, Ohio, area.
These are recognized as minor sources ofacid. These acid
-------
444
wastes are neutralized at one of the plants and a pilot plant
for acid recovery is. presently, being installed at the other
plant.
Now as to iron wastes, acid wastes from cleaning
steel are a major source of iron in solution. Inert iron
particles originate in rolling mill scale and in blast
furnace flue gas wash water. It is customary to provide
sedimentation facilities for recovery of mill scale and iron
ore from the blast furnace flue gas wash water. However,
significant quantities of these suspended solids still reach
the Mahoning River.
As to oil wastes. Type of bearings and their lubri-
cation in rolling mills are important to water pollution
because of oil which may appear in the mill discharge.
Information is lacking on the quantities of oil originating
at these sources. However, oil slicks on the Mahoning
River downstream from some of these rolling mills is evi-
dence of this oil waste.
Phenol Wastes.
Phenol originates from the by-product coke plants
and the coal tar processing plants which operate in the
Warren-Youngstown area. It is understood that concentrated
wastes at the by-product plants are used to quench coke.
Phenol adsorbed on the coke carries over and appears in the
blast furnace flue gas wash water.
-------
445
And that*s one of the principal sources of phenol that we
still observe in the Mahoning River. It is a closed system
but it still bursts out when you use the metallurgical coke
in the blast furnace. The Mahoning River data reveal con-
siderably more phenol than can be accounted for from the
effluent of the plants processing coal tar. This means
that the steel mills continue to discharge significant
quantities of phenol.
Cyanide Wastes. By-product coke plants are recog-
nized as a potential source of cyanide wastes. The highest
concentration of cyanogen compounds occurs in the gas final
cooler water. It is understood that the by-product coke
plants operate essentially closed systems. This would mean
that cyanide wastes would be released .to the Mahoning River
only at times when the water system was out of balance
resulting in overflow.
Blast furnace flue gas wash water is another
source of cyanide. The cyanide concentrations in these
waters are low but tiie volume is considerable.
There is some metal finishing in the Warren- ^
Youngstown area. Rinse waters from these metal plating
departments constitute another source of cyanide wastes.
Heavy Metal Wastes. Metal finishing operations
referred to in the Warren-Youngstown area are also a source
of heavy metals. One of the plants in the Niles area was
-------
446
reported to discharge some quantities of hexavalent chromium.
Such materials are highly pollutional in character,
Shenango and Beaver Rivers.
The principal industrial activity in the valleys
of Beaver River and Shenango River is the production of iron
and the fabrication of steel products. There is some
electro-plating and sand and gravel washing. The principal
industries discharging wastes to the Shenango-Beaver Rivers
are listed in Table 4.
Acid and Iron Wastes.
Quantities of acid and iron in steel pickling
rinse waters are discharged to tiie Shenango River below
the dam of the Shenango Valley Water Company at Sharon,
Pennsylvania. Major sources are Sharon Steel Company,
Republic Steel Company, and Babcock and Wilcox Tube Company.
Waste pickle liquor is collected and treated off site except
at Sharon Steel where it is discharged to hot slat piles.
The oxygen demand of ferrous sulfate discharged to the
Shenango River is recognized.
One small plant at Greenville, Pennsylvania,
neutralizes hydrofluoric acid wastes prior to discharge
to the Shenango River.
-------
Data on Sonrcea of Industrial Foliation
Ben ft Location
M^. rote
1. General AJt. Traneport. Corp.
2. Valley Mould a Iron Co.
It. Blazon, Inc.
3adley,_ PennsylTenta
5 . Atlai Sand ft Orenl
3reenvllle. Pennsylvania
6. aeascas Tube
**. Vestingboaae Electric Corp.
aharps-rtlle. Pennsylvmle
£. *«=«.,:--=.
Ha TOD. Pennsylvania
>. Sajt'-onal Castings Co.
10. Sharon Steel Co.
11. Sharon Tube Co.
Process Production
bevy Metal Fibr. X
Cart Molten Iron X-
Ei**e*^R*^E. X.
Electroplating Parti X
for Gym Set*
SanA & Gravel Wainlng X
StalnleiB Steel Tub In* x
Etching Transformer X
Parta
Blait Furnace 600 T/day
Steel Foundry X
Blast Furnacei a 70.000 T/ao.
Steel Kill
Butt Welded Pipe X
12. Vestlngaouse Electric Corp. Electroplating of X
Train former Parts
1^. Sevblll Tubular Prod. (Mercer Pipe MY) Steel Tubing 9,000 T/oo.
13. Vestrac Co.
•aw YllBington. Peuuajl »aul«
1$V Be* VilBlogton Cbeeee Co.
Tractor Parti X
— «
Shenango and. Beaver Rivers
rmtor Scarce Waste Volnae, npA mctorci OT " fr*6
0*«» =8* u S* Cooling Indnrtrtal Treataent ^ #/day #/day
, -— - Water -
X 0.* 'Oil Separation of Tinkee Cr.
Wish Water
X 0.1 Cooling Watec, n.t. Tenkee Cr.
Water, n.t. Oas Yankee Cr.
Scrubber Overflew
X - ' Acid ft Alk. Etinaes Shenango R.
Codbined & Micharged
Through Lagoon. Zinc
Cyanide Waitei ere
Chlorinated ft Preci-
pitated. Cfarcuate
Wastei are Reduced »
Precipitated.
I . 0.28 Sedlarotetloa Little
Shenango R.
X 0.02 E9D3 ft E? Wastes Shenango R.
Treated vlth Llse
X 0.001 • neutralize Acid
Wastes Sbenango R.
X 29.0 - Gas Scrubber Water Shenango R. * og/li
Treated by SedlDen-
tation. Intlolation
for Discharge of Of.
X 0.216 SedlBentatlon of Send Sbenugo R.
R*clo»tlon Waste
Water. Furnace Cooling
z "Water doae not Require
Treatment.
lt.0 Acid. Rinses not Treated Bbenugo R.
30.0 Steelvorks not Treated
X - Acid Rinses not treated Shenango B.
O.fe3 Cooling Weter fron
Scale Flti not treated
X • 0.12 • Bentralize Acid i Sbenango R.
C*u*tlo Vaitei. Cos-
plete Chlorinatloa of
Cyanide Waste*.
X * Secondary Acid Rlnsei.n.t. Sbenango R.
Cooling Water, n.t.
X 0.10 Oil Separation of Oil- Otter Cr.
bearing Waste Water
X SG»U Trickling Filter Uttle
Beshannoek
T Tenp. Ml Acid HH3 Phenol fe Suep. Sol. BOD Bonrce
#/day -P gal/day */day #/day #/day #/day #/day #/day ^
X X 1,2
X 1*2
JC X
3
3
X i 3
3
I X 3
U Dg/1 200 mg/l± 3
X
1 X 3
XI.. X 3
1 * 3
1 X
3
x X * 3
X 3
3
1
-------
Thbl. » (Coct.)
tat* OB BOOTCM of Inftutrtal Pollution
.
V«t*r Soure* tert* Tolnai. ngl T.+U— .A ' Ol-eh"** CT ^^ F Tta*»' °11 *eld '
(tew Ccrtla. Ptnn*£Lranla
Ik. Blair Strip StMl StMl Boiling Kill Z Z 0.268 Oil Bntntoi* on Cool- Big Ron
ing W»t*r. Acid ItaatM
Bfeul«d Off Bit*.
15. Cram Co. Cut Iron FDUndry Z Z O.268 Ion*, to Tlolatloo Bl* Rm Z
16, novlltM Co. V«U*A nttlan Z Z 0.005 Add RlBMi Hot Bl« Rm Z
IT. ghmncp Cuwlca Dlimnvmn Z Z 0.1* Eon. to nolitloB **—"•«•• A*
IB. auwml RMllo Vlfrlflod BHUteiy Z z 0.2L6 SM^Mntetloe • BbRu«o a.
19. aQMOCk k Vlloax TOta Co. TBbol*r Btwl Pnd. 11,000 t/»o,. Z 1^2 CooUaa Itater FuMd BHTW B.
5-1D Add RliUM «dt z
Tkwted
BMW Tfcll*. p«aB»glT«nia
20. tapAlle StMl Coapuy towing BtMl B-r. 7,OOO T/mo. Z 0.029 Acid RlitM* Bert BMW B. Z
fH3 Phnol P» Ba«. Sol. BOD ^^J"
3
1 3
Z 3
Z 3
3
3
Z
X 3
1. 1960 todnrtrtml QnutloBmliv. Stet* of Otto, D«t*rtMait of fctnrml BMoareM, Olfl«lon of totvr.
8. Ohio Pi^artamt of BMltb. 1992-54
3. tamqlmaljk rn^tuml of BMlth, B^. 3 Offle*
1" - CcBrtittmt likely to occur la v
'-• . Coutltanrt not lltely to b« prnnt ID
-------
449
Cyanides Wastes.
There is one recognized source of untreated
cyanide-bearing waste water discharged to the Shenango;
this is waste water from the blast furnaces at Sharpsville.
Oil Wastes.
The cooling water used in rolling mill operations
may pick up some oil from oil-lubricated bearings. These
cooling waters are discharged to the Shenango River below
the dam at Sharon without benefit of oil separation.
Suspended Solids.
The cooling waters from rolling mill operations
is passed through scale pits for recovery of mill scale
but fine material is not completely removed. Additional
discharges of suspended solids occur from foundry and
ceramic operations.
Ceramic Operations.
No mention is made at this point of thermal
pollution; that was covered yesterday by one of the indus-
trial reports. I believe it is mentioned further along in
this report. Certainly we are all aware of the fact that
the industries have been plagued for several decades on
hot water although we don't need to go further into that.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my portion of the
report.
MR. WEAKLEY: I was just curious about
-------
450
the wide variance in those two figures that you called
attention to. Could you explain that, please? The 800
some odd million gallons per day that you referred to as
compared with the 1500 million gallons per day of water
used that was referred to by the speakers that preceded
you.
MR. BLACK: May I refer that question
to Mr, Kittrell, please?
MR. KITTRELL: The first figure, that
of 15*500 million gallons per day is for peak production
by all plants. The other value of something like 800 or a
little more than 800 is an average water use.
MR. WEAKLEY: On page 12, your figure
referred to as average industrial use. The first figure
is described as an average figure, also, isn't it?
MR. KITTRELL: That is peak production,
at time of peak production.
MR. WEAKLEY: I see the distinction
that you make but I am still confused.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Would you try your hand
at that again, Mr. Kittrell? Take both figures and let's
see if we can get an explanation. I am not sure I under-
stand.
MR. KITTRELL: On page 12: "Average
industrial use of Mahoning River water by the principal firms
-------
451
has been reported to be in excess of 1,500 million gallons
per day during peak production periods." - :
This means7.-when all plants are ^operating at full '
capacity. The ot-ffer value on page- 16 deals with the average
use of water during periods when -- this is the over-all
average use of water including those periods when, produ'ction
is not at its peak. I think it was unfortunate-that the
word "average" was used at the beginning of ,the "sentence
on page 12.. -This refers to a daily average but it is some-
what confusing when it says, "average water us.e." It
actually should be average daily water use during peak
production.
And the other figure might .be referred ,to , the
one on page 16, as average annual use.
CHAIRMAN .STEIN: Is that satisfactory,
sir?
MR. WEAKLEY: I understand what he
said.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: . Are there ariy comments
or questions? Mr. Boardman.
MR. BOAFtDMAN: Again, the information
on the Shenango and Beaver we don»t feel is appropriate
i
to discussing the Mahoning pollution. The specific informa-
tion in the report seems to deal with the Shenango and the
general information on the Mahoning.
-------
452
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I don't know if I under-
stood that. Do you want to answer that?
MR. KITTRELL: That would appear to be
a personal observation.
MR. CLEARY: Mr. Black, I have a
couple of questions. On page 18, you commented about the
phenol and, if I understood in what you said, your remarks
as interpreted, that the phenol that was adsorbed by the
coke, when this was put into the blast furnaces, this
' <\ ' ' -
residual or what was left over would ultimately find its
way in the stream. Is that a fair-interpretation?
MR. BLACK: This interpretation is
correct. This phenol shows up in the flue gas wash water
and amounts to 20 or 30 pounds of phenol for each thousand
tons of pig iron, so you can multiply that by the tons of
pig iron produced in this area and you have got a number.
MR. CLEARY: The reason I asked
the question is because I thought the intense heat in the
blast furnace, I thought this phenol would be burnt out.
MR. BLACK: That is documented in
the literature. I can give you the records if you would
like.
MR. CLEARY: No, that's not necessary.
On page 19, there is some comment about cyanide, and the
' . V 1. •'..
statement that the cyanide concentrations in the waters are
-------
453
low but the volume is considerable.
Now, from — and I presume what we are working up
to is a health hazard indication and from that standpoint,
what are we most interested in, the concentration in the
stream' or the volume that is produced? In other words, the
implication there may be that this is a health hazard because
you say the volume is considerable although the concentration
is low. It is really the concentration we are interested in,
isn't it?
MR. BLACK: Permit me to respond
to your comment in this way: We are endeavoring in this
report to explain some of the observations in the Mahoning
River and we found some cyanide and here we have a source
of cyanide, although the concentration is low enough to be
of limited concern, yet here it is and when you multiply it
out in pounds, you see, here is a source and I thought we
ought to include that in all fairness to the plating depart-
ments, the electro-plating.
MR. CLEARY: I think you made it
quite clear. It is of limited concern, that's the point.
Now, I have one other question.
MR. BLACK: It's of concern.
MR. CLEARY: All right. The other
question is will these changes that have been made here
result in any changes in your general conclusions, do you
-------
454
think?
MR. BLACK: Not at all.
MR. CLEARY: Thank you .
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Are there any comments
or questions? Mr. Black, I have one question that I
believe at least would help me.
I watched with interest the presentation of
Mr. Doolittle on the works that the steel industry in
particular were putting in to deal with their pollution
problems and their waste disposal problem. I wonder if
you would, with your experience in industrial waste, relate
this to the effect on the river.
Now, what is your opinion? Is the river in
good shape or will it be in good shape when this program
is completed?
MR. BLACK: Industry has spent
tremendous sums of money in this area; we all know that,
Mr. Doolittle confirmed it. We still have to look at
the stream and, frankly, it has been a bit difficult to
explain the condition of the Mahoning River. It would
seem that we would have to take a very hard look at the
residual wastes coming from the industries in this area.
CHAIRMAN STEIN : Do you think these
residual wastes are still significant?
MR. BLACK: Considering all water
-------
uses, we would have to answer in the affirmative. People
are drinking this water and you have — you will soon have
phenol results at the state line and at Beaver Palls.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you.
MR. DOOLITTLE: Mr, Chairman, could I
make just one observation? I will stick my neck out only
slightly, I hope, but I would like it to appear in the record
that during the course of one of the studies we made, which
I referred to yesterday, some time during the years 1953 to
•56 when we were trying so very much to determine more about
the relationship between phenolic discharges and taste and
odor at Beaver Palls. With the cooperation of the Beaver
Palls works and with the knowledge of the State of Ohio and
under very close monitoring at one point, in order to run a
test which we thought would really be conclusive, we dis-
charged the full untreated steel wastes at our coke plant
running concentrations up to 14,000 ppm in the wintertime
when you would expect the least possible die-away because
of the cold temperatures.
We measured passage of time, as I told you, and
had very careful controls to determine when those discharges
reached Beaver Falls. And by the time this tremendous con-
centration, 14,000 parts per million, reached Beaver Palls,
somewhere above Beaver Falls it had been dissipated to a
biological oxidation or dilution or whatever means to as
-------
456
low as 18 parts per million. .
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Mr. Black, do you care
to respond or not?
MR. BLACK: No.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Are there any further
comments or questions?
MR. POSTON: if there are no further
comments, we will proceed and Mr. Kittrell again will tell
us about the effects on water quality, and water uses.
MR. KITTRELL: The effects of pollution
on water quality and water uses.
Bacteria. The density of coliform bacteria is
used in evaluating bacterial pollution of streams and as
a basis for water quality objectives for various water
uses. The results of coliform bacteria determinations
are expressed in terms of most probable number, or MPN,
per 100 milliliters (ml) of water. One hundred ml is a
little less than one-half cup. .The coliform group usually
is designated as total coliform.
A commonly used water quality objective limits
average coliform'densities to a' maximum of 5,000 MPN/100 ml .
in raw water .that .is used for municipal water supply. <• . • ••• •
The same limit is used for water sports that do not 'involve
body contact. Where there is swimming-or. other water con-
tact activities, it is common practice to set the upper
-------
457
limit on average coliforms in raw water at 1,000 MPN/100 ml,
Where there is suitable water, some of the people who live
near the strea, and others who visit the river to enjo.y
being near water, will swim on an unorganized basis.
Probably few venture into the highly polluted Mahoning
River, but boating and water contact activity, in the form
of water skiing, are known to take place along the lower
Beaver River in the vicinity of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania State Health Department con-
ducted a water quality study of the lower Mahoning,
Shenango, and Beaver Rivers from 1959 to 1961. The loca-
tions of the sampling stations are shown in Figure IV.
Samples were collected on a monthly basis for the two-year
period, beginning and ending in the month of September.
Table 6 is a summary of the findings. At Station 2, a few
miles below the state line in the Mahoning River, the
Pennsylvania data indicate that the annual average density
of coliform bacteria in the stream was 566,000 MPN/100 ml.
At Station 8 about four miles downstream from the Beaver
Falls municipal water intake on the Beaver River, the
average coliform density during the two-year study period
was repo'rted as 143,900 MPN/100 ml. This value,, based
on a limited number of samples, probably is not so
representative of average conditions as are the water plant
daily operating records. The bacterial data of the 1964
-------
458
operating records of the Beaver Palls Municipal Authority,
Eastvale Waterworks, included in Table 7, reveal a maximum
monthly average of 170,000 MPN/100 ml, and an annual mean of
31,300 MPN/100 ml, or more than six times the previously
cited water supply source objective. Such high bacterial
densities indicate the existence of a hazard to health
to all who come in contact with the water, including
water supply consumers in the event of a failure in water-
works equipment or operation.
Dissolved Oxygen.
Organic materials in the processes of decomposition
in a stream reduce the dissolved oxygen. In addition added
heat reduces the capacity of the stream to retain oxygen.
The ability of the stream to assimilate waste loads dis-
charged to it without excessive reduction of dissolved
oxygen is an important factor in the ability of the stream
to sustain a desirable aquatic life, including fish.
Optimum warm water fish production in streams generally
requires dissolved oxygen levels of about 5 mg/1. Lower
levels of D. 0. may support a less desirable fishery and
when D. 0. levels drop below 3 mg/1, especially in the
presence of other contaminants, it is probable that few
if any fish can long survive. The State of Ohio•„and Penn-
sylvania have established objectives for the minimum
dissolved oxygen concentrations which may be allowed in
-------
RM 22.9
RM 22.0
LOCATION OF STREAM SAMPLING
STATIONS-PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH
DEPT. SURVEY
-------
Table 6
Surface Water Quality
Beaver-Mancmlng and Shenango Rivers In Pennsylvania
September 1959 -September 1§61 "" "~
JS,
•
, D.0. 4 mg/1 Collform, MPN/100 ml Phenol, ^gfl
Stationer Avg". rax. MID. flSV'S*),-** Min. avg.
1 6.6 11.0 4.4 15
2 4.9 13.8 1.8 11,000,000 230 29
3 4.8 13.2 1.3 4,600,000 9,300 38
4 8.3 15.8 4.6 20
5 5.7 13.3 2.0 20
6 7.3 13.6 4.1 06
7 7.8 10.6 4.1 35
8 8.5 10.9 5.0 1,100,000 230 28
fi/See Figure IV for location of sampll ng stations.
Max.
100
100
150
100
150
100
300
300
Mln.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Alkalinity, mg/1 Total Iron, mg/1
AVg.
70
72
72
71
69
70
65
65
wax.
120
110
115
125
115
126
110
110
ran. Avg. Max. tun.
32 1.6 3-4 0.2
44 3-5 16.0 0.2
44 3.0 20.0 0.3
32 1.2 2.8 0.5
44 1.8 8.4 0.2
32 1.0 3.4 0.2
34 1.5 8.0 0.3
32 1.4 5.0 0.3
£
0
-------
Table 7
Water Quality Data
Beaver River
Eastvale Waterworks - Pennsylvania
1961*
Jan.
peb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
HOT.
Dec.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Temp.
(Sf)
37
"»3
3U
39
ho
35
Us
1*7
39
52
60
1*2
67
71*
60
75
80
67
82
87
7>*
78
82
73
76
83
69
63
70
60
58
63
U5
1*2
1*7
39
Alk.
(mg/D
51
77
27
U6
69
36
37
68
X
36
U6
27
1*4
&
35
50
58
1*3
1*6
66
32
Ui*
58
30
37
"*5
2<*
36
.51
23
1*2
51
32
39
1*7
30
Turb.
35
250
8
19
1*0
11
191
20OO
12
56
210
12
23
95
10
22
90
8
20
29
10
19
32
10
16
23
10
10
18
7
11
22
7
28
155
10
Color
15
32
7
20
30
11*
25
1*5
16
28
55
10
28
1*5
15
18
1*3
8
19
26
9
16
31
8
10
20
6
9
21
7
10
18
7
18
32
9
pH
7.1
7-3
6.9
7.0
7-3
6.9
7-2
7.3
6.9
7.2
7.8
7-0
7.2
7.5
7-0
7-2
7-5
7.1
7.2
7.1*
7-0
7.1
7-5
6-9
7-0
7-3
6.7
6.8
6.9
6.5
6.8
6.9
6.7
6-9
7.2
6.8
Bard.
(ng/1)
200
2U6
130
198
231*
156
133
11*6
88
131
161*
111*
153
202
120
191*
201*
178
188
206
162
188
202
180
208
222
196
221
21*8
210
212
230
188
166
208
138
Iron
(WD
0.28
1.25
0.08
O.Si*
0.52
0.11
2.57
50.00
0.12
0.82
2.00
0.15
0.87
2.75
0.18
0.82
1.12
0.32
0.78
1.18
0.1*5
0.7!*
0.93
0.52
0.71
1-25
0.18
0.78
1.68
0.38
0.69
1.00
0.1*0
1.18
5.00
0.28
Hang.
(«*/l)
0.1*7
1.00
0.23
0.36
0.50
0.25
0.50
1.35
0.25
0.38
0.80
0.25
0.29
0.70
0.10
0.37
0.60
0.25
0.1*5
0.90
0.20
0.36
0.75
0.20
0.33
0.1*5
0.18
0.39
0.52
0.30
0.36
0.50
0.25
0.1*6
0.85
0.25
Bacteria Odor
(MPH/100 ml)
13,900
1*0,000
5,1*00
11,200
3U.OOO
3,100
3"*,800
105,000
7,300
39,600
85,000
9,600
33,500
11*0,000
2,000
26,100
65,000
6,000
32,600
100,000
8,000
1*3,000
77,000
11,000
31,600
55,000
10,000
2l*,800
6l*,ooo
9,000
15,000
1*6,000
8,000
70,200
170,000
8,000
.
85
20
-
50
25
-
250
30
200
30
-
90
30
-
60
30
.
60
30
-
60
30
-
60
30
-
50
25
-
60
25
-
70
30
Annual Average
0.87
0.39
-------
462
their respective streams. Ohio has established 4 mg/1 as
the minimum acceptable concentration of D. 0. in the Mahoning
River above Warren, Ohio. Pennsylvania has selected the same
objective for the lower Mahoning, Shenango, and Beaver
Rivers. Because heat and other pollutants presently dis-
charged to the reach from Warren to Lowellville, Ohio,
prevent the maintenance of desirable aquatic life in the
stream, Ohio permits a minimum of 3 mg/1 from Warren to the
Pennsylvania state line. This lower concentration is
expected to prevent excessive odor nuisance conditions,
even though it may not maintain optimum fish productivity.
The Aquatic Life Advisory Committee of the Ohio
River Valley Water Sanitation Commission has recommended
that "dissolved oxygen content of warm water fish habitats
shall not be less than 5ppm during at least 16 hours of
any 24-hour period. It may be less than 5 ppm for a period
not to exceed eight hours within any 24-hour period, but at
no time shall the .oxygen ibe Less than 3 ppm. To sustain a
coarse fish population, the dissolved oxygen conc.emt.ratLon
may be less than 5 ppm for a period of not more than eight
hours out of any 24-hour period, but at no time shall the
concentration be below 2 ppm."
Available stream data from an Ohio report
indicate that D. 0. levels in the Mahoning River immediately
below Warren, Ohio, drop as low as 3.2 mg/1 and continue
-------
463
to deplete as the water progresses downstream about 25
miles to Lowellville. At Lowellville, about a mile up-
stream fromthe state line, a continuous monitoring station
is operated by the U. S. Geological Survey in cooperation
with the Ohio Department of Health. For the calendar
year of 1964 there were 162 days in which the D. 0. dropped
below 1 mg/1, and 219 days when the D. 0. was less than
2 mg/1. For 63 days the record shows zero D. 0., and
here the stream is biologically dead, except for the
most pollution-tolerant organisms.
No recent D. 0. data were available immediately
downstream from the state line, but from the previously
mentioned 1959-61 Pennsylvania study, D. 0. as low as
1.3 mg/1 was reported in this vicinity. Above the point
of discharge of sewage from New Castle, Pennsylvania,
about 10 miles downstream, the minimum dissolved oxygen
was 1.3 milligrams per liter, also.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Mr. Kittrell,
I wonder if we can stop there. We have a consensus among
the Board, at least the conferees, and they, I suspect,
would like to eat at regular times. And this may be
shared with the rest of the room.
I was checking the length of this . I wonder
if we can split now and we can get back here at half past
2;00 and resume again.
-------
464
We will stand recessed until half past 2:00.
MR. KITTRELL: I had hoped to insert
some of the data from Ohio at this point before completing
this section. Can we do that before we adjourn? This will
only take a few seconds.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: All right.
MR. KITTRELL: A record of water
quality observation made by the Ohio Health Department
during 1964, the most recent data that we have showed
that dissolved oxygen at Lowellville was below their
stated objective of three milligrams per liter, 18.9
percent of the time, and the dissolved oxygen was below
the Pennsylvania objective just below the state line of
4 milligrams per liter, 47.2 percent of the time.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you. Mr. Kittrell,
(Whereupon,a luncheon recess was had to reconvene
at 2:30 p.m.)
-------
465
AFTERNOON SESSION
2:40 p.m.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: May we reconvene.
Mr. Poston.
MR. POSTON: Mr. Kittrell will
continue.
MR. KITTRELL: I would like to start
in making a slight change in the final statement I made
just before I completed the reading of the section on
dissolved oxygen.
I quoted certain percentages of the time where
dissolved oxygen was less than certain values. I would
like to change that to certain percentages of the obser-
vations were below these percentages. There were about
52 or -3 observations, approximately once a week, for the
year of 1964 by the Ohio Department of Health and there-
fore it does not cover the entire time.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Would you repeat that
again, Mr. Kittrell?
MR. KITTRELL: I say I would like to
change the last statement I made about the new data that
we obtained from Ohio. I said that the dissolved oxygen
had been below certain values, certain percentages of the
time. Actually, I would prefer to say,that certain per-
centages of the observations were below certain values.
-------
466
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Would you continue.
MR. KITTRELL: Heat. Several public
and private concerns have observed Water temperatures in
the Mahoning River in the Youngstown area for many years.
River temperatures are related to air temperatures, stream-
flow, and the heat added through industrial cooling opera-
tions. Heated discharges to the Mahoning River are a form
of pollution, since high river temperatures adversely affect
aquatic life, the use of the river for industrial cooling
purposes, production costs, and the streamTs ability to
assimilate organic wastes. The waste assimilative capacity
is affected by reducing the dissolved oxygen available at
saturation, and increasing the rate at which biochemical
oxidation of organic wastes with accompanying D. 0. depletion,
takes place.
Following extensive study, the Aquatic Life
Advisory Committe of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation
Commission has recommended that "... in order to maintain
stream conditions capable of producing an annual harvestable
fish crop comparable to that pro'duced in natural waters of
the particular area under consideration, waste discharges
be so controlled that the temperature of the receiving
water: .
(1) Shall not be raised above 34 degrees C. (93
degrees F.) at any place or at any time;
-------
46?
(2) Shall not be raised above 23 degrees C. (73
degrees F.) at any place or at any time during the months
of December through April;
(3) Shall not be raised in streams suitable
for trout propagation."
Temperature influences physiologically all the
vital processes of fish, including activity, feeding, growth,
and reproduction. Higher temperatures often favor the
>
coarse and less desirable fish species. While high tempera-
tures may not prove immediately lethal, they may impair
metabolic activity of the fish to such an extent that any
additional stress, such as pollution, may increase the
adverse effects of temperature, and result in a high level
of mortality.
A shift in algal populations has been correlated
with the introductions of heated waters; as the temperature
increases, the diatoms normally associated with unpolluted
streams decrease, with a resultant rise in green algae
and finally blue-green algae. These may increase the
problem of tastes and odors in water supplies. It has
also been found that there is tolerance limit close to
90 degrees F. for a "normal" population structure of
bottom dwelling fish food organisms accompanying further
temperature rise,
-------
468
Flow regulation resulting from the operation of
Berlin and Mosquito Creek Reservoirs has accomplished some
reduction in river temperatures. However, the temperatures
are still extremely high. West Branch Reservoir when in .
operation, is expected to further reduce the river tempera-
tures in the industrial area along the Mahoning River.
It is estimated that this reservoir will effectively
reduce the average annual water temperature in the stream '.
at Youngstown by about 4 degrees F. -
As shown in Table 8 maximum river temperatures
at Lowellville exceeded 93 degrees F. during seven months
in 1964, in May through November. The average temperature
was 94 degrees F. over the four-month period between June
and September. Temperatures in .excess of 100 degrees F.
occurred in June, July, and September. They exceeded 73
degrees F. in April and December. Even after the West
Branch Reservoir goes into operation, the river tempera-
tures will not be reduced below levels harmful to fish
and other aquatic life.
(See next page.)
-------
Table 8
Mahoning River Temperatures
Lowellville, Ohio
196U
Max. Mln.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
Avg.
Max.
Mln.
59
66
1*5
61*
69
58
51
66
1*0
62
78
1*5
82
S*
61
91*
102
86
95
101
89
93
99
88
91*
102
87
91
97
87
88
91*
77
72
81
56
55
63
1*1
61
65
55
1*9
63
39
58
72
1*1*
78
90
59
89
96
81*
89
96
81
89
96
82
90
96
87
87
93
82
83
90
7U
68
77
53
1963
Max. Mln.
58
65
50
58
62
1*9
1*7
61
38
70
80
60
85
91*
73
92
99
86
90
95
81*
85
89
81
8U
89
80
82
86
75
72
77
61
63
69
56
55
61
50
55
60
1*8
1*5
56
38
66
76
56
80
86
69
87
92
81
81*
93
78
81
85
78
79
81*
71*
78
83
72
69
7!*
59
60
68
5>»
1962
Max. Mln.
53
59
1*5,
53
58
1*2
1*9
60
1*1
61*
82
53
83
90
76
88
' 91
81
86
90
83
89
91
86
82
88
75
79
87
68
68
75
58
61
71
52
51
56
1*3
51
51*
1*0
1*7
60
1*0
61
79
52
80
86
72
85
88
78
83
88
78
85
87
83
80
87
7V
76
83
66
65
71
57
58
68
51
1961
Max. Mln.
63
67
57
60
67
1*7
50
56
1*7
53
60
1*7
71
82
58
82
86
77
87
89
82
90
93
88
92
97
87
82
89
77
69
80
56
58
6k
52
61
66
57
58
65
1*6
1*9
55
1*7
51
59
1*7
69
78
56
80
86
7U
85
87
81
88
90
85
89
93
81*
79
86
TU
67
77
5"*
57
63
52
1960
Max. Mln.
_
.
-
_
-
-
_
-
-
_
-
-
_
.
-
_
-
-
87
89
86
90
91*
86
89
91*
86
80
87
70
66
69
63
59
6>*
55
_
-
-
.
-
-
_
-
-
.
.
-
_
-
-
.
-
-
86
87
85
88
91
85
87
91
81*
78
85
67
61*
68
59
57
63
53
1959
Max. Min.
1*5
62
37
1*2
1*9
36
52
61
1*2
72
81*
5l»
88
100
6U
90
100
78
83
91
79
79
81
75
75
80
70
_
-
-
.
.
-
.
-
-
1*2
58
36
1*0
1*8
35
1*9
61
1*2
69
81*
53
85
97
61
87
97
77
82
88
79
78
81
75
71*
79
70
_
-
-
.
.
-
_
-
-
vo
-------
Phenols.
Phenols in industrial wastes, especially from
coke plants in steel mi-lls, discharged to the Mahoning
River present a pollution problem which has particular
significance in the use of the Beaver River for municipal
water supply. There is evidence of Phenol in the stream
system below the industrial areas along the Mahoning and
Shenango Rivers and particularly at the water plants
serving the Beaver Palls area. Water containing even very
small quantities of phenolic compounds may, after chlor-
•£
ination, carry obnoxious medicinal tastes and odors.
Special methods of water treatment, which add to treatment
costs, are necessary to combat phenolic tastes.
Commonly used water quality objectives in rivers
call for controlling sources of phenolic wastes to assure
that phenolic concentrations to not average more than two
parts per billion, and that no maximum value exceeds
5ppb. It has been reported that odor tainting of fish
flesh begins to persist at phenol concentrations as low
as 15 ppb. The Ohio Health Department has stated that it
is believed that known practical methods of phenol control
will reduce phenol concentrations in the Mahoning at the
state line to not more than 75 PPb.
During the week of January ij., 1965, phenol con-
centrations as high as 25>0 to 280 ppb were found in a set
-------
473
of samples collected by the Public Health Service in the
Mahoning River, in and below the Warren-Lowellville indus-
trial area along the Mahoning River, and a value of 14.5 ppb
near the Beaver Palls water intake.
The 1959 to 1961 Pennsylvania study revealed con-
centrations as high as 220 ppb, and an average of 38 ppb
near the mouth of the Mahoning River, and an average of
28 ppb at Beaver Falls.
During a 16-week period in 1959, virtually the
entire steel mill industry in the Beaver River watershed
y
was closed by a strike. Other industries were not sub-
stantially affected. Subsequently, the Ohio River Valley
Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) compared levels of
pollutional constituents in the Mahoning River at Lbwell-
ville, and the Beaver River at the Beaver Falls water
intake, with levels of the same constituents at these
points in earlier years (1952, 1953> and 1957) when the
steel mills were in operation. Phenols were among those
constituents.
During the 1959 strike, phenols at Lowellville
averaged 10 ppb, compared to averages in the range of 5
to 44 ppb in the three previous years, for an over-all
average of 21 ppb. At Beaver Falls, the average for the
1959 period was 3 ppb.
-------
472
Taste and Odor.
Taste and odor, in municipal water supplies may
result from many causes. Among.these are oils, phenols,
naphthalenes, and other organic materials associated with
coke by-production, which may b.e.discharged in wastes, from
the coke plants normally associated with steel mills.
An indication of the odor potential of water
is measured approximately by, the threshold odor (T.O.)
determination. This is an involved method and is not often
used, unless odor in a municipal water supply presents a
problem. The ORSANCO report referred to above included
data on threshold odor of the Beaver Falls raw water.
During the 1959 strike, the T. 0. number of the raw water
was 19. Even this value is relatively high for a clean
stream, except in those situations where the odor is caused
by algae. During previous years, while the steel mills
were operating, the T. 0. number ranged from 41 to 202,
for an average of 137, which is seven times the relatively
high value that occurred when the steel mills were closed.
To combat tastes and odors, the Beaver Falls water
treatment plant is forced to use methods far beyond those
of the conventional water treatment plant that obtains
water from a source of good quality. These measures
require correspondingly increased costs of treatment.
-------
473
Alkalinity, Acidity and pH.
Natural surface waters normally are moderately
alkaline, containing calcium bicarbonate and carbonate
and other minor alkaline constituents dissolved from the
soil and rock through and over which the water flows.
The water also contains mildly acidic salts of certain
metals, and the mild carbonic acid, which is derived from
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and from decomposing
organic matter. The balance between these mild alkalies
and acids controls the pH, or hydrogen ion concentration,
of the water. At the pH of 7.0 the opposing alkaline and
acidic constituents are in exact balance, and the water is
said to be neutral. Natural waters rarely are more
alkaline than pH 8.5, or more acidic than pH 6.5.
As a result, fish and other aquatic life
generally are acclimated to water with pH in the range of
6.5 to 8.5» Drastic variations jnpH outside this range
can reduce or eliminate desirable aquatic life. A moderately
alkaline water is desirable as a source of water supply,
since it is less corrosive to concrete and to pumps, piping,
and other metallic equipment than an acidic water. Alka-
linity also is essential in the chemical reactions employed
in conventional water treatment processes.
Strong acids are used in some industrial processes,
such as the sulfuric acid used in large quantities by steel
-------
474
mills. The acid may be discharged untreated, or may be
neutralized with lime before discharge. If not neutralized,
the acid reduces the natural alkalinity and reduces the pH
correspondingly. If all natural alkalinity is destroyed,
the pH drops to about 4.2. Additional waste acid will reduce
the pH below even this value.
The Aquatic Life Advisory Committee of ORSANCO
has concluded that lethal effects on aquatic life are not
produced until the pH is reduced below 5.0, but from the
standpoint of productivity, it is best to maintain pH
above 6.5. Objective by the State of Ohio of pH 6.3
and alkalinity of 30 mg/1 have been selected as applicable
to the Mahoning River at the state line.
It was estimated by ORSANCO in 1959 that 200 tons
per day of acid (as equivalent 00003) was wasted by the
steel mills in the Beaver River watershed.
In 1959 the alkalinity of the Mahoning River at
Lowellville averaged 80 mg/1 during the steel mill strike,
and in the range of 8 to 30 mg/1 in the previous 3 years.
Alkalinity was adequate at Beaver Falls during all periods,
averaging 69 during the strike, compared to about 54 in
previous years, but reflected some effect of acid wastes
from upstream.
In 1959 the pH averaged 7.3 at Lowellville, com-
pared to a range of 5.9 to 6.1 in the three previous years.
-------
475
All pH averages were above 7.0 at Beaver Falls.
The U. S. Geological Survey -- Ohio Department of
Health monitoring station maintain a continuous record of
pH at Lowellville, with occasional gaps because of instrument
failure. The record indicates that there were 28 days in
1964 when the pH dropped below 5.0, with a minimum value of
3.6 on two days. These acidic conditions would retard and
probably destroy.aquatic life at and below the state line.
The record shows 187 days when the pH was below the Ohio
objective of 6.3.
All average monthly pH values at the Eeaver palls
raw water intake were in the range of 6.8 to 7.2 during
1964. The lowest single daily value was 6.5. These values
reflect only slightly the effects of the acid wastes dis-
charged upstream. This represents an improvement over the
1952, 1953, and 1957 values in the range of 5.9 to 6.1
reported by ORSANCO, as noted above. Average monthly
alkalinities ranged from 36 to 51 mg/1, which is adequate,
but below the 80 mg/1 in 1959 when the steel mills were
closed. Daily minimum values were below 30 mg/1 in four months,
with the lowest being 20 milligrams per liter.
At this point I would like to insert the most
recent data from the Ohio Department of Health. In 1964,
11.3 percent of the observations were below the Ohio objective
of 6.3. 1.9 percent of the observations were below the 5
-------
476
point value.
In the results obtained on the single set of
samples collected by the Public Health Service during the
week of January 4, 1965, the pH ranged from 6.0 to 6.5 in
the vicinity of the state line, and was 7.1 at Beaver Falls.
Corresponding alkalinities were in the range of 13 to 23 mg/1
near the state line, and 26 mg/1 at Beaver Falls. The pH
at three stations in the Niles to Youngstown reach of the
river ranged from 3.6 to 4.2, the natural alkalinity at
these three stations being totally destroyed by the acid
wastes.
Adverse effects of the acid wastes range from severe
to moderate in the river system from Warren to Beaver palls.
The pH was low enough to destroy much of the aquatic life
in the Mahoning River below Warren, and the alkalinity was
below the level desirable in sources of municipal and many
industrial water supplies in the Mahoning and in the Beaver
River at Beaver Falls.
Hardness.
Hardness of water is caused primarily by the salts
of calcium and magnesium. As hardness increases, the soap
and other detergents necessary for effective cleaning in-
crease. Hard water produces scale in household hot water
tanks and in metallic equipment in high temperature indus-
trial processes, which reduces the effectiveness of heating.
-------
477
Hard water can toughen vegetables during cooking. Natural
surface waters exhibit various degrees of hardness, depending
on the soils and rocks with which they come in contact.
The natural alkalinity discussed earlier usually is largely
calcium and magnesium carbonate and bicarbonate, which are
hardness constituents.
Many heavy industries, including steel mills, use
large quantities of limestone, which consists of calcium,
and frequently magnesium, carbonate. The principal waste
from steel mills that contributes to hardness of the
receiving stream is the calcium and magnesium sulfate that
result from neutralization of waste acid pickle liquor
with limestone or lime.
In the report on river water quality during the
1959 steel mill strike, ORSANCO estimated that the steel
mills discharged 90 tons per day of hardness.
The hardness of surface waters varies so widely
throughout the country that no limit has been set on hard-
ness in municipal water supplies. Water with hardness less
than 125 mg/1 usually is considered reasonably soft. In
many cases where hardness is in excess of 125 mg/1, special
treatment to reduce hardness is considered justified. When
softening is employed, it is common to produce water with
a hardness of 70 to 80 mg/1. Industries can use water for
various processes that may vary in hardness over a wide
-------
478
range. Most of the required limits fall in the range of 100
to 300 mg/1, but others require hardness less than 100 mg/1.
For example, the hardness of water used for cooling and for
steel manufacturing, which are major uses in the Beaver
River Valley, preferably should not exceed 50 mg/1.
At present, data are not available to establish
the natural hardness of waters in the Mahoning and Beaver
Rivers, but it appears that it may be in the range of 100
to 150 mg/1. The hardness of raw water at the Beaver Falls
intake averaged 183 mg/1 in 1964. The 90 tons per day of
hardness estimated by ORSANCO to be added by the steel mills
would account for a moderate addition of 15 mg/1 of hardness
to the average annual flow of the Beaver River at Beaver
Falls. ORSANCO data indicated that the hardness was 43 mg/1
less during the steel strike than it was during comparable
flow periods in previous years when the mills were operating.
The increase in hardness concentrations caused by steel mill
wastes would be less during higher stream flow periods.
While there undoubtedly are moderate adverse effects
of hardness added by industries on municipal and industrial
water supplies on the Mahoning and Beaver Rivers, presently
available data do not allow a full evaluation of effects.
Iron.
Iron is relatively insoluble in the presence of
oxygen and of the alkalinity within the normal pH range of
-------
479
most natural surface waters. Such waters frequently have
low iron concentrations of only a few hundredths to a few
tenths of a mg/1. When wastes containing dissolved ferrous
iron are discharged to a stream, the iron depletes the D.O.
of the stream, adding to the depletion of D.O. by organic
wastes. In the process, the iron precipitates and settles
to the stream bed, where it coats exposed surfaces, or forms
sludge banks that may cover and destroy aquatic life. If
the D.O. is totally depleted and if accompanying acid wastes
neutralize the alkalinity of the stream, the dissolved iron
may remain in solution for many miles downstream and cause
difficulties in stream reaches far removed from the point of
discharge.
Insoluble forms of iron are relatively inert in
water, and usually cause only those difficulties typical
of natural silt and other inorganic suspended solids, which
destroy the clarity of the water and settle to form bottom
deposits.
Even small quantities of dissolved iron in municipal
and industrial water supplies can cause problems. It can
cause difficulty in water treatment through staining of
equipment, especially chlorinators and filter sand. It can
cause false readings of chlorine residuals, and thus interfere
with the chlorination process that is essential to destroy
pathogenic bacteria and protect health. The iron may
-------
480
precipitate as a reddish floe, in the distribution system,
causing the familiar "red water" that flows from some faucets.
It stains bathroom fixtures and laundry, turns tea black, and
may impart an unpleasant taste to water. It can interfere
with a variety of industrial processes. Recommended limits
for iron are 0.3 mg/1 for domestic water supplies and 0. mg/1
for industrial supplies.
Much of the data available on iron in the Mahoning
and Beaver Rivers does not lend itself to sound interpretation
because most of the determinations have been for total iron,
both dissolved and in suspension. Since the effects of the
two forms on water use are different ,• it is not possible >:to .'
evaluate fully the effects on the basis of total iron alone.
For example, the ORSANCO report shows that steel
mills in the Beaver River watershed discharged 72 tons per
day of dissolved iron and 225 tons per day of iron in sus-
pension. Most of the insoluble .iron probably settles to
the stream bed withi.n a few miles from the points of dis-
charge. The dissolved iron, on the other hand, undoubtedly
carries farther downstream until.oxidized.
There is no doubt that the bed of the Mahoning
River from Warren to its mouth in Pennsylvania is a
depository of large quantities of iron. Reclaiming opera-
tions in the Mahoning River at Youngstown are being employed
to separate iron deposits from river bottom sludge.
-------
481
Concentrations of iron (chiefly mill scale discharges from
steel mills) are apparently great enough to make this
operation economical. A hydraulic dredge is employed
to remove the deposits from the river, after which the
heavy iron materials are settled out and thereby reclaimed.
The remaining materials are then respread on the river
"bottom under surveillance by the Corps of Engineers. The
amount of iron recovered is not known, although one report
indicated that in one area recovered particles tested from
40 to 52 percent iron. Approximately 4£ river miles have
been covered by the recovery operations thus far, and plans
call fortan.additional 2^ miles to be, recovered in the near
future ,.'-....•
Manganese. Manganese is quite similar to iron
o
in many of its reactions, and most of the above discussion
on iron applies to manganese. Manganese probably reacts
more slowly than iron, but the discolorations and deposits
of various kinds that it can cause are black, and therefore
even more objectionable than those caused by iron.
Interferences by manganese with domestic and
industrial water uses are even more severe than those by
iron, and therefore a lower limit of 0.05 mg/1 has been
proposed for manganese in both domestic and many industrial
supplies.
-------
482
The ORSANCO report estimated that the steel mills
normally discharged 1.8 tons per day of dissolved manganese.
The 1964 operating records of the Beaver Palls water
treatment plant show that manganese in the raw water ranged
from 0.10 to 1.35 mg/1* with an annual average of 0.39
mg/1. This is far above the manganese level of most
natural surface waters, which rarely exceed a few
hundredths of a mg/1.
Fluorides.
It is recognized that fluorides, within optimum
limits of 0.7 to 1.2 mg/1 in drinking water, are beneficial
in protecting the teeth of children against decay, or caries,
Continuous ingestion of water containing fluorides much
in excess of the upper limit can cause unslightly mottling
of teeth.
Fluorides are discharged in the wastes from steel
mills, electric lamp manufacture, and zirconium production
in the Beaver River Valley. Although a few values reported
for the Mahoning River have been in the range of 2.4 to
3.2 mg/1, which is above the desirable limit for drinking
water, there is no evidence that the limit has been exceeded
at the Beaver Falls water intake, but rather that fluorides
have been below the optimum lower limit.
It may be assumed that children drinking water
from the Beaver Falls municipal supply may have received
-------
483
some protection of their teeth because of the fluorides
discharged upstream. It should be realized, however, that
the fluoride concentrations vary considerably and presumably
rapidly at times. If the municipality should desire to
provide maximum protection of the children's teeth through
controlled fluoridation, as is practiced in many cities, .
the varying concentrations in-"the-raw water would render it
difficult to ensure proper dosage of fluorides to .achieve
the optimum concentration in the treated water.
Ammonia." .
Ammonia in surface waters comes from the decom-
position of organic matter, and in clean water rarely
exceeds a few tenths of a mg/1. Ammonia is a.constituent
of municipal sewage and of wastes from coke plants commonly
included in steel mill operations.
A concentration of 2.5 mg/1 of ammonia is
considered to be harmful to fish if the pH of the water
is in the range of 7.^ to 8.5. Toxicity decreases with
decreasing pH. It has been found that concentrations ...
of 1.5 mg/l> or less are not harmful to most varieties
of fish.::-.Ammonia in .the, raw water.: of -treatment plants:
requires^ compensating quantities of chlorine in plants
where free residual chlorination> the most effective
method of bacterial^ disinfection,, is practiced. Each
mg/i of ammonia requires about 8 nig/1 of chlorine before
-------
484
a free chlorine residual can be obtained. This can cause
a significant increase in the cost of water treatment.
Data on ammonia in the Mahoning River at
Lowellville are available in the U. S. Geological Survey
Records for the water years (October through September)
1958, 1959, and 1960. The annual average concentrations
of ammonia (as NH3) are remarkably constant, at 3.3, 3.3,
and 3.2 mg/1. Individual values, however, frequently have
been in the range of 6.0 to 8.0 mg/1. Such concentrations
almost certainly would destroy any fish that might be
present in the Mahoning. Even after dilution with the
Shenango River to form the Beaver, the resulting concen-
trations of ammonia probably would be harmful to fish.
Although no data on ammonia at the Beaver Falls
water intake are available, it is certain that ammonia
concentrations sufficiently high to add significantly to
the chlorine requirements of water treatment persist to
the intake.
Cyanides.
Cyanides in water are toxic to fish in low
concentrations. Cyanides are included in the wastes from
coke plants and, therefore, frequently occur in steel
mill wastes. Cyanides also are used extensively in
metal plating operations.
The Aquatic Advisory Committee of the Ohio River
-------
485
Valley Water Sanitation Commission recommended that free
cyanide, in excess of 0.025 mg/1 be considered unsafe in
the Q.hio River. In the Mahoning River, which has low
!>., 0"i.. and! pH, and relatively high ammonia, all of which
increase.- the toxicity of cyanides, a given concentration
of cyanide would be expected to be even more toxic than
the same concentration in the Ohio.
Few data on cyanides in the Mahonig River have
been found. The results of 15 determinations on the river
at Lowellville during the period of November 1952 through
September 1953 have been reported by ORSANCO. The values
ranged from 0 in one-third of the samples to as high as
1.0 mg/1. The average of all results was 0.25 mg/1,
which is 10 times the recommended limit. All 10 of the
positive results exceed the limit by factors of 4 to 40
times.
Some of the cyanide concentrations reported at
Lowellville in 1952-1953 would have been lethal to any
fish that might have been in the river at that time. There
is no known reason to assume that cyanide wastes have been
reduced significantly since that time.
Here, I would like to recognize the fact that
Mr. George Eagle said that treatment had been provided
for the cyanide sources on the Mahoning River.
-------
486
There is no evidence that cyanides have occurred
in the raw water at Beaver Falls in concentrations
sufficient to be harmful to consumers of the water supply.
Visual Evidences of pollution.
During the week of January 4, 1965, Public
Health Service personnel observed the Mahoning, Shenango,
and Beaver Rivers at numerous points in connection with
the collection of stream samples.
From Warren, Ohio, to the mouth of the Mahoning,
from Sharon, Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Shenango,
and from the confluence of these two streams, the sur-
faces of the three streams were covered with an oily film.
Along the Mahoning River black, oily sludge lined
the banks, and masses of these materials hung from bushes
and tree limbs near the water*s edge.
In and below the Youngstown area, gobs of dark
greasy material bobbed up and down in the water as they
moved along with the current.
The scenic values of the Mahoning River below
Warren have been destroyed, and those of the Shenango
and Beaver seriously damaged.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, Mr. Kittrell.
Are there any comments or questions at this point? And
maybe we will have an opportunity to question Mr. Kittrell
at the conclusion of his report.
-------
487
Mr. Boardman.
MR. BOARDMAN: Back on page 24 of
Mr. Kittrell!s statement it was indicated that Pennsylvania
has a water quality, — I object to that it was indicated
that Pennsylvania has a water quality objective of 4 milli-
grams per liter dissolved oxygen in the lower Mahoning,
Shenango, and Beaver. Pennsylvania has not established a
definite water quality objective for any of these streams
at the present time*
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Do you have any comments,
Mr. Kittrell?
MR. KITTRELL: Mr. Chairman, this
Information was brought to me by one of my field men.
MR. BOARDMAN: I believe the information
was obtained from a draft report from our regional office.
There is no official status to that report.
MR. POSTON: Thank you, Mr. Kittrell.
MR. CLEARY: May I ask a question?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Certainly.
i . .
MR. CLEARY: I have a couple of
questions of Mr. Kittrell. On page 28, at the bottom of the
page, it says a value of 14.5 parts per billion near the
Beaver Palls water intake were noted with respect to phenol
concentrations.
My question is: Do you have any taste and odor
-------
488
data that would indicate what happened as a result of that
level of phenols at that time?
MR. KITTRELL: No, we have not.
MR. CLEARY: The reason I raise it
is because I believe there is a professional difference
of opinion with respect to what constitutes a level
where taste and odors become prevalent. I notice you
mention three parts per billionj five parts per billion
is another number, and I raise the question simply to
see whether this would help cast some light on the ques-
tion.
CHAIRMAN STEIN; Mr. Cleary, I wonder,
we are, I understand, going to have Dr. Graham Walton,
who is our water supply expert, on soon. It may be
advisable to raise these questions again and check with
him.
MR. CLEARY: Would that be also true
with respect to manganese, fluorides?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I would suggest that
any effect on drinking water supply may best, in the
interest of our most authoritative information, be directed
to Dr. Walton.
MR. CLEARY: Would this be appro-
priate — I was going to ask about the manganese level
in some of the reservoirs. Would that be a question for
-------
489
Dr. Walton?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Is this supposed to
affect public water supplies?
MR. CLEARY: What I am getting at,
maybe you better let me proceed, Mr. Chairman. My
question was simply this: On page 38, this deals with the
matter of manganese in the river. My question, Mr.
Kittrell, was simply this: Has any information been
developed with respect to the manganese that may be in
the reservoirs and when flow regulation is attempted,
then the concentrations may reflect what the manganese
level was in the reservoirs?
MR. KITTRELL: This is a distinct
possibility. We do not have any information to show
whether this occurs or does not, but it is a possibility.
MR. CLEARY: The reason I raise
the question, Mr. Chairman, is simply where is the
manganese coming from, and I thought this might cast
some light on it.
And my other question, finally, on page 39
mention was made of some fluoride measurements in the
Mahoning. Would you recall, Mr. Kittrell, where they
were made? I heard some testimony this morning that
fluorides, hydrofluoric acid was being discharged by
lamp works, and I was wondering, was this in the vicinity
-------
490
of the lamp works in the Upper Mahoning or where else?
MR. KITTRELL: This was in the
vicinity of the lower U. §. Geological Station at Lowell-
vi lie.
MR. CLEARY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you. Are there
any other questions of Mr. Kittrell at this time? If
not, thank you. Mr. Poston0
MR. POSTON: Thank you, Mr. Kittrell.
We will now hear from Mr. Kenneth Mackenthun who will talk
about the biological effects.
MR. MACKENTHUN: Aquatic Life.
Environments in which aquatic organisms live
are often changed by man-produced pollution. These
changes are reflected in the kinds and numbers of aquatic
plant and animal life that may persist. Unpolluted water
courses support many different kinds of clean-water-associated
bottom organisms such as stoneflies, mayflies, caddisflies
and alderflies. Pollution-tolerant forms such as certain
leeches arid sludgeworms may be present in unpolluted water,
but usually are few in numbers. Stream conditions that
permit' the development of an assemblage of clean-water-
associated organisms provide food for fishes and prevent
development of nuisance organisms in large numbers.
-------
491
Responses of aquatic organisms to domestic and
industrial wastes depend largely on the amounts and kinds
of such materials entering their environments. One
response is, manifest by; the loss of a few kinds of organisms
that thrive only in clean water environments, while those
that may "be associated with mildly polluted waters, increase
slightly in numbers. A more drastic response involves
the disappearance of all clean-water-associated forms
and the development of pollution-tolerant organisms often
associated with sludges and slimes. Yet another response
is associated with environments that are toxic to certain
organisms and in which there is a substantial reduction
in numbers of most forms and an elimination of many.
In severely toxic environments, no organisms exist.
A biological survey to evaluate bottom organism
population in the Mahoning, Beaver, and Shenango Rivers
was made during the week of January 4, 1965.
Bottom organisms were reduced in numbers from
over 2,000 per square foot upstream from Newton Falls,
Ohio, to about 300 per square foot at Lowellville, and 850
: *>
per square foot at the first bridge crossing downstream
from the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line (Table 9, Figures
V and VI). Similarly, 9 and 11 different general kinds of
organisms were found in the West Branch and East Branch,
-------
U92
respectively, upstream from Newton Palls. Only one kind,
a pollution-tolerant organism, was found at Lowellville,
and three kinds were found at the first bridge crossing
downstream from the state line.
Although few in numbers downstream from Newton
Palls, clean-water-associated organisms were found down-
stream to the Highway 1|22 bridge just upstream from Warren,
Ohio. Clean-water-associated organisms were not found
throughout the remainder of the Mahoning River.
Only pollution-tolerant sludgeworms persisted at
Lowellville, and only pollution-tolerant sludgeworms and
leeches and one kind of tolerant snail were found at the
next station downstream of the state line.
The absence of clean-water-associated fish food
organisms in the Mahoning River downstream from Warren,
Ohio, the severe decrease in the diversity of bottom
organisms, and the decrease in the bottom organism
population attests to the severely polluted condition of
the river from Warren, Ohio, to its confluence with the
Shenango River in Pennsylvania.
The bottom of the Mahoning River throughout the
reach studied was generally rock and rubble with sludge
along the shores and in many slack water areas. Such a
rubble substrate would be expected to support a bountiful
-------
fish food organism population, if not polluted. In
many areas, oil formed a film on the water's surface,
adhered to twigs, shoreline grasses and debris, and
became mixed with the sludges. Substrate rocks and
rubble were covered with a thick iron deposit that was
harmful to bottom organisms in the Lowellville-state line
i
reach.
Conditions of existence were only slightly
improved in the Beaver River. Sludgeworm populations were
reduced from those found in the more polluted reaches
of the Mahoning River indicating a reduction in the
organic food supply. At New Brighton, Pennsylvania,
partial stream recovery was found. The different kinds
of organisms had increased and stoneflies were observed
in small numbers on rocks in the shallow water near the
shore. These were not found in quantitative samples
taken from deeper water where the impact of pollution
would be expected to be greatest.
Oil was also found throughout the Beaver River.
(Sae next page,.)
-------
IBile 9
Itohoning, Sheaango, and Dearer Rivera
Bottoi Orgnina per Square root
January 1965
Mileage
Ore-mi =na
Vest Branch
Upstream fr.
Hevton Falls
M-55.3-3.5
East Branch
Prieetora
61.3
&a>tn«m
Park fr. Dpstreaa Lonell-
Hy 5 Rd. Pover Da Hy U22 fr. BILaa Glrard vllle
U7.li 113.2 l>1.5 39.5 31.3 23.6 ll.fc
Domatreem
fr.
State Line
9.U
Of 18-108
2.0
Q; 168
18.0
Wonpun
llt.O
1 nile-Tfc-
Bev atreaa fr.
Brlchtan Ohio Hirer
2.0 1.0
UjpstreaD fr.
Sborpanile
26.0
upatrean
fr.
Ry 718 Bev Castle
22.0 5.0
Downstream
fr.
Hew Castle
3.0
.itonefllcs *
Mayflies *
Cnd^rfllc. •
.Uderfllea
aim*' Beetles
Cruv file: *
Blicl: File: •
Jcuds
Liaprrr
H run-Ivor:::- •
Jnailr •
r incornr\il Clans
Kl.'Oe: «
Leeches
.:lutevor~
Total Kinds 9
Total Per J-. Foot
-
10
137k
-
-
-
f>
1
20
1
3
31
5*8
1
18
11
2081
-
.
12 b
-
-
- •
1
-
-
3.
-
1
13 1
-
22 15 1
3 * 6
2U 21 10
-
-
3
3
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
1
57
-
289 323
6 1
35* 323
• - 5
26
U08
.
- 71
-
2 - 85 - .' -
. -
18 - 2 - 5 . - -
.
3- 5 23820- - -7-
' -
31 - U93 ' - .-
3 - l> 56 7 3 - - 20'
329* 850 5 1 - 11* ' 132 - .90 66-
31 3 3!>25 1 731
9 2914 859 63 6* 23 150 132 1093 117 66
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- ;.
-
•
-
3
'
2
2
5
• Appeared in qualitative,saiple only; counted as one la total*.
-------
12
in
CT\
.=}•
lOh-
8^
o
z
O 61-
cr
UJ
CD
4^
2\-
-=•
•^
—
i
1
<"N
i
SNS
1
cn
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z
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Ul
z
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z
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(T
I
I
UJ
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z
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cr
<
,1
p
}
f
0
r»
-2
o
j
1
70 60 50 40 30
O
I
O
<
z .
^•f
5
(0
z
z
UJ
Q.
I
20 10
W////////////A
020
%
z
O
»-
CC
CD
5
UJ
I
•^—
^ 1
10 0
MAHONING - BEAVER RIVERS
KINDS OF BOTTOM ORGANISMS
JANUARY 1965
FIGURE
-------
496
1500
1000
O
O
cr
UJ
CL
cr
UJ
m
500
1 '
—
to z
d ^
u. cr
O
i-
Ul
(jO
UJ
—
z
Q
cr
(T
o O
X
0
I
TOI 'J^^r^L3 ^
I
ol
o
1°
Y/////////////////A
^ fPOLLUTION
^- TOLERANT
XV FORMS
1
^J Z
L-
r^
< x
> o
d ^
> CD
en
^^ ^^
Z UJ
UJ Z
CL
0
I
1
y/////////////////////
«_-
I
70 60 50 40 30 20 . 10 020 10 0
" MAHUNINb HIVLn 9* ac.Avt.H H. *
DU/tTD 1111 CC
MAHONING-BEAVER RIVERS
BOTTOM ORGANISM DATA
JANUARY 1965
FIGURE
-------
497
Many of the bottom rocks were red in color and showed
evidence of an iron precipitate. Colonizing the rock's
surface in shallower waters was a growth of slick, slimy
algae often characteristic of polluted water.
Fisheries investigators have reported that the
Mahoning River does not support a catchable fish popula-
tion downstream from Warren, Ohio, to its confluence with
the Shenango River, and that the Beaver River supports
a catchable fish population only in its lower reach in
the New Brighton area. This was substantiated by an
examination of the bottom organism population. In those
areas where fishing was not reported, there were no bottom
organisms on which fish normally feed.
The Shenango River was examined from the
reach near the Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, water plant to
its confluence with the Mahoning River (Table 9).
Downstream from Sharon, few bottom organisms were found
and conditions of existence for the bottom forms were
similar to those observed on the Mahoning River,
Results of an examination of the phytoplankton
population, which is actually the drifting algae, were
similar to those found for the bottom organism population.
Values of total counts in the East and West Porks of the
Mahoning River upstream from Newton Falls, Ohio, were in
a range that would be expected in an unpolluted stream
-------
498
during the winter months (Table 10, Figure VII). Down-
stream from the U. S. Highway 5 bridge (mile 47.4) total
count values were substantially depressed and remained
depressed throughout the remainder of the Mahoning River.
At Lowellville, Ohio, and at the first bridge crossing
downstream from the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line, total
count values were one-fourth of those upstream of Newton
Falls. Some recovery was found at the Highway 18 bridge
upstream from the confluence of the Mahoning River with
the Shenango River. Depressed algal counts demonstrate
the degrading effect of pollution on this primary food
source for aquatic life in the stream. The low phytoplank-
ton total count values and the low population numbers
found in the bottom organism population is strongly
suggestive of the action of a toxic substance or sub-
stances to aquatic.
Phytoplankton total count values were likewise
depressed in the Beaver River, but were higher than those
in the severely polluted reach of the Mahoning River.
In the Shenango River upstream from Sharpsville,
Pennsylvania, phytoplankton counts were comparable to
those found in unpolluted reaches of the Mahoning River
(Figure VIII). Downstream from Sharon, counts were
severely depressed. Some recovery was found upstream from
New Castle, but wastes from New Castle reduced the counts
-------
499
TABLE U)
MAHDN3NG-BEAVER AND SHENANGO RIVERS
PHYTOPLANKTON MIA
TOTAL NUMBERS PER MILLILITER
STATION
DESCRIPTION
RIVER MILE TOTAL/ml
East Fk. Mahoning R.
West Fk. Mahoning R.
Mahoning R.
Beaver R.
Shenaneo R.
Pricetovm Bridge
Upstream from Newton Falls,
Ohio
U. S. Hwy 5 Bridge
Park Road Crossing
Dovmstream from Power Dam
U. S. Hwy U22: Bridge
Upstream from Niles
Girard
Lowellville
Ohio -Pennsylvania State line
1st Bridge downstream from
State Line
Hwy 18 & 108
U. S. Hwy 168
Wampum, Pennsylvania
1 mile upstream from con-
fluence with Ohio River
Upstream from Sharpsville
Hwy 718
Upstream from New Castle
Downstream from New Castle
61.3
55.3-3.5
U7.I*
1*3.2
U.5
39-5
31.3
23.6
n.i*
10.1*
9A
2.0
18.0
ll*.0
1.0
26.0
22.0
5.0
3.0
1,^50
1,300
1,050
550
1*00 .
200
300
650
300
250
950
700
850
650
1,350
UOO
800
' 350
-------
o
o
LO
1500
tr
LU
1200 —
900 —
tr
UJ
o.
cc
UJ
CD
600 -
300 -
60
50 40
•MAHONING RIVER
30 RIVER 20 MILES 10
20.7
10.7
-BEAVER RIVER -
0.7
-I
MAHONING-BEAVER RIVERS
TOTAL PHYTOPLANKTON PER MILLILITER
FIGURE IZK
-------
H
O
I50O
UJ
I20O -
tr
LU
_ 900
tr
UJ
Q.
600
CD
:E
Z)
300
I
I
20 RIVER MILES
SHENAN60 RIVER-
10
SHENANGO RIVER PHYTOPLANKTON
TOTAL NUMBERS PER MILLILITER
0
FIGURE
-------
502
just prior to the confluence of the Shenango River with
the Mahoning River.
In general, the absence of clean-water-associated
fish food organisms in the Mahoning River, downstream from
Warren, Ohio, the severe decrease in the diversity of
bottom organisms, and the decrease in the total bottom
organism population attests to the severely polluted
condition of the river from Warren,Ohio, to its confluence
with the Shenango River in Pennsylvania. Conditions of
existence were only slightly improved in the Beaver River
although partial stream recovery was found at New Brighton,
Pennsylvania. Results of the examination of the phyto-
plankton population were similar to those found for the
bottom organism population. Where low phytoplankton total
count values and low population numbers in the bottom
organism population were found, it is strongly suggestive
of the action of a toxic substance or substances to aquatic
life. The production of a fish population in the polluted
reaches of the Mahoning and Beaver Rivers would be affected
similarly to the bottom organism and plankton populations.
Fish production would be severely curtailed or eliminated
from Warren, Ohio, on the Mahoning River to its confluence
with the Shenango River, and on the Beaver River downstream
to the New Brighton, Pennsylvania area.
-------
503
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, Mr. Mackenthun.
Are there any comments or questions? If not, thank you.
DR. ARNOLD: I would like to ask a
question, I would like to know, when were these obser-
vations made on the river that you are giving in this
report?
MR. MACKENTHUN: These observations
were made during a biological survey conducted during the
week of January 4, 1965. That was in the report. I
neglected to read that paragraph.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Mr. Cleary.
MR. CLEARY: Mr. Chairman, Mr.
Mackenthun, a question to my enlightenment. Would you
have any opinion as to what the conditions might be with
respect to the aquatic life at a different season of the
year? This was measured in an undoubtedly cold period.
Would the conditions be probably worse or better? Would
you care to express an opinion on that?
MR. MACKENTHUN: One could only predict
from experience on a question of that nature. I would
assume that from the bottom organism population, I
would not expect too drastic a change comparing one
season with another. This statement might not hold
true for the phytoplankton or the floating algae popula-
tion since it is much more subject, of course, to season
-------
change.
MR. CLEARY: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Are there any further
comments or questions? If not, thank you, Mr. Mackenthun.
MR. POSTON: We will now hear from
Dr. Graham Walton on Municipal Water Treatment at Beaver
Palls.
DR. V/ALTON: The Beaver Palls
Municipal Authority operates the Eastvale and New Brighton
water plants \*hich treat water taken from the Beaver River,
These plants jointly supply water to the City of Beaver
Palls, nine boroughs and six townships. The population
served is estimated to be 65,000.
The Eastvale plant, records from which are
analyzed in this report, is located in Beaver Palls, a
few miles upstream from the New Brighton plant. The East-
vale plant was constructed in 1922. In 1957 and 195S,
a new chemical house with chemical handling and feed
equipment, new flocculation and settling tanks providing
for two-stage coagulation and settling, and new filters
were added. Present rated capacity is 10 mgd.
Raw Water Quality.
The Beaver River is the source of the water
treated at the Eastvale and New Brighton plants. Raw
water quality data from the 196L). Eastvale Pilter Plant
-------
505
operation reports are summarized in Table 7.
The coliform bacterial density, which is a measure
of sewage pollution, averaged 31,000/100 ml. This is the
same order of magnitude as found for this water source in
a study conducted by the Public Health Service during
1954-1956. That study reports data from 54 water plants,
which were carefully selected in an effort to include
all plants treating water grossly polluted with sewage
and having adequate data for the study. When "these pi-ants-
were coded in order of decreasing annual average coliform
bacterial density in their raw water, the Eastvale plant
was No. 14. Only 13 of these 54 plants treated waters
more heavily polluted with sewage insofar as indicated
by the annual average colifrom densities.
The threshold odor numbers, whi ch are reported
to be estimated values, ranged from 20 to 200. Addition
of one-fourth teaspoonful of water having a threshold
odor of 200 to a cup of odorless hot water would result
in detectable odor. These odors are described in plant
records by such notations as D (disagreeable), *M (musty),
E(earthy), Ch (hydrocarbon), stale, tar, and Ds (septic).
The concentration of iron averaged 0.87 mg/1, with
high values of 5 and 50 mg/1 being recorded for individual
analyses. The manganese concentration averaged 0.39 mg/1
*It is assumed that the coding describing the odors is
that given in Standard Methods, llth Edition.
-------
506
with individual analyses of 0.80 or more mg/1 in each
of six of tire 12 months.
Both iron and manganese are highly objectionable
constituents in a municipal water supply. The domestic
consumer complains of the brownish color that they impart
to laundered goods, and of the impairment of taste of
beverages, including coffee and tea. Many commercial
and industrial processes are affected adversely by the
iron and manganese.
The average hardness of the untreated water
was 184 mg/1.
The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission's
study of the Beaver River at Eastvale during July 20 to
December 7, 1959, showed phenol concentrations ranging
from 0 to 35 mg/1 and fluoride concentrations ranging
from 0.2 to 0.7 mg/1.
The gross and variable pollution present in
the Beaver River at the Eastvale intake shows that
abnormal treatment measures are required to produce a
safe and palatable municipal water supply.
Water Treatment.
The Eastvale plant has facilities for two-stage
coagulation and settling, for rapid sand filtration and
for handling and feeding alum, lime, chlorine, chlorine'
dioxide, potassium permanganate and activated carbon.
-------
507
The treatment process is varied as considered desirable
to provide adequate purification, including removal of
iron, manganese and obnoxious taste and odor. Throughout
three to five months of the year chlorination to provide • .
free residual chlorine in the treated water is practiced.
When free residual chlorination is not practiced, extensive
use is made of chlorine dioxide, potassium permanganate
and activated .carbon, chemicals which ordinarily are not
required at plants treating a good quality raw water.
Chemical application during 1964 are summarized in Table
11. Chlorination records at this plant are particularly
interesting..
Chlorination of water is used primarily to kill
bacteria and other infectious organisms. At the Eastvale
plant it is used also to reduce taste and odor and to
precipitate iron and manganese.
The amount of chlorine required to treat a water
is one measure of its pollution;. The average annual
chlorine applications, which were 8.9, 8.0, and 8.6 mg/1,
for the years 1964, 1963, and 1962, indicate gross
pollution of the source water. The chlorine requirements at
the Eastvale plant are compared with those at 20 water plants
treating some of the most grossly polluted waters in the
United States.,
Table 12, tabulates, in order of decreasing, chlorine
-------
Table-11
Chemical Applications in Treatment of Water, 196!*
Eastvale Plant, Beaver Palls Municipal Authority
508
Month
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Ave.
Max.
Mln.
Ave.
Max.
Min.
Ave.
Max.
Min.
Ave.
Max.
Min.
Ave.
Max.
Min.
Ave.
Max.
Min.
Ave.
Max.
Min.
Ave.
Max.
Min.
Ave.
Max.
Min.
Ave.
Max.
Min.
Ave.
Max.
Min.
Ave.
Max.
Min.
Water
Treated
mgd
5-21*
J.28
3.81
*.59
2.95
l*.09
75
73
3.63
1*.1*2
2.86
3-7*
1*.9*
2.81*
U.05
5-38
2.1*6
l*.0l*
1*.82
2.90
3.83
*.37
2.19
1*.01
5.02
3.16
3-77
if.71
3-31
3.62
1*.17
3-12
5-76
1*.1*2
Pound/mg
Alum
133
201
66
108
167
72
211
5*1
90
177
358
86
176
276
82
181
1*1*2
110
155
207
90
128
181*
79
102
133
52
119
213
77
168
367
110
170
292
100
Lime
103
121*
92
83
101*
73
122
165
75
131
210
99
162
222
106
11*5
333
71
216
337
92
293
1*50
171*
327
573
96
139
200
117
11*9
198
121*
ii8
160
93
Chlorine
22.8
25-7
15-*
11*. 1
19.2
12.9
1*1.1
76.9
11*. 7
57-*
93-6
31*. o
79-9
11*5.1*
1*1*. 6
68.1*
220.2
37.6
123.1
221.1*
29.3
161*. 8
267.2
95-8
200.0
506.8
38.2
38.3
1*8.8
29.6
32.3
1*1*. 6
26.5
. 25.3 .
30.3''
23.1
Sodium
Chlorite
1.1*
2.5
0.0
0.8
3-1
0.0
0.8
2.1
0.0
o.b
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.2
1.1*
0.0
1.2
1.8
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
. 0.0
0.0
0.0
Activated
Carbon
19.6
32.7
15-2
18.1
35.8
0.0
13.8
38.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
10.9
36.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.5
27.7
0.0
22.8
31.7
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Potassium
Permanganate
»//
2.0
0.9
1.1
1.1*
1.0
0.9
2.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.2
1.3
0.0
1.3
1.8
0.9
1.1*
1.9
1.1
1.1*
, 1.8 .
1.1 '
-------
509
Table 12
Chlorine Application at Water Plants Treating Grossly Polluted Water
(in order of decreasing magnitude)
Plant No. Years of Average Chlorine
Record Application, mg/1
1 2 111-.5
11. k
9.6
8.9
8.6
8.U
8.2
8.0
7.9
7.1
7.0
6.6
6.3
5-9
5.7
5-3
5.3
5.2
k.6
k.6
2
3
Eastvale
Eastvale
k
5
Eastvale
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Ik
15
16
17
18
19
20
2
2
1
1
2
2
1
.2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Comments
Industrial supply, total chlorine
residual averaged 5 mg/1.
Free residual chlorination
(1961|) See Footnote
(1962)
Free residual chlorination
(1963) See Footnote
At the Eastvale Plant the average chlorine application for 15U days in 196^ during
which free residual chlorination was practiced was 16.5 nig/1, and for 10J days in
1963, 22.1 mg/1.
-------
510
application, data from the 195^-1956 Public Health Service
Study of 51; water plants carefully selected to include
those plants treating grossly polluted waters.
Plant I applied the greatest amount of chlorine,
14.5 mg/1. The treated water contained 5 mg/1 of chlorine,
and was used only for industrial cleaning operations.
Plant 2 applied 11.1} mg/1 of chlorine and Plant
3 was able to practice free residual chlorination with an
average application of 9.6 mg/1. Only three of these 2,0*
plants applied chlorine dosages greater than the 8.9 mg/1
required at the Eastvale plant in 1961}. Although some of
these water plants presently may be applying greater
chlorine dosages than at the time of the Public Health
Service Study, the chlorine applications at the Eastvale
plant are among the highest used at water plants in the
United States. Still more chlorine would be required if
the Eastvale plant continuously practiced free residual
chlorination.
During 15U days of such operation in 1961}, the
chlorine requirement average 16.5 mg/1; and during the
103-day period in 1963, it averaged 22.1 mg/1. Maximum
daily chlorine applications of 60.7 and lj.3.3 mg/1 occurred
during 196Ij. and 1963, respectively.
I might note that that is total chlorination,
both pre- and post-, and not just pre- as I think was cited
-------
511
by Mr. Mcfiride earlier today. Given a good water source,
free residual chlorination should be obtainable using
annual average chlorine applications or only 3 or 4 mg/1,
with maximum daily applications about 6 to 8 mg/1. The
operation reports show substantial increases of chlorine
applications occur from one day to the next.
The; increase in chlorine, and this is total
chlorine application, based on daily averages from
September 13, 1964, to September 14, 1964, was better than 23
milligrams per liter.
MR. CLEARY: Excuse me, was that
September 13, 1964?
MR. WALTON: T64, both dates were '64.
Mr. McBride cited a high chlorine application of 58.5,
I believe, this morning, on September 14, 1964. This is
pre-chlorination, by the way, only. I am giving the total
chlorine application, both pre- and post-, on September 13
and September 14 and the difference.
Rapid and sudden increases in chlorine needs in
excess of 10 milligrams per liter require more than normal
care to insure adequate disinfecti on.
The orthotiidine colorimetric test for residual
chlorine is used at the Eastvale plant to measure combined
residual chlorine in the treated water throughout approxi-
mately eight months each year. If iron or manganic manganes'
-------
512
are present in the treated water in amounts exceeding
0.3 mg/1 and 0.01 mg/1, respectively, the development of
the yellow color upon addition of the orthotolidine cannot
be accepted as being due to chlorine alone. Unless
allowances are made for such false test results, the plant
operator may be misled into believing adequate disinfection
of the water has been accomplished.
Chemical costs per million gallons of water
treated are given in Table 13. This table also shows
the estimated costs attributed to pollution. For the period
1962 through 1964, this extra chemical cost averages $4.50
- • _' <
per million gallons, and if applied to two billion
gallons per year of water treated by the two plants operated
by the Beaver Falls Municipal Authority, it would amount
to $9,000 annually.
(See next page. )•
-------
513
Table 13
Chemical Costs per Million Gallon of Water
Treated, Eastvale Plant, Beaver Falls
Municipal Authority
Chemical Costs* Year
cents/pound
Alum
Lime
Chlorine
Chlorite
Carbon
Potassium Permanganate
2.36
0.93
U.92
53.
7.98
27. 8U
1962
3.9U
1.1*
3-5U
o.ia
1.57
0.21*
1963
U.38
1.56
3.12
0.26
1.35
1.60
196U
3.62
1.5U
3.6U
0.20
0.62
1.65
Cost of Chlorite, Carbon,
Potassium Permanganate 2.22 3.1^1 2.1;7
Cost of Chlorine for appli-
cation above i|. mg/1 or
$1.62/mg 1.92 1.50 2.02
Cost of chemicals due to
poor quality water U«li| U.91
^Current costs as given by S. P. McBride, January 20, 1965
-------
511*
Quality of Treated Water.
Data presented in the Eastvale Filter Plant
operation reports show that in spite of the grossly polluted
water source, the plant produced a treated water (at plant
outlet) in which no coliform bacteria were detected, free
from turbidity, practically free from color, and having
an iron content below the limiting concentration considered
acceptable for municipal water supplies by the Public
Health Service Drinking Water Standards (See Table llj.) .
Manganese concentrations in excess of 0.05 mg/1,
which is the maximum concentration considered acceptable
in good public water supplies, was reported for 33 days
during 1961|. Monthly average concentrations were 0.06 mg/1
during June and July.
Manganese is an objectionable constituent in a
public water supply. It stains plumbing fixtures, imparts
a brownish to black color in laundered goods, and impairs
the taste of coffee and tea. Many commercial and industrial
processes are affected adversely by the manganese content
of water.
Threshold odor, which reported to be estimated,
exceeded th'e recommended value of three, but only on 11
days during 196i|.
An undesirable characteristic of this water is
its hardness, which has increased with time as shown in
-------
Table lU
Quality of Treated Water at Plant
Eastvale Plant, Beaver Falls Municipal Authority
Alkalinity Acidity Turbidity
as CaC03, as CaCOj,
mg/1 mg/1
Ave. 56 5 0
Jan. Max. 82 5 0
Mln. 50 2 0
Ave. 50 3 0
Feb. Max. 75 U . 0
Mln. 38 3 0
'
Mar. Max. 68 1* 0
Mln. 20 1 0
Ave. 37 1 °
Apr. Max. 1*8 3 °
Min. 25 0 0
Ave. W* 2 0
May Max. 51* "* °
Mln. 35 1 °
Ave. 50 5 0
June Max. 57 ** °
Mln. 16 1 0
Ave. U5 3 °
July Max. 5k 5 °
Mln. 35 3 0
Ave. .1*3 "v °
Aug. Max. 57 o °
Mln. 32 2 0
Ave. to 1* 0
Sept. Max. 1*7 7 °
Mln. 26 2 0
Ave. UO 2 0
Oct. Max. VT 1* 0
Mln. 28 0 0
Ave
Ave. U3 2 0
Dec. Max. 52 5 0
Mln. 33-0 0
Color
.U
3
0
.7
3
0
.6
3 .
0
0
0
0
.5
2
0
1 '
3
0
1
k
0
1
2
0
.9
3
0
.7
2
0
J.
2
0
0
2
0
pH
7.5
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.6
7.1*
7.5
7.6
7.2
7-5
7.8
T-3
7.5
7.6
7-3
7.5
7.8
7.5
7-5
7.6
7.2
7-1*
7.6
7.0
7-3
7.5
7.0
7.5
7-7
7.1*
7-5
7.6
7.2
7.6
8.1
7.5
Odor
—
3
2
_
2
2
_
3
2
_
2
2
—
1*
2
—
1*
2
_
1*
2
_
1*
2
_ .
1*
2
—
3
2 ,
,.
3
2
_
3
2
Hardness
as CaCOj,
mg/1
215
26<*
11*0
21D
238
171*
158
2!*6
100
11*5
182
128
172
216
132
210
23!*
182
218
232
201*
219
252
196
253
278
218
21*7
262
228
231*
2W*
220
179
212
150
Iron
mg/1
.03
.08
.0
.03
.05
.0
.03
.05
.01
.03
.08
.01
.07
.15
.03
.09
.16
.02
.05
.23
.02
.06
, .10
.03
.05
.15
.01
.03
.09
.00
.03
.08
.00
.02
.05
.00
Manganese
mg/1
0.03
.20
.00
.01
.10
.00
.03
.20
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.05
.00
.06
.20
.00
.06
.20
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.01
.23
.00
,00
.00
.00
.01
.05
.00
Chlorine Coliform
Residual Bacteria
mg/1 per 100 ml P.T
1.3
1.5
. 0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8
1.2
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.1*
0.6
1.0
0.5
1.0
1.3
0.5
1.3
1.5
1.0
1.1
1.5
0.8
1.7
2.2
1.0
1.5
1.7
1.5 :
1.5
1.6
1.5
1.5
1.7"
1.2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-------
516
FIGURE
HARDNESS OF TREATED WATER
EASTVALE PLANT
BEAVER FALLS MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY
o
-------
517
Figure IX. At least part of this increase is the result
of pollution resulting from sewage, industrial wastes and
other sources.
Hardness affects the consumer. Hard water results
in increased use of soaps, synthetic detergents, general
household cleansers, scouring compounds, and bleaches.
An increase of 25 mg/1 of hardness, which is considered
to be a conservative estimate of that attributable to
pollution, would result in increased purchases of soaps,
synthetic detergents, etc., costing about 30 cents per
person per year. The total increased cost to the 65,000
users of this water is approximately $20,000 per year.
Other intangible economic damages due to increased
hardness of the water include increased fuel consumption
due to scaling of boilers and hot water tanks, adverse
effects on plumbing, and increased costs of additional
treatment required by certain commercial establishments.
-------
518
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, Mr. Walton.
Are there any comments or questions?
MR. CLEARY: Dr. Walton, page 51,
I don't fully understand the implication on the last
paragraph up near the top where you say the gross and variable
pollution shows that abnormal treating measurements are
required, and then just preceding that you mentioned the
fluoride concentrations.
Now, you would not consider the fluoride in the
word two-tenths to seven-tenths as a gross amount.
MR. WALTON: No, I am not, concerning
the fluorides and phenols itself, as particularly gross.
I am considering the bacterial requirement and the fluoride
requirements, particularly the highly variable chlorine
requirements.
MR. CLEARY: Well, the reason I
bring it up is the proximity of the two statements. Now,
on page 5^ — and this is a question for my enlightenment;
Is not part of the hardness increased — that is, the water
served to the consumer — does not part of this represent
an increase that is put in the water-by the municipal
authorities as the result of the types of treatment they
are using; could we attribute part of that?
MR. WALTON: There is no question
that the raw hardness in water is increased by the use of
-------
519
aluminum sulfate. Roughly, this increases rather constantly,
in most cases running 15 plus or minus something milligrams
per liter, depending on the amount of aluminum used.
MR. CLEARY: If that were the case,
then the municipal authority is really responsible for an
increased cost to the consumer due to soap because they are
/ , .
adding the hardness itself, not to the pollution of the
river. Is that a fair conclusion?
MR. WALTON: There is no question
that they increase the hardness but this is an essential
part of the treatment process just like the use of chlorine
is an essential part of the treatment process. You would
not have them drink uncoagulated water or undisinfected
water.
MR. CLEARY: Thank you very much.
MR. POSTON: Mr. Walton, just a
minute. Would you care to comment — you were at Beaver
Palls several times — would you care to comment on the
safety and the attention that this water receives?
MR. WALTON: I think that the
management and the individuals involved in the operation of
that plant, I bring in the individuals as well as the manage-
ment because this is a plant that operates 365 days a year,
24 hours a day, the weakest link is the weakest operator and
the fact that they have been able to take a water like this,
-------
520
turn out what they have, day in and day out, hour after hour
is a very creditable performance.
MR. BOSTON: I asked this particularly,
Dr. Walton, because I didn't want anybody to feel that we
were being critical of the Beaver Palls Water Department
in any way but, rather, that we did feel that they have
done an excellent job.
MR. WALTON: I think they do an
excellent job.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Are there any further
comments or questions?
Mr. Walton, I would like to ask you this for my
own information. The 195U-55 study, you conducted that,
didn't you?
MR. WALTON: I did.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Now, as I remember that,
that had a certain notoriety in the business of your picking
5U plants that had the most grossly polluted water that
they were treating; not to say the water wasn't safe.
You checked, as I understand it, the '6i| data. Would you
still say that the water source of that Eastvale plant
still retains its place on the honor roll?
MR. WALTON: It is in the same order
of magnitude. I have not tried to place it exactly, fit
it in.
-------
521
CHAIRMAN STEIN: But it is among the top
54. The last time you found that, only 13 places were
getting moiE bacteria measured by coliform and this ranged
what, three or four in the amount of chlorine they had to
use and some of this ahead of chlorine, just using the
water for industrial water supply?
MR. WALTON: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: And as far as you can
tell, in *64 at least, physical conditions have not changed
that much?
MR. WALTON: Not appreciably.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Now, I would like
again to see if I can understand that point. You made a
point about the variation in the chlorine picture. What
is the significance of that that at times you need much
more chlorine than others?
MR. WALTON: Regardless of the
treatment you give a water supply, it is my opinion that
disinfection is your final treatment on top of the fil-
tration, coagulation filtration that permits you to pro-
duce a water conforming with acceptable bacteriological
requirements for drinking water; without disinfection,
you cannot. Adequate disinfection is a must of any water
that is polluted at all.
Where you will have a sudden and rapid change
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522
in the chlorine demand of a water, it may get to your plant
with inadequate disinfection.
Does that answer your question?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Yes.
MR. CLEARY: Chairman Stein, your
question prompts one on my part now, and I am referring
Dr. Walter to page 1*9. You mentioned the coliform bac-
terial density. I will wait until you get that page. It
is the last paragraph in the measure of sewage pollution,
and averaged 31»000 per 100 ml. and I presume that's for
1961*.
MR. WALTON: That is 1961*, correct.
MR. CLEARY: In 1963, was it the same
or higher or lower?
MR. WALTON: I did not have time
in the preparation of this report to examine all of the
records that I have had, and I cannot tell you.
MR. CLEARY: I am in the same posi-
tion you are. I didn't have a chance to study these
thoroughly. My impression is -- and this needs to be
corrected -- was that in 1963 it averaged 9,000. I merely
bring this up because it seems these yearly averages we
are comparing now, 1951* and 1956, which I presume was in
the range and magnitude of 30,000.
MR. WALTON: 1953 and '51*.
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523
MR. CLEARY: And here we have the
year of 1963 and we may have other years, but I think
x
that T 63 may be in the neighborhood of 9,000, so I merely
threw that out. There was a change in yearly averages
there which indicates that something happened to give
some improvement to the water from the bacterial stand-
point.
I want also to add -- and I think you would
readily agree with me -- that both of those years, T63
and t 64, were really abnormal years in terms of dilution.
These were drought years. That's a fair statement, isn't
it?
MR. WALTON: This again, I didn't
have time to study, really.
MR. CLEARY: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Mr. Cleary, I would
like to -- at least for my own information just in answer
to this -- but I would like to make a comment on that.
I always considered pollution control, as I pointed out,
as having to take care of the critical points at the peak
low. If we have a drought year, that is, the people are
drinking the water during that year and we have to consider
this. I have always been entranced by these averages.
The point is, if swimming water in the beach is
bad during 15 days in August, the average may not mean
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524
anything all year. If Dri Walton or anyone else found
that in the year of 1964 you could have a particularly
bad year, certainly the people in Beaver Falls had to
live through that year and rely on the public water
supply.
Are there any further comments or questions to
Dr. Walton?
MR. POSTON: • Graham, do these
industrial discharges constitute public health threats to
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania water supply?
MR. WALTON: The only lead I
would have from my analysis of the data that I studied,
which was basically the operation reports of the Eastvale
plant, is this extremely variable chlorine requirement.
This is almost certain to.be due from some industrial
waste sources.
MR. POSTON:
the questions I have.
CHAIRMAN STEIN:
have any more?
MR. POSTON:
I think that's all
Mr. Poston, do you.
We will now hear from
Mr. Maurice LeBosquet. He will talk to us about the
federal reservoirs and waste treatment.
Mr. LeBosquet.
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525
MR. LeBOSQUET: Conferees, I wish to
mention as background that the Public Health service reports,
in justification for the program in Mosquito Creek Reser-
voir, were prepared under my direction and I have always
been interested. I thought, therefore, that the records
of this conference should maintain -- should include some
details in regard to that experience. This is probably,
as the Board mentioned, one of the greatest developed low
flow regulation areas in the country. Well, I felt this
should be in the record. I really didn*t want to become
personally involved, but I seem to have.
Mr. Lloyd yesterday probably credited Congressman
Michael Kirwan with expediting the construction of these
two reservoirs. Hoi/ever, Congressman Kirwan, the Corps
of Engineers, and Public Health Service were prodded
by local interests and in the source of that pride, I
might explain it is Mr. Kenneth Lloyd for whom we worked
very pleasantly for many years. There are five specific
points I would like to bring out in connection with this
aspect of the situation.
One is that the policy relative to adequate
treatment as defined in the Act is a. general policy
used throughout the country. There have been well over
100 reports written in connection with Section 2(b) of
PL 660 since the *61 amendments. As a matter of fact, 12
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526
are now in the review stage in Washington at this point.
I would like to read various statements of a Review Board
we have in Washington that has considered this particular
policy question in the course of its normal review or
these reports.
It might be explained that as policies go,
policies change, and we think of one thing today and
somewhat differently tomorrow. But this probably affects
the current status. This is a recommendation of the Review
Board of the Water Pollution, Water Supply and Pollution
Control Division. It is recommended that for purposes
of estimating and evaluating storage for regulation of
streamflow for the purpose of water quality control,
adequate treatment has been defined as at least 85 percent
removal of B.'O.D. A higher figure may be used when justi-
fied.
It's strange that the only disagreement we have
had in this regard, 85 percent, is in increase or in decrease.
This is from our own field people. There are other aspects
of it. For example, the requirement that adequate treatment
be provided for should recognize the use and validity of
in-plant industrial waste control measures as a means of
pollution reduction.
This is only natural because this is one of
the most promising and most productive methods that industry
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527
has.
I might also explain that the question of what
is adequate treatment of hot cooling water has really not
been resolved. This will no doubt come in due time when
we are confronted with the specific.
I might say that the 85 percent is what we use
at the present time; however, we permit industrial people
to use higher or lower figures as they see fit as long as
they furnish us with an adequate explanation from this more
or less standard figure«
The second point is that — going back a little. —
the general concept behind the studies of low flow regulation
is that quality control be accomplished primarily by waste
treatment. However, in certain places, this is not enough —
and I think this is one situation where that is true — and
flow regulation must be added.
The Bureau of the Budget — and this I know — and
the Congress — and this I suspect — have had the feeling
that flow regulation should not be used if treatment can do
the job0 In practically all the cases, treatment —• within
these limits —is much cheaper. Also, local funds from those
responsible for the pollution are involved.
I might say Columbus, Ohio, has a notable example
of the limitations we give on waste treatment. Columbus
probably has as complete a treatment plant as any place in
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528
the country. Not only that, but they have "tremendous inter-
cepting sewers which hold overflow from storms and they have
storm water tanks. These -are measures that are practiced at
no other place in this country that I know of. Still, the
site of the river needs low flow regulation. Here is a
situation where everyting the local people can do is being
done, and low flow regulation is needed. This, I think,
is a true place for the use of this particular pollution
control measure.
The third point. In the case of the Mahoning
is another place where both treatment and flow regulation
are needed. I might say in this case that the flow
regulation came first and the treatment came now or some
twenty odd years later. Those of us who attempt to
justify this one step toward cleaning up pollution get
a little bit discouraged when we have to wait 20 years for
the local corporation to be added. In the 1940's, when
we studied the Berlin and Mosquito Reservoirs, there
was no specific Congressional aulh orization for this
flow regulation. We did it on our own. We tried it and
it worked; at least the reservoirs were justified.
I might say that the minimum flow as reported
by Mr. Brazon this morning was 28 CFS. And I think
there is no question in anybody»s mind that this area
would be secondary treatment and then that might not be
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529
enough. In this suggestion, I would say that the low
flow regulation is doing at least part of the job that
treatment could be called upon to do.
In the earlier reports of the Public Health
Service on the Mahoning Valley and flow regulation, there
was, I believe, in one of those reports -- I don*t have
it here -- a mention of 65 percent degree of treatment.
At that time, this prohibition of the current law that
it shall not be used as a substitute for treatment was
not in effect and we were, in effect, hunting for all
the benefits we could get to build these reservoirs, and
one of them was to substitute for secondary treatment.
This is no longer permissible but I might explain
why you find a 65 percent treatment on the Mahoning River
in the Public Health Service report.
I have made a comment about how long it took
to get the sewage treatment plant built here in Youngstown.
This is slightly critical, if I might say so. I also
would, on the other hand, take this occasion to commend
the local area because I think this is the first time
that I know of that the local people have gone out and
sold a bond issue and actually contributed funds towards
construction of one of these reservoirs.
The statement is "put your money where your
mouth is," and this is one case where the local areas
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530
have done just that for which they are to be commended, and
I think they stand ready to do the same on future projects.
Now, one thing that bothered me at this meeting
and the record is fairly clear. The local people that
have spoken may think that the river is plenty good
enough. This has been repeated several times, but what
concerns me is what happens on the next project? It
seems to, me it may be a little difficult for those of
us who prepare reports on the next project to use as
partial basis for justifying this future project the
matter of water quality control and this is a substantial
part of the justification of some of these reservoirs.
As I say, this will be difficult when the
record is so clear that the water is very fine. I think
that some of the people that haven1t spoken may feel
differently.
I also have some feeling that perhaps some of
the people that have spoken here may change their mind.
I do know that the pressure toward regulation use has
been tremendous and it may be a little difficult to
resist this pressure, the pressure which the Public
Health Service gets all the time, and that is the pressure
from the conservationists.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, Mr. LeBosquet
Are there any comments or questions?
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531
MR. CLEARY: Mr. LeBosquet, I would
be pleased if the record would show that the Ohio River
Valley Water Sanitation Commission right from its inception
had the invaluable professional aid of Mr. LeBosquet in
guiding it, and we owe, him a debt of gratitude, in much
counselling in which the interstate activities progressed
and I am happy that we might be able to acknowledge that
publicly.
I do have another question. Don*t run away.
If I understand what you just said with respect to the
policy on low flow regulation and the definition of
adequate treatment, I gathered from your remarks that
this still is in a state of evolution and flexibility,
and 85 percent is something that is good to aim at, the
goal to modify it with respect to local conditions, and
what your field men may consider to be an appropriate change
Is that a fair understanding of what you said?
MR. LeBOSQUET: That's what I said and
I suspect that this will be in the coming direction as
Dr. McCleary studied the Potomac during his years off,
and there they are talking about somewhat higher.
It is more economical to put higher treatments
than to put in low flow regulation.
MR. CLEARY: Well, of course, I
think that is a question where you alluded to where a
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532
local regulation may have a determination which we can»t
see. Now, there is one other matter and I am wondering
if a typographical error appeared in your memorandum,
and I am looking at Appendix A on page 1. Let*s read
down to where you quote. It*s about halfway down. It
says "...the analysis." Do you have that?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: It's the last part
of the first paragraph.
MR. CLEARY: "... the analysis indicates
a minimum dissolved oxygen content of 3.0 parts per million
could be maintained in the river during the summer months
with the current flow schedule over the life of the reser-
voir, provided the organic waste load could be reduced
by 85 percent before discharge to the river." ThatTs
what was said, and I am asking is it possible there is a
typographical error? Our recollection of that report,
October, 1956, was that it said 65 percent instead of 85.
MR. LeBOSQUET: No, I looked through
a number of those reports. I looked for 85 percent and
I found one. I also found a 65 too which I also mentioned.
MR. CLEARY: Unfortunately, I don't
have that report with me. I am going to ask my colleague.
We thought it may have been a typographical error. I
wonder if you will identify it.
MR. LeBOSQUET: There is also 85 percent •
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533
this is the one I quoted. It is more recent, incidentally.
MR. CLEARY: Excuse me, I don*t think
I understand. Is 85 percent correct in your statement here?
MR. LeBOSQUET: Yes, I think so.
MR. CLEARY: Thank you.
DR. ARNOLD: Considering the degree
of treatment that will be provided in the Youngstown-Warren
area and considering further that the people in this area
did put their money where their mouth is, as you chose to
say, and they provided this money or additional storage
in the west branch reservoir, what will be the Federal
policy in using this water low flow regulation?
MR. LeBOSQUET: Well, I think that
reservoir was justified under the old ground rules and
I presume that you bought that water and probably have
some control over how it is used, but the present ground
rules and the present law would not permit this even though
you paid for it. It is the way I understand the law.
In other words, it says it shall not be sub-
stituted for adequate treatment and it doesntt say unless
it is paid for.
MR. COMPSON: That is not a provision
of the law, that is an interpretation of the law.
MR. LeBOSQUET: It shall not be used as
a substitute to have adequate treatment.
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534
MR. COMPSON: That is correct, but
adequate is defined by your service, I presume.
MR. LeBOSQUET: I might say that there
is quite a lot of historic legislative shenanigans and
discussion with the Bureau of the Budget behind this
provision. This provision was proposed to the Bureau
of the Budget some years before the Act was actually
passed. We have been trying to get in this in our authority
for some time. We tried first through the Bureau of the
Budget and they were uncooperative. Finally, I came
back and found it was in the law, so this is our present
authority.
MR. COMPSON: Well, of course, what
are adequate regulations in a given situation would cer-
tainly depend on the complexity and the problems and cer-
tainly the complexity and the problems in this valley
are much greater than you will find in the average situa-
tion.
MR. LeBOSQUET: I wanted to make it
clear that what the Bureau of "the Budget feels, and
this I know because they reviewed these reports of ours,
is that they do not want us to be using low flow regulation
for some treatment that can be accomplished -- some correc-
>
tion that can be accomplished for treatment. And perhaps
the word"adequate" is unfortunate; it happens to be the one
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535
in the law but I know that this is the feeling within the
Bureau of the Budget and I think it is the feeling, of the
Congress.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Are there any further
comments or questions? Mr. LeBosquet, I would like to ask
you one for my own clarification.
As I understand it, you talk in terms of 85
percent treatment. You are probably talking in terms, of
pro-secondary treatment. 65 percent, as I feel, raises
a new concept with me to the so-called intermediate treat-
ment and, as I understand it, an extra chemical is added
to take some of the solids out. Is that a brief statement?
MR. LeBOSQUET: That is one form of
intermediate treatment.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Is that what they are
talking about in this area here for intermediate treatment
of the removal?
MR. LeBOSQUET: I think so but I couldn't
-- you will have to ask.someone else that question.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: :Well, if you had any
experience with that kind of treatment in other areas
of the country where they put these chemicals in or have'
you heard of it?
MR. LeBOSQUET: Yes, but I don't place
great stock.in intermediate treatment.
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536
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Would you care to say
why?
MR. LeBOSQUET: Because once the plant
is built and it is approved and the states and other
agencies have gone home, the city fathers discover they
could save a lot of money by not buying chemicals. This
has been quite common experience.
MR. BOARDMAN: I. would like to add
something about Pennsylvania. You talked about New CastleTs
intermediate plant. This plant is one part of sewage and
will receive secondary treatment by this process.
MR. LeBOSQUET: I am for this because
this will be operated. Chemical treatment is very seldom
operated.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Are there any further
comments or questions on Mr. LeBosquet's statement.
If not, thank you very much for your contribution.
MR. POSTON: We will now ask Mr.
Kittrell again to summarize and make the conclusions.
MR. KITTRELL: Summary and Conclusions.
On the basis of reports, surveys, or studies, having reason
to believe that pollution from sources of wastes along the
Mahoning River in Ohio may be endangering the health or
welfare of persons in Pennsylvania, the Secretary of Health,
Education, and Welfare called a conference of the States of
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537
Ohio and Pennsylvania, the Ohio River Valley Water
Sanitation Commission, and the Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare, on interstate pollution of the
Mahoning River, to be held in Youngstown, Ohio, on February
16, 1965.
Two. The area covered in this report encom-
passes the Mahoning River from Warren through Youngstown,
Ohio, across the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line to its
mouth, the Shenango River from Jamestown, Pennsylvania,
to its confluence with the Mahoning to form the Beaver
River, and the Beaver from this confluence to Beaver Falls,
Pennsylvania.
This area is one of the most highly industrialized
in the Nation, with emphasis on the processing of various
metallic products. Of these, steel production predominates,
with nearly seven per cent of the national capacity in the
area.
Three. Water uses revolve largely around indus-
trial needs. Upstream reservoirs, owned or operated by
Youngstown, the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District, the
State of Pennsylvania, and the Federal Government control
flows principally to insure adequate continuous water
supplies to industries and municipalities, to lower
temperatures of industrially heated streams, and to flush
away the wastes of industries and municipalities. It is
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538
only near the lower end of the Beaver River that the main
stream is used for municipal water supply and for recrea-
tion, such as boating, water skiing, and fishing.
Four. Municipalities discharge sewage, most
of it after some degree of treatment, to the streams.
Most of the towns and cities along the Mahoning and Beaver
Rivers provide only primary treatment, which removes
between about 30 and 60 percent of the bacteria, oxygen-
demanding constituents and suspended solids. Most of
those on the Shenango provide secondary treatment, which
removes about 95 percent of the pollutional constituents.
The total sewered population is about 467,000.
The bacteria are reduced by treatment an estimated 61
percent, leaving bacteria equivalent to those in untreated
sewage from about 184,000 persons to reach the streams.
About 78 per cent of the bacterial load is discharged to
the Mahoning River in Ohio, and 22 percent to the Shenango
and Beaver Rivers in Pennsylvania. About 71 percent of
the oxygen demand is discharged in Ohio and 29 percent
in Pennsylvania.
In Ohio attempts to obtain data on industrial
wastes from the Ohio Department of Health, ORSANCO, and
the plants themselves were unsuccessful, with the excep-
tion of a few of the smaller plants that provided informa-
tion when visited. Ohio law prohibits the Department
-------
539
of Health from releasing information on industrial wastes
without permission by the industries. In Pennsylvania,
data on industrial wastes in the files of the State
Department of Health were made available. Without data
on Ohio industries, however, a fair and equitable appraisal
of relative contributions to the pollution of the river
system cannot be made. A detailed study of the industrial
waste streams and the rivers will be necessary to establish
relative responsibilities.
Despite this handicap, a general knowledge of
locations, types, and sizes of plants, combined with
data available from various stream studies and reports,
provides an adequate basis to establish that interstate
pollution exists and to indicate the areas in which the
pollutional materials are discharged.
The metal processing industries, with steel mills
predominating, discharge a variety of waste materials that
damage water quality and interfere with water uses. The
principal industrial area is along the Mahoning River in
Ohio, from Warren to Lowellville, just above the state
line. A secondary industrial concentration is in the
Sharpsville-Sharori area of Pennsylvania on the Shenango
River. Other more or less isolated plants are scattered
throughout the rest of the watershed.
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540
Industrial waste-.constituents, that, damage, water ,
quality are oxygen-demanding materials^ strong acids., lame.
or limestone-,-:-phenols-"and- other, taste-producing materials,
iron, manganes,e, ammonia, cyanides, oil and greases, and
suspended .solids. Heat in cooling water discharges causes
direct damages and intensifies damages by. other causes.
. Six.. The Mahoning River has been abandoned
/
as a source of municipal water supply because of pollution.
In the reach from Warren, Ohio , to its. mouth in Pennsyl-
vania, it has been rendered unsuitable for this use by
bacterial pollution from sewage, and by toxic industrial ;
wastes, such as cyanides and metals, by taste-producing
wastes, such as phenols and oils, and by suspended solids,
ammonia, iron, manganese, acidity, hardness, and he at,
which render the water difficult and expensive, to treat
or undesirable for consumption and use after treatment.
Fluoride concentrations would pose the threat of mottled ..
tooth enamel to children who drank the water.
These effects are modified by dilution by the
Shenango River, and by natural purification in the Beaver
River, but some of them persist to Beaver palls, where
bacterial pollution, taste and odor, oil, ammonia, iron
Ti
and manganese have been found to be excessive, and difficult
and expensive ,to control by treatment.
The gross and variable pollution of the Beaver
-------
541
River at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, poses a continuous
challenge to those responsible for using this river as a
source for production of a safe and palatable municipal
water supply. Unusual treatment measures, such as abnormal
chlorination and extensive use of chlorine dioxide,-potassium
permanganate, and activated carbon, are required. Annual
chlorine applications, averaging between 8 and 9 milligrams
per liter, and a daily application up to 60 mg/1, are
among the highest chlorine requirements at water plants
in the United States. The occurrence of sudden changes
in chlorine requirements in excess of 10 mg/1 requires
unusual care to insure production of a safe water. Either
human error or equipment failure could result in an unsafe
and unpalatable water.
Seven. Tangible economic damages attributed
to pollution include $9,000 per year due to increased cost
of chemicals used at the two Beaver Falls Municipal
Authority's water plants, and $20,000 per year due to
increased use of soap, synthetic detergents, and other
cleansers by consumers.
Intangible damages attributable to pollution
include increased fuel consumption due to scaling of
t
boiler and hot water tanks, adverse effects on plumbing,
and increased costs of additional treatment required for
water used by certain commercial establishments.
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542
Eight. While the Mahoning River is extensively
used as a source of industrial water supply in the reach
from Warren to the state line, it cannot be considered a
satisfactory source for many industrial uses. Most of the
characteristics that render the water unsuitable for
municipal uses would interfere with certain types of
industrial uses. The specific problems that undoubtedly
are encountered in existing industrial uses can be ascer-
tained only from the plants using the water.
Nine. From Warren to its mouth, the Mahoning
River is virtually destroyed as a recreational stream.
Oil and grease coat its surface and discolor its banks,
suspended solids destroy its clarity, sludge covers its
bed, and oil clings to tree limbs and bushes. Oxygen-
demanding materials, acids, cyanides, ammonia, suspended
solids, and sludge depostis, iron and manganese, and heat
have practically eliminated its fish, and the aquatic
organisms on which they feed. Bacterial pollution renders
it hazardous to any who might swim in it, and even to
those who might contact its waters incidentally in boating
or fishing. >
The bacterial hazard and oil film, somewhat
reduced, persist in the Beaver River to Beaver Falls.
Effects of other materials on fish and aquatic organisms
persist in the upper reaches of the Beaver, and conditions
-------
improve only as the river approaches Beaver Palls, where
aquatic organisms increase and a cat chat) le fish population
occurs. It is in this same reach that boating and water
skiing are noted, even though some health hazard is
involved in such uses.
Ten. Sewage and industrial wastes discharged
to the Shenango River in Pennsylvania contribute to some
degree to the adverse effects described in the Beaver River.
The Shenango below Sharon is covered with an oily film, its
aquatic organism and fish population are reduced, and it
undoubtedly carries some of the characteristic wastes from
metal processing operations that are carried by the
Mahoning. In the absence of detailed industrial waste
information and more complete stream data, it is not possible
to specify the relative contributions of the two streams
to the degradation of the Beaver River. The known dis-
tribution of industry, and the limited stream data
available, however, identify the Mahoning River as a
contributor and, in all probability, the mag'or- contributor
of harmful wastes.
Eleven. Partially treated sewage and industrial
wastes discharged to the interstate waters of the. MahQning
River in Ohio cause pollution that endangers the health
or welfare of persons in Pennsylvania, and therefore are
subject to abatement under provisions of the Federal Water
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544
Pollution Control Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. 466 et seq.)
CHAIRMAN STEIN: ' Thank you Mr. Kittrell.
Does that conclude the federal presentation?
MR. POSTON: That concludes the
federal presentation.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: We would like to now
ask the conferees if they have any questions or comments
of any of the Federal participants who prepared presenta-
tions, as we agreed to at the beginning.
MR. POSTON: I would like to ask
Mr. Kittrell how he might categorize the Mahoning River.
Mr. Kittrell has had wide experience throughout the country
and opportunity to see most of our streams and actually
study them.
Would you care to comment on this,categorize
these?
MR. KITTRELL: Well, as Mr. Stein said
yesterday, this is a rather difficult comparison between
streams. You have on stream where the oxygen is totally
depleted; you have another one with the.- .>co,liform.:b.acteria
in the millions. Which would..you say is the worst stream?
It is almost impossible to compare one to the other.
However, I would,say that in the 35 years, I probably
examined .in the neighborhood of; 200 stre;am reaches in
connection with pollution studies, .and I canno.t .recall
-------
one where there were more pollutional constituents which
exceeded generally accepted satisfactory levels of water
quality than the Mahoning.
MR. POSTON: Thank you.
MR. WEAKLEY: Mr. Kittrell, I notice
from reading this report of the' Federal Department of
Health, Education, and Welfare, that it was primarily
prepared way in .advance of this hearing or this conference,
and apparently before you had the opportunity to hear a
description of the things that have been cbne in the
Mahoning Valley and in recent years and recent months5
am I correct in that statement?
MR. KITTRELL: , That is correct,
we heard of these improvements only yesterday.
MR. WEAKLEY: Now, taking those
improvements into account, would you be inclined to change
any of the conclusions that you just expressed?
MR. KITTRELL: We have not been
provided enough data on the residual wastes that I can
make any judgment whatsoever. < • •• .. ; , ;
MR. WEAKLEY: So that these con-
clusions that you have just expressed would properly
be subject to some revision or amendment if you did have
the opportunity to take into account and the more detailed
account the improvements that you have heard1about yesterday?
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546
MR. KTITRELL? I can only say that
there is that possibility. However, without some knowledge
of what these Improvements actually liave accomplished in
the way of production and waste loads, I can't answer the
question honestly.
MR.POSTON: I would like to ask
Mr. Black a question or two. There lias been considerable
conversation in this report reporting on irregularities
in quality in the Beaver palls area and I wondered whether
you might care to outline some of the procedures that
should be instituted to prevent these irregularities in
water quality.
MR. BLACK: May we think of this in
terms of pollutional constituents observed in the river?
MR. POSTON: Yes.
MR. KITTRELL: And answer you on the
basis of those.
MR. POSTON: Yes.
MR. BLACK: Permit me to preface this
i
statement then with the thought that any recommendations for
improvement will be based on a proven need.
Starting with phenol. We have reached a limit
beyond which it appears impossible to improve, based on
Mr. McBridets report this morning where he essentially
said conditions had been static for the last 10 years.
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547
This holds when t£e by-product coke plants were closed
up; when the concentrated wastes were corralled and all
included in the quench water systems and then used to
quench coke. This pretty well took care of the by-product
coke plant., but when we realize that these phenolic
compounds are not all discharged to the air when we
quench coke but instead are absorbed, some of them, on
the coke and that they do carry over into the blast fur-
naces and we pick up some of them there. You see, we
don't have a closed system for phenol.
Then the question arises, what do we do to
reduce phenol? We can hardly expect to treat a volume
as large as the blast furnace flue gas wash water, that
is a high volume, and the phenol concentration is low.
So then we must look for some other means of reducing phenol
before we use it to quench the coke.
Well, the first thought that might occur to
you would be dephenolize the waste before we quench the
coke. That has been done but it is a pretty expensive
operation. You are really taking two cuts at it, aren*t
you? That recommendation would have to be given a very
careful study by the steel industry and the state, and
I would hope ORSANCO. You might even ask us in to talk
with you about it, if you like.
Now, oil wastes.
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548
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Is that the only source
of phenols, from the quenching material?
MR. BLACK: No, there is another
source, Mr. Chairman, and it should be mentioned. In the
processing of coal tar, we get phenols and it is somewhat
less than what we get from the steel industry but we still
do get some phenols from the coal tar processing, and the
dephenolization there is a possibility and should be con-
sidered along with the other sources.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: In other words, there
are two sources.
MR. BLACK: There are two principal
sources, as we understand it.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: And you would suggest
that dephenolization would be a possibility for reducing
phenols for both of these?
MR. BLACK: That is correct.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Which would be, you
suspect, the easier one to get at?
MR. BLACK: The processing from
the coal tar would be certainly the most economic because
of the volume.
Oil wastes: We don't have to go far in the
Mahoning River to see some oil. We have been told yester-
day of the systems that are in use and proposals for
-------
additional oil separation facilities. It is reasonable
to expect that oil separation facilities will be so
designed that we can hope for an effluent concentration
in the order of what we would expect in an oil refinery.
It is a similar type of oil and that's 50 parts per million.
We havenH seen effluent data, I donft know how close
that is being approached.
There is another source of oil from the mills
and that was pointed up yesterday in the hot rolling mills where
soluble oil is used. This is a little more difficult
in that emulsion will have to be broken usually by acid
treatment to drop the pH and then gravity separation.
Certainly that would have to be considered along with the
oil from the hot rolling mills.
Now, there may be other sources of oil and
there undoubtedly are. The ones we have referred to here
are significant sources, especially for those mills that
have not provided oil separation facilities.
The acid: Spent pickle liquor is probably the
most difficult, the most troublesome, shall we say, and
there are various ways of getting relief from this waste.
Ten years ago at the Mellon Institute ORSANCO put out a
very impressive publication on this subject and neutraliza-
tion was recommended in that publication. It has been
publicized all over the world and certainly there are many
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550
steel mills today that are neutralizing spent pickle liquor
with high calcium, lime.
The use of side piles is certainly another
desirable and economical way of neutralizing the spent
pickle liquor and it is being used in the area, and I
understand:that neutralization with lime is being used
but only with the free acid and that doesn*t really do
the whole job, does it? Of course, if we start working
on the combined acid, I refer to. the sulfate that is
tied up as an iron salt, then we get some trouble, some
sludge. But you might as well get it on your property
as in the Mahoning River.
So that I think we would have to consider
neutralization, complete neutralization of the spent
pickle liquor.
Now, we haven't said anything about the rinse
water and that you might hope to dispose of by using the
natural alkalinity in the dilution water. Let us hope
that that is possible. There are other ways of getting,
rid of pickle liquor. We were told just this morning,
I think, of one steel mill that has drilled a well to
put it into the ground. That*s another opportunity.
This system of neutralization that we are talking about
will go far in removing iron as well as the sulfates. True,
it will increase the hardness somewhat.
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551
Now, the suspended solids, the inert iron.
Here we are thinking of mill scale and the flue dust
from the last process and we were shown some pictures
yesterday of facilities that have been provided, expensive
facilities. We would hope that plant sedimentation could
be provided in facilities that would approach 90 percent
removal of these inert settleable solids, let's call them
suspended solids, because we are dealing with a waste that
has both oil and settleable solids. The oil wants to float
and the settleable solids will settle. However, with
adequate retention, both can be accomplished in the same
tank and both are being accomplished; how well, only the opera-
tors can tell us.
I am sure those data are available. We have covered
four constituents. May we stop there?
MR. POSTON: I think that one thing
ttLa.t; ea.ios,e:s concern at the water works and concern by the.
steel peo.p.le. is spills or dumps, tank dumps or tanks, is
there any way that this might be handled to minimize this
cause of pollution?
MR. BLACK: I am sure there is.
If you were operating a water plant downstream, you might
seriously consider blocking off sewer connections and
providing temporary storage for some of these concentrated
wastes that, well, take for instance the one that increased
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552
the chlorine demand at Beaver Falls on September 14th
last year up to about 60 parts per million; that's almost
500 pounds of chlorine per million gallons. That*s a lot
more than we use in treating sewage.
so my answer to that would be let's check the
sewer connection and where they are located and serve --
and do receive under certain conditions overflow of these
concentrated wastes, that these sewer connections be
eliminated.
MR. POSTON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Are there any further
questions or comments?
I think the group here, possibly, would like to
have you comment on this one further comment. As I under-
stand it, in a technical status and preparing the report,
you would ask for the --- tikis effluent data and attempt to
secure it. Hie sojLt Q>£ presentation' of the group here,
would you care tQ> cojmme.nt on the technical status of this
effluent davfca-,,, giv/e your reasons why you think you need1, it;;
whether y/o,u are satisfied that that would be helpful to
you in preparing a report of this kind?
I think we need that to conclude this record.
MR. BLACK: "When we limit our
interests to the stream alone, we accept a tremendous
handicap and anyone who limits their interests to the
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553
stream is in the same position. We can take only so many
samples from a river and in the 'data that we are famished,
we were told that these samples represented one gram samples
a week, 52 samples a year., and they are gram samples.
Well, we know what we giot in those samples but
we certainly know what we didm^t .gelt and there probably
was plenty that we didnTt get.
Well, how do we learn more about a pollution
control program? There is only one additional bit of data
that we need and that*s what*s coming from the principal
sewers. Now, the industrial people make it a practice,
most of them and I think in this area as well, to sample,
to monitor their own effluents for their own protection,
and it is these data that we need to complete the story,
to interpret the observations that you make in the stream.
It cannot be -- your story is not complete without it.
This is nothing new. This is accepted by most
of the states and I might say that I spent almost nine
years in Illinois and we wouldn*t think of running stream
surveys in Illinois without determining pollution loads
as a part of the study. And anyone who feels that they
can get the whole story from the stream should take a very
close look at the value of determining the pollution load
at the same time.
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554
And while we are on the subject, I would like to
commend the engineering division of the Ohio Department
of Health, that small group of engineers are doing an
impossible task. They could use three times as many
engineers, and if you were to compare that engineering
staff with some of the other states, you could confirm
what I am saying. They would need backup support, of
course, from chemists and biologists.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you. Are there
any further questions or comments? If not, thank you
very much.
MR. POSTON: That's all I have.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I think Mr. Cleary may
have some presentation at this time. Mr. Cleary.
MR. CLEARY: Mr. Chairman, our
Chairman of ORSANCO, Mr. Bart Holl, said, as ha concluded
his remarks yesterday, that he reserved the right to have
some comments himself or have his staff present what he
requested them to do, to look at this report and provide
an evaluation. With your consent, Mr. Chairman, we would
like to have about 15 minutes and I am going to ask my
colleague, Mr. Robert Horton, the assistant director of
the Commission, to present these comments.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Mr. Horton. For those
who are here, I would like to give you our tentative schedule
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555
now as we see it.
Mr. Morton should be finished about five o'clock,
I assume with questioning. At that point we will recess for
an hour, reconvene at 6:00 and I hope at that time the
conferees will have an announcement to make.
Mr. Horton.
MR. HORTON: Mr. Chairman and conferees.
My name is Robert Horton and I am the Assistant Director of
the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, ORSANCO.
The Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Holl, requested
the ORSANCO staff to be prepared to comment on the report
on the quality of the interstate waters of the Mahoning River,
Ohio-Pennsylvania, which was prepared by the Department of
Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service,
Region 5, and which was submitted to the conferees as a
basis for deliberations at this conference. The staff
presumes that the conclusions set forth in the HEW report
which must be of greatest concern to the conferees are
those that assert the Ohio program of pollution control
in the Mahoning River leaves something to be desired with
respect to appropriate quality conditions insofar as-
evaluating health hazards are concerned.
Obviously, the conferees lull away all the view-
points that will be assembled concerning this matter.
Therefore the following observations from a sanitary
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556
engineering standpoint with respect to quality objectives
and sewage treatment facilities to meetthem may be useful.
By way of background, it might first be mentioned
that one of the provisions of the Ohio River Valley Sanita-
tion compact to which Ohio and Pennsylvania are signatory
parties pledges the states to bring about the treatment
of all sewage which flows into waters of the district, at
least to a degree sufficient to result in substantially
complete removal of settleable solids and removal of not
less than four to five percent of the total suspended
solids* This is a specific case that can be satisfied
by the employment of facilities that provide what is
commonly known as primary treatment. The compact recognizes
the possibility that under certain circumstances prescribed
by local conditions, a higher degree of treatment may be
required to attain the desired quality conditions in a
stream. In fact, the compact specifically notes that
none of its provisions shall be construed as limiting
the powers of any signatory state to impose additional
conditions or restrictions on the control of wastes
discharged in streams within its jurisdiction.
In the case of the Mahoning River pollution
control program, the State of Ohio on its own initiative
did impose requirements that went beyond the basic obliga-
tions specified under the compact. It stipulated that all
-------
557
sewage must be treated to remove at least 65 percent of the
biochemical oxygen demand instead of the 35 to 45 percent
obtained by primary treatment.
And in addition, the state is requiring disinfec-
tion of the treated effluent from sewage plants. In so doing,
Ohio was not unmindful of recommendations adopted by ORSANCO
on April 4, 1951, when the signatory states agreed on the
acceptance of bacterial quality objectives. This action
on the part of ORSANCO was intended to resolve uncertainties
of practice because in 1951 there were different professional
viewpoints as to what constituted an appropriate yardstick
for the assessment of the bacterial pollution.
In developing its recommendations, ORSANCO retained
bacterial pollution and its relation to health hazards.
The ORSANCO objectives were developed as a guide for
establishment of treatment requirements for sewage and as
a yardstick for evaluating the sanitary conditions of
rivers used for potable supplies.
The recommendations of Harold Streitel that were
adopted by the ORSANCO states contained the following
caution concerning their application, and I quote:
"Methods now available for enumerating bacteria
of the coliform group are subject to errors'far beyond
those of chemical determination or even biochemical tests
such as 'biochemical oxygen demand. This fundamental- fact .
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558
should be kept in mind in interpreting and applying
bacterial quality objectives .expressed in terms of most
probable numbers of coliform in organisms.
"Experience, judgment, and common sense together
with a thorough knowledge of local conditions affecting
sewage pollution are essential to a rational application
of these objectives."
In brief, Colonel Streitel called attention to
the fact that when dealing with measurement of coliform
organisms, the indication between that and good water did,
at the time, rest on whether the number was above or below
a certain value such as 5,000 per 100 ml. The objective
with respect to river water was stated in this fashion:
The monthly arithmetical average most probable
number of coliform organisms in the river at water intakes
should not exceed 5000 per 100 milliliters in any month
nor exceed this number in more than 20 percent of the
samples of such waters examined during any month nor exceed
20,000 per 100 milliliters in more than five percent of
such samples.
The point to be made is this: Application of
the objective does not imply that a coliform count in a
river in excess of 5,000 endangers public health from
the standpoint of using the river as a source of water
supply. The decision of Ohio to require a higher degree
of treatment on the Mahoning River not o^ily satisfied
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559
ORSANCO recommendations with respect to bacterial quality
but stemmed from results of a comprehensive investigation
conducted jointly with the Public Health Service. ,
Thus, the remedial program adopted in 19,54.
was designed to provide water quality safeguards appropriate
for uses of the river with interstate as well as injury to
uses in Pennsylvania.
It is the view of the ORSANCO staff, Mr. Chairman,
that these facts should form part of the record, not the
least of the reasons is this: On page 2 of the HEW report
in the section entitled "Summary and Conclusions," it is
stated that most of the cities and towns along the Mahoning
and Beaver Rivers provide only primary treatment. This
is incorrect. Sewage treatment facilities for all of the
municipalities in Ohio on the Mahoning are designed to
provide at least intermediate treatment, that is, 65 percent
B.O.D. removal, and disinfection. Facilities for munici-
palities on the Mahoning and Beaver Rivers in Pennsylvania,
with one exception, are designed to provide primary treat-
ment plus disinfection.
The cost of the incorrect assumption in the HEW
report about the degree of treatment provided by Ohio
municipalities, the conclusions derived from it cannot be
valid, especially those relating to the projection of
bacterial conditions at Beaver Falls. The statement in
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560
the HEW report is that waste treatment facilities have
a capability of reducing the bacterial content of the sewage
about 61 percent. However, on the basis of studies published'
by Kittrell of the Public Health Service, sewage treatment
plants operated in accordance with stipulations laid down
by the State of Ohio can be expected to remove 90 to 95
percent of the bacterial pollution.
Using this corrected projection of the capabilities
of waste treatment facilities, it would appear that bacterial
quality in the river at Beaver Falls Waterworks intake would
meet the objectives established by ORSANCO. This conclusion
is reached on the basis of information in the HEW report
regarding the relative distribution of sewage discharges in
Ohio and Pennsylvania upstream from Beaver Falls on the
basis of existing stream selfpurification characteristics
and on the basis of coliform level now prevailing at Beaver
Falls.
In the light of this analysis, there is reason
to believe that the conferees will want to weigh most
carefully the HEW conclusion with regard to endangering
public health. Apparently, there is no clinical or
epidemiological evidence to support such a contention.
At least, there is no data presented in the.HEW report relating
to water borne illnesses or epidemics at Beaver palls now or
in the past; nor have the commissioners from Pennsylvania
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561
or Ohio ever expressed concern on such a matter to ORSANCO.
While on the subject of health aspects of water
quality, it appears to the ORSANOO staff that the allusion
in the HEW report to fluoride concentrations is irrelevant
and misleading. On page 4 of the report, it is stated with
respect to conditions in the stretch of the Mahoning River
from Warren to the confluence of the Mahoning and Shenango
Rivers in Pennsylvania that fluoride concentrations would
pose the threat of mottled tooth enamel to children who
drank the water. Since this stretch of the river is not
used as a source of public water supply, the statement is
irrelevant. The only public water supply that may be
influenced by conditions in the Mahoning River is that at
Beaver Falls located about 25 miles below the state line,
but at this place, according to the HEW report on page 39,
and I quote, "there is no evidence that the limits"--
and they are referring here to the limit in the drinking
water standards -- "There is no evidence that the limit has
been .exceeded at the Beaver Falls water intake but rather
that fluorides have been below the optium lower limit."
In brief, the river water is actually deficient
in fluoride. The optium range for prevention of dental
caries as represented in the federal drinking water standard
is .7 to 1.2 milligrams per liter. Obviously, if the river
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562
at Beaver Palls is below the optimum level, there is no
threat of mottled teeth. The assessment made by HEW
with respect to tangible economic damages at Beaver Falls
water plant attributed to existing conditions are not
shared by the ORSANCO staff. The report asserts there is
an excess expense of $9*000 per year for chemicals used
at Beaver Palls for water treatment.
It is difficult to give credence to this conclusion
by virtue of the following considerations:
First: The current cost of chemicals for water
treatment at Beaver Palls is no higher than the cost at a
similar size water plant in New Castle, Pennsylvania, whose
supply comes from a different source. And I think it might
be worth while to point out these places on the map, Mr.
Chairman,
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Mr. Horton, when you
get to the map, remember you are speaking for the record,
try to explain it so it will appear in the record as to
what you are pointing out.
MR^1 HORTON: Yes, sir. Beaver Falls
is down here, as we know —
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Mr. Horton, let me
interrupt. I think it would expedite this — this is
precisely the point. When you read "down here" in the
record there, I think you might point in the lower right-hand
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563
corner of the map, or something of that kind.
MR. MORTON: Well, let me put it this
way: The essential point is that New Castle is located on
the Shenango River and it takes its water supply from the
Shenango which is not affected by the Mahoning River.
Cost for chemicals in 1963 and 1964 at Beaver
Falls averaged $11.27 in one year, $12.27 in the other year.
Those are dollars for chemicals per million gallons. The
costs at New Castle in the same year excluding what was
spent for fluoridation at New Castel were $11 even in one
year and $12.30 per million gallons in the other year.
And second; The cost of water treatment at Beaver
Falls would seem to compare quite favorably with costs
at the municipalities throughout the United States. A
survey of 697 water utility operations made by the
American Water Works Association reveals that the average
cost of treating water approximates five cents per thousand
gallons.
According to the 1963 annual report of the
municipal authority, the cost at Beaver Falls i$ slightly
less than five cents per thousand gallons.
The HEW report also asserts that the hardness
of the river water results in estimated monetary damages
of $20,000 a year because of increased use of soap, deter -
i
gents, and other cleansers by consumers. It is a fact
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564
that industrial waste discharges to the Mahoning River do
contribute to the hardness constituents in the river.
However, the water at Beaver Falls can hardly be considered
excessively hard in comparison with surface waters in other
parts of the Mahoning River basin that are not affected
by industrial discharges.
Average hardness at Beaver Falls in 1964 was 184
milligrams per liter. There are many tributaries of the
Mahoning River unaffected by the. industrial discharges
in the range of 200 to 300 milligrams per liter.
The preceding discussion on monetary damages
invites comment on the broad economic aspects of maintaining
various degrees of water cleanliness.
The HEW report cites the lack of recreational
opportunity on the Mahoning River. ,: This indeed is the
case and not the least of the reason is that for miles
of its length, the banks of the river are lined in con-
tinuous array with industrial facilities. .
In brief, the locality is hardly one to attract
seekers of recreation. This is a work shop area. Not-
withstanding this fact, the municipalities have spent over
$22 million to free the river from raw sewage and equally
substantial investments have been made by industries to
keep wastes out of the stream as we have learned from
earlier testimony of Ohio and industrial representatives.
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565
Thus, from the standpoint of upgrading water
quality conditions, vast strides forward have been taken
by the people to rid their streams of obnoxious charac-
teristics. It would be a misconception, however, to
suggest that even this great expenditure for the elimina-
tion of pollution holds promise of adapting the industrialized
section of the Mahoning River to the category of a recrea-
tional stream. Among other things, the water is too warm
for many species of fish. The banks of the stream are
occupied by industrial developments. The channel is
obstructed by tanks and access to the river is curtailed.
This does not imply, however, that the citizens of the
Mahoning Valley do not have it within their power to do
what they will with their river. However, in pondering
decisions, they should be informed regarding the price
tag attached to various degrees of cleanliness.
As pointed out by the State of Ohio, the citizens
have already taxed themselves to the extent of $100 per
capita for cleaning up the Mahoning and this does not.
include what the corporate and industrial citizens have
invested in stream cleanup.
Therefore, when the conferees deliberate on
questions relating to recreational aspects associated
with the Mahoning River, the ORSANCO staff respectfully
suggests that a judgment on this matter not only invites
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566
consideration of the views of the citizens •who must bear
the burden of expense, but economic study as well to elim-
inate the cost and benefits associated with alternative
decisions.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes our statement.
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567
Mr. Chairman, this concludes our statement, but
as a final note, we would like to point out that in addition
to the matters just covered, there are some items in the HEW
report that appear to be inaccurate or at least that is
subject to differences of interpretation. These are minor
matters and since they are so minor, we believe it not
worth while to bother the conferees with details at this
time, and if you approve, we will submit an account of
these items for inclusion in the record.
CHAIRMAN STEINs Without objection, that
will be done,
MR. HORTON: Fine. And one more
thing. I have with me of our staff Robert Boes, David
Dunsmore, and William Klein who will assist in answering
questions if there are any.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you. I don't
know if there are any questions. Maybe I am confused but
I listened to Mr. Doolittle's thesis that we should be
concerned only when it comes across the state line and not
concerned with the sources. Now, you talk about this
primary treatment plant. As I understand, Mr. Kittrell's
estimate of those bugs at the water intake at the Beaver
Palls plant is based on measurements there.
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568
MR. HORTON: But the report allows
for 61 percent as it was corrected just a little while
ago. But the published -- the published research work
indicates that intermediate treatment with disinfection
will achieve a 90 to 95 percent reduction in the coliform
organisms,
CHAIRMAN STEIN:
MR. HORTON:
will.
CHAIRMAN STEIN:
to disinfect in the summer.
Not all year .
Well, I understand it
They are just going
MR. HORTON: It is my understanding
it is continuous but I can't answer that. Ohio will have
to answer that question.
CHAIRMAN STEIN:
about that.
All right, we can talk
MR. CLEARY: I would like to know,
Mr. Chairman, what is the situation?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I don't know.
MR. CLEARY:
CHAIRMAN STEIN:
Well, let's ask.
I have asked several
times.
MR. EAGLE: The situation is that
these facilities are provided and the figure we are talking
about, Mr. Stein, is that he said capabilities of 61 percent
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569
We claim that the capability is 90 percent or better because
they are provided with intermediate treatment and chlorination
facilities. Now, these facilities have not been employed as
yet. These chemical treatments and chlorination has not been
employed as yet because -- and it will be sort of useless
i
if they are dumping in raw sewage in Youngstown -- these
facilities will not be completed until the summer and when
they are completed, all of the plants will be providing
intermediate treatment and chlorination when conditions
require in order to meet the water quality objectives at
Beaver Falls.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: In other words, not
routinely, as far as you can say, as I understand it.
They are not going to routinely chlorinate 365 days a
year.
MR. EAGLE: The criteria is meeting
the drinking water standards at the Beaver Falls water
works.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: You mean when the water
gets back, they are going to send a message up and you ar
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570
I am thinking in terms of time -- do you have any specific
points you want to make, Mr. Kittrell, since most of this
dealt with your statement, or not?
MR. KITTRELL: No, I don't think I
have any particular comment except that I did not have the
information on intermediate treatment and the chlorination
provisions at these plants. We failed to obtain that for,
some reason, I don't know why. But the inclusion that you
pointed out regarding health hazard was based on actual
observations at the Beaver Falls water plant intake.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Does anyone have any
comments or questions on Mr. Horton's statement or not?
If not, we will recess until 6:00 o'clock at which time
we will reconvene.
Thank you.
(Recess had.)
CHAIRMAN STEIN: May we reconvene.
We are going to call on Mr. Boardman first of Pennsylvania.
MR. BQARDMAN: You will find, after
Mr. Stein's statement, that my remarks might have a little
more bearing but we are requesting that the record of this
conference be held over for two weeks so that Dr. Wilbar
may have an opportunity to submit a statement in writing.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you. Without
objection, the record will be held open.
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571
Mr. poston, do you care to make a statement.
MR. POSTON: I have come to some
conclusions in my mind which would satisfy me as far as
a summary of this conference is concerned. I would like
to read them to you.
Cognizance is taking significant progress in
pollution abatement in the Mahoning basin. Further water
resource development is needed to assure full range of
beneficial uses of the Mahoning River. Pollution of
waters of the Mahoning River damage water uses in Penn-
sylvania and endanger the health or welfare of persons
in Pennsylvania.
Pollution of the Mahoning is due to both
municipal and industrial waste from Ohio. Principal
wastes include acids, phenol, oil, solids, tars and heat.
Bacteria and oxygen-consuming compounds are the main
municipal wastes.
Things that need to be done include: Immediate
chlorination of all municipal sewage shall be practiced
throughout the full year. The full capacity of municipal
waste treatment plants shall be utilized the year round,
starting immediately, plants such as Warren, where the
city awaits the order to go ahead with full treatment by
their existing plan, should do so.
Item C: Secondary treatment of all municipal
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572
wastes shall be accomplished within three years. Six
months of development for preliminary plants, 12 months period
— up to 12 months — for completion.of financing; 18 months
for development of the final plans; and 36 months for comple-
tion.
Item D: Industrial effluents shall be monitored
and sampled daily, analysis to include all significant
pollutants found in the raw waste. Industrial waste treatment
shall be provided to essentially remove all oil, eliminate the
discharge of toxic waste, and to eliminate acid discharges.
Item F: River water quality characteristics
shall be maintained by providing of municipal and industrial
wastes treatment to meet the water quality objectives of
the report of the water pollution study of the Mahoning
River basin by the Ohio Department of"Health; that is, the
report of 1954.
That's a completion of my summary, Mr. Stein.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: May we call on ORSANCO?
MR. WEAKLEY: Mr. Chairman, as the
spokesman for the conferees representing ORSANCO, I wish to
say first'of all that we do not share the views that have
been expressed by'Mr. Post on and we request that the
record be held open for an additional two weeks for us
to be given a little bit more fully the statements'that
have been made here and, at that time, submit our complete
view.
-------
573
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I think this will be
done. May I suggest either you send your remarks to me
or if you don't, send them to the secretary, that you send
the copy of your remarks to me so we can expedite getting
these in the record.
MR. WEAKLEY: We will send our drafts
to you with sufficient copies so that you can submit them
to the recorder.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, sir. May
we call on Ohio?
DR. ARNOLD: ' Ohio also appreciates
the fact that you will keep the record open for the next
two weeks so that we too may study the findings of this
report a little more closely and present to the Secretary
our reaction to this conference.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, sir. This
concludes the statements.
MR. ARNOLD: Ohio would like to
have a written copy of Mr. Poston's remarks that he has
just made and we would appreciate receiving them very soon.
MR. POSTON: Maybe I can get a
Xerox of them tonight.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: May we go off the record
for a moment?
(Discussion off the record.)
-------
CHAIRMAN STEIN: On the record.
MR. COMPSON: I cannot resist the
temptation, air, that Mr. Poston's remarks were framed as
a summary. The way I listened to them they sounded as if
they were orders and I would like to know whether these
are a summary of the conference or orders issued as a result
of the conference.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: The summary, as prepared
by the Secretary, contained, I would hope, as the statute
requires, the review of all the conferees. The conferees
are not empowered to issue orders or make findings. We
have not had evidence under oath. We have not had cross-
examination and this is a conference, and as a reading of
the statute will indicate, no orders are given.
If there is nothing else, I have every hope that
every one of these conferences brings us nearer to a
solution of our pollution problem and I hope this one did.
At least, it gave me an opportunity of seeing such old and
dear friends as Jack Kenney again, and I for one enjoyed
it and we will stand adjourned.
(Whereupon, at 6:30 o'clock p.m., the conference
in the above-entitled matter was adjourned.)
-------
REPORT
OF
POLLUTION COMMITTEE
COLUMBUS, OHIO
January 25, 26, 27, 1963
POLLUTION REPORT INTRODUCTORY
"WATER - OUR BASIC NEED"
The people of the state ot Ohio must still face
the problem of taking a look at where we are, and
where we are going, in pollution control. The con-
stantly increasing need for water for all purposes
demands that a searching look be given to what has
been accomplished in the past and what will be
needed in the future.
If we are to have unpolluted waters for recrea-
tion, clean waters for industry, and potable waters
for human consumption, the demand will be for all of
us to see that pollution is abated and that water-
shed projects are inaugurated to store and conserve
the run off.
Statistics tell us that an average of 4300 billion
gallons of- rain, fall each day in the United States.
Most of this is dissipated by evaporation, by run off
into the oceans, and by water uses of plants and
animals, it present, only 315 billion gallons a day
are available for mans use. Of an average of 30
inches of rainfall in the United States, only about
two inches are at present available to man on a
dependable year around basis.
At the present time, industry uses the most
water. It is currently using 160 billion gallons of
water a day in its production processes including
the steam, generation of electric power for the nations
industrial machines. However, twenty years from
now, industry will be demanding close to 400 billion
gallons of water a day to keep its production facili-
ties going. This is not only because production will
increase, but because of the newest technologies-
petrochemistry for example -- are also those which
will demand larger and larger amounts of water.
It takes 770 gallons of water to refine a barrel
(42 gallons) of petroleum; 50,000 gallons to test an
airplane engine; 65,000 gallons to produce a ton of
steel or a ton of paper; 200,000 gallons to make a ton
of viscose rayon; 320,000 gallons to produce a ton
of aluminum; and 600,000 gallons to make a ton of
synthetic rubber. These are just a few of the de-
mands of industry for usable water.
"NEED FOR CONSERVANCY"
From these facts it becomes quite evident that
we cannot afford to throw water away after we have
used it. It isn't like a paper bap or a tin can. Nature
has been fairly generous with Ohio and given us an
average yearly rainfall of 38 inches. That is all we
can expect, and we fell shy of the average in 1962
with only 32.64 inches. As a result many of you
know of the shortages we suffered and of the failing
wells, drained down lakes and low rivers.
\S1ien our rainfall is a normal 38 inches, only
13 inches pets into our lakes and rivers; the balance
goes into the soil or is evaporated.
"PERSONAL USES"
Most people do not realize that we have a limit-
ed amount of water in Ohio that can be ascribed to
-------
personal use. An individual uses about 100 gallons
a day and the majority of Ohio citizens have never
been without sufficient usable water for personal
use, so the water supply problem, and the water
pollution problem, Jo not seem important to most of
us. We just take for granted that we will always have
plenty of water for our bath, our sewage, washing
our clothes and our dishes, and watering our lawns
and gardens.
The average individual does not realize the
value of a necessary commodity he uses daily, until
he finds himself without it, or without as much as
he would like to use. Should he be deprived of his
allotted LOO gallons, or even half that amount, odds
could be layed that he would immediately go into a
self-propelled orbit and condemn, malign, vilify,
debase, discredit, sully, derogate, slur, defame,
stigmatize and deride every public official from the
President and the Governor down to the lowest vil-
lage official for their complete and utter carelessness,
neglect, laxity, default, indolence, dereliction and
incompetence because they did not have water
enough for their daily ablutions and their morning
pot of coffee. Such would be human nature, yet if
each would give a bit of thought to civic affairs and
aid and assist their public officials to secure suf-
ficient facilities for pollution control, and, if nec-
essary, impound and store water vital to the use of
the community, clean water for the bath and the morn-
ing coffee would be guaranteed.
But we must not forget there is not enough
"new" water to meet all our water needs. Water
must be used which has been used before in the
water systems of upstream cities and industries.
At certain times of the year, water is taken from
the Ohio River, used, and dumped back again on an
average of almost 4 times during its 1000 mile course
from Pennsylvania to the Mississippi.
As a present illustration of what we mean by
using water over again: the water in the Mahoning
River, which flows through Newton Falls, Warren,
Niles, Girard, Youngstown, Struthers, Lowellville,
and past all the industries on that river, is estimated
to be used ten (10) times over again during low
flow.
"ADDED WATER SUPPLY AND MULTIPLE USE"
Ohio and Ohioans are beginning to see the light
and realize the need of added water facilities. New
conservancy districts have been formed, or are in the
process of being formed, on many watersheds of the
state. Much added interest and study is now being
given to "small watershed projects'1, which can be-
come a community effort of great benefit.
Ohio is the number one user of self-supplied
industrial water in all rhe states of the nation. How-
ever, with the exception of Lake Erie, it is the 46th
among all the states in surface acres of impounded
waters within the state. The average relationship of
persons to acres of impounded water for the United
States as a whole is 5-4 persons per acre. In Ohio,
the relationship is 91 persons per acre of impound-
ment.
Of the 26,400,000 acres in Ohio, 1.8% only is in
the public ownership...The state of Pennsylvania
has 11.8%, and the state of New York 11.4% of its
land owned by the state or federal agencies, and
open to public use. It is high time that the people of
Ohio look forward to their needs of more impounded
water for flood control, water needs, pollution con-
trol and recreation, for Ohio's population density
is increasing rapidly.
"THE OHIO RIVER"
The Ohio River was tediously born at the inch-
ing pace of glaciers; its genesis took perhaps
100,000 years. Mans work was swifter...In less than
two centuries, he turned pure water to foul. Then
in a single decade of penance, he made it wholesome
again...This event will interrupt no news cast. The
rebirth of the Ohio lacks the drama of a disasterous
flood, but as a geographic melodrama, it ranks as a
major achievement for the central United States.
In 1948, the federal government established the
Ohio River Valley Sanitation District. Subsequently,
the eight states serviced by the Ohio River signed
a compact to control the pollution problem. Ohio's
pollution contiol law became effective in 1951.
Tbus the Ohio River Sanitary Commission, or
ORSANCO, came into being and started on the
stupendous task of pollution control of hundreds of
municipalities, and upwards to 1800 industrial
plants discharging effluent directly into the river or
its tributaries; the administration of the huge task
and the appropriation of the vast sums of money
needed.
In the few short years, municipal plants servic
ing 1144 communities in size and cost from Pitts
burgh's $100 million plant to village installations o:
337,000 have been installed. A total of 1557 in-
dustries, some of them the largest of their type in
the world, have completed installation of their
waste control facilities. More than SI billion has been
expended to date. An area in which more than 8 mil-
lion people live has now been approximately 90%
serviced, both municipalities and industries, by
water pollution control in many forms. Last year
brought the coal mining industry into the picture
after years of study. Our hats are off to ORSANCO
for having accomplished 90% of a colossal task in
so short a time.
More is yet to be done before all the noxious
effluent now discharged into the river is made clean.
Constant check of the effluent from operating treat-
ment plants must be made as industry finds addi-
tional chemicals for use in their manufacturing pro-
cess (Bat do not lend themselves to present methods
of treatment and new methods must be found.
This is particularly true in the municipal dis-
charges where new detergents have caused consider-
able trouble. The detergent manufacturers are pre-
sently working on their product to solve methods
and means of removal of the noxious and foaming
element.*
"OHIO'S PROGRESS"
Who would have believed in 1951 that the muni-
cipalities and industries of Ohio would have invested
over $700 million in 11 years toward the cleaning
of our waters. Our highest praise to the Pollution
-------
Control Board; the Division of Sanitary Engineer-
ing; and the Municipalities and Industries of Ohio.
All but two of the 193 cities in Ohio have
sewage treatment plants operating or under construc-
tion. These two have them in the planning stage. Of
the villages, 185 have treatment plants, 44 are using
facilities of nearby cities, and about 50 more still
need treatment plants.
Of the 13,000 industries in Ohio, the great ma-
jority use municipal sewage treatment plants. Of the
572 industries, 98% in Ohio which discharge wastes
directly into streams, have provided some treat-
ment. ..77% of which are considered adequate. These
problems are gradually being corrected. Some few
are in need of more research.
"THE LAKE ERIE PROBLEM"
The committee is unable to make a positive
analysis of this important water facility as detailed
reports on the Lake Erie limnology and the effects
of pollution on fish propagation, are not available at
the time of the writing of this report. When the final
reports of the several agencies studying the situation
are in, the troubles will be known and steps taken to
abate and rectify.
Presently the U.S. Public Health Service, with a
branch office staffed by 50 persons will be in opera-
tion in 1963-.. A 114 foot research ship, "Inland
Sea," is being outfitted by the University of Michi-
gan Great Lakes Research Division, with a grant
from the National Science Foundation.
In addition, the Ohio Department of Health, the
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S.
Department of Interior will conduct studies.
Following are some quotes from specialists in the
field giving their views on the problem:
1OHN I. WIRTZ. Superintendent
Easterly Wafer Pollution Control Plant
Cleveland
"The south shore of Lake Ene will, in the fu-
ture, be given a more intensive form of super-
vision than now provided by the Department of
Health. We can consider and anticipate a simi-
lar set-up in the State cooperation on the Great
Lakes patterned after ORSANCO. "
"The 'no sewer -no water' rule has been put
into effect in Cuyahoga County. The privilege
or right to surplus water, now carries the obli-
gation not to pollute. "
GEORGE EAGLE. Chief
Division of Sanitary Engineering
Ohio Department of Health
"I. A lot has been done toward the abate-
ment of pollution.
2* A lot is being done toward the further
abatement of pollution.
3. A lot more needs to be done before every-
body is satisfied that pollution control is
adequate.
If any one of these three factors are left out it
might lead to unintentional distortion.
You can compare the pollution control problem
with preventive medicines. Formerly, something
had to be wrong with you before the doctor
concerned himself about your welfare. .Vou/ we
have periodic physical examinations and
shots to safeguard ourselves against diseases
and many other forms of inspection and regu-
lations to prevent disease.
We are beginning to think, and to some ex-
tent, act in terms of preventive pollution
control.
We do not have a complete public awareness
for the need of pollution abatement and a
willingness to.pay for the necessary facilities.
Water can and must be used over and over
again. Our water cycle includes sanitary sew-
ers, storm sewers, and waste treatment plants.
Our rivers and lakes of the future will carry
more and more used water. "
DR. W. F. CARBINE, Regional Director
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries
"Lake Erie is a repeatedly changing lake."
"Biological changes are becoming very severe."
"The population increase, industrial expan-
sion, agricultural processes, and vast quanti-
ties of soil washing into our lakes every year
are evidence of these facts. The effluent of
sewage disposal plants contain a lot of nu-
trients. The biological oxygen demand (BOD)
of this water is very low. The enriched water
increases plant growth—when they die and
fall to the bottom they create a high BOD.
This has caused vast areas of Lake Erie to be
very low in oxygen.
The outlook is that that condition will be-
come much worse before it gets better. We
cannot predict what might happen to the Lake.
One of the most troublesome areas is the De-
troit River."
In a recent report from Dr. Carbine, he said, in
substance, that there is evidence that the walleye
population in Lake Erie is increasing.
GEN. HERBERT B. EAGON. Director
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
"We can agree that Lake Erie is a changing
lake. It has been changing since the glacial
period and it will continue to change."
The U.S. Geological Survey as to the pro-
duction of walleyes in Lake Erie for a period
of about 20 years after 1915, indicates that
the commercial tonage of walleyes taken was
about the same as it was in 1961. In the middle
50's there was a tremendous build-up until
1956, the peak year of walleye production.
Then there was a sharp decline. There is rea-
son for concern."
It is not quite a painted picture to quote the
figures of 1956 as against today's figures, and
ignore the figures back as far as 1915.
-------
Commercial landings of fish at Ohio Lake
Erie ports for September. 1962, were more than
double those /or the same month in 1961. The
Yellow perch led with 828,775 pounds...much
higher than 1961. The .Walleye catch was 20,-
990 pounds...almost double the September.
1961 take o/ 11,954 pounds. However, the total
season's catch of 7962 was below that of
1961. This indicates an improvement, with pos-
sibly a better year in 196).'"
ROBERT ]. DRAKE. Feature Writer
Cleveland Plain Dealer
"We had better come to terms with what is left
to us of the resources of nature.
The technical people are failing to get their
message to the public.
We who live along the shores of Lake Erie
are about where Cincinnati was in its thinking
in the 19)0's that led to'ORSANCO.
The biologists and limnologists can argue
whether Lake Erie is dying or only changing.
When a lake «$ rendered unfit JOT the legiti-
mate purposes people want to use it for, if it
is not dying, it might as well be. What we are
seeing in Lake Erie from all capable testi-
mony, is a telescoping into a few decades of a
natural process that might be expected over a
matter of 50.000 years.
Like old cities. Cleveland has a combined
storm and sanitary sewer system which feeds
raw sewage into the Lake through 388 emer-
gency over-flows. A hazy guess is that it
might cost $300 million to install separate
sanitary sewerage.
We must expose our children to an elemen-
tary appreciation of conservation of irreplace-
able natural resources. They can learn in grade
school that water is more than turning on the
lap. They will be the young adults of the im-
mediate future with twice our water problems
and perhaps they will be more ready than our
generation has been to vote for the right an-
swers. "
EDWARD J. CLEARY, Director-Chief Engineer
Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission
"The notional pollution problem is nothing
more than a series of local problems."
Mr. Clear)- suggested that the "nut and bolt as-
pect" of the control of water pollution resolves it-
self into the solution of local problems by local
groups. When complaints arise as to pollution prob-
lems in local areas, committees should be formed of
local people, citizens non-profession, non-political,
where the "nut and bolt" expression comes in; that
they get all facts and data; draw conclusions, and
chart a course of action and stick to it.
lie emphasized that respect is earned; it is not
inherited because you happen to belong to some
sportsmen group. VIe don't need any more laws on
preventive pollution; but we do need more aggres-
sive enforcement of existing laws. We are not handi-
capped by technical knowledge, but public agencies
arc under-manned, and they need the support of the
citizens' groups.
The Ohio Water Pollution Control Board ordered
Cleveland to place under construction before Feb-
ruary 1, 1963. one-half of the remaining projects for
cleaning up the lower reaches of the Cuyahoga
River...about a $7 million project. A public meeting
December 7, in Cleveland, and the formation of the
"Lake Front Action Committee" shows progress in
the solution of the Cleveland problem.
"POLLUTION AFFECTING WILDLIFE"
The Division of Wildlife has entered into an
agreement with the Division of Sanitary Engineering
by which the engineers will provide the consulting
service, and chemists on water problems involving
fish propagation, use of chemicals for various pur-
poses such as weed control, field analytical pro-
cedures, and cooperate on investigations of pollu-
tion caused fish kills, and many other laboratory
services and consulting services relating to water
pollution problems.
The field personnel of the Wildlife Division, how-
ever, must make the preliminary investigations and
report in all instances which causes fish kills or
otherwise affects aquatic life and wildlife.
We again remind all our members to immediately
report any fish kills or other wildlife kills from water
pollution to your local game protector and do every-
thing possible to help him obtain the evidence nec-
essary to prosecute such polluters.
In 1962, a total of 90 instances of pollution were
investigated by wildlife personnel. Of these, 62 re-
sulted in fish kills, 56 of which represented only a
small part of the population, but 9 represented
complete kills.
One of the largest kills took place on Ten Mile
Creek in Lucas County. The source of the pollution
could not be ascertained, but thousands of fish were
lost. Another of the largest was in Cuck Creek,
Washington County, where 6976 of the 7326 fish
killed were minnows.
A claim of $944.43 for fish killed in the Olen-
tangy River in Franklin County was presented to the
offender in July and paid in August. A claim for
$li 09(^.08 has been presented to one city for fish
losses when raw sewage was bypassed around the
disposal plant. Settlement has not yet been made.
One claim for $1,446.79 w-as certified to the -At-
torney General's office for collection.
Again several of the instances of pollution were
due to periods of repair or break downs in sewage
disposal operations. Exceptional heavy loads during
canning operations also continued to be a problem.
Combination sanitary and storm sewers w-ere a prob-
lem during periods of heavy rain. Breaks in oil
pip< lines have increased in number but are one type
of pollution which is abated immediately.
A breakdown of the causes of pollution instances
in 1962 is as follows:
FISH HABITAT
SOURCE TOTAL KILL DAMAGE ONLY
Unknown 24 20
Sanitary wastes 22 15
Industrial wastes 14 9
Oil wastes 11 7
-------
Natural causes
Acid water
Duck farm wastes
Gravel washings
Agr. sprays
Water plant wastes
6
4
3
3
2
JL
90
62
0
3
1
3
0
_P_
28
"CONCLUSION"
Policing
We know that everybody does not obey the law all
the time. The next step in maintaining pollution con-
trol is the monitoring of all 18 of Ohio's Watersheds.
The Health Department has entered into a coopera-
tive monitoring program with the U.S. Geological
Survey and the Miami Conservancy District. ORSANCO
has developed an automatic monitoring device which
may eventually be an auxiliary policeman available
for use on all our streams.
The Challenge
The Challenge is given to all outdoorsmen to in-
form your own community of Ohio's vital need for
more impounded water and the fast growing necessity
of keeping the waters of our rivers and lakes clean
so that the water can be used over and over again.
The demand for clean usable water is growing faster
than the present supply. The future of Ohio's most
valuable asset -- clean water •- depends upon each
one of you. Learn the facts. Tell the story.
- IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL CLUBS -
The League of Ohio Sportsmen, through the co-
operation of the State Health Department, is pre-
paring a series of colored slides made from car-
toon caricatures, depicting the evils and control of
water pollution.
The slides will be accompanied by a tape oar-
rating the slides, the showing time 25 to 30 minutes.
This project of the League will provide every
member club a worthwhile project providing they
avail themselves of the opportunity. Each member
club should purchase one of these kits, form a
publicity committee, and cover their community
thoroughly with the information furnished...Civic
groups, schools, women's clubs, and non-member
organizations should all be shown these pictures...
It will be a worthwhile project fot any club, and
really one which all conservation clubs in the state
should actively use in their communities;
By ordering slides and tapes in quantity,- we hope
to reduce the cost of the kit containing both slides
and cape to approximately $5.00. If you belong to a
progressive club wishing to do a community ser-
vice, place your order NOW, as we would like to
complete the printing and make the copies all at one
time.
Address order to League office, M-72, Neil House,
Columbus, or inquire at registration desk.
THE POLLUTION COMMITTEE
Projects For Your Club
There are 2.6 million tons of top soil being
washed into Lake Erie each year. Why not organize
units to explore this waste of top soil an'd this un-
necessary pollution of Lake Erie? Nothing much will
be done unless you do it!
Avail yourselves of the League's Pollution pic-
ture-tape program and use it.
The committee is greatly indebted to the men
who are quoted and to the following agencies for
much of the factual data contained in this report:
The Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission;
the Ohio U'a/err Pollution Control Board; Division
G/.Sonirary Engineering; Ohio Department o/ Health;
Ohio Division of Wildlife and the journal oj the Wa-
ter Pollution Control Federation.
Respectfully submitted
U'. Harold Yost, Chairman
pollution Control Committee
League of Ohio Sportsmen
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580
A Brief History of
THE LEAGUE OF OHIO SPORTSMEN
The League of Ohio Sportsmen is a non-profit
federation of the united hunting and fishing clubs
of Ohio. It is dedicated to the restoration and
conservation of wildlife in our fields, woods and
waters; to the abatement of stream pollution; to
the rehabilitation and reforestration of unproduc-
tive lands; to further conservation education in
our schools and the public; and to defend the
legal set-up of the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources from political exploitation.
The League was organized in 1908 by a group
of far-seeing sportsmen to save the remnants of
the fast disappearing natural resources of the
state. The constructive program of these pioneers
was so appealing to the numerous "fish and
game" clubs throughout the state that its member-
ship soon reached several thousands. In 1912,
the League was chartered by the State of Ohio.
In Union There is Strength
Early in 1913 the combined forces of big and
little clubs found that in the League they had a
powerful voice in the State Legislature, willing,
able and determined to fight for constructive
outdoors legislation. Solely through the efforts
of the League was the Hunter's License Law en-
acted, and only after the fiercest opposition
which had.battled such legislation year after year.
In 1918-19 the League assisted in the re-codi-
fication of the game laws. In 1928, a law was
passed which prevents the unused sportsmen's
license money fron being diverted to purposes
other than the propagation, preservation and pro-
tection of fish and game.
Since its inception the League pressed for the
enactment of a fishing license law to improve
fishing through additional revenue. Time after
time such a law was introduced in the Legislature
and each time it was blocked or defeated. Once it
was vetoed after passage. Finally, in 1925, a
"rod and reel" license law was enacted. This
law penalized the fisherman who used such equip-
ment. Not satisfied with the "rod and reel" law,
the League intensified its efforts, to making fish-
ing licenses necessary for all. Later, through
League efforts, a Universal Fishing Law was
enacted by which all fishermen over 18 were re-
quired to purchase a license.
From "Hunting and Fishing" to
"Constructive Conservation."
In 1929, the State of Ohio became truly "con-
servation minded," when the League of Ohio
Sportsmen promoted and had passed in the Legis-
lature a 67-page conservation bill. This word
"conservation", little understood and heretofore
seldom used, was forcibly brought to the eyes
and minds of Ohio's citizens for the first time. It
brought enthusiastic support from citizens who
cared little or nothing for simple "fish and game"
laws but were concerned with the preservation of
wildlife in all its phases, as well as wise use of
the soil. This conservation bill set up the Divi-
sion of Conservation and Natural Resources and
brought into existence the first Conservation
Council. This law was amended in 1939, giving
the Council authority to promulgate rules and re-
gulations, and the control of seasons and bag
limits on fish and game. Later, through League
efforts, the Department of Natural Resources was
created and the Fish and Game Division was re-
moved from that department and became the Wild-
life Division of the new Department of Natural
Resources.
Throughout the life of the League it has con-
sistently fought for good outdoors legislation and
vigorously opposed that which was bad. It has
fought to keep conservation out of politics, it
saw that the Hunters Identification Law was
enacted, and the League initiated legislation
making possible the Ohio Conservation Bulletin.
Sportsmen's Money Protected by Law
As early as 1928, the League obtained promises
from both political parties that license money for
the Division of Conservation must not be diverted
to any other branch of government as it had been.
This was enacted later into a law.
In 1939, the League was responsible for out-
lawing the sale of wild rabbits in Ohio—rabbits
which had formerly been killed by thousands and,
by any method, and sold on the open market.
In 1940, the League played a major part in the
negotiating of a contract between the Division of
Conservation and Natural Resources and the
Muskingum Conservancy District. This contract
made available to sportsmen all hunting rights on
48,000 acres of land, all fishing rights on the 11
lakes ownec by the District, and protected the
-------
581
366 miles of shore lines of the lakes. Sportsmen
are now reaping the benefits of this contract and
it is recognized as one of the most outstanding
conservation jobs ever done in Ohio, or in the
nation.
The League and The Outdoor Writers
In the early 1930's, at a Chicago meeting of the
Isaak Walton League, several members in attend-
ance proposed that an organization of individuals
writing "hunting and fishing" articles for the
press should be formed. The first officers-of the
new outdoor writers organization were from Ohio
and affiliated with the League of Ohio Sportsmen.
A few years later these same League indivi-
duals promoted a state organization of Ohio Out-
door writers. Both theOutdoor Writers Association
of America and the Outdoor Writers of Ohio were
the results of the concerted efforts of the closely
affiliated officers of the League of Ohio Sports-
men.
A Major Achievement in Rehabilitation
It was during this era of the League's activities
that a project of major importance to eastern and
southern Ohio was brought into being. For sever-
al years ardent conservationists in southeastern
Ohio were appalled at the havoc wrought in their
counties by the strip mining of coal. Through the
good offices of the League a meeting was arran-
ged with the strip mine operators. The happy re-
sult of this meeting was the formation of the Ohio
Reclamation Association—an enterprise carried oh
voluntarily by the strip mining industry to rehabil-
itate the marginal surface lands connected with
the open-cut operations. The succeeding years
have witnessed most gratifying results of the
operations of this Association. Many of the un-
sightly spoil banks have been regraded and plant-
ed in food bearing plants, shrubs and grasses.
Over 150 million trees have been planted. Many
dams have been constructed across the final cuts
in the operations, forming fishing lagoons, ponds
and lakes. These waters are open to public fish-
ing. Other reclaimed areas are leased to sports-
men's clubs for as little as one dollar a year. No
better public relations endeavor in all Ohio has
borne such success as has the volunteer opera-
tions of the members of the Ohio Reclamation
Association.
The Fight Against Pollution
Over a long term of years the League fought for
legislation to control and abate stream pollution.
Despite powerful opposition it succeeded in 1941
to giving the then Department of Fish and Game
the authority to prosecute for the killing of ani-
mal and vegetable life in our streams and lakes
by pollution. The League alone played an in-
fluential part in the passage of the Deddens Act
which, for the first time, set up a commission to
control and prevent stream pollution by industries
and municipalities. We are convinced that the in-
fluence of Ohio sportsmen, exercised through the
League, contributed largely to the increased in-
terest in the education of the public towards the
menace of uncontrolled pollution.
Quail Reclassified
The League of Ohio Sportsmen bears the honor-
ed scars of many a legislative battle. One scar
they carry to this day was caused by the alarming
scarcity of quail in the early 1900's and the Lea-
gue's efforts to do something about it.The League
proposed a two-year closed season on quail for
both 1911 and 1913 but lost the fight when the
Legislature voted in 1915 to place the quail on
the song bird list. Corrective legislation has
since been pressed by the League and resulted in
a Quail Study Law being enacted in 1949- This
law may yet make it possible for the large majori-
ty of bird hunters to enjoy their favorite spor
since the law reclassifies the quail from a sonj,
bird to a game bird.
Field Trial Problems Eased
As the League continued to grow in size and in-
fluence it greatly expanded its activities. It in-
terested itself in the problems of sporting dog
owners who were finding it exceedingly difficult
to hold their field trials on State-controlled
areas. Thru the influence of the League, the
original Field Trial Bill was introduced and en-
acted into law. In 1952, the League vigorously
opposed three bills that were to be introduced
into the Legislature which would hrfve given con-
trol of field trials to the state, and for which the
state would collect a fee for each day that the
trials were run. Through League efforts these
bills were never introduced.
Sondusky Bay
In 1954, the League called a meeting of state-
wide organizations to try to resolve the differ-
ences existing between the commercial fishermen,
sports fishermen, and pleasure boat owners on
Sandusky Bay. After many conferences, a satis-
factory agreement was reached and unanimously
approved.
In 1955, the bill resolving the differences was
written, and after consultation withmembers of the
General Assembly, was introduced and passed
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582
Foremost in the National Conservation Picture
The League was honored several years ago by
being selected as the Ohio representative of the
National Wildlife Federation. Since the League
was admittedly the oldest and most active sports-
men's organization in Ohio there was no question
as to the wisdom of the selection.
We are credited by many national organizations
as having kept Ohio's members of Congress fully
informed, at all times, on legislation concerning
conservation (not only in Ohio, but of national
importance) so that they could vote intelligently
on such legislation.
Conservation Education
Under this heading comes the various activities
engaged in by the League to promote conservation
education among the youth of Ohio. To this end
the League has cooperated whole heartily withthe
Future Farmers of America.
The League entered into the book publishing
field in 1952 with its booklet "Adopt a Stream."
This booklet, well written and handsomely illus-
trated, tells in detail how to improve or reclaim
stream drainage areas by dams, riffles, pools,
and contains a diagram for selected stream banks
and area planting. This free booklet has been
distributed in every state in the Union and in
several foreign countries.
Another aspect of conservation education re-
cently engaged in by the League is the distribu-
tion of wildlife and conservation books to all
Ohio's public and parochial schools.The purchase
of these books is by voluntary contributions from
the clubs affiliated with the League. To date, al-
most 9000 books have been purchased and dis-
tributed. It is gratifying to see this worthwhile
program of conservation education growing by
leaps and bounds—it is more gratifying to read
the thousands of letters that have been received
from the recipients of the books. The League is
genuinely proud of its member clubs who have
made this program possible.
League Pioneers Gun Safety in Ohio
The League was the first sportsmen's organi-
zation in Ohio to realize the importance of teach-
ing gun-safety to younger hunters—and they did
something about it. They sponsored and intro-
duced the National Rifle Association's "Hunter-
Safety Program" in 1953 and organized schools
and classes. In 1956, this worthwhile program was
turned over to the Division of Wildlife, Department
of Natural Resources, who will conduct future
schools in hunter-safety.
Brotherhood of the Jungle Cock
For over 15 years the League has been the offi-
cial sponsor of the Brotherhood of the Jungle
Cock in Ohio. The Brotherhood, an international
organization, is aimed at the youth of all coun-
tries and is primarily devoted to teaching sound
sportsmanship. Any boy or girl, old enough to go
fishing and recite the pledge of membership is
welcomed into its ranks. The League has been
honored by having one member of its executive
committee elected to the presidency of the In-
ternational Brotherhood of the Jungle Cock.
Legislotive Victory
Also, in 1957, the League won a legislative
victory when it defeated a bill designed to take
away from conservation clubs the selling of
hunting and fishing licenses. Also, that same
year was initiated a state-wide project to en-
courage conservation clubs, fraternal organi-
zations, farm granges and individual landowners
to construct a lake, or lakes, in their area. This
project would not only help solve the dwindling
water table but would furnish one of the finest
recreational assets any club or community could
have. It is hoped that this project will be a life-
time project for all conservation clubs.
Quail Victory for Sportsmen
In 1959, a long, drawn-out battle dating from
1915 came to an end when the quail, previously
classified as a song bird, was officially re-
cognized as a game bird. League sponsored
legislation now allows the hunting of quail on
land owned by the State of Ohio and other lands
where the Division of Wildlife, by lease or
agreement, has the authority to manage the hunt-
ing and taking of game.
A Better and Bigger League
For many years, as its activities in the field
of conservation education increased, and the
burden of carrying on these and other programs
in an effort to make Ohio more conservation
minded, the League was always hard-pressed
for lack of working capital to advance these
endeavors. In I960, was inaugurated an ex-
tensive campaign to secure sustaining members
of the League from the ranks of industry, busi-
ness and labor, and from others who had faith in
the integrity and foresight of the large mass of
sportsmen and conservationists within the
League. In their desire to aid in the policies and
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583
the programs of the League these sustaining
members, by their support, visibly improved
the financial status of the League. An office
has been set up in League headquarters at Col-
umbus. It is assured now that more and better
service will be available to all member clubs who
have- been .the main support of the League of
Ohio Sportsmen for the past 55 years.
Constitution Revised
Due to the rapid growth of the League and the
many changes th^t have occurred in these modern
•times, it was thought advisable to amend and
revise the League's Constitution and By-Laws
to keep abreast of the changing trends in con-
servation and recreation. This was first ac-
complished in 1957 and again in 1963- The re-
vised articles promise to make the League more
efficient.
Target for Tomorrow
After many, long .months of 'earnest study,
almost endless conferences and diligent effort,
the.Chairman of the Policy and-Program Commit-
tee submitted his completed report. It is, by its
extensive coverage, a -remarkable and extensive
guide which is to be followed by the League for
its future expansion and usefulness. No field of
conservation, restoration,reclamation, recreation,
education, pollution, contamination, or wild-
life was overlooked. It gives to the League a
definite target to be aimed at and a splendid
goal to be achieved.
What Lies Ahead?
The officers and members of the League of
Ohio Sportsmen are ,now engaged in carrying
out the forceful programs which have made its
name respected throughout the nation. But,
while seeking new conservation and wildlife
gains for th'e future, we must remain strong and
united lest we lose all that we have won in the
past.
"IN UNION THERE IS STRENGTH"
WITH JUST ONtSTICK
-------
581*
1954
1959
1964
1965
BLAST FURNACE FLUE DUST
% OF FURNACES WITH ADEQUATE TREATMENT
TOTAL FURNACES : 16
-------
585
76%
81%
1954
1959
1964
1966
MILL SCALE
% OF ROLLING MILLS WITH ADEQUATE TREATMENT
TOTAL ROLLING MILLS '. 63
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586
,:•:
SCHEDULE OF PROGRESS
MAHONING VALLEY
1954 1958 1961 1964
:HEMICAL TASTE AND ODOR
NUMBER OF DAVS PER VEAR
AT BEAVER FALLS EASTVALE
WATER TREATMENT PLANT
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58?
SCHEDULE OF PROGRESS
MAHONING VALLEY
1954
1959
1964
1966
100%
SEWAGE FROM STEELMILL POPULATION (35,000)
% COLLECTED AND CONNECTED TO TREATMENT FACILITIES
-------
588
-------
589
v
-------
590
-------
591
1 t1 Ti'J I"
mm
,*{v/j I
* U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1965 O - 795-164
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