General Motors Approach to Water
Pollution Control
G. N. TIBERIO, Staff Engineer
Plant Engineering Section, Manufacturing Staff
General Motors Corporation
Detroit, Michigan
INTRODUCTION
The success of any corporate program depends upon the climate created by
top management and the support given to it. This is particularly true in the area
of non-productive expense, such as water pollution control equipment, where objectives other than profit must be sold.
In General Motors we have been very fortunate to have leadership sensitive to
the corporation's responsibilities to be a good neighbor and citizen. Let me be
specific.
An Industrial Waste Treatment Committee was established to investigate and
advise on all problems related to the control of waste resulting from manufacturing
operations. Over a four year period, 19 meetings were held with more than 500
people participating from 30 GM Divisions. In addition more than 50 non-GM
technical authorities served as advisors and consultants.
Control equipment was studied, potential pollutants were classified, and recommendations were made to reduce, by in-plant housekeeping, the discharge of
contaminants.
But the Committee did not have a near-sighted preoccupation with General
Motors and its specific problems. Corporation pollution control was related to the
community and the nation. Liaison was maintained with governmental regulatory
agencies, sportsmen's associations and technical societies to help determine future
trends in the stream pollution abatement movement and the total problem of a
growing society.
The sum of four years of study was then relayed to top management in a report and statement of objectives which I think is remarkably enlightened. To
show you what I mean by enlightened, let me quote a few excerpts from this
report:
"We are seeing today a vigorous renewal of the demand for lessening of
pollution of streams by industrial waste discharges. The rising insistence and
force of public opinion, with its accompanying political impact, are the great
motivating factors in the anti-stream pollution movement.
"The mounting tide has swept into Congress where anti-pollution legislation has been passed and gives a forecast of what may be expected as Federal
programs are whipped into shape.
"One of our endeavors has been to gain the confidence of governmental
authorities and to impress upon them our willingness to correct any bad situations without waiting for government action.
"Plant management must recognize that waste treatment facilities are as
much a part of production costs as many other measurable factors.
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