Interesting Developments in Industrial Waste Disposal
L.   F.   WARRICK
'¦'¦¦',. Chief, Technical Services Branch
Division of Water Pollution Control Public Health Service Federal Security Agency      ' Washington, D. C.
The purpose of this paper is to briefly describe certain interesting developments in going forward with the solution of industrial waste problems. A few of the methods of utilizing, treating and disposing of the wastes are still in the experimental stage; some are novel processes taking advantage of particular local conditions in providing practical answers for waste disposal problems. It is desired to emphasize the importance of broadening the scope and extent of research and develop¬ ment work to accomplish essential results in waste utilization and stream improvement. This is one of the main objectives of the recently estab¬ lished National Technical Task Committee in Industrial Wastes. The functions and activities of this committee, established by Industry to aid in measures to improve the quality of the nation's water resources, are outlined.
Most industries use water for processing purposes, but few return it to the streams and rivers in the condition in which it was received. On the incoming end, process water must meet the requirements of the product being manufactured. On the outgoing end, the practice all too often has been to discharge water to the stream or sewer without any corrective treatment. "  ,.,i , ,. <
The over-all problem of pollution of surface and under-ground streams is receiving primary consideration in current Federal and State Pollution Laws. The primary purpose of such laws is the satisfactory, if only partial, elimination of existing pollution and the limiting of additional pollution which may be discharged. No law attempts to bring all streams back to their pre-civilization purity. Concerted efforts of those interested will gradually bring these streams to various degrees of purity consistent with downstream uses.
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