58
TREATMENT OF WASTES PRODUCED IN  METAL¬
LURGICAL AND METAL WORKING INDUSTRIES
William S. Wise
Chief Engineer, State Water Commission, State Office Bldg.,
Hartford, Connecticut
Introduction. The treatment of industrial wastes is vitally im¬
portant, not only to a limited few individuals or interests, but to
many people whose lives and welfare are directly or indirectly
affected. It should, therefore, be undertaken with a two-fold purpose
—the abatement of pollution and the recovery for re-use of ma¬
terials of value. In an ideal industrial waste treatment problem
the wastes are of such a composition that products can be recovered
at a profit for utilization in the industry producing them, and the
resulting effluent can be discharged to the waterway without detri¬
mental effect. If all industrial wastes were t>f such a nature, the
abatement of pollution of waterways would be comparatively simple.
Unfortunately a large majority of the wastes do not fall in this ideal
category.
The fact is that practically all industrial wastes can be treated
by a process or a combination of processes to a degree which will
permit their discharge into almost any watercourse. The factor
which limits the adoption of such processes is the cost. Advance¬
ment in the science of industrial waste treatment has been rapid, but
an important phase of this complex problem which will always re¬
quire the utmost consideration is the reconciliation of conflicting
interests; of public and industrial water supply versus waste disposal;
of industrial interests versus those of the sportsmen; of the interests
of one industry as opposed to those of another; in short, how to
conserve vital water resources for maximum utility consistent with
all reasonable uses. >
A notable increase in stream pollution is a consequence of in¬
dustrial development and growth. With all indications pointing to a
continuation of this trend, it is essential that each state inaugurate
a  pollution  abatement program,  the  goal  of  which must  be  the
Nature of the wastes and their treatment. The wastes in the
group here considered are produced from manufacturing processes
in the following industries:
1. Brass and Copper—sheet, rod, wire products.
2. Iron and Steel—sheet, rod, wire products.