Wiley Handbook of Science and Technology for Homeland Security, 4 Volume Set

HOMELAND SECURITY AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT

MARC A. MILLS AND RICHARD C. BRENNER

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, Ohio

JAMES F. KREISSL

Environmental Consultant, Villa Hills, Kentucky

MAKRAM T. SUIDAN

University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

1 INTRODUCTION

Wastewater results from mankind's use of water in all aspects of daily life, including personal hygiene, food preparation, commercial activity, industrial production, and recreation. Historically, increasing population density forced mankind to abandon localized disposal (cesspools, septic tanks, etc.) toward collection and conveyance of contaminated water away from population centers for the prevention of disease and protection of water supplies. The aggregate of these contaminated waters has over time come to be known as wastewater or sewage. Most commonly, this wastewater was directly discharged into local surface waters, such as streams, lakes, rivers, and oceans. Also, a limited amount of this water was used for irrigation.

Mankind's relationship to the environment has been documented as far back as 3750 BC in the form of archeological findings and ancient writings. The history of what we call “sewers” is most fascinating and is well documented in the literature. In the United States, the first sewerage system constructed in a major city is reported to have been in New York City in 1805 [1].

The long battle to separate mankind from its waste products has taken many turns ...