American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc.
This paper provides an examination of the problems associated with the management of problems associated with the management of sewage discharges from watercraft and offshore platforms. Areas of emphasis include waste platforms. Areas of emphasis include waste treatment techniques, Federal legislation concerning waste discharges, and the contribution of discharges to the pollution of navigable waters of the United States.
The intent of the paper is to provide shippers, shipowners, and platform operators with the most recent information on marine sewage treatment systems.
Environmental pollution has become a major concern. An increasing number of laws, regulations and standards are being proposed and promulgated to curb detrimental discharges into promulgated to curb detrimental discharges into U.S. waters. Although there are variations in the degree of control by the laws of the Federal Government, it is assured that the enforcement will require ships and offshore platforms to have total anti-pollution programs.
The need for regulatory compliance has initiated research programs for developing new ways and equipment to meet proposed standards. The regulations have also prompted investigations for monitoring instrumentation and methods for evaluating such systems.
This discussion includes three topics. The first is a description of the effects of sewage discharges. The second topic is a review of applicable regulations. The final topic is a description of sewage treatment systems which are available to the marine industry.
Sewage in its crude state contains many bacteria some of which are pathogenic. The bacteria vary more in kind than in quantity. Organisms found in soil, water, animal and human intestinal tracts may be found in sewage at different times. The bacteria are divided into two groups, aerobes and anaerobes. The former group is capable of transmitting typhoid, gastro-enteritis, para-typhoid, dysentery and cholera.
When sewage enters a waterway, a series of biochemical changes take place. Bacteria, algae, molds, and protozoa in the waterway decompose the sewage to nitrites, nitrates, sulfites, sulfates, and carbon dioxide. By photosynthesis, green plants in the waterway utilize the end products of decomposition for energy and release products of decomposition for energy and release oxygen to the water. The end result is self-purification of the water. This process progresses slowly and occurs only when a healthy progresses slowly and occurs only when a healthy balance between animal and plant life exists.
