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<br />REINHOLD W. THIEME <br /> <br />infrequent, rapid runoff from thunder storms produces heavily sediment-laden streams. This erosion <br />and deposition of sediments detracts from land and water resource development. <br /> <br />Runoff from agricultural lands is a major source of nutrients and pesticides found in streams. <br />Sediment transport is considered the primary means whereby phosphorus applied to the lands as <br />fertilizer reaches streams, <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Erosion of mining areas and solid-waste piles degrade water quality by the addition of sediments <br />and heavy metals. Construction operations disturb natural ground cover causing soils to be washed <br />away to streams sometimes along with construction debris, oil and other wastes. <br /> <br />'. <br /> <br />Water pollution must be considered in the selection of construction sites and pollution-control <br />requirements included in specifications for construction projects, <br /> <br />Pollution control practices, including the use of impoundments or diversions and proper waste <br />disposal are necessary, <br /> <br />Proper use of land is essential to water quality management and is the responsibility of each of <br />the public and private interests involved in land use, <br /> <br />Many conservation measures are available to reduce wind and water erosion and to prevent sedi- <br />m'ent and other materials from reaching streams. <br /> <br />Pollution has been observed downstream from some municipal and industrial wastewater <br />out falls resulting depressed oxygen levels, high bacterial densities, and over-production of algae, <br /> <br />Marked improvements in the abatement of pollution from municipal and industrial wastes have <br />occurred in recent years due to the construction of new waste treatment facilities. <br /> <br />Most of this development has been in municipal treatment works which treat wastes from many <br />industries in the community as well as domestic wastes. Since the enactment of water quality <br />standards, all the states in the Region require a minimum of secondary treatment or its equivalent <br />for municipal and industrial wastewaters. <br /> <br />Although secondary treatment works are commonplace in the Basin, and even though con- <br />siderable investment has been made for their installation, the level of treatment afforded by these <br />facilities is often less than desired. <br /> <br />Inadequate planning, design and construction of the physical plant may be, in part, responsible <br />for the expected benefits not being attained. However, in general, the primary factor is the operation <br />of the facilities. <br /> <br />Training and education programs should be established to provide trained personnel who are <br />skilled in plant operation, maintenance and laboratory techniques. <br /> <br />Laboratory facilities should be adequate so that reliable analyses can be made to determine the <br />efficiency and competency of plant operation. <br /> <br />Conventional waste treatment does not adequately remove all municipal and industrial pollutants <br />presently degrading regional waters, Continued research is needed into advanced wastc treatment <br /> <br />-19- <br /> <br />