Waste Water

• ARE YOU SWIMMING IN A SEWER?

Waste Water

• Billions of gallons produced every day
• 500 million gallons in Boston, MA
• 950 million gallons in Los Angeles, CA
• 1.5 billion gallons in NYC

Boston Harbor

• Ten years ago it was one of the most polluted harbors
• First environmental law in the United States was passed in Boston in 1656, restricting butchers from dumping animal parts and other garbage into the harbor waters
• In the 1660's, Boston Harbor was the major import harbor from England

Boston Harbor

• In 1796, there were a series of illnesses breaking out
• The 1863 cholera epidemic lead to a public cry for improved sewage
• In the latter part of the 1800's, warnings were posted to not swim in the Boston Harbor for fear of boils.

Boston Harbor

• They built two sewage treatments plants-in 1889 and 1899 –an improvement but they still pumped raw sewage into the harbor
• They ignored the Clean Water Act passed by Congress in 1972

Water Treatment

• Large and small debris screened out on Nut Island
• Waste water sent to Deer Island where larger particles are allowed to settle out-sludge
• Sludge sent to digesters

• Primary Treatment

Water Treatment

• Biological process
• Wastewater and microorganisms are combined in tanks
• Secondary sludge sent to digesters
• Sludge converted to fertilizer pellets
• Clarified water mixed with bleach
• Declorinated and discharged into bay

• Secondary Treatment

How dangerous is the wastewater that we put in the sea?

• Contamination can lead to detrimental effects in fish and other species. Shown here is a fish with tumors.