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Published November 1982 | public
Journal Article

Sludge disposal in Southern California basins

Abstract

Disposal of digested sewage sludge in coastal marine waters off Southern California is technically feasible, although it is not permissible under present policies of the state and federal governments. A one-dimensional model of physical and chemical processes in the San Pedro-Santa Monica Basin was developed to project environmental responses to different disposal strategies. The model suggests that deep disposal (800 m) would have crucial impacts on oxygen concentrations but shallower disposal (400 m) would not. Trace metal and sulfide buildup should not be significant problems. Organic particle buildup poses unknown problems for deep-living fauna.

Additional Information

© 1982 American Chemical Society. Received for review October 9, 1981; Revised manuscript received July 13, 1982; Accepted July 19, 1982. This paper reports on part of the ongoing research by Caltech 's Environmental Quality Laboratory on alternative practices for disposal of digested sewage sludge in the ocean. Support has been provided by the Ford Foundation (Grant No. 740-0469), the Rockefeller Foundation (Grant No. CA NES 7706), and a consortium of the County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles, and the County Sanitation Districts of Orange County since August 1977. I thank J. J . Morgan, R. C. Y. Koh, and N. H. Brooks for helpful discussions and D. Kent and T. Fall for their assistance.

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 17, 2023