Addressing ecologists, legislators, lawyers, and industrialists alike, Ruth Patrick asks what has been accomplished with the millions of dollars spent on upgrading our surface waters. Has the water improved in spite of the fact that the crayfish, snails, and algae are not those that one would expect to find in natural rivers and estuaries? To evaluate the success of environmental laws over the past two decades, the author examines the aquatic life of river systems in the Delaware Valley, Texas, and Georgia--the only areas in the United States where she found enough biological data to determine trends over time. Although tracing the impact of environmental laws is difficult, Patrick found that for these three water systems the results were generally positive. However, if society as a whole wants effective environmental legislation, organizations must take on a more systematic and orderly approach to data gathering. Patrick argues that in monitoring the waters, one must study protozoa, algae, and worms as well as fish, oysters, and shrimp; one must track amounts of metal as well as low concentrations of oxygen. In proposing options for the future, the author predicts that the cost of such monitoring will be higher than present expenditures, but the cost of lax control will be even greater.Originally published in 1992.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Product Description: Other Books of Related Interest from Van Nostrand Reinhold Drinking Water Quality Second Edition By John De Zuane, 520 pages, 6 × 9, illustrated In this Second Edition of his popular guide, John De Zuane provides clear, concise explanations of the latest regulations and current issues in water quality, from the original source to delivery to the consumer...read more

Product Description: The core of this report is a set of guidelines, with case studies from several utilities, for evaluating and managing T&O events, prior to customer complaints. The difficulty lies in the extreme sensitivity that many individuals have for the most difficult to manage earthy/musty taste and odor compounds, geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB)...read more

A thorough analysis of public policy and the Clean Water Act's effect on water quality in the U.S.Using water quality data and historical records from the past 60 years, this book presents the measured impact of the 1972 Clean Water Act on domestic waterways-ecologically, politically, and economically. Municipal Wastewater Treatment supports the hypothesis that the Act's regulation of wastewater treatment processes at publicly owned treatment works (POTW) and industrial facilities has achieved significant success. The authors' case is presented in:* Background information on the history of water pollution control and water quality management* Chapters addressing long-term trends in biochemical oxygen demand loadings from municipal wastewater plants and the "worst-case" dissolved oxygen levels in waterways downstream of point sources before and after the Clean Water Act* Nine case study assessments of long-term trends of pollutant loading water quality and environmental resources associated with POTW dischargesUsing long-term trends in dissolved oxygen as the key indicator of water quality improvements, this book provides a detailed retrospective analysis of the effectiveness of the water pollution control policies and regulations of the 1972 Clean Water Act. The successes of the Act that have been achieved over the past 30 years are placed in the historical context of the "Great Sanitary Awakening" of the 19th century and changes in public policies for water supply and water pollution control that have evolved during the 20th century to protect public health and the intrinsic value of aquatic resources. Case study sites include the Connecticut River, Hudson-Raritan Estuary, Delaware Estuary, Potomac Estuary, Upper Chattahoochee River, Ohio River, Upper Mississippi River, and Willamette River.Complete with end-of-chapter summaries and conclusions, Municipal Wastewater Treatment: Evaluating Improvements in National Water Quality is an essential book for engineers, scientists, regulators, and consultants involved in water quality management and wastewater treatment, as well as students of environmental engineering, environmental science, and public policy. (view table of contents)

Public water systems deliver high-quality water to the public. They also present a vast array of problems, from pollution monitoring and control to the fundamentals of hydraulics and pipe fitting.

Product Description: This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1999-05 Excerpt: ... comparisons of average annual and average monthly concentrations to the drinking-water standard...read more

Product Description: This volume explores the issues associated with the complex subject of water quality protection in an assessment of the successes and failures of the Clean Water Act over the past twenty years. In addition to examining traditional indicators of water quality, the authors consider how health concerns of the public have been addressed, and present a detailed examination of the ecological health of our waters...read more

An extensive bibliography is included in a treatise on the importance of water, law and regulations regarding water use, and a directory of organizations concerned with the water problem

Explains how to find out what is in tap water, evaluates different kinds of filters and bottled waters, describes the cheapest and best ways to have water tested, and rates specific products on the market today

Product Description: Other Books of Related Interest from Van Nostrand Reinhold Drinking Water Quality Second Edition By John De Zuane, 520 pages, 6 9, illustrated In this Second Edition of his popular guide, John De Zuane provides clear, concise explanations of the latest regulations and current issues in water quality, from the original source to delivery to the consumer...read more

Product Description: This valuable reference delineates the ground water quality concerns associated with the planning and usage of septic tank systems. Septic tank systems represent a significant source of ground water pollution in the United States...read more