Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Source materials from
upstream industries
Treatment and processing additives,
e.g., acids, alkalis, solvents, cyanide,
metals
Raw materials
Nonrenewable and
renewable resources
Energy input
Nonrenewable
energy resources
Midstream and
downstream industries
Airborne emissions
Gases and noxious
particulates
Wastewater,
liquid waste,
sludges
Solid
waste
Spills
Treatment and discharge or disposal
Acid precipitations
Particulate
deposition
Drains, receiving waters, holding
ponds, sludge ponds
Landfills,
repositories
FIGURE 4.12
Common denominator descriptor identifying interactions between midstream-downstream industries and
geoenvironment. Although all the descriptors shown are central to determination of industrial ecology and
sustainability indicators, the mandate for this topic does not cover industry technology for manufacturing
and processing (top half of diagram). The geoenvironmental concerns are directed to the issues identiied in
the bottom half of the diagram.
the broad arrows leading to the bottom of the diagram. From a geoenvironment perspec-
tive, the main points that require attention in establishing geoenvironment sustainability
indicators as a step toward assessment of capabilities to attain geoenvironmental sustain-
ability objectives have been stated in the preceding paragraph. These are grouped into
(a) resource utilization and (b) discharges.
The discussions and examples given in this chapter have focused principally on the
discharges since these are the agents—i.e., stressors—that come directly in contact with
the geoenvironment. In discussing the various processes in this chapter, and in showing
the diagrams for some of the processes, some appreciation of the many sources of inter-
actions with the geoenvironment and the kinds of stressors generated can be gained. In
the inal analysis, these all fall into the discharge group of points for study . In the bottom half
of Figure 4.12, the interactions with the geoenvironment are given as
• Wastewater and liquid spills : These are treated before discharge into receiving
waters. The concern is in regard to whether treatment is capable of removing all
the noxious and toxic substances.
• Liquid wastes and sludges : As noted in Table 4.2, these consist of inorganic and
organic chemicals and also inorganic and organic sludges. Disposal of these in the
geoenvironment is generally performed by constructing holding ponds or various
kinds of secure containment ponds. Escape of these contained liquids or sludges
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