Surface waters untreated sewage discharge

Impact of discharges of untreated sewage on surface water quality... 

Sources of pollutants are commonly divided into two categories point sources and nonpoint sources. Point sources of pollution refer to discrete, localized, and often readily measurable discharges of chemicals. Examples of point sources are industrial outfall pipes, treated sewage outfalls from wastewater treatment plants, and untreated storm water discharge pipes. A spill of chemicals, due fo an accident on or near a surface water body, can also be regarded as a point source because its initial areal extent is limited. Point sources are often modeled by "plume" or "cloud" models that explicitly consider where and when a chemical release occurs, and then mathematically model the concentration of the chemical as a function of time and location. 

This stratified estuary has a depth of 40 m, with an upper fresh or brackish water layer of 0.2-4 m, depending on the river flow. The main source of pollution is untreated municipal wastewater, which is discharged into the estuary. Water samples were collected at different distances from these sewage outlets at two water depths from the fresh and the marine water layers. Furthermore, at one location, a vertical profile of the water column was made, including a sample of the water surface micro layer. Total A9PEOn, and individual AgPEOi, A9PEO2 and NP concentrations were determined with normal phase HPLC-FL analysis. 

---