Effluent standards for developing countries: combining the technology- and water quality-based approach

Abstract

It is a challenge for developing countries to realize socio-economical development without impairing water resources in an unacceptable way. A possible means for controlling water pollution is through defining, applying and enforcing effluent standards for wastewater discharges. However, in many developing countries the definition of effluent standards is still poor. They are either too stringent because they are based on standards from developed countries, or too relaxed and therefore they do not guarantee the safe intended uses of water. In order to define an approach for setting effluent standards that suits the needs and means of developing counties, water quality management practices in the USA, the EU, the New Independent States (NIS) and the Philippines were analyzed and compared. Four criteria (protection of the environment, technical viability, economic feasibility and institutional capacity requirements) were used to assess the suitability of these practices for developing countries. It is concluded that a combined approach that is based on best available technology not entailing excessive costs and environmental quality standards is the best way to define effluent standards that restrict water pollution against affordable costs.

Performance, Compliance and Reliability of Waste Stabilization Pond: Effluent Discharge Quality and Environmental Protection Agency Standards in Ghana

“…EPA's discharge standards used in the study: The Ghana Environmental Protection Agency discharge standards were adopted for the Coefficient of Reliability (COR) study, the parameters included (Table 3) correspond to other developing countries standards which are considered as more realistic as well as areas which falls within the tropical regions such as Brazil and elsewhere (Oakley et al, 2000;Ragas et al, 2005;Oliveira and Sperling, 2006). These standards are set as local guideline for discharge of effluents into either stream for irrigation or for replenishing aquifers.…”

Operação de filtros biológicos percoladores pós-reatores UASB sem a etapa de decantação secundária

“…Contudo, Chernicharo et al (2005) mostram que, quando considerados os custos de operação associados às tecnologias de tratamento investigadas (valor presente -dez anos), o custo total das unidades reacionais que constituem o sistema UASB/ FBP passa a ser substancialmente menor, principalmente em função da menor demanda energética atribuída ao sistema UASB/FBP. Considerando as principais vantagens associadas aos sistemas UASB/FBP (menor demanda energética e maior simplicidade operacional), tal tecnologia tem sido frequentemente incluída em estudos de concepção de estações de tratamento de esgoto doméstico (ETE) no contexto do Brasil, sendo tal combinação possivelmente aplicável em outros países em desenvolvimento (KASSAB et al, 2010;LETTINGA, 2010 et al,1994;WANNER et al, 1996;OAKLEY et al, 2000;RAGAS et al, 2005).…”

Establishment of Effluent Standards for Industrial Wastewaters in Korea: Current Issues and Suggestions for Future Plan

“…Combining both approaches can be a good solution to set the effluent standard in develo ping countries (Ragas et al, 2005). Wherever Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) is established, the water quality-based approach employed by US EPA (US EPA , 1991) can be applied.…”

“…The most common way to manage industrial wastewater is to apply environmental regulations such as effluent standards. Although most developing countries are applying effluent standards along with water quality standards to monitor the quality of the watershed, many of those are not from their own effluent guideline, but just from other countries' standards (Ragas et al, 2005).…”