Subsurface injection of liquid waste with emphasis on injection practices in Florida

Abstract

As described herein, subsurface injection of liquid wastes has been practiced in the United States for more than 50 years. Early use was for the return to the subsurface of oilfield brines brought to the surface during petroleum production. Application to other liquid wastes began during the 1930's but did not achieve a significant status until the introduction of comprehensive Federal water pollution control laws and regulations in the 1960's and early 1970*8. My involvement with industrial and municipal wastewater injection technology began 20 years ago at the time interest in the method was strongly growing. I was convinced, at that time, that full use of the available oil-industry technology with appropriate modifications for the special problems involved would result in an environmentally safe practice that was well suited to some wastewaters. While never promoting subsurface injection, I attempted to provide technical information in an understandable form to other professionals, to administrators, and to the public so that appropriate regulatory judgments could be made at all political levels and so that wastewater injection, when practiced, would use the best available technology. The evidence from practice available today supports my original beliefs about the environmental safety of wastewater injection, as pointed out by J.H. Lehr in his article "The Word Is Out on Underground Injection and It's Not All Bad," published in the July-August 1984 issue of "Ground Water." Moreover, a rather comprehensive and sophisticated regulatory program has evolved under the Safe Drinking Water Act and the attendant Underground Injection Control Program that incorporates the necessary technical provisions for safe injection practice. Critics continue to question the methodology itself and the effectiveness of regulation, but evidence strongly supports continuation of its use in appropriate circumstances and with proper system design, construction, and operation. This publication is a fine contribution to the continuing documentation of injection practice. It ably summarizes the geology and hydrology and historic aspects of wastewater injection in Florida and provides a general background for those not already familiar with the technology.