Exposure to sewage plumes and the incidence of deformities in larval fishes

Point-source impacts such as sewage plumes can cause significant degradation of larval habitat. Data on larval abundance, current speed and the shape of surface and subsurface sewage plumes off the coast of Sydney, Australia, indicated that long-shore currents can transport large numbers of larvae through plumes that can potentially affect the health of larvae. Deformities to the notochord, eyes and head were found in samples of preserved wild larvae. Some deformities (e.g. Lateral curl of the notochord) were probably caused by preservation and ‘packing effects’ (shaped by organisms and objects in the sample), while others (e.g. half-pigmented eyes and corrugated notochord) were unlikely to have been caused by sampling artefacts. Deformed larvae were found in waters around Sydney that are influenced by multiple sewage outfalls, and at locations up to 250 km from Sydney. It was concluded that deformities were caused by natural and potentially anthropogenic factors. Cyto- and histopathological studies of larvae are required. Moreover, relationships between oceanography and concentrations of pollutants in plumes are needed to further assess impacts of pollutants on assemblages of vulnerable planktonic animals.     

Metal contamination of sediments associated with deepwater ocean sewage outfalls, Sydney, Australia

The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority has recently completed a programme to evaluate the impact on near-shore shelf sediments, following the commissioning of three new deepwater sewage outfalls off Sydney, Australia. These outfalls discharge a total of around 1300 ML day⁻¹ of primary treated sewage derived from domestic and industrial sources. The study compared three locations that were close to the outfalls (likely impacted) and three locations far from the outfalls (likely non-impacted). Four zones were sampled within each location to provide estimates of spatial variability. Three samples of surface sediment were collected from each zone at six monthly intervals over a three year period which encompassed the commissioning of the outfalls. The results of the study suggest that, associated with the commissioning of the three deepwater outfalls, there has not been a significant effect on the concentration of trace metals in the sediments surrounding the outfalls. The concentrations of trace metals in the whole sediment generally were close to the world-wide background levels quoted in the literature, and generally reflected the distribution pattern of the sedimentary fines (< 62.5 mm). When compared to a number of sediment quality guidelines, the concentrations of trace metals were found to be below a level considered to have the potential to cause biological effects or (in the case of As, Ni, Cr) at a level that could be tolerated by the majority of benthic organisms.     

Subtidal assemblages on rocky reefs at a cliff-face sewage outfall (North Head, Sydney, Australia): What happened when the outfall was turned off?

For many years, sewage was continuously discharged via inshore outfalls into shallow subtidal habitats around Sydney (New South Wales). In 1990, deepwater ocean outfalls were commissioned and inshore discharge ceased. This study examined the assemblage of organisms found on subtidal cliffs at one inshore outfall to examine differences in, or recovery by, the biota when sewage was no longer discharged. This assemblage was primarily composed of filter-feeding animals (sponges, ascidians, bryozoans, anthozoans) and encrusting algae. Differences and changes in the assemblages at a number of different spatial scales, relative to the assemblages at two reference locations, were examined four times over a 20 month period. Although most taxa showed significant changes over the study period, most of these were unpredictable and varied interactively according to the taxon, plot, depth and location. For most measures, however, the location where sewage had been released lay within the natural variability shown by the reference locations. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to other studies on the effects of sewage on intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats.     

Assessing impacts of deepwater sewage disposal: A case study from New South Wales, Australia

To overcome the problems of beach pollution Sydney Water constructed three deepwater sewage outfalls off North Head, Bondi and Malabar. The outfalls were commissioned over the period September 1990–July 1991. A 5-year multi-disciplinary environmental monitoring programme was set up to assess the impacts on the demersal fish and soft-bottom macro-invertebrate communities. Assessment of impact was based on an asymmetrical analysis of variance which provided an a priori orthogonal contrast between a single outfall and multiple control sites sampled before and after commissioning. Impacts were detected in both communities, included several commercially and recreationally important species of fish, and occurred with the greatest frequency in the soft-bottom community. The results are summarized, and several examples are presented and show that the direction and magnitude of the impacts varied among outfalls and taxa. The results are then discussed in terms of the needs of future monitoring and the implications for the assessment of human-induced impacts in other parts of the world.     

‘Oyster watch’: Monitoring trace metal and organochlorine concentrations in Sydney''s coastal waters

This paper examines concentrations of trace contaminants in oysters placed in inshore and offshore waters before and after the change to offshore disposal of sewage near Sydney, NSW, Australia. The ability to compare inshore and offshore concentrations before and after the event allows the formulation of unconfounded conclusions about the impact of sewage on the availablity of trace contaminants in the coastal environment and the effect of the change in the method of disposal of Sydney's sewage on the availability of those contaminants.

The data show clearly that the diversion of sewage from nearshore to offshore areas has resulted in a significant drop in the concentrations of organochlorines in oysters deployed near sewage outfalls in the nearshore region. In offshore areas, there were no differences detected among regions prior to the commissioning of deepwater outfalls. In the post commissioning period there were a number of instances when trace metal concentrations in the regions were different from each other, but these differences were not correlated with proximity to the sewage outfalls nor was a particular metal consistently elevated, so it was concluded that the causes of difference were not related to the presence of the sewage outfalls.

This study has demonstrated that oysters were useful indicators of trace metal and organochlorine contamination of marine waters; that relatively high levels of contamination of inshore waters near sewage outfalls prior to deepwater sewage disposal were reduced, to be not different from other parts of Sydney's coastline after the commencement of deepwater discharge, and that there was no concommitant increase in accumulation of contaminants in offshore waters. Further, preliminary indications are that Sydney's coastal waters are not very heavily contaminated by trace contaminants in comparison to areas of NSW with much lower levels of development. Concentrations of organochlorines are, however, high in comparison to data from similarly developed areas of the USA.     

Organochlorine compound and trace metal contaminants in fish near Sydney's ocean outfalls

Sydney's inshore sewage outfalls were significant contributors to organochlorine contamination of inshore sedentary fish such as red morwong. Diversion of the sewage to deepwater outfalls has resulted in marked declines in the concentrations of these compounds in inshore red morwong. Apart from lead, however, similar trends did not occur for concentrations of trace metals. A wide variety of trace metals and organochlorine compounds were found in the flesh and/or livers of a variety of fish species caught at sites associated with the present deepwater ocean outfalls off Sydney. Fish caught at locations remote from Sydney also contained a wide variety of trace metals although organochlorine compounds were usually at lower levels. The mean contaminant levels in all species of offshore fish were generally found to be low when compared to the Australian National Food Authority's Maximum Residue Limit (NFA MRL). No fish analysed was found to have levels of an organochlorine compound above the MRL and no fish was found to have levels of zinc or lead above the MRL. When detected, fish with levels of a trace metal above the MRL appeared to be distributed throughout New South Wales, independent of the deepwater ocean outfalls off Sydney. There is no evidence as yet that the commissioning of the deepwater outfalls has led to an increase in levels of contaminants in the fish examined to the extent that they are of concern relative to the NFA MRLs.     

An overview of numerical modelling of the Sydney deepwater outfall plumes

In order to predict the behaviour of plumes from three deep ocean outfalls for sewage off Sydney, three-dimensional numerical modelling was used. The modelling suite was driven by data generated by an oceanographic monitoring station measuring wind, ocean currents, temperature and wave characteristics. Three different modelling phases are implemented daily, a nearfield model, a hydrodynamic model and a water quality model. Model output can be used by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority to predict water quality at ocean beaches and inform the community.     

Environmental variables and their association with faecal coliform and faecal streptococci densities at thirteen Sydney beaches

Environmental variables and their association with faecal coliform and streptococci densities were investigated at a number of Sydney's metropolitan beaches. High variability in faecal coliform and faecal streptococci densities was observed at most beaches. The ability of the various models to explain the observed variation in faecal coliform or streptococci levels was relatively low, although they did provide an insight into the more influential environmental factors involved. Rainfall has the single most important effect on faecal coliform and streptococci densities at Sydney beaches. Whether this is due to increased stormwater runoff at the beaches, increased discharge through the outfalls (both the deepwater ocean outfalls and the few remaining shoreline outfalls), or a combination of both is unclear and is likely to depend on the individual beach being considered. Elevated levels of faecal coliforms and streptococci are still occasionally observed at some beaches, but these levels are usually not as high nor as frequent as they were prior to commissioning of the deepwater outfalls. The significant associations of current and plume entrapment with faecal coliform and streptococci densities at some Sydney beaches suggest that under certain conditions, effluent from the deepwater ocean outfalls can still influence faecal coliform and streptococci densities at these beaches.     

The beachwatch pollution monitoring programme: Changing priorities to recognize changed circumstances

Since the commissioning of the three major deepwater outfalls in Sydney, there has been a dramatic improvement in general beach water quality at Sydney's ocean beaches. This has required the NSW Environment Protection Authority's Beachwatch Programme to shift from assessing the impacts of gross sewage pollution due to nearshore outfalls to more diffuse pollution from stormwater and sewer overflows.

The visual indicators of gross sewage pollution originally used by Beachwatch for the daily assessment of bacterial water quality are now of limited value. General linear models (with multiple effects) were constructed to identify the secondary indicators which best describe the levels of bacterial contamination due to stormwater pollution. Data from four representative Sydney beaches were modelled separately due to the site-specific effects of pollution sources and hydrodynamics. Factors which were built into the models and were known on the day of prediction were rain amount, presence of stormwater material, the maximum daily stormwater rating, drain or lagoon flows at the time of sampling, and the drain/lagoon bacterial concentration two days before sampling.

Results indicate that there is a general linear relationship between visual indicators and bacterial density; however, the reliability of the prediction on a daily basis is poor and rainfall alone as a predictor is equivalent to or better than visual assessment alone. The primary source of information for the preparation of Beachwatch daily pollution bulletins now is rainfall reports from a telemetered network of rain gauges along the coast. This is a more cost-effective approach and has allowed the reallocation of resources to address more directly the problem of stormwater pollution at higher risk beaches.     

Early experiences in monitoring the effects of Hong Kong's new generation of sewage outfalls on the marine environment

The rapid post war development of Hong Kong as a centre of population, industry and commerce far outstripped the provision of sewers, wastewater treatment and disposal facilities. A legacy of marine pollution remains; the Government is now addressing this problem through the implementation of an ambitious sewage strategy. At the core of the strategy lies a major sewerage programme and the construction of new sewage treatment plants and marine disposal outfalls. The authors outline the background to recent sewerage and related infrastructure development in Hong Kong and discuss the scope and role of an outfall performance verification monitoring programme. This monitoring programme also is intended to identify the need for future improvements to the system in order to ensure that statutory Water Quality Objectives can be achieved and maintained. This work is seen as an essential element in the strategy for providing a cost effective treatment and disposal system. The early stages of a programme to measure the effects of major sewage outfalls on coastal waters is described. Initial work in the north-west New Territories of Hong Kong has focused on understanding the dilution and dispersion of sewage plumes. Ongoing and recently completed plume tracking work, which has made use of innovative tools such as radio-isotope tracers, dye fluorescence, ADCP and other water quality sensors multiplexed to three dimensional positional recording systems is reviewed. The subsequent interpretation of these results and their value in assessing outfall performance is considered. The success of this work is discussed and the lessons for future monitoring programmes are identified.     

Tracing the influence of sewage discharge on coastal bays of Southern Vancouver Island (BC,Canada) using sedimentary records of phytoplankton

The impact of sewage and stormwater effluents on phytoplankton is investigated by comparing organic-walled dinoflagellate cyst abundance and diversity from 38 surface sediment samples, flanking southern Vancouver Island. Site locations include those directly adjacent to wastewater outfall at Clover and Macaulay Points and Saanich Peninsula, as well as from a variety of near-shore environments with differing tidal flow influences. Excellently preserved dinoflagellate cyst assemblages have been recovered and 36 cyst taxa were identified. Local assemblages are characterized by a high relative proportion (average 56%) of cysts produced by heterotrophic dinoflagellates, which is typical for regions of high primary production. Relative proportional increases of cysts from heterotrophic species with particular increases of Polykrikos kofoidii/schwartzii and Dubridinium species, known to reflect areas affected by eutrophication, occur directly adjacent to all three sewage outfalls, as well as in the more stagnant waters of Esquimalt and Victoria Harbours and at the mouth of Cadboro Bay. Further effects of an anthropogenic effluent can be seen in the relatively higher concentrations of organic carbon and the diatom production proxy, biogenic opal. Results from this study clearly indicate a much larger impact zone than predicted by a sewage effluent plume model or trends found in monitored benthic biota and sediment chemistry that evidence primary outfall affects <800 m eastward of Macaulay Point and about 200 m eastward of the Clover Point. Enhanced production of cysts from potentially toxic Alexandrium species is also observed near locations of sewage outfalls.     

Sewage and the community—One view of Sydney's deepwater outfalls, the environmental monitoring programme and the future of sewage disposal

Sydney's sewage disposal problems have been the catalyst for wider questioning by the community about the management of the water cycle in the Sydney Basin. Public concern over the deepwater ocean outfalls generated an involvement in the Environmental Monitoring Programme (EMP) which provided a number of insights into the marine environment offshore Sydney, interactions between agencies and the role of public interest groups. The EMP has not provided sufficient information to make decisions about the value of higher levels of treatment. However, public interest in these outfalls is being subsumed by demands for the greater recycling of water and mechanisms for reducing water use.     

NUMERICAL STUDY ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE THIRD SHANGHAI SEWERAGE PROJECT

1 INTRODUCTION Shanghai, Chinas largest metropolitan area with a population of about 14 million, is situated at the mouth of the Yangtze River, and bordered with the East China Sea to the east, Hangzhou Bay to the south, and the provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu to the west. It is a region with intensive distribution of rivers and lakes. The good geographic location and natural conditions have provided the city with superiority in its social and economic center and port city of the co…     

Der Einfluss von Kläranlagenabwässern auf benthische Wirbellose im Zürichsee

In 1981–83 sublittoral macroinvertebrates were collected by means of SCUBA diving from artificial substrates submerged near the outfalls from eight sewage treatment plants in Lake Zürich. Pollution around the outfall resulted on the one hand in a reduction of pollution intolerant benthic invertebrates, on the other hand in a considerable increase in the relative abundance of pollution tolerant taxa such as leeches, flatworms and crustaceans. Changes in the faunal composition were related to nutrient enrichment and changes in the nature of the substratum due to sedimentation of sewage sludge. Species diversity (Simpson index) showed low values near the outfall from some plants, high values near the outfall from others. Low species diversity did not always mark the sites where greatest pollution has been observed.      

Baseline studies of delaware ocean outfall sites

A quarterly sampling programme was conducted during 1973–1974 off the coast of Delaware to provide an environmental baseline for two ocean sewage outfalls. Extensive physical measurements and water quality data, together with biological data (fish, invertebrates, bacteriological samples), were collected. Based on this research the design of sewage treatment for one of the outfalls was improved.     

大口鲇幼鱼摄食、生长及驯化的初步研究

根据1991年1～12月的调查,陆水水库的浮游植物共8门118属,以绿藻、硅藻、蓝藻门的种类为主,占总属数的86.44％;浮游动物198种,其中原生动物38种、轮虫68种、枝角类61种、桡足类31种。浮游植物年平均数量和生物量分别为3.1449×10~6cell/L和1.937mg/L,数量以蓝藻、隐藻、硅藻最多,占总数量的91.33％,生物量以隐藻、硅藻、绿藻最大,占总生物量的85.03％,浮游植物初级毛产量为3.4gO_2/m~2·d。浮游动物年平均数量和生物量分别为2323.8ind/L和1.4837mg/L,数量以原生动物和轮虫最多,占96.89％,生物量以枝角类和桡足类为主,占79.94％.陆水水库浮游生物种类组成和现存量在不同的水域差异较大,季节变化明显。按水化学分析结果及浮游生物特征判定,陆水水库的营养类型为中营养型。还讨论了环境因子对水库浮游生物的影响。     

Detection of enteroviruses near deep marine sewage outfalls

At the present time there are approximately 160 million gallons per day of municipal sewage being discharged into the waters off the southeastern coast of Florida. Present in these sewage effluents are human pathogenic viruses whose fate in marine waters is not completely understood. Virus surveillance in waters receiving domestic wastewater discharge has concentrated on estuarine areas where water quality and depth are significantly different from the deep marine outfalls. Using the membrane filter adsorption technique, viruses were detected in the vicinity of deep marine outfalls discharging both raw and chlorinated, secondarily treated sewage.     

Coprostanol as sewage tracer in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

Sediment cores from the vicinity of sewage outfalls off McMurdo Station as well as surface grab samples from different locations in the McMurdo Sound, Antarctica were analysed for coprostanol (5β-cholestan-3β-ol) and epicoprostanol (5β-cholestan-3-ol) to assess the degree of sewage addition to the Sound. Sediment samples close to the point source contain as much as 3 mg g⁻¹ dry sediment of coprostanol, whereas samples farther from the source, for example from New Harbour and Granite Harbour, contain only trace levels to 40 ng g⁻¹. Coprostanol in the sediments of latter locations most likely originates from seals rather than from sewage outfalls. It appears that sewage particles are very quickly incorporated into the sediment layers close to the discharge point in the eastern Sound. However, significant levels (930 ng g⁻¹) of fecal sterols were detected in Cape Armitage surface sediments, indicating that the sewage plume could also have reached the seawater intake station, situated in between the outfall and Cape Armitage sampling site. These results suggest the need for a sound environmental monitoring and assessment of the existing wastewater practices in the region.     

千岛湖水环境质量调查与保护对策

1992年7～8月,对大口鲇幼鱼进行了不同饲料喂养和驯化试验,对其摄食、生长进行了研究。试验表明,大口鲇生长迅速,尤其投喂适口的活鱼,其生长速度极快,21天增重2.67～4.60倍,比投喂鱼肉组的体重增长快37.9％～84.3％。具有早晚摄食的习性,平均每克体重日摄食活鱼量为0.1～0.2g,摄食鱼肉量为0.18～0.29g,其饲料系数前者为2.32～3.12,后者为4.15～7.86。试验还表明,大口鲇幼鱼亦摄食人工混合饲料,5cm左右便可用人工饲料进行驯化,但驯化过程要逐渐过渡,驯化期间生长速度受到影响,饲料系数亦较高。     

DDTs in marine fishes following termination of dominant California input: 1970–77

Through source control, total DDT annual emissions from the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts' submarine outfalls decreased by a factor of 30 between 1971 and 1977 Here we report persistent elevated levels of DDT residues measured in three species of marine fishes with distinctly different feeding habits. Over the study interval, median levels of DDT residues have decreased 3-fold (8-fold and 4-fold from peak medians) in flesh of black perch and kelp bass. However, there was no apparent decrease in Dover sole. The sediment reservoir is the likely source of persistent contamination of fishes in the discharge area.