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.     

Contribution to the study of phosphate ion desorption during the dilution of urban sewage outfalls in the marine environment

The study of continental effluents discharged into the marine environment has enabled us to show that phosphate ion concentration does not follow the linear law of dilution exhibited by a true solution. We were able to show that the dilution of sewage in seawater allows the particles and colloids to desorb phosphate ions, thus increasing the amount of already dissolved inorganic phosphate.     

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.     

Australia''s first deepwater sewage outfalls: Design considerations and environmental performance monitoring

The discharge of sewage to the ocean can be an issue of public and scientific concern. Such has been the case in Sydney over at least the past 25 years. In this paper, the history of Sydney's sewage discharge is outlined, and the decisions taken to address concerns about the environmental effects of shoreline discharge of large volumes of primary treated sewage effluent are described. Design criteria are described for deepwater outfall systems that, since 1990–1991, have discharged 80% of Sydney's sewage after primary treatment at North Head, Bondi and Malabar Sewage Treatment Plants (STP). The integrated elements of a comprehensive five year Environmental Monitoring Programme (EMP) are set out. Other papers in this volume describe the result of EMP component studies. The five year EMP was designed to provide the basis to assess the environmental performance of the new deepwater outfall systems during the first two years of their operation and to provide a baseline against which further change may be measured.     

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.     

Reducing sewage pollution in the Antarctic marine environment using a sewage treatment plant

Despite Antarctica being the largest pristine wilderness on Earth, many coastal Antarctic research stations release untreated sewage waste into the marine environment, which may have negative effects on local wildlife. In February 2003 a sewage treatment plant was installed at Rothera Research Station (Adelaide Island, Antarctic Peninsula). After one year of operation the sewage treatment plant had dramatically reduced the microbiological pollution in the near-shore marine environment around the outfall and seawater quality conformed to European Union Bathing Water Standards.     

High congruence of isotope sewage signals in multiple marine taxa

Assessments of sewage pollution routinely employ stable nitrogen isotope analysis (δ¹⁵N) in biota, but multiple taxa are rarely used. This single species focus leads to underreporting of whether derived spatial N patterns are consistent. Here we test the question of ‘reproducibility’, incorporating ‘taxonomic replication’ in the measurement of δ¹⁵N gradients in algae, seagrasses, crabs and fish with distance from a sewage outfall on the Adelaide coast (southern Australia). Isotopic sewage signals were equally strong in all taxa and declined at the same rate. This congruence amongst taxa has not been reported previously. It implies that sewage-N propagates to fish via a tight spatial coupling between production and consumption processes, resulting from limited animal movement that closely preserves the spatial pollution imprint. In situations such as this where consumers mirror pollution signals of primary producers, analyses of higher trophic levels will capture a broader ambit of ecological effects.     

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.     

Health of red morwong, Cheilodactylus fuscus, and rock cale, Crinodus lophodon, from Sydney cliff-face sewage outfalls

Health of red morwong, Cheilodactylus fuscus and rock cale, Crinodus lophodon was assessed using histology to determine effects of the Sydney cliff outfalls on these two species. Ten individuals of each species were sampled from three outfall sites and three control sites. Benign epitheliocystis, presence of metazoan parasites, epithelial lifting, telangiectasis, haemorrhage and inflammation were found in the gills of some individuals. Hemosiderin was present in melanomacrophage aggregates in liver and spleen of some fish and also in kidneys of a few fish collected in Malabar outfall site. Hyaline droplets were present in tubular epithelium in kidney of some fish, particularly in the individuals collected from Malabar. Although for some changes there was a trend of greater prevalence at the outfall sites, there was no statistically significant difference between the fish from outfall sites and control sites. Most changes were species specific and the differences were statistically significant. This suggests problems with extrapolating results from one species to others. Greater replication, smaller range of size, chemical analysis of tissue residues as well as better knowledge of the fate of sewage and oceanographic processes would improve interpretation of any future surveys. A multidisciplinary approach would be most beneficial for pollution studies.     

海洋地震资料采集过程中近场检波器的应用

海洋地震资料采集中空气枪震源近场检波器不仅可以较好地进行震源质量实时监控,更重要的是可以较好地预测远场子波.经国外大量的远场子波实测试验与预测结果对比,利用近场检波器预测远场子波,与实测远场子波吻合度很高,因此,利用近场检波器预测远场子波是一项非常关键的技术,然而国内在该技术领域还不是很成熟,目前只用来做一些震源的质量监控和近场子波记录.较为详细地描述了国外的部分试验结果,并根据国外的试验结果和国内的具体使用情况,提出了近场检波器放置位置、记录长度和采样率合理化选取的建议.并建议国内相关领域的专家尽快研发拥有自主知识产权的相关软件,利用近场子波来有效地预测远场子波.     

Analysis of foraminifera assemblages and sediment geochemical properties to characterise the environment near Araçá and Saco da Capela domestic sewage submarine outfalls of São Sebastião Channel, São Paulo State, Brazil

Superficial bottom samples were collected near diffusers of domestic sewage submarine outfalls at Araçá and Saco da Capela, São Sebastião Channel, Brazil. The goal of this study was to investigate the distribution and composition of live benthic foraminifera assemblages and integrate the results obtained with geochemical analyses to assess human-induced changes. According to the results obtained no environmental stress was observed near the Saco da Capela submarine outfall diffusers. The foraminifera assemblage is characterised by species typical of highly hydrodynamic environments, with well-oxygenated bottom waters and low nutrient contents. In contrast, near Araçá submarine outfall, organic enrichment was denoted by high phosphorus, sulphur and, to a lesser extent, total organic carbon content. Harmful influences on foraminifera could be identified by low richness and specific diversity, as well as the predominance of detritivore feeder species, which are associated with higher organic matter flux and low oxygen in the interstitial pore water.     

Metals in marine sediments near a large California municipal outfall

Elevated concentrations of trace metals in surficial sediments off Palos Verdes Peninsula, site of the Los Angeles County outfall system, clearly reflect the submarine discharge of treated municipal (domestic and industrial) wastewater. The following contamination factors (median outfall/median baseline) were obtained for the eight metals measured in a 45 km² region of the outfall monitoring zone: Ag-27; Cd-36; Cr-12; Cu-20; Hg-23; Ni-5.4; Pb-17; Zn-7.7.     

Assessing marine debris in deep seafloor habitats off California

Marine debris is a global concern that pollutes the world’s oceans, including deep benthic habitats where little is known about the extent of the problem. We provide the first quantitative assessment of debris on the seafloor (20-365 m depth) in submarine canyons and the continental shelf off California, using the Delta submersible. Fishing activities were the most common contributors of debris. Highest densities occurred close to ports off central California and increased significantly over the 15-year study period. Recreational monofilament fishing line dominated this debris. Debris was less dense and more diverse off southern than central California. Plastic was the most abundant material and will likely persist for centuries. Disturbance to habitat and organisms was low, and debris was used as habitat by some fishes and macroinvertebrates. Future trends in human activities on land and at sea will determine the type and magnitude of debris that accumulates in deep water.     

Clostridium perfringens as a potential indicator for the presence of sewage solids in marine sediments

Marine sediment cores collected from several depths of water and distances from a California sewage outfall were tested to see if sediments influenced by sewage solids were a reservoir of enteric pathogens, and if concentrations of indicator bacteria were related to the presence of sewage solids. Vertical distributions of microorganisms in marine sediments were determined; there was a decrease of indicator bacteria with increasing sediment depth. Aeromonas was randomly isolated, but none of the enteric bacterial pathogens or viruses were detected. While classic indicator bacteria were of little value in predicting the presence of pathogens, or relative amounts of sewage solids, Clostridium perfringens may be a suitable indicator. Clostridium perfringens concentrations were not related to the presence of pathogens in sediments.     

Barium content of marine sediments near drilling sites: A potential pollutant indicator

Barite is commonly used as a weighting agent in oil- and gas-well drilling mixture; therefore, the distribution pattern of barium in marine sediments near drilling sites may provide an indicator of anthropogenic chemical contamination from these operations. Present average content of barium in benthic sediments from the Southern California Bight was determined to be 637 ppm, with a range from 43 to 1899 ppm, and that of the mainland and the channel island intertidal sediments averaged 879 and 388 ppm, respectively.     

香港地区海陆地震联测及深部地壳结构研究

为了探明南海北部海陆过渡带的深部地壳结构,我们在香港外海域进行了一次海陆地震联洲的实验,利用固定地震台网远距离接收海上气枪信号,接收距离远达200多km,并利用此次实验的测线1剖面模拟得到了海陆过渡带的深部地壳速度结构.速度结构模型表明:研究区海陆过渡带的地壳结构非均匀性较明显,由陆至海沉积层有一个突然增厚的特点;莫霍面深度约为26～29 km,上地壳P波速度约为5.5～6.4 km/s,下地壳P波速度为6.5～6.9 km/s.在担杆列岛往海方向有一个低速破碎带,其上地壳P波速度为5.2～6.1 km/s,下地壳P波速度为6.2～6.4 km/s,结合野外地质调查的结果,推测它可能为滨海断裂带.在担杆列岛往陆方向香港和深圳之间的研究区域,莫霍面有较大起伏,可能与此处发育的海丰断裂有关.     

Interpretation of a deep electromagnetic sounding of the ocean floor near the Californian coast

Amplitude and phase curves of magnetotelluric (MTS) and gradient magneto-variational (MVS) soundings in the period range 0.5–24 h obtained by Cox, Filloux and Larsen are interpreted. After some corrections the results of both kinds of sounding are practically the same. These results indicate high-conductivity oceanic asthenosphere at the 70–170-km depths.