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US water plants discharge 342 billion gallons per day
US water plants discharge 342 billion gallons per day In a recent report issued by The Mcllvaine Company, it was revealed that there are 7,000 plants in the US which are each discharging more than 1 million gallons per day (mgd) of water and wastewater. The combined discharge of 342 billion gallons per day (bgd) is more than 1,000 gallons per day for each person in the US. Since individuals use less than 50 gallons per day, the industrial usage is twenty times greater than personal usage. These 7,000 plants discharge more than 90% of
all the water and wastewater in the US. It is reported that the electric utility industry is far and away the largest segment, with its 554 facilities averaging more than 500 mgd for a total of 277 bgd for the industry. The municipal wastewater treatment industry doesn’t come close even though it has more than 4,000 individual plants discharging more than 1 mgd. Since this group only averages 5 mgd, the total discharge is only 20 bgd or less than 10% of the power plant total.
Other industries discharge far less water and wastewater. The 92 major steelworks discharge only 9.2 bgd. The petroleum refining industry discharges slightly over 8 bgd. The next largest segment is producers of aluminium sheet. The four major producers account for over 7 bgd of water and wastewater discharges. The copper ore mining segment is next with discharges of 3.5 bgd. Pulp mills round out the top seven with discharges in excess of 2.3 bgd. This
group does not include the paper mills which would add another 1.9 bgd. Three additional industries discharge over a billion gallons per day each. They are US Standard Industrial Code (SIC) 2869 industrial organic chemicals, SIC 2873 nitrogenous fertilizers, and SIC 2821 plastics materials. The following industries discharge more than 500 mgd, SIC 1422 crushed and broken limestone, SIC 2721 periodicals, SIC 4952 refuse systems, SIC 2631 paperboard mills, SIC 0921 fish hatcheries, SIC 1475 phosphate rock, and SIC 1011 iron ore mining. On a combined basis the 7000 plants discharge 342 bgd. The amount of treatment received varies greatly by industry. Each gallon discharged from a municipal sewage treatment plant has gone through extensive primary, in most cases secondary, and in some cases tertiary treatment. By contrast, the discharges by the electric utility industry include the hydroelectric plants which are primarily just diverting water. The next segment is cooling tower discharges. The Mcllvaine Company projects more recycling and lower wastewater discharges for many industries. For example, the semiconductor industry is looking closely at wastewater reclamation. The utility industry is facing expenditures of up to US$70 billion to meet proposed regulations to limit thermal discharges and meet new chemical discharge limits. In addition, sewage treatment plants in arid regions as well as many industries are looking to wastewater reuse rather than discharge. Detailed information on numbers of facilities and discharges is provided for each of 282 industry segments in the US in a new addition to the Mcllvaine Clear Solutions market service. Mcllvaine Company, 2970 Maria Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062, USA. Tel:+ 1 847 272 0010; Fax: +I 847 272 9673. E-mail: [email protected]
all the water and wastewater in the US. It is reported that the electric utility industry is far and away the largest segment, with its 554 facilities averaging more than 500 mgd for a total of 277 bgd for the industry. The municipal wastewater treatment industry doesn’t come close even though it has more than 4,000 individual plants discharging more than 1 mgd. Since this group only averages 5 mgd, the total discharge is only 20 bgd or less than 10% of the power plant total.
Other industries discharge far less water and wastewater. The 92 major steelworks discharge only 9.2 bgd. The petroleum refining industry discharges slightly over 8 bgd. The next largest segment is producers of aluminium sheet. The four major producers account for over 7 bgd of water and wastewater discharges. The copper ore mining segment is next with discharges of 3.5 bgd. Pulp mills round out the top seven with discharges in excess of 2.3 bgd. This
group does not include the paper mills which would add another 1.9 bgd. Three additional industries discharge over a billion gallons per day each. They are US Standard Industrial Code (SIC) 2869 industrial organic chemicals, SIC 2873 nitrogenous fertilizers, and SIC 2821 plastics materials. The following industries discharge more than 500 mgd, SIC 1422 crushed and broken limestone, SIC 2721 periodicals, SIC 4952 refuse systems, SIC 2631 paperboard mills, SIC 0921 fish hatcheries, SIC 1475 phosphate rock, and SIC 1011 iron ore mining. On a combined basis the 7000 plants discharge 342 bgd. The amount of treatment received varies greatly by industry. Each gallon discharged from a municipal sewage treatment plant has gone through extensive primary, in most cases secondary, and in some cases tertiary treatment. By contrast, the discharges by the electric utility industry include the hydroelectric plants which are primarily just diverting water. The next segment is cooling tower discharges. The Mcllvaine Company projects more recycling and lower wastewater discharges for many industries. For example, the semiconductor industry is looking closely at wastewater reclamation. The utility industry is facing expenditures of up to US$70 billion to meet proposed regulations to limit thermal discharges and meet new chemical discharge limits. In addition, sewage treatment plants in arid regions as well as many industries are looking to wastewater reuse rather than discharge. Detailed information on numbers of facilities and discharges is provided for each of 282 industry segments in the US in a new addition to the Mcllvaine Clear Solutions market service. Mcllvaine Company, 2970 Maria Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062, USA. Tel:+ 1 847 272 0010; Fax: +I 847 272 9673. E-mail: [email protected]