18-Env-B5 Industrial & Hazardous Waste Management · May 2015
Nivaar worked solution (AI-drafted; not reviewed by a licensed engineer)
Reference texts: Nemerow & Dasgupta, Industrial and Hazardous Waste Treatment, 2nd ed.; Metcalf & Eddy, Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Resource Recovery, 5th ed.; Davis & Cornwell, Introduction to Environmental Engineering, 6th ed.; LaGrega, Buckingham & Evans, Hazardous Waste Management, 2nd ed.; CCME, Guidelines for the Management of Biomedical Waste in Canada (1992); Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), 1999; Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes (1989); provincial hazardous waste regulations (e.g. BC's Environmental Management Act and Hazardous Waste Regulation).
Question text not reproduced: the examination questions are © Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Open the official past paper (linked at the top of this page) to read the question, then follow the worked solution below.
(1) High and/or highly variable organic strength (BOD5/COD), which can overload a downstream biological process or a receiving water's dissolved-oxygen budget. (2) Toxicity to the microorganisms in a downstream biological treatment process, or directly to aquatic life if discharged untreated, from heavy metals, biocides, or certain organic solvents. (3) Extreme or fluctuating pH, which is directly corrosive to conveyance infrastructure and can inhibit or kill a biological treatment population outside its tolerable range. (4) Elevated temperature, which reduces oxygen solubility in the receiving water and can thermally shock a biological process. (5) High oil and grease or suspended-solids content, which can foul equipment, blind filters, and coat biological floc, physically interfering with treatment.
