The rapid conversion of land to urban and suburban areas has profoundly altered how water flows during and following storm events, putting higher volumes of water and more pollutants into the nation's rivers, lakes, and estuaries. These changes have degraded water quality and habitat in virtually every urban stream system. The Clean Water Act regulatory framework for addressing sewage and industrial wastes is not well suited to the more difficult problem of stormwater discharges. This book calls for an entirely new permitting structure that would put authority and accountability for stormwater discharges at the municipal level. A number of additional actions, such as conserving natural areas, reducing hard surface cover (e.g., roads and parking lots), and retrofitting urban areas with features that hold and treat stormwater, are recommended.

The Handbook of Environment and Waste Management, Volume 1, Air and Water Pollution Control, is a comprehensive compilation of topics that are at the forefront of many technical advances and practices in air and water pollution control. These include air pollution control, water pollution control, water treatment, wastewater treatment, industrial waste treatment and small scale wastewater treatment.Internationally recognized authorities in the field of environment and waste management contribute chapters in their areas of expertise. This handbook is an essential source of reference for professionals and researchers in the areas of air, water, and waste management, and as a text for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in these fields.