Environmental problems in coastal ecosystems can sometimes be attributed to excess nutrients flowing from upstream watersheds into estuarine settings. This nutrient over-enrichment can result in toxic algal blooms, shellfish poisoning, coral reef destruction, and other harmful outcomes. All U.S. coasts show signs of nutrient over-enrichment, and scientists predict worsening problems in the years ahead. Clean Coastal Waters explains technical aspects of nutrient over-enrichment and proposes both immediate local action by coastal managers and a longer-term national strategy incorporating policy design, classification of affected sites, law and regulation, coordination, and communication. Highlighting the Gulf of Mexico's "Dead Zone," the Pfiesteria outbreak in a tributary of Chesapeake Bay, and other cases, the book explains how nutrients work in the environment, why nitrogen is important, how enrichment turns into over-enrichment, and why some environments are especially susceptible. Economic as well as ecological impacts are examined. In addressing abatement strategies, the committee discusses the importance of monitoring sites, developing useful models of over-enrichment, and setting water quality goals. The book also reviews voluntary programs, mandatory controls, tax incentives, and other policy options for reducing the flow of nutrients from agricultural operations and other sources.

Water Pollution Research covers the proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Water Pollution Research, held in Sydney, Australia on October 17-22, 1976. This book is composed of 150 and begins with discussions of the different sources of water pollution, including aerosolization, viral contamination, hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. Considerable chapters are devoted to various chemical processes for wastewater management; technical requirements for standard water quality; and methods of pollutant analysis. These topics are followed by surveys of Sydney's design of ocean outfall, an integrated pollution control system, and sewage sludge disposal. Other chapters describe the features of wastewater treatment reactors and other treatment alternatives. The remaining chapters present various case studies demonstrating the performance and improvements of different wastewater treatment facilities. This book will prove useful to water pollution researchers, environmentalists, and design engineers.

Pollution is undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human activities so that the environment becomes harmful or unfit for living things; especially applicable to the contamination of soil, water, or the atmosphere by the discharge of harmful substances. In addition to the harm to living beings, both present or future and known or unknown, pollution cleanup and surveillance are enormous financial drains of the economies of the world. This book focuses on issues and developments critical for the field.