4A 



1 JOHN VLASTELICIA 



2 Another finding of the waste distribution 



3 and water quality studies is this. There are generally 



4 two zones of pollution associated with each waste source. 

 g The first zone is a zone of acute pollution surrounding 

 g each source. It is a localized condition resulting from 

 7 the discharge of large voluooes of pulp and paper mill 

 g wastes to shallow and confined dock-front areas. The 



9 extent of this zone varies from a few hundred feet to as 



10 much as a mile from the source, depending, of course, on 



11 the volume and character of the wastes, the method of 



12 discharge, and the local water circulation patterns. 



13 Within this zone of acute pollution are found high waste 



14 concentrations, anaerobic sludge deposits, and a result- 



15 ing seriously degraded water quality. 



16 Sulfite waste liquor concentrations often 



17 exceed 1,000 parts per million. Sulfides and other toxic 



18 and odorous gases are produced and released by the decom- 



19 posing sludge. Result, oxygen concentrations drop below 



parts per 



20 five/ million in this zone and often approach zero in some 



21 areas, pH of the water drops a unit or more to below seven, 



22 sometimes to below six, and the receiving waters are generality 



23 turbid or highly colored. 



24 Characteristically, very rapid changes in 



25 water quality occur within the acute zone, depending on 



