IV-134 



ate vicinity. It is unlikely that cities were built on the coastline 

 with any conscious consideration of the use of the estuarine environ- 

 ment for waste disposal, yet it has happened that this use has become 

 one of the major uses of estuarine waters and the associated land. 

 Virtually all of the cities and industries in the coastal counties 

 dispose of wastes either directly or indirectly into the estuarine 

 zone. 



Liquid waste discharges to estuarine systems include domestic waste 

 products, industrial waste materials of all degrees of chemical com- 

 plexity and sophistication, used cooling water with its thermal load, 

 and storm runoff. These wastes affect the estuarine environment in 

 different ways and can eliminate other beneficial uses (Figure IV. 2. 

 20). 



Liquid wastes are not the only concern. The use of the estuarine 

 shoreline for refuse dumps and land fills results in considerable 

 debris getting into the water (Figure IV.2.21). Water leaching 

 through these dumps has a pollutional impact on the estuarine water. 

 Spoil disposal from dredging activities is another form of solid 

 waste material that contributes to estuarine degradation (Figure IV. 2 

 22). Solid materials entering the estuary in the form of debris from 

 storm runoff can be significant in terms of damaging beneficial uses. 



The impact of waste disposal on the estuarine environment will be 

 discussed in Part IV, Chapter 5. In the context of estuarine uses 



