IV-382 



significant amounts of industrial wastes, which may add to their 

 variability and complexity. 



Municipal waste discharges have four important effects on receiving 

 water quality. 



(1) The decomposable organic matter of municipal waste 

 discharge exerts a demand on the oxygen resources of 



the receiving water. This demand can result in depletion 

 of dissolved oxygen to the point where desirable biota 

 cannot tolerate the environment; they disappear or are 

 killed. Complete depletion can result in noxious odors 

 with destruction of esthetic values. 



(2) Municipal wastes may contain pathogenic organisms 

 dangerous to human beings. The coliform bacteria 

 measurement is an index of the possible presence of 

 pathogens. The basic premise is that if fecal indicator 

 organisms are present, there is a high probability of 

 pathogens being present; this condition is a public 

 health hazard for anyone ingesting or contacting the 

 water. There are many documented cases of waterborne 

 epidemics and water transmitted diseases to support 



the health hazard premise. 



