THIRTY-SIXTH BIENNIAL REPORT 29 



being more definitely established, and permanent impounding areas 

 have been constructed and put in satisfactory operation at many addi- 

 tional mills during the biennium. 



A study to determine the extent and methods of controlling future 

 damage to waters of the Shasta Dam reservoir by tunnel drainage con- 

 taminated with copper and acid from abandoned mines will be con- 

 cluded shortly after the present biennium, the data now indicating that 

 a project to exclude air by sealing tunnel entrances would be effective. 



FOOD AND BEVERAGE PLANTS 



The food and beverage industries produce wastes causing pollution 

 of a different type but equal in importance to that from oil and mine 

 tailings. The large contributors to pollution in this classification are 

 the fruit, vegetable and fish plants, wineries, distilleries, beet sugar 

 refineries and milk products. Two factors have been primarily respon- 

 sible for delays in securing complete remedial measures to eliminate 

 pollution from these sources. First, seA'eral of the large industries have 

 had sufficient influence to request and secure deferred action. For- 

 tunately, during the present biennium the Fish and Game Commission 

 took a firm stand authorizing strict enforcement of pollulioii laws. 

 Second, complete remedial and treatment measures are de|)enilent on 

 further research and investigation, sufficient data not being available 

 for the design and installation of proper pollution control facilities. 

 In this connection, while the burden of responsibility rests with the 

 industry, it is essential that this Division be familiar with suitable 

 methods, and conduct sufficient research of a practical character to 

 offer suggestions to the industry, thus avoiding further delays when 

 it is claimed that treatment methods are not available. Employment 

 of a Junior Sanitary Engineer, recently approved by the Fish and 

 Game Commission, and construction of adequate laboratory facilities 

 are urgently needed to carry on this program. 



Notwithstanding the difficulties above stated, material progress 

 has been made in reducing pollution from the food and beverage indus- 

 tries. Celery packers in the Terminous area installed flume, elevator 

 and bin units at a cost of $50,000 for handling waste celery; this mate- 

 rial now being taken away by truck and utilized for stock feed. 

 Wineries in the Lodi area constructed sumps and land disposal areas 

 for still slops following a severe fish mortality from pollution of the 

 Mokelumne River. Asparagus packing and canning plants, together 

 with a few peach and tomato canners have eliminated a portion of the 

 garbage like wastes by land disposal, but further remedial measures 

 are urgently needed. Several sugar refineries improved land areas for 

 waste disposal and another refinery is now installing a treatment 

 plant. On the whole, pollution from sugar refinery wastes was greatly 

 reduced during the biennium. Pollution from milk product plants lias 

 been decreased over former years, but seasonal inspections are still 

 necessary to safeguard certain streams during summer and fall periods 

 of low water flow. 



Control of pollution from fish canning and reduftion j)lants con- 

 centrated at San Diego, Terminal Island, ^Monterey and the San Fran- 

 cisco Bay areas, estimated to produce wastes equivalent to the raw 

 sewage of 2,500,000 persons at Monterey and 5,000,000 persons in tlir 



