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Analysis of Effluent Water

Effluent is waste or outflowing water that is returned to the environment. Effluent sources include storm drain outlets, sewage, agricultural runoff, industrial waste water and nuclear plant cooling water. Effluent is analyzed for probable contaminants and monitored for environmental safety.

  1. Storm-Water Monitoring

    • Storm water can have high bacteria levels.

      Storm water washes biological material off land and paved areas. Materials such as animal leavings can cause storm water to have high or dangerous levels of various types of bacteria. These can contaminate surround ground water supplies, rivers, lakes and the ocean. Runoff from agriculture and effluent from industry and residences can also contaminate storm water.

    Storm-Water Analysis

    • The Environmental Protection Agency analyzes storm water for different species of bacteria, excess nutrients, petrochemicals and household pollutants. Bacteria tested include E. coli and enterococcus. Chemicals monitored include ammonia, chlorine, potassium, fluoride, phosphorous and surfactants (detergents). A variety of pharmaceuticals have been found to contaminate urban runoff and are also analyzed.

    Priority Pollutants

    • The EPA has a list of more than 100 "priority pollutants" (see Resources) that it monitors in effluent water of all types. Included are a wide range of toxic metals, chemical compounds produced by industry and industrial waste, chemicals from petroleum use, insecticides and other agricultural chemicals.

    General Analytical Methods

    • Effluent is analyzed for general characteristics such as pH and conductance.

      In addition to testing for specific compounds, the EPA has general test methods (see Resources) to analyze effluent. These methods including monitoring conductance, hardness, pH, organic residues, turbidity, nitrogen and phosphorous.

    Specific Sources

    • Nuclear power plants are major sources of effluent.

      Specific sources of effluent are monitored by different agencies in the United States. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission oversees and records the discharge of radioactive waste in effluent from nuclear reactors. Gaseous and liquid contaminants are monitored, and release amounts are recorded on an annual basis. Other large sources of effluent are also monitored and analyzed. These include effluent from mining tailings, treated municipal sewage discharge, large-scale agricultural runoff and petrochemical and petroleum industries.

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