Number: 1978-08
WHEREAS, sewage effluents and sludges from urban and industrial areas often are contaminated with toxic chemicals, as well as with mico-organisms and other pollutants; and
WHEREAS, the disposal of these effluents and sludges into marine and fresh waters is deleterious to the aquatic environment, fish and wildlife, and human health; and
WHEREAS, sewage effluents and sludges have value as resources when utilized for their water, organic (soil conditioner), and nutrient contents when applied to land under controlled conditions; and
WHEREAS, the adverse environmental impacts of sewage effluents and sludges can be minimized and their beneficial utilization maximized to the extent that their content of toxic chemicals can be reduced;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual meeting assembled March 16-19, 1978, in Phoenix, Ariz., hereby urges that governmental agencies, industries, and private organizations accelerate research efforts to fill existing gaps in scientific knowledge concerning the long-range effects of sewage sludges and effluents when applied to land; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization supports efforts by government and industry to: 1. minimize the content of toxic chemicals in sewage effluents and sludges through pretreatment, source reduction, and recycling of contributing sources of toxic chemicals to municipal sewage treatment plants; 2. minimize the open water disposal of sewage effluents and sludges, particularly those with significant levels of toxic chemicals; and, 3. encourage the beneficial use of sewage effluents and sludges and of their constituents possessing resource value, by promoting their application to land under controlled and monitored conditions, as well as other resource conservation measures.