The past few years have seen the emergence of a growing, widespread desire in this country, and indeed everywhere, that positive actions be taken to restore the quality of our environment, and to protect it from the degrading effects of all forms of pollution-air, noise, solid waste, and water. Since pollution is a direct or indirect consequence of waste, if there is no waste, there can be no pollution, and the seemingly idealistic demand for "zero discharge" can be construed as a demand for zero waste. However, as long as there is waste, we can only attempt to abate the consequent pollution by converting it to a less noxious form. In those instances in which a particular type of pollution has been recognized, three major questions usually arise: (1) How serious is the pollution? (2) Is the technology to abate it available? and (3) Do the costs of abatement justify the degree of abatement achieved? The principal intention of this series of books on environmental engineering is to help the reader formu late useful answers to the second and third of these questions, i. e. , to outline the best currently available engineering solutions, and to examine their costs in the light of the real level of benefits afforded. The traditional approach of applying tried-and-true solutions to specific pollution problems has been a major factor contributing to the success of environmental engineering, and in large measure has ac counted for the establishment of a "methodology of pollution control.
Pollution and its effects on the environment have emerged as critical areas of research within the past 30 years. The Handbook of Environmental Engineering is a collection of methodologies that study the effects of pollution and waste in their three basic forms: gas, solid, and liquid. In Volume 8, Biological Treatment Processes, tried-and-true solutions comprise a "methodology of pollution control." The distinguished panel of authors contribute detailed chapters, which include topics ranging from treatment by land application, activated sludge processes, and submerged aeration to trickling filters, lagoons, rotating biological contactors, sequencing batch reactors, digestions, and composting. Volume 8 and its sister book - Volume 9: Advanced Biological Treatment Processes – are designed as both basic biological waste treatment textbooks and reference books for advanced undergraduate and graduate students – as well as for designers of waste treatment systems, scientists, and researchers. An indispensable addition to the Humana Press series, Volume 8: Biological Treatment Processes provides an illuminating look at water pollution control and the fascinating evolution of bio-environmental engineering.
