Waste management in Antarctica: the impact of sewage disposal and available treatment options for Scott Base

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Science
Degree name
Postgraduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies
Publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
English
Date
2001
Authors
Littlewood, Chandra
Abstract

This report aims to describe and discuss the impacts of direct sewage and wastewater discharge in Antarctica and the available treatment options, with specific reference to Scott Base. The information requited to achieve this has been obtained from a variety of resources, predominantly the reports and journals published by researchers who have studied the effects of sewage and wastewater disposal. The impacts of sewage and wastewater disposal ale shown to be localised in the areas of Antarctic stations. Research also shows that the effects on the marine environment similar in most regions. Although the scale of many of these effects is unknown, the potential risk they pose to the Antalttic marine environment is highly significant. The major issue is that sewage and wastewater released into these areas contain microorganisms and chemical substances that have the potential to persist and degrade the health Of receiving water bodies and ecosystems. The consequences of this are adverse ecological effects on the local environment. The Telease of large volumes of untrunted sewage into the Antarctic marine environment creates a source of persistent organic matter, bacterial and viral agents. Many of these are potential disease-causing agents for indigenous wildlife. Scientific results indicate collectively that treatment sites are necessary because of this impact and the potential for much more. Recommendations for the implementation of particular treatment options at Scott Base are made based on these results. This report aims to describe and discuss the impacts of direct sewage and wastewater discharge in Antarctica and the available treatment options, with specific reference to Scott Base. The information requited to achieve this has been obtained from a variety of resources, predominantly the reports and journals published by researchers who have studied the effects of sewage and wastewater disposal. The impacts of sewage and wastewater disposal ale shown to be localised in the areas of Antarctic stations. Research also shows that the effects on the marine environment similar in most regions. Although the scale of many of these effects is unknown, the potential risk they pose to the Antalttic marine environment is highly significant. The major issue is that sewage and wastewater released into these areas contain microorganisms and chemical substances that have the potential to persist and degrade the health Of receiving water bodies and ecosystems. The consequences of this are adverse ecological effects on the local environment. The Telease of large volumes of untrunted sewage into the Antarctic marine environment creates a source of persistent organic matter, bacterial and viral agents. Many of these are potential disease-causing agents for indigenous wildlife. Scientific results indicate collectively that treatment sites are necessary because of this impact and the potential for much more. Recommendations for the implementation of particular treatment options at Scott Base are made based on these results.

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Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
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All Rights Reserved