MANAGEMENT OF TANK WASHINGS IN MARINE AND COASTAL COMMERCE

A one-year project directed towards developing a management plan for treating and disposing of tank-cleaning wastes from barge-cleaning facilities is described. The project was limited to shipyards along the Texas Gulf Coast and included both field and laboratory investigations. Background information was obtained primarily from companies engaged in tank-cleaning, treatment of wastewater, and from personnel involved in regulating tank-cleaning activities. Presently, the ten commercial companies heavily engaged in barge-cleaning activities in Texas generate 75 to 100 million gallons of wastewater per year. Characteristics of this wastewater, its pollution potential, and present treatment methods are discussed. A system designed to adequately treat the wastewater and enhance the water quality of the Texas Gulf Coast is proposed.