Investigation of Delhi-Taylor Refinery's Effluent and Disposal Area - Pollution Abatement in Region V

Delhi-Taylor Refinery's waste is harmful or fatal to fish by the presence of a toxic amount of phenolic compounds and sulfides in the wastes. The waste also contains a high oxygen consuming sludge that depletes the dissolved oxygen in the water to such an extent that asphyxiation may result. The median tolerance limit of phenols to aquatic life was found to be 14.5 parts per million (Job No. F-1, 1959). The phenol concentration was never below 19.0 ppm. at Station 3, but decreased rapidly after entering the harbor. Sulfides reduced the tolerance significantly at Station 1, but aeration by agitation in the ditch prior to disposal reduced the sulfides to an average of 0.8 ppm before entering the harbor. The concentration was always less than 1.0 ppm in the harbor. Oil globules collect to suspended particles in the API separators obtaining a specific gravity nearly equal to water. The stringy, flocculent, emulsified sludge is not retained in the separators and flows out with the cooling water. This agglomerate waste tends to settle within 25 yards of the disposal area, presenting a threat to aquatic life by decreasing the dissolved oxygen content and covering the bottom with oil. An area diked off in the harbor at the disposal site and used as a retention pond would retain this agglomerate waste. It would also restrict the contaminants in the water from dispersing in the harbor and provide suitable dilution of the waste. In this way the toxicity would be reduced.