Water Quality

An Evaluation Method for the Construction Grants Program--Case Studies Gao ID: PEMD-87-4B December 17, 1986

GAO provided information on the effect of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Water Construction Grants program and guidelines for the use of data and software in evaluating sewage-treatment plant upgrades in four Pennsylvania communities.

GAO found that: (1) the volume of pollutants discharged from the plants declined substantially after the upgrades and total wastewater discharge increased at three of the four sites; (2) water quality improved significantly at two of the sites, remained unchanged at one site, and improved slightly at the fourth site; (3) although changes in three of the plants' discharges were related to water quality, the relationship was stronger at two plants under low-flow conditions and when statistical adjustments were made for variations in stream flow levels; and (4) pollutants from other municipal and industrial sources significantly affected the water-quality conditions of two plants.



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