Description

Not long ago, battery manufacturers, metals finishers, iron and steel producers and others in the metals industry were required to do nothing more than neutralize acidic wastewaters before releasing them to the local sewer system. These discharged waters, however, still contained significant concentrations of toxic metals like lead, copper, chromium, zinc, nickel and cadmium which are harmful to human and aquatic life. Growing environmental concern prompted legislation like the Clean Water Act which imposes regorous restrictions on the amount of contaminants left in discharged waters. This act requires industry to not only neutralize wastewaters but to remove toxic heavy metals from their wastewaters.