Chemical Monitoring of Sewage Effluents Using Saturated Hydrocarbons and Coprastanol in Estuarine Water

The discharge of sewage effluent to estuarine waters has been shown to contribute to eutrophication. Areas which have been exposed to the effluent must he accurately identified to assess the effects of sewage effluent on an ecosystem. Organic chemical constituents unique to sewage effluent would be useful as indicators of areas impacted by sewage. Samples were collected at the end of a sewage outfall near Cocoa, Florida and characterized chemically. Receiving waters were then analysed to determine which of the chemical components in the effluent would be suitable for tracing the effluent. The saturated hydrocarbon fraction and sterol fraction of the extracts appeared to be of greatest utility for such purposes and the concentrations of these fractions were determined for water, suspended matter, and sediment. Concentration profiles decreased rapidly away from the outfall.