DISTRIBUTION AND FATE OF SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENTS IN RIVER AND LAKE WATER, AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC AND AGRICULTURAL WASTE-WATER, IN AN AREA IN JAPAN

We investigated the conditions surrounding the outbreak for anionic su rface active-agents in water at river, lake and seaside. The anionic s urface active-agents found in sewage usually come from detergents and chemicals. The daily changes in the concentration of surfactants in ri ver water were affected by the wastewater from residential areas corre sponding with washing times at morning, lunch, and dinner on December 29-30, 1993. The range of concentrations of anionic surfactants in riv er water was 74-355 mu g/L, average 180 mu g/L in May; 74-472 mu g/L, average 153 mu g/L in July; 79-383 mu g/L, average 152 mu g/L in Septe mber; 71-394 mu g/L, average 195 mu g/L in December in 1993. The reduc tion of the concentration of the anionic surfactants with downstream f low was to dilution with irrigation water but also to biodegradation.