BOOK REVIEWS

The last paper describes the Netherlands “Pollution of Sur- face Water ACT” in considerable detail. This includes a criti- cal review of the Act and a discussion of recent amendments is included in this part of the book. The Act relies on a li- censing process that relates pollution to the p.e. standard dis cussed earlier. A tax is levied based on the number of “p.e.’s” that each segment of the economy generates. The main criti- cism of this law is that its decentralizing features make it diffi- cult to apply the law uniformly over the whole country. When the Act was first implemented it was decided to have a de- centralized approach because of the complexities related to the interrelated system of canals and waterways in the Nether- lands. As a result, a new coordinating governmental agency is being set up to solve this difficulty.

The overall evaluation of the book is that it makes an in- teresting contribution to our knowledge of the integration pro- cesses in water resources planning. The individual papers tend to be well done, and generally are very readable. There are some differences of English usage, but generally these do not detract from the message. It probably would be desirable to have done a more detailed extrapolation of the material pre- sented in each of the papers, but it would have taken more time and space so that has been left to the reader. The authors have done a rather thorough job of trying to integrate the dis ciplines involved in water resources planning. It is this re- viewer’s opinion that they have been highly successful.

Edgrr L. Michalson Department of Agricultural Economics University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho

Sanitation and Disease - Health Aspects of Excreta and Waste- water Management, Richard G. Feachem, David J. Bradley, Hemda Garelick, and D. Duncan Mara. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester. 1983. 501 pages. $69.95. This book is an outgrowth of a World Bank project aimed

at disseminating information about the technologies that are available for disposal of excreta and wastewater. This volume specifically deals with the health aspects of the disposal of human wastes. It is aimed at a broad readership, including ad- ministrators and scientists concerned with the effective and safe disposal of human wastes. The breadth of coverage makes it an extremely valuable reference for those concerned with wastewater treatment and the health aspects of pathogens associated with human excreta.

The book contains 37 chapters, each of which reviews a particular subject area. The first part of the book contains eight chapters about the hcalth effects of human wastes, the survival of pathogens in the environment, and the technologies that are used for treating wastes. The second part of the book contains 29 chapters, each of which deals with a specific group of excreted pathogens. Sections in this part of the book cover the viruses, bacteria, protozoa, helminths, and insects. Vir- tually all pathogens associated with excreta and wastewater

are covered. The individual chapters are rather specific in their coverage of particular taxonomic groups. For example, one chapter is devoted to Vibrio choleme, another to Gimdia, and soforth. The chapters summarize the state of current knowledge about each taxonomic group. However, they generally do not describe the methodologies involved in de- tecting particular groups of pathogens in sufficient detail to be of use t o practitioners.

The authors have avoided making value judgments about the relativd health risks associated with particular pathogens and the effectiveness of the different technologies that are available for waste treatment. The lack of interpretation of complex and sometimes contradictory information may limit the usefulness of the volume for decision makers. Also the book lacks an index, making it relatively difficult t o access specific information.

The breadth of information that is included in each chapter does provide the necessary scientific background for waste treatment managers and scientists in this field. Students will find that the bibliographies included with each chapter provide them with access to the pertinent literature. Notes added in proof at the ends of many of the chapters provide particularly current information.

Overall this book is a necessary addition to libraries that serve as general information resource centers. Many scientists and administrators will find it particularly useful reading to obtain general background about a number of topics relating to the health aspects of excreta and wastewater disposal and management.

Ronald M. Atlas Professor of Biology University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky

Small Community Water Supplies: Technology of Small Water Supply Systems in Developing Countries, E. H. Hofkes (Editor). International Reference Centre for Community Water Supply and Sanitation (The Netherlands) and John Wiley & Sons (New York). 1983.442 pages. $29.95. The United Nations has designated the period from 1981-

1990 as the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanita- tion Decade. Millions of people are living in developing coun- tries without access to adequate supplies of safe drinking water. The author points out that the problems are particu- larly acute in countless small communities in rural areas, as well as urban fringe areas.

It is for these rural areas that the author developed this “handbook” designed to provide a brwd introduction into the technology of small community water supplies. The author states in the preface:

“It is a misconception to regard small community water supply systems as a ‘scaled down’ version of urban in- stallations requriing less engineering skill or ingenuity. The exact opposite may be the case. Simplicity and

803 WATER RESOURCES BULLETIN

BOOK REVIEWS

smallness should not be regarded as backward or second- rate, but rather as appropriate for the purpose. Tech- nologies must be selected that can be integrated with the approach of community involvement which is so essential in small-scale schemes.”

With this philosophy in mind, the author presents a treatise on non-technical aspects of water supply planning and en- gineering. He starts with a chapter on basic planning and man- agement activities of a water supply system; then in individual chapters discusses: water quantity and quality; water sources (harvesting rainwater, tapping springs, groundwater with- drawals, surface water intakes, and artificial recharge); water treatment (aeration, coagulation and flocculation, sedimenta- tion, slow sand filtration; rapid filtration; and disinfection); transmission; and distribution.

This edition is an expanded version of one published in 1981. Several annexes have been added as well as a section called “Current Update.” The annexes include topics on: how to perform an on-site health survey; the different types of well drilling methods; how to design water treatment plants; a reference table of the chemicals used in water treatment; and a table of measurement conversion factors. The section en- titled “Current Update” includes additional information on: water quantity and quality (using “test-strips” to make a semi- quantitative determination of dissolved solids in water); tech- nical information on steps to follow in exploring groundwater sources); moving water by using solar energy pumps; and water distribution using plastic pipes.

Very little technical information, however, is contained in the book. Rather, Aost chapters present a general overview of one of the components of a water supply system giving a brief history of how that particular aspect of the system came into being and generally describes the technology involved. The reader is given references to monographs and other books for in-depth technical information at the end of each chapter.

The author has certainly achieved his purpose in preparing a book on the aspects of small community water supply sys- tems in developing countries. The information presented is, as the author states, very broad in nature and has not been written as a textbook for engineering students nor as a design manual. It is intended for those public health inspectors and town engineers who have responsibility for the design and/or maintenance of small water supply systems. Program mana- gers would use this as a source of background knowledge on how water supply systems function.

The book is well written, easy to read, and scattered with ample drawings, diagrams, and photographs to illustrate each topic. For those interested and involved in small scale community water supply systems in developing countries, this book would be a useful addition to their library.

James E. Crews Senior Civil Engineer, Institute for Water

Resources U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ft. Belvoir, Virginia

804

Small-Stream Recovery Following Surface Mining in East- Central Kentucky, Willie R. Curtis, Branley A. Branson, and Donald I,. Batch. USDA Forest Service and Eastern Ken- tucky University. 1984. 18 pages. This article presents data secured from two small-stream

drainages affected by surface mining in eastern Kentucky. Adverse pH values were not encountered during the study. Although active mining has ceased in the Leatherwood Creek drainage, fish population recovery has been minimal. A few species have been successful in re-establishing small popula- tions, but many species are still absent.

Copies of this publication or additional information may be obtained by contacting Willie Curtis or Don Eagleston, USDA Forest Service, Route 2, Highway 21E, Berea, KY 40403, (606) 986-8433.

Effect of Minesoil Compaction on Growth and Yield of KY-31 Tall Fescue and Sericea Lespedeza, Jerry T. Crews. USDA Forest Service. 1984. 5 pages. This five-page publication compares growth of Kentucky 3 1

tall fescue and sericea lespedeza with differing degrees of soil compaction.. Plant height of both species generally decreased with increased compaction. Height and growth of sericea were more adversely affected by increased compaction than was the growth of fescue. Results suggest that the effects of com- paction may vary with texture of the reclaimed mine surface.

Copies of this publication or additional information may be obtained by contacting Jerry Crews or Don Eagleston, USDA Forest Service, Route 2, Highway 21E, Berea, KY 40403, (606) 986-8433.

WATER RESOURCES BULLETIN