Contribution short abstract:

We have dedicated these last four years to the study of Portuguese water pollution surveillance, namely the different interests and narratives that interconnects waste to the public water management authority, industrials, professional fishermen, municipalities and aquacultural agencies.

Contribution long abstract:

We want to learn experiences by which scholars discuss waste. Waste united several actors, with different interests and narratives. In the end, technology was seen as a symbol of redemption, and encouraged as part of environmental restoration. We hope to contribute with some examples of toxicity and waste management. What is the role of pollution in historical studies? What disciplines should strengthen environmental history? Is science and regulation in fact powerless? These are some ideas we would like to share.

Pollution in River Ave basin was caused by hundreds of industrial companies. Sustained by hydraulic energy, until 1974 they would settle in the river margins. However, having installed primitive wastewater treatments, these companies preferred to pay fines rather than prevent contaminations. Until late 1950’s law enforcement was a random and an arbitrary procedure, mainly based on sensorial perceptions, which consisted in the changing colors and odors of water and in community protests. In fact, wasted water turned impossible to wash clothes or feed cattle.

As environmental damage became obvious — as waste became tangible — companies were pressured to develop sophisticated wastewater treatment facilities. However, industrials would face depuration plants’ high costs, and created several networks of value. For instance, neighbors would accept some sewers as crop fertilizer, and plants would throw their sewers into municipal collectors, reducing treatment costs. We want to compare these findings and contribute to understand the several ways by which water became affected by contaminations.