The impact of the El Segundo Hyperion factory on the surrounding environmentThe current El Segundo Hyperion factory spans 144 acres of glass , concrete and pipes. It's the end of the road for wastewater from more than 6,000 miles of sewer system maintained by the City of Los Angeles. (NORS S-1) The Hyperion plant provides the environment's best and last line of defense against the more than 500 million gallons of wastewater produced daily in the region. The sheer volume of this waste, most of which is dumped into Santa Monica Bay, must have some impact on the environment. The aim of this article is to study the operation of the factory and its impact on the environment. It's best in most things to start at the beginning, so let's answer the question: Why do we have a Hyperion factory in the first place? place? The site was first chosen in 1887 for its privileged and isolated position between the city and the ocean. At the time there were no facilities on site, but was simply where the sewer outfall met the ocean. The Hyperion plant as an entity did not appear until 1922, when a primary screening plant was built on the site. (WFPU II –2) The major concern in the minds of the city and the public seems to be the quality of the beaches and not a particular concern for life in the bay. The screening plant kept the beaches clean temporarily, but eventually sewage odors, water discoloration, and grease along the beaches near the plant became a serious problem. During World War II, the beach was so contaminated that the National Board of Health quarantined 10 miles of beach, from Hermosa to Venice. To clean up the beaches, the city then built a secondary treatment plant. Secondary p...... middle of paper ...... will need another upgrade and at that time they usually allow forums for the public to voice concerns . If we, as a people, make our environment a priority, our public servants will too. This is the beauty of our republic. The human population in the region and around the world is increasing. We must improve our waste management or lose what is left of the natural world.Bibliography:BibliographyMyra L. Frank & Associates. City of Los Angeles EIR/EIS Volume 1 $2. 1990. City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Engineering Office. Hyperion solids processing facility improvement project. 1993. City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Engineering Office. Updated wastewater treatment facility plan. 1990 Los Angeles Department of Public Works, California. North outfall replacement sewer. 1988.