wastewater and toxics don’t mix preventing toxic discharges to municipal treatment plants judy...
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Wastewater And Toxics Don’t MixPreventing Toxic Discharges
To Municipal Treatment Plants
Judy Kennedy, WA State Dept. of EcologyJessica Shaw, City of Wenatchee
Toxic Effects
• Interference and reduced treatment capability
Toxic Effects
• Treatment plant pass- through
• Violate permit limits
• Possible fines or citizen lawsuits
Toxic Effects
• Equipment damage
Toxic Effects
Threaten health and safety• fumes• explosions • confined space hazards
Toxic Effects
• Operational problems– Sludge bulking– Poor sludge
thickening – Foaming– Odors
Toxic Effects
• Biosolids may fail to meet standards for land application
• Call for new standards for persistent toxic organics
Toxic Effects
• Liability
• Superfund responsibility
Documented Problems
WDOE report on W.E.T. testing, 1994-1998:• 68% of permittees have had toxic events of
regulatory concern• Episodes of toxicity in nearly half of POTW
discharges
Pass-Through
• 1992-1996• 140 million pounds of partially-
treated toxics passed through POTWs to receiving waters in U.S.
• Estimate based on TRI data, according to WASHPIRG (Troubled Waters, 1998)
Toxics and Salmon Recovery
• Common surfactant in dishwashing detergents, cosmetics, plastics, pulp mills, industry
• Passes through treatment plants, kills young salmon
Passing Through POTWs• psychiatric drugs• nicotine• caffeine• plasticizers• endocrine disrupters• halogenated
compounds• brominated flame
retardants
• other medications:– cholesterol drug– chemotherapy drugs– anti-inflammatory
compounds– aspirin– anti-convulsive drug– hormones
Need For Controls
• 77% of industrial toxics not under permit (GAO, 1994)
• Only the largest industries permitted
Small Toxic Dischargers
• High potential collective impact of smaller, unpermitted facilities
• EPA: 15% of priority pollutants and 2/3 of toxic metals come from small sources.
Small Toxic Dischargers
• photoprocessing chemicals (from printing, photo, medical)
• solvents (painting, auto, labs, fiberglass, dry cleaner water)
• cleaners and disinfectants (food processing, car wash, steam cleaning, oil/water separators)
• metals (vehicle maintenance, metal finishers, dental)
Benefits of Keeping Toxics Out Of Sewer Systems
• Better treatment plant performance• More cost effective than end-of-pipe controls• Reduces environmental impacts • Protects public’s investment in treatment and
collection facilities• Protects health and safety• Helps avoid law suits
Strategies To Keep Toxics Out Of Sewer Systems
• Use local sewer ordinances to set requirements
• Use the state industrial waste permit system
• Establish a local pretreatment program with authority to visit, monitor, enforce, charge fees
• Maintain Industrial User Surveys
• Target outreach to key industry sectors
• Respond promptly to clandestine dumping
• Determine toxicity of discharges
City of Wenatchee
A Case Study
Jessica Shaw Environmental Supervisor
It Does Happen!
• Wastewater Treatment Plant Upsets
• Discharge Permit Violations
• Environmental Lawsuits
• Consent Orders & Consent Decrees
• Over $7 Million spent so far……………
Problems at the POTW
• High Strength
• Toxic Discharges
• Nitrification Inhibition
Getting Started• Sewer Use/Pretreatment Ordinance – 2003
• Reviewed treatment plant data
• Researched methods for detecting toxics
• Surveyed and compiled data on dischargers
Program Areas
• Grease– Restaurants, cafes, bakeries, cafeterias
• X-ray & Photo Processing – Medical and dental offices, print shops, photo processor
• Cooling Water & Boiler Water Discharges – Food storage facilities, office buildings, schools
• Industrial Dischargers with State Permits – Fresh Fruit Packing Facilities, Categorical Industrial Users
• Medical Wastes – Medical laboratories, mortuaries, pharmacies
• Other Pretreatment Facilities – Automotive repair shops, car washes, research laboratories
Program Areas Continued…
The Printer
• WWTP Data & Photo X-ray Survey
• Hydroquinone – developer
– Most X-ray developing solutions %1-5
– Some developing solutions are as high as 30%
• Used Nitrification Inhibition Test
Nitrification Test Results
• November 2003 100% Inhibition– Discharger began collection developing solution
• August 2004 100% Inhibition– Was not collecting another developing solution
containing phenylcellusolve (2-phenoxyethanol)
• September 2004 24% Inhibition– New Chemicals, no phenols just a few biocides
Solvents in the Sewer
• Solvent smell detected by Collections Crew
• Monitoring confirmed the presence of several volatile organic chemicals
• Chemicals traced to dry cleaners, industrial facilities and automotive shops
Actions & Results
• City and WDOE met with business owners
• WDOE hazardous waste conducted inspections with City staff
• Informational letter and solvent brochure
• Follow-up monitoring, specifically for “perc”, showed significant reduction in solvent levels
Preventing Toxic Discharges
• Informational Brochures
• Surveys
• Seminars
• Inspections
Signs of Progress
• Fewer slug loads of prohibited discharges
• Better relationship with dischargers
• Improved sludge quality
• Less grease
Questions?
Judy Kennedy
WA State Dept. of Ecology
Jessica ShawCity of Wenatchee