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