Techno Bits/Technical Bulletins

New local limits for Industrial Users discharging to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority's (MWRA) Deer Island facility are in the works, and can be expected in Spring of 2002. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is opening a public comment period on the proposed changes to the local limits this fall. Following this comment period, the MWRA will revise the sewer use regulations to reflect the revised limits. The revised regulations will be subject a public comment period prior to finalization.

The changes in the local limits are a result of the new Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, the newly issued Federal discharge permit, and limits on metals in fertilizer pellets intended for beneficial re-use.

The MWRA is proposing to reduce effluent limitations on copper, benzene, fluoranthene, vinyl chloride, and vinylidene chloride. MWRA proposes to prohibit hexachlorobutadiene and pentachlorophenol. MWRA proposes to move chlorinated naphthalenes, phenanthrene, phenolic compounds and trichloroethylene onto the Total Toxic Organics (TTO) list, raising the effective limits for these materials to 1.0 mg/l. MWRA proposes to eliminate the limit for boron, raise the formaldehyde limit and raise the upper pH limit from 10.5 to 12.

The MWRA is proposing to maintain the current prohibition on mercury discharges with an enforcement limit of 1 µg/l with an effective date of July 1, 2002. Industries with mercury discharge above 1 µg/l will have until this time to evaluate and implement mercury controls. MWRA may require dental facilities to install readily available treatment units.

Finally, the MWRA plans to replace the Petroleum Hydrocarbons limit with the existing limits for Total Toxic Organics (TTO), total fats, oil and grease (FOG), and a narrative restriction on visible oil sheens and explosive discharges.

Archived - Jan. 13, 2003