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OAR Box 1865 

Prepped by Charmelle Mathews 

Document Number: 

36) IV-E-24 

Docket Number: 

A-83-27 

Printed 12/3/2008 9:15:28 AM Sheet 36 of 105 
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RADIAN A-83-27 

CORPORATIO N 

IV-E-24 

TELEPHONE CALL REPORT 

DATE: October 28, 1986 

TO: Mr. Roger Descoteaux 

Merrimac Waste Water Treatment Facility 

D. W. Highway 

P. 0. Box 235 

Merrimac, New Hampshire 03054 

(603) 883-8196 

FROM: Phillip A. May, Radian Corporation 

SUBJECT: Facility Operation and Sodium Scrubber Impact 

Mr. Descoteaux stated that at his treatment facility they already have 

a sulfate problem and would therefore not be permitted to allow any 

additional discharges of sulfate containing effluent into their facility. 

Their present overload is due to a brewery which discharges the treated 

remains of its bottle wash to his facility. The brewery uses sulfuric acid 

to wash bottles, treats the rinse for pH, and then discharges the 

concentrated sulfate containing effluent to his POTW. 

The Merrimac facility is a 5 Mgd facility designed to service a 

population of 20,000 and the surrounding industry. The average daily 

loading is 3 Mgd. 

The POTW is also experiencing extreme H2S reemission problems in its 

dewatering system. This problem is worst on the weekends when the sludge 

from the dewatering process is at a standstill and is allowed to stagnate. 

Progress Center/3200 E. Chapel Hill Rd./Nelson Hwy./P.O. Box 13000/Research Triangle Park. N.C. 27709/(919)541-9100 
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Town of Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054 

Merrimack Wastewater Treatment Facility, P.O. Box 235 603/883-8196 

July 13, 1987 

Mr. Phillip A. May 

Radian Corporation/Progress Center 

3200 E. Chapel Hill Road/Nelson Hwy. 

P.O. Box 13000 

Research Triangle Pk., N.C. 27709 

Dear Mr. May: 

Please be advised that I have reviewed your written record of our conversation 

and wish to make the following corrections and comments. 

I stated that the Merrimack Wastewater Treatment Facility already has a sulfate 

problem and that we would require industries to comply with the local pretreatment limit for sulfate of 250 mg/l. Presently, sulfate loadings from two 

bottle cleaning operations greatly enhances the H2S potential at our facility. 

The brewery uses sulfuric acid to neutralize a strong alkaline waste emanating 

from two bottle washing operations, and then discharges the concentrated 

sulfate containing effluent to the Merrimack POTW. (This discharge occurs 

approximately twice a month.) 

The Merrimack facility is a 5 MGD facility designed to service a population of 

20,000 and the surrounding industry. The average daily loading is 3 MGD. 

The Merrimack POTW is experiencing H2S reemissions when dewatering our sludge. 

The waste activated sludge and primary sludge is pumped to the two holding 

tanks and then dewatered on weekdays. The waste is stored over the weekend. 

The town and the brewery in joint cooperation have agreed to conduct a study 

of the most cost effective, technically efficient I^S/sulfide (odor) control 

technique at the Town of Merrimack Wastewater Treatment Plant for two sludge 

holding tanks. The study shall address individual options for chemical 

treatment, mechanical equipment additions/modifications, operational 

alterations, and combinations of the above. This study shall demonstrate, 

verify, and then recommend the best proven reliable control measure for these 

holding tanks. The final report must address the projected capital/operating 

cost for the selected option, relative to other potential alternatives. 

In conclusion, through the implementation of various control techniques, such 

as, higher pH discharges from the brewery, the use of more potassium permanganate 

at the treatment facility, sulfate/sulfide control studies, and notification 
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Mr. Phillip A. May 

Radian Corp. 

Page 2 

7/13/87 

procedures when these bottle soakers are discharged to the sewer, the odor 

problems at the treatment facility have been greatly minimized. 

If you should have any further questions, please feel free to call me at 

(603) 883-8196. 

Cordially, 

(jbp- jm^^ 

Roger Descoteaux, 

Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment Inspector 

RD/bls 

cc: Douglas H. Starr, P.E., Director of Public Works 

Larry R. Spencer, Sewer Division Superintendent