National Association ofClean Water Agencies1816 Jefferson Place, NWWashington DC 20036-2505202.833.2672 202.833.4657 FAXinfo@nacwa.org www.nacwa.orgMercuryControlProgramCase StudiesWho is NACWA?The National Association of Clean WaterAgencies (NACWA) is the leading advocate forresponsible national policies that advance cleanwater and a healthy environment. NACWArepresents the interests of America’s clean waterutilities - dedicated public servants and trueenvironmental champions.For over 35 years, NACWA has been the cleanwater community’s voice in Congress, at theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in themedia and in the courts in the pursuit of scientifically-based, technically sound, cost-effectivelaws and regulations.What is NACWA’s Mercury Workgroup?Through the efforts of NACWA’s MercuryWorkgroup, the Association is actively involved in the national dialogue on mercury andcontinues to explore effective and reasonableapproaches to controlling mercury dischargesto the nation’s waters. One of the initial tasksof the Mercury Workgroup, which consists of62 members representing 31 public agencies,was to gather information about mercury discharges into publicly-owned treatment works(POTWs) in order to assist such agencies inthe development of effective mercury controlprograms.Green Bay MetropolitanSewerage District, WisconsinThe GBMSD has been actively involved inthe management and reduction of mercuryat its wastewater treatment facility and in thecollection system for more than a decade.Through partnerships and collections,GBMSD has prevented thousands of poundsof mercury from entering the local seweragesystem and the county landfills. GBMSD’scurrent discharge permit requires thepreparation of a Pollutant MinimizationProgram. This plan will contain guidancefor monitoring and outreach for four sectors:medical, dental, schools, and industrial.For more information contact:John Kennedy920.438.1071JKennedy@gbmsd.orgMilwaukee MetropolitanSewerage District, WisconsinThe MMSD has been a leader in mercuryreduction since 1997, when it produceda Mercury Source Sector Assessment forthe Greater Milwaukee Area. Mercurycollection programs occurred in 1998, 2000,and 2001. In 1998 and 1999, the Districtpromoted a curriculum package for middleand high school students titled: Mercury inYour Community and the Environment. Athermostat recycling initiative occurred in1999, along with a workshop for hospitals.In 2000 and 2001, Mercury in Schools CleanSweeps provided rewards to schools foreliminating thermometers, barometers, bloodpressure gauges, and bulk mercury. In 2004,Milwaukee became the first community in theUnited States on the Great Lakes to requiredental offices to both implement BMPs andinstall amalgam separators.For more information contact:Tom Nowicki414.225.2275TNowicki@mmsd.comNarragansett BayCommission, Rhode IslandIn 2004, the NBC gave dental facilities theoption to either install an amalgam separatoror meet a discharge limit. Regardless of theoption chosen, dental facilities must alsofollow mandatory best management practices(BMPs) for facility cleaning and disposal ofwastes. These BMPs have been used by thestate of Rhode Island as a model for its statewide program, and a bill was recently passedrequiring all dental facilities in the state toinstall amalgam separators.For more information contact:Kerry Britt401.461.8848Kerry.Britt@narrabay.comNortheast Ohio RegionalSewer District, OhioThe NEORSD has been addressing mercuryissues for more than a decade and isdeveloping and implementing a pollutantminimization program for mercury. A numericlocal limit to achieve the 1.3 parts-per-trillionwater quality criterion for mercury in NEORSDtreated effluent is infeasible, and a narrativelocal limit was instead adopted. This narrativelocal limit requires dischargers of mercuryinto the sewerage system to implementBMPs to minimize the amount of mercurydischarged. Mercury sources identified assignificant, initially including 518 dentalclinics and 14 hospitals, have been required todevelop, submit, and implement BMP plans.The NEORSD has also conducted severalwaste mercury collections and thermometerexchanges and has prepared a brochure for thegeneral public titledHousehold Mercury.For more information contact:Elizabeth Toot-Levy216.641.6000toot-levye@neorsd.orgThe following are examples of mercurycontrol efforts in several NACWA membercommunities and one community inBritish Columbia, Canada.City of Boise, IdahoIn 2002, the City of Boise’s PollutionPrevention Strategy identified mercury as ahigh priority. To control mercury in wastewaterthe Idaho State Dental Association developedand adopted statewide Best ManagementPractice (BMP) guidelines for dental careproviders. Boise is now evaluating all humancaused sources of mercury to the environmentto develop local mercury minimization goals,plans, and actions to reduce mercury releases.Over the next few years, the city anticipatesimplementing several new mercury pollutionprevention initiatives to complement existingprograms. The objective is to promote theproper management of all mercury generatedby the community and reduce the contributionto the local, regional, national, and globalmercury load.For more information contact:Robbin Finch208.384.3916rfinch@cityofboise.orgEast Bay Municipal UtilityDistrict, CaliforniaEBMUD was the first large wastewateragency in California to require dentalfacilities to install amalgam separators. Aninnovative dental plumbing cleaning projectindicated that dental facilities are a sourceof legacy mercury. EBMUD partnered withthe University of California to develop amercury reduction program for educationalinstitutions, leading to the collection of over1,200 pounds of mercury waste and a templatefor other agencies to use. Data indicate a 30%reduction of mercury loading to EBMUD’swastewater treatment plant as a result of theseefforts.For more information contact:Deirdre Mena510.287.1559dmena@ebmud.comSacramento Regional CountySanitation District, CaliforniaThrough “Be Mercury Free,” an educationaloutreach program aimed at reducing mercurysources found in households, schools anduniversities, hospitals and dental offices,the SRCSD and its regional partners striveto protect the environment and residents ofthe Sacramento region by reducing mercurypollution in the local watershed. SRCSD, incooperation with the local and state regulatoryagencies, is leading the nation in investigatingthe feasibility of a new mercury regulatorycompliance tool, mercury offsets. SRCSD staffhas developed numerous tools to educate thepublic regarding proper methods of mercurydisposal, including educational brochures, aninformative Web site, www.bemercuryfree.net,and an interactive “Be Mercury Free” exhibitfor use at thermometer exchange and otherpublic events.For more information contact:Linda Cochran916.876.5287cochranli@saccounty.netCity of San Francisco, CaliforniaThe City of San Francisco utilizes acombination of outreach/education andenforcement/compliance in order to reducethe amount of mercury pollution enteringthe San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean. TheCity supports three major mercury reductionprograms. Dental Mercury Reduction requiresall City dental offices to implement BMPsand install amalgam separators. Recovery ofMercury Containing Products and Equipmentincludes Fluorescent Light Tube Recycling, aMercury Thermometer Recovery Program, andother mercury-containing recovery programs.The City has also adopted an EnvironmentallyPreferable Purchasing Ordinance, referredto as EP3, with the goal of minimizing thepurchasing of products and equipment madeby City departments that are environmentallyproblematic, such as those containingmercury.For more information contact:Meg Gale415.695.7378mgale@sfwater.orgCity of San Jose, CaliforniaIn addition to comprehensive stormwaterand wastewater mercury pollution reductionprograms, the City is conducting a study ofthe fate and transport of mercury throughthe San Jose/Santa Clara Water PollutionControl Plant. Sampling for total and filteredtotal mercury, methylmercury, and ancillaryparameters at selected treatment steps beganin October 2004. Total and methylmercuryare removed with approximately 99% and 98%efficiencies respectively. Total mercury inplant effluent averages about 2 ppt. Dissolvedmercury is removed with 53% efficiency.Flows and concentrations of mercury insludge appear to be sufficient to account forthe mercury removed. There is no evidenceof methylation at any treatment step, evenbiological treatment under anoxic andanaerobic conditions.For more information contact:David Tucker408.277.5695David.Tucker@sanjoseca.govWestern Lake SuperiorSanitary District, MinnesotaIn 1993, the WLSSD determined that end-ofpipe control for mercury was cost-prohibitiveand therefore began intensive sourceidentification and reduction activities toeliminate sources of mercury to the wastewatertreatment plant and incinerator. Mercurysources identified include scrubber waterfrom the incinerator and industrial customerscontaminated by mercury. At this same time,WLSSD also began working with dentalclinics which led to the development of BMPsand the installation of amalgam separators.WLSSD also provides programs for the publicto minimize their potential mercury releaseto the environment by providing householdhazardous waste collection, a small businesscollection, fever thermometer exchanges and amercury-free schools program.For more information contact:Tim Tuominen218.740.4815tim.tuominen@wlssd.duluth.mn.usCity of Wichita, KansasExtensive monitoring and research conductedby the City of Wichita has indicated thatwastewater discharges from dental clinicsare a significant source of mercury. In Aprilof 2000, the city initiated the Silver andMercury Code of Management Practices. Thisvoluntary program was designed to decreasesilver and mercury levels entering the POTWby implementing BMPs. Since implementationof this program, the amount of silver andmercury entering the sewage treatment planthas been reduced by 70 to 74 percent. Thisreduction illustrates the environmentalstewardship these small businesses haveexhibited.For more information contact:Rebecca Gagnon316.303.8703rgagnon@wichita.govCapital Regional District,British Columbia, CanadaWhile not a member of NACWA, the CRD hasbeen active with NACWA in its mercury reduction efforts. CRD began mercury reductionactivities in 1995 following introduction of anew sewer use by-law. A code of practice fordental facilities, requiring installation of amalgam separators, was adopted in November 2000.Current levels of compliance with this code areat least 95%. A code of practice for laboratorieswas introduced in December 2003. Hospitalswere recently issued waste discharge permitsspecifying compliance with both the dentaland laboratory codes of practice. Trend analysisindicates significant reductions in sewage effluent mercury over the period 1996 to 2003 and inbiosolids mercury over the past five years.For more information contact:Trevor Smyth250.360.3082tsmyth@crd.bc.ca