HomeMy WebLinkAbout094 - 07/06/2004 - AMENDING THE CITY CODE RELATED TO WASTEWATER DISCHARGES OF MERCURY FROM DENTAL OFFICES ORDINANCE NO. 094, 2004
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING CHAPTER 26 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY
OF FORT COLLINS RELATED TO WASTEWATER DISCHARGES
OF MERCURY FROM DENTAL OFFICES
WHEREAS, Section 26-343 of the City Code provides for limitations on the discharge of
certain pollutants into the City's wastewater system; and
WHEREAS, recent advances in the technical ability to analyze for low concentrations of
mercury in water have resulted in increased interest and concern regarding mercury levels in effluent
from water reclamation facilities; and
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that future changes by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency will require additional action by local water reclamation facilities to reduce the
amount of mercury in wastewater received by those facilities; and
WHEREAS, dental offices have been shown to comprise the source of 35% to 45% of the
mercury discharged to water reclamation facilities; and
WHEREAS, the installation of relatively simple equipment and compliance with certain
management practices has been shown to reduce the total amount of mercury received by
wastewater reclamation facilities by as much as 44% to 77%; and
WHEREAS, in order to reduce the levels of mercury received by the City's water
reclamation facility, the City Council has determined that it is in the best interests of the City to
establish certain discharge limitations in the form of best management practice requirements for
dental offices.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That Section 26-206 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby
amended to modify the definition of"Pretreatment requirement" as follows:
Pretreatment requirement shall mean any substantive or procedural requirement
related to pretreatment other than a national categorical pretreatment standard
imposed on an industrial user. "Pretreatment requirement" shall include best
management practices consisting of procedural, operational and/or equipment
controls designed to prevent or reduce the introduction of pollutants into the sanitary
sewer, or to remove pollutants from wastewater before discharge to the sanitary
sewer.
Section 2. That Section 26-343 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby
amended to add a new subsection (e)to read as follows:
Sec. 26-343. Discharge limitations.
(e) Mercury from dental offices. Effective July 1, 2005, no dental office shall
discharge wastewater generated from the placement or removal of dental amalgam
containing mercury unless said dental office has installed the equipment described
in, and conducts its operations in accordance with, the following best management
practices:
(1) All dental chairs shall be equipped with chair-side traps. Said chair-side
traps shall be cleaned and maintained as need to assure their continued
effective operation.
(2) All vacuum pumps shall be equipped with traps or filters. Said traps or
filters shall be cleaned and maintained in the manner specified or
recommended by the manufacturer of the same.
(3) Cleaning of amalgam contaminated traps,filters and other equipment shall
be conducted in a manner reasonably expected to minimize the discharge
of wastewater.
(4) All wastewater generated from the placement or removal of dental
amalgam or the cleaning of amalgam traps or filters shall be discharged
through an amalgam separator that:
a. has been ISO 11143 certified;
b. has been installed, and is operated and maintained according to the
manufacturer's specifications; and
C. achieves a minimum mercury removal efficiency of ninety-five (95)
percent.
(5) Cleaners that contain chlorine bleach, other oxidizing compounds, or
corrosive compounds that mobilize mercury shall not be used in any waste
lines or drains connected to the amalgam separator.
(6) All dental amalgam wastes shall be stored in structurally sound, tightly
closed and appropriately labeled containers.
(7) All dental amalgam waste shall be transferred to an offsite recycling
facility for recycling of mercury.
(8) The following documentation shall be established and maintained for no
less than three (3)years in a location and manner so as to permit review by
the city upon request:
a. The manufacturer and model of any amalgam separator in use;
b. The date of installation of any amalgam separator in use;
C. The name and address of the facility to which any waste amalgam is
shipped;
d. The date and amount of any waste amalgam shipped; and
e. Documentation of any maintenance performed on any amalgam
separator.
Section 3. This Ordinance shall take effect upon the approval of the foregoing
modifications to the City's wastewater pretreatment program by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency.
Introduced and considered favorably on first reading and order blished this 15th ay of
June, A.D. 2004, and to be presented for final passage on th c�July, A. 00 .
ayor
A' )EST:
V
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading this 6th day of July, A.D. 2004.
Mayor
ATTEST:
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City Clerk