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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: �+�a -N �— City Clerk