DOCSLIB.ORG

Sanitary Sewer Overflows

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sanitary Sewer Overflows Sanitary sewer overflows What are Sanitary Sewer Overflows? Why are SSOs a problem? A sanitary sewer overflow can spill domestic A key concern with SSOs entering rivers, lakes or wastewater out of manholes, onto streets and into streams is their negative effect on water quality. The stormwater systems or surface water bodies before it is overall impact of wastewater discharges to surface able to reach a treatment facility. waters is fortunately temporary. Our bays, rivers and gulf are constantly moving, which results in the dissipation Why Do Sewers Overflow? and dilution of wastewater contaminants in a few days. Although wastewater facilities are permitted and The Florida Department of Health issues health designed to safely and properly collect and manage a advisories when bacteria levels present a risk to human specified wastewater capacity, obstructions or extreme health, and may also post warning signs when bacteria conditions can cause SSOs. affect public beaches or other areas where there is the When the flow of wastewater is obstructed in the pipe, risk of human exposure. the wastewater may then back up and overflow through a manhole, cleanout, toilet, sink or drain. This Because SSOs contain partially treated (or potentially overflowing wastewater may then make its way into the untreated) domestic wastewater, ingestion or similar environment, a house or a business. contact may cause illness. People can be exposed through: Contributing factors may include: » Direct contact in areas of high public access » Too much rainfall infiltrating through the ground into » Food that has been contaminated leaky sanitary sewers, which are not intended to hold » Inhalation and skin absorption rainfall. Excess water also can flow through roof drains connected to sewers or poorly connected sewer lines. How Can SSOs Be Reduced? » Blocked, broken or cracked pipes and other SSOs can be reduced by: equipment or power failures that keep the system » Sewer system cleaning and maintenance. from properly functioning. Tree roots can grow into the sewer. Sections of pipe can settle or shift so that » Reducing infiltration and inflow through system pipe joints no longer match. Sediment and other rehabilitation and repairing broken or leaking lines. material can build up and cause pipes to break or » Enlarging or upgrading sewer, pump station or collapse. sewage treatment plant capacity and/or reliability. » A deteriorating or aging sewer system that can » Construction of wet weather storage and treatment be expensive to repair. Some municipalities have facilities to treat excess flows. found severe problems, necessitating costly correction programs. DEP has a State Revolving » A few SSOs may be unavoidable, including those Fund Program that provides low-interest loans for occurring from unpreventable vandalism, some investments in water and sanitation infrastructure types of blockages and extreme rain events. upgrades. » Permit holders do have bypass provisions when human health and safety are at risk and there is no feasible alternative. The utilities are required to notify DEP within 24 hours if they need to use those provisions. continued Florida Department of Environmental Protection - Sanitary Sewer Overflow How does DEP respond to SSOs For example, DEP takes into account the severity of the rain event, was it a hurricane or a storm, or if the area had and resulting discharges to surface received an unusually large amount of rainfall beyond waters? historical averages. If the discharge was caused by an operator error, or lack of a certified operator on-site at the After DEP has received final data from the utilities time, the department may consider additional training for regarding their wastewater releases, environmental operators to prevent similar errors from occurring in the specialists will review the data to assess the situation and future. the overall impact to the environment when considering whether to take additional action. Specialists will be In some circumstances, the department will meet with evaluating many factors, including: utilities to discuss infrastructure repairs and process improvements the utility is making and planning to How serious was the violation? » implement in order to avoid further discharges. » Is it a first-time violator or a chronic offender? Most of the cities and counties that are having wastewater » Was the violation inadvertent or beyond issues are investing millions of dollars to upgrade their reasonable control? infrastructure, but these are complex and costly projects » Can any damage to the environment be undone or that take time to complete. remediated quickly? Florida Department of Environmental Protection 10/16 dep.state.fl.us.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Infiltration/Inflow Task Force Report
    INFILTRATION/INFLOW TASK FORCE REPORT A GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR MWRA MEMBER SEWER COMMUNITIES AND REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS MARCH 2001 INFILTRATION/INFLOW TASK FORCE REPORT A GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR MWRA MEMBER SEWER COMMUNITIES AND REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS MARCH 2001 Executive Summary This report is the product of the Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) Task Force. It has been developed through the cooperative efforts of the 43 Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) member sewer communities, MWRA Advisory Board, The Wastewater Advisory Committee (WAC) to the MWRA, Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), Fore River Watershed Association (FRWA), Mystic River Watershed Association (MRWA), Neponset River Watershed Association (NRWA), South Shore Chamber of Commerce (SSCC), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and MWRA. The I/I Task Force recommends implementation of the regional I/I reduction goals and implementation strategies detailed in this report. The report outlines a regional I/I reduction plan with appropriate burdens and benefits for stakeholders. The report is intended to be a guidance document for use by local sewer communities, as well as other regional stakeholders, who may tailor appropriate aspects of the report recommendations to their unique situations. Severe storms in October 1996 and June 1998 led to the unusual circumstance of numerous sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) from local and MWRA collection systems. In the aftermath of these events, EPA and DEP began an aggressive effort to make MWRA regulate flows from community sewer systems. MWRA recommended cooperative efforts by local collection system operators, as well as regulators and environmental advocates, would be more effective than a prescriptive, enforcement based approach.
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Authorization to Discharge Under The
    Permit No. OK0034835 Permit Part I – Page 1 DRAFT AUTHORIZATION TO DISCHARGE UNDER THE OKLAHOMA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM PERMIT NUMBER: OK0034835 ID NUMBER: S21653 PART I In compliance with the Oklahoma Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act (OPDES Act), Title 27A O.S. § 2-6-201 et seq. as amended, and the rules of the State of Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) adopted thereunder {See OAC 252:606}; the Federal Clean Water Act, Public Law 95-217 (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), Section 402; and NPDES Regulations (40 CFR Parts 122, 124, and 403), Grand Point (Point View) Wastewater Treatment Facility 35782 Grand Point Vinita, OK 74301 is hereby authorized to discharge treated wastewater from a facility located at approximately NW ¼, SW ¼, SW ¼, Section 2, Township 23 North, Range 21 East, Indian Meridian, Mayes County, Oklahoma to receiving waters: Lower Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees at the point located at approximately Latitude: 36° 29' 55.340" N [GPS: NAD 1983 CONUS] Longitude: 95° 02' 26.658" W [GPS: NAD 1983 CONUS] Water Body I.D. No. 121600030020_00 in accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements and other conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III, and IV hereof. This permit replaces and supersedes the previous permit issued on February 12, 2013. The issuance date of this permit is Month Date Year. This permit shall become effective Month Date Year. This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight Month Date Year. For the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality: _______________________________________ __________________________________________ Michael B. Moe, P.E., Manager Shellie R.
    [Show full text]
  • Ssos and Csos What Are They and What Are We Doing About Them?
    SSOs and CSOs What are they and what are we doing about them? Don Kennedy – Training Coordinator James LaLiberte – Training Coordinator Combined sewers were introduced to the larger American cities in the mid-19th century. They were designed to dry out streets by collecting rainwater runoff, domestic sewage from newly invented flush toilets, and industrial wastewaters all in the same pipe. In dry weather, a combined sewer system sends a town’s entire volume of wastewater to a treatment plant, which treats and discharges to a waterway. The problems, generally, arise during heavy or extended rain events which can overload the system and seek relief. Such events can result in either a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO), a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO), or both. While both situations act as a relief for the system, one is intentional and the other is not. An SSO is an unintentional discharge of wastewater to the environment or personal property. SSOs are, generally, the result of poor sewer management and maintenance. Flow through sewer lines can be restricted by fats, oils and greases (FOG) or by tree roots. The system then does not have the capacity to handle a significant rain event, resulting in wastewater escaping through manholes, residences or businesses. TREE ROOTS IN SEWER Other contributors to the system are Inflow and Infiltration. These situations allow stormwater to enter the sewer system which shouldn’t. Infiltration - through bad joint or cracked pipes. Inflow – through illegal or unapproved connections, such as roof gutters, yard
    [Show full text]
  • NBP Year in Review 2014
    2014 YEAR IN REVIEW About WEF Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 36,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. WEF members, Member Associations and staff proudly work to achieve our mission to provide bold leadership, champion innovation, connect water professionals, and leverage knowledge to support clean and safe water worldwide. To learn more, visit www.wef.org. For information on membership, publications, and conferences, contact Water Environment Federation 601 Wythe Street Alexandria, VA 22314-1994 USA (703) 684-2400 http://www.wef.org For additional Biosolids information, please see biosolids.org. CONTACT: Water Environment Federation 601 Wythe Street Alexandria, VA 22314 703-684-2400 email: [email protected] Copyright © 2014 by the Water Environment Federation. All Rights Reserved. IMPORTANT NOTICE The material presented in this publication has been prepared in accordance with generally recognized utility management principles and practices and is for general information only. This information should not be used without first securing competent advice with respect to its suitability for any general or specific application. The contents of this publication are not intended to be a standard of the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and are not intended for use as a reference in purchase specifications, contracts, regulations, statutes, or any other legal document. No reference made in this publication to any specific method, product, process, or service constitutes or implies an endorsement, recommendation, or warranty thereof by WEF. WEF makes no representation or warranty of any kind, whether expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, product, or process discussed in this publication and assumes no liability.
    [Show full text]
  • Inflow and Infiltration Reduction in Sanitary Sewers
    Appendix E-4 – Inflow and Infiltration Reduction in Sanitary Sewers INFLOW AND INFILTRATION REDUCTION IN SANITARY SEWERS D.1 Introduction to RDII in Sanitary Sewers A properly designed, operated and maintained sanitary sewer system is meant to collect and convey all of the sewage that flows into it to a wastewater treatment plant. Rainfall dependent infiltration and inflow (RDII) into sanitary sewer systems has long been recognized as a major source of operating problems that cause poor performance of many sewer systems including system overflows. The extent of infiltration also correlates with the condition of aging sewers. The three major components of wet-weather wastewater flow into a sanitary system – base wastewater flow (BWWF), groundwater infiltration (GWI), and RDII are illustrated in Figure D-1 and are discussed below. Figure D-1: Three components of wet-weather wastewater flow BWWF, often called base sanitary flow, is the residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial flow discharged to a sanitary sewer system for collection and treatment. BWWF normally varies with water use patterns within a service area throughout a 24-hour period with higher flows during the morning period and lower during the night. In most cases, the average daily BWWF is more or less constant during a given day, but varies monthly and seasonally. BWWF often represents a significant portion of the flows treated at wastewater treatment facilities. GWI represents the infiltration of groundwater that enters the collection system through leaking pipes, pipe joints, and manhole walls. GWI varies throughout the year, often trending higher in late winter and spring as groundwater levels and soil moisture levels rise, and subsiding in late summer or after an extended dry period.
    [Show full text]
  • Federally Supported Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Programs
    Federally Supported Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Programs Updated May 3, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov RL30478 Federally Supported Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Programs Summary For more than four decades, Congress has authorized and refined several programs to help communities address water supply and wastewater problems. The agencies that administer these programs differ in multiple ways. In terms of funding mechanisms, projects developed by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) typically require direct, individual project authorizations from Congress. In contrast, standing program authorizations provide project funding for other agencies, including the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The key practical difference is that with the individual project authorizations, there is no predictable assistance or even guarantee of funding after a project is authorized, because funding must be secured each year in the congressional appropriations process. The programs, on the other hand, have set program criteria, are generally funded from year to year, and provide a process under which project sponsors compete for funding. In terms of scope and mission, the primary responsibilities of USACE are to maintain inland navigation, provide for flood and storm damage reduction, and restore aquatic ecosystems, while EPA’s mission relates to protecting public health and the environment. The Department of Commerce and HUD focus on community and economic development. Likewise, the specific programs—while all address water supply and wastewater treatment to some degree—differ in important respects.
    [Show full text]
  • Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation
    FACT SHEET Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Sanitary sewer rehabilitation through repair and renewal is a common practice to reduce extraneous flow, and address structural defects. This fact sheet serves as a basic resource for practitioners providing rehabilitation information, methods and key industry references. Introduction Sewers are a series of connected pipes or pipelines that convey either wastewater or storm water to a designated downstream location for treatment and/or disposal. There are three different types of sewers: sanitary, storm and combined. Sanitary sewers and combined sewers convey wastewater from homes, institutions and businesses to a centralized treatment plant. Sanitary sewers carry only wastewater whereas combined sewers carry both wastewater and storm water. Wastewater conveyance and treatment are important because they help prevent waterborne illnesses and promote general sanitation before safely discharging to receiving waters. Many older sewer systems consist primarily of combined sewers in the central or older part of the city but are surrounded by sanitary sewers built in newer growth areas. Storm sewers convey snowmelt and rainwater from yards, sidewalks and roadways and route it to receiving waters directly or through best management practices and facilities to remove certain pollutants. Sanitary and combined sewer systems usually contain private sewer laterals that connect individual buildings to main sewer pipelines. However, sanitary and combined sewers include more than just pipes. The pipes are part of an entire conveyance system that includes pump stations, force mains, manholes, storage facilities and other components. Similarly, storm sewer Figure 1: Typical Sources of I/I in Sanitary Sewer Systems conveyance systems can also include pump stations, force (Image from WEF, 2017) mains, manholes and storage facilities.
    [Show full text]
  • There Are Two Types of Systems Used in The
    Impacts of Sanitary Sewer Overflows and Combined Sewer Overflows on Human Health and on the Environment: a Literature Review Prepared For: Sacramento Area Sewer District Prepared By: Office of Water Programs California State University Sacramento August 2008 Introduction There are two types of public sewer systems used in the United States for collecting and conveying sanitary sewage, combined sewer systems (CSS) and sanitary sewer systems (SSS). Combined sewer systems collect and convey sanitary sewage and urban runoff in a common piping system. Sanitary sewer systems collect and convey sanitary sewage separately from urban runoff. In locations where SSSs exist, urban runoff is collected and conveyed in a separate storm sewer system (EPA, 2004). There are approximately 20,000 SSSs in the U.S. serving 147 million people and approximately 1,100 CSSs serving 43 million people (Meyland et al., 1998). CSSs were built prior to 1900 and were originally designed to convey combined sewage directly to points of discharge, generally into adjacent water bodies. With the advent of sewage treatment, CSS discharge points were redirected to wastewater treatment plant intake points (EPA, 2004). Out of economic necessity, wastewater treatment plants have limited hydraulic and treatment capacity. These plants are generally designed to accommodate diurnal peak sanitary sewage flows and loads, plus a limited additional hydraulic load resulting from wet weather sources. During wet weather events, hydraulic loads in CSSs quickly exceed the treatment and hydraulic capacity of treatment plants, necessitating diversion of part of the flow from the plant. Provisions for flow diversions around the treatment plant are designed into combined sewer systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Inflow & Infiltration
    Inflow & Public Education Infiltration Committee This municipal water quality educational material was sponsored by the Public Municipal Water Quality Education Committee of the Public Educational Information Pennsylvania Water Environment Association (PWEA). PWEA is a Member Association of the Water Environment Federation (WEF). Please visit our Public Education Toolbox on PWEA’s website for other public educational material for the municipal water quality industry. PO Box 3367 Gettysburg, PA 17325 www.pwea.org www.pwea.org Inflow & Infiltration “I&I” is a short acronym for a huge problem most sewer communities face, Inflow and Infiltration. Inflow occurs when rainwater is misdirected into the sanitary sewer system instead of storm sewers. Examples are: roof leaders, footer drains, sump pumps, manhole covers, and cross connections from storm drains. The remedy for inflow is to remove improper connections to the sanitary sewer system. Infiltration occurs when ground water seeps into the sanitary The worst impact of I&I is the likelihood You, as a homeowner, can reduce I&I sewer system through cracks or that the sewage can overflow out of the from your property. leaks in sewer pipes. The cracks sewer pipe and into our environment. This • Check that gutters and outside drains or leaks may be caused by age yucky, gross runoff of untreated sewage, are not connected to sanitary sewers. related deterioration, loose joints, contaminated with fecal matter, urine, and • Avoid planting trees and shrubs over damage or root infiltration. The toilet paper, is often referred to as SSO building sewers. The roots can remedy for infiltration is repairing (Sanitary Sewer Overflow).
    [Show full text]
  • State of Technology for Rehabilitation of Wastewater Collection Systems
    EPA/600/R-10/078 | July 2010 | www.epa.gov /nrmrl State of Technology for Rehabilitation of Wastewater Collection Systems Office of Research and Development National Risk Management Research Laboratory - Water Supply and Water Resources Division United States Office of Research EPA/600/R-10/078 Environmental Protection and Development July 2010 Agency Washington, DC 20460 State of Technology for Rehabilitation of Wastewater Collection Systems State of Technology for Rehabilitation of Wastewater Collection Systems by Dr. Ray Sterling, P.E., Jadranka Simicevic, Dr. Erez Allouche, P.E. Trenchless Technology Center at Louisiana Tech University Wendy Condit, P.E. Battelle Memorial Institute Lili Wang, P.E. ALSA Tech, LLC Contract No. EP-C-05-057 Task Order No. 58 Ariamalar Selvakumar, Ph.D., P.E. Task Order Manager U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Urban Watershed Branch National Risk Management Research Laboratory Water Supply and Water Resources Division 2890 Woodbridge Avenue (MS-104) Edison, NJ 08837 National Risk Management Research Laboratory Office of Research and Development U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 July 2010 DISCLAIMER The work reported in this document was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Task Order (TO) 58 of Contract No. EP-C-05-057 to Battelle. Through its Office of Research and Development, EPA funded and managed, or partially funded and collaborated in, the research described herein. This document has been subjected to the Agency’s peer and administrative reviews and has been approved for publication. Any opinions expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency; therefore, no official endorsement should be inferred.
    [Show full text]
  • Sanitary Sewer Overflow Response Plan
    CITY OF HEMET WASTEWATER DIVISION SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW RESPONSE PLAN Appendix D of the City of Hemet Sewer System Management Plan Updated February 2016 City of Hemet Wastewater Department SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW RESPONSE PLAN Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 4 1.1 Regulatory Requirements ................................................................................................. 4 1.1.1 Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements (GWDR) .................................. 4 CHAPTER 2 SPILL CATEGORIES AND REQUIREMENTS ........................................ 5 2.1 Summary of MRP Requirements ..................................................................................... 5 2.1.1 Spill Category 1 Discharges...................................................................................... 5 2.1.2 Spill Category 2 Discharges...................................................................................... 6 2.1.3 Spill Category 3 Discharges...................................................................................... 6 2.1.4 No Spill Certification ................................................................................................ 7 2.1.5 Private Lateral Sewage Discharge ............................................................................ 7 CHAPTER 3 RESPONSE TO NOTIFICATION OF SPILL ............................................. 8 3.1 Public Report of SSOs.....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • In the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri Western Division
    IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI WESTERN DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) ) ) ) ) ) Civil Action No. 4:10-cv-0497-GAF Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) ) THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY, ) MISSOURI ) ) Defendant. ) ) THE STATE OF MISSOURI ) ) Non-aligned Party, ) Joined pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1319(e) ) ) ) ) THIRD AMENDED CONSENT DECREE Case 4:10-cv-00497-GAF Document 22 Filed 01/15/21 Page 4 of 107 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. JURISDICTION ........................................................................................................... 6 II. VENUE .......................................................................................................................... 6 III. BINDING EFFECT ...................................................................................................... 6 IV. PURPOSE ..................................................................................................................... 7 V. DEFINITIONS .............................................................................................................. 8 VI. SUBMISSIONS REQUIRING EPA AND STATE APPROVAL .......................... 16 VII. IMPLEMENTATION OF SEWER SYSTEM REMEDIAL MEASURES AND POST-CONSTRUCTION MONITORING ............................................................. 19 VIII. FUNDING ................................................................................................................... 29 IX. REPORTING .............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]