pH Monitoring Fact Sheet Why Is Continuous pH Monitoring Important? Prevent pH As a permitted Industrial User, you have an obligation to meet the conditions of your Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit (Permit) and the requirements of your local municipal code Violations (Industrial Waste Discharge Regulations section), which states: Report ALL pH deviations within 24 hours of “No person shall discharge, cause, allow or permit to be discharged into the Sanitary Sewer System or discovery to your any part thereof, any liquid, solid, vapor, gas, or thing having a pH lower than six (6.0) or equal to or inspector greater than twelve and one-half (≥12.5)…” Continuously record pH The San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (Wastewater Facility) has a National at ALL TIMES Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit discharge limit of pH 6.5–8.5. A pH value Develop a back up above or below this range can cause the Wastewater Facility to be in violation of its discharge pH monitoring and limits, leading to toxic releases of wastewater to the South San Francisco Bay. In addition, acidic recording plan discharges (i.e., pH less than 7) from your facility can cause sewer corrosion, generate sewer odors, and endanger sewer workers. Continuously monitoring and regulating the pH of sewage discharge Inspect pH equipment, into the collection system will help protect the sewer infrastructure, the Wastewater Facility, the check pH alarms, and public, and the health of the Bay. review pH data daily Document daily pH chart pH Scale inspections with the The power of Hydrogen (pH) is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution. Water for date, time, and staff example, has a neutral pH of 7.0. A pH below 7 is on the acidic side of the scale, while a pH above 7 is on initials the alkaline side of the scale. pH below 6.0 or pH equal to or greater than 12.5 is a violation of local limits. Perform and document weekly pH calibrations, State State cleaning, and checks Hazardous Federal Plant Eluent Local Limits Hazardous Waste 5 6.5 - 8.5 6 - < 12.5 Waste Report, document, and < 2 12.5+ repair malfunctioning or broken equipment as Acidic Neutral Alkaline soon as possible 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Maintain pH records onsite for 3 years Bright Nickel Bath Photo Developer Cuperchloric Etch and Rinsewaters Acid Cleaners Copper Hydroxide Sludge Alodine Bath/Anodize Rinse Cleaning Line Rinse, Silver/Gold Bath Battery Acid, Sulfuric Peroxide Etch Effects of Low/High pH On Your Facility A pH value outside of the desired range can promote separation of metals in your onsite treatment system. In addition, acutely acidic/caustic solutions can endanger the safety of your workers, releasing toxic fumes and causing chemical burns. Not only are pH fluctuations potentially hazardous, they’re also costly. When pH fluctuates, excess chemicals are required to neutralize wastes resulting in lost time and higher costs. www.sanjoseca.gov/pretreatment On the Sanitary Sewer Current daily and historical pH records Consequences of Low pH also affects the collection system and must be easily accessible and reviewable equipment by producing hydrogen sulfide for announced and unannounced pH Violations and gas (H S), which is the primary cause of sewer inspections 2 Failure to Report: odors. In high enough concentrations, H S can 2 Violates not only permit generate explosive conditions in the sewer, Causes of pH conditions, but also endangering collection system workers and Fluctuation at Your Facility local, state, and federal the general public. H S in sewers is eventually 2 The pH of your wastewater stream may regulations oxidized to form strong sulfuric acid (H2SO4), fall outside the desired pH range if: which attacks the concrete in sewer pipes, Penalties ranging from a The pH equipment is causing severe corrosion. Long-term exposure verbal warning to legal insufficiently calibrated to acidic discharges can result in pipe failure, action to monetary fines pump station failure, collection interceptor The acidic/caustic baths are A referral to the City breakdown, disruption of service, and discharged in slugs Attorney’s or the District uncontrolled releases of wastewater. The equipment is not Attorney’s Office for inspected frequently prosecution On the Wastewater Facility The equipment is broken and/or Increased Permit High pH interferes with the biological malfunctioning requirements processes at the Wastewater Facility, The onsite treatment system is Revocation of Permit precipitating unwanted sludge and generating poorly maintained ammonia gas (NH3). Because optimum biochemical oxygen and nitrogen removal at How the City of the Wastewater Facility can only be achieved San José Monitors pH Report ALL violations at neutral pH, neutralizing the wastewater to Reportar TODAS las infracciones Programs in place that monitor and assess the pH Reporting Requirements effect optimal pollutant removal will influence Requisitos para reportar pH the economics of waste treatment. quality of the Wastewater Facility influent: AC N L CE IO 7 ÍM PT T ÓN 5 IT A LA CI 8 ES B O C 4 6 A LE I A C Reviewing your daily pH logs during R E R V F 9 P A IN 3 TA N B G L 10 E E S 2 Continuous pH Compliance Inspections 11 1 12 < 0 V I 12.5 N I F O Monitoring Requirements R Reviewing your historical (past 3 years) 13 L A A C T C I I O Ó N REMEMBER: 14 Section B.3 of your Permit states whether pH logs during Annual Inspections N Keep pH recorder operational at ALL TIMES Keep pH probe in the sample point RECUERDE: continuous pH monitoring equipment is at ALL TIMES Mantener el medidor de pH operacional a TODO TIEMPO Sampling your wastewater during Inspect pH equipment daily Mantenga la sonda de pH en punto de Keep pH equipment properly muestra a TODO TIEMPO required for compliance. calibrated Sampling Inspections and checking Revise el equipo de pH diariamente Document, report, and repair malfunctioning and/or broken Mantenga el equipo de pH calibrado equipment en forma adecuada for violations Maintain pH chart paper records Registre, reporte y repare equipo Either electronic or paper chart recorders can defectuoso y/o dañado onsite for 3 years Develop a back-up pH monitoring and recording plan Mantenga un cuadro en papel de pH be used to maintain compliance; however, en el sitio durante 3 años Reviewing your Self Monitoring Desarrolle un plan de reserva para el Report ALL violations within monitoreo y documentación de pH discovery to (408) 945-3000. keep the following in mind: 24 HOURS of Reports (SMRs) for violations Not reporting a violation may lead to enforcement actions and/or fi nes Reporte TODAS las infracciones dentro de Ask your inspector24 HORAS del hallazgo al (408) 945-3000. for a pH No reportar una infracción puede llevar Measuring and recording the multas y/o sanciones Recorders must record from 0-14 The San José‐Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (Wastewater Facility) serves the cities of San José, Santa Clara, and ReportingMilpitas, Cupertino SanitaryRequirements District, West Valley Sanitation District Poster (including Campbell, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and Saratoga); pH scale Wastewater Facility’s influent pH at County Sanitation Districts 2-3, and Burbank Sanitary District. MY INSPECTOR ISMI INSPECTOR ES: the Headworks Printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks. © 2015 0415/0/0/GL/ao To be considered “continuous,” recorders must record data every few seconds. Performing Surveillance Monitoring in Avoid time gaps when switching out the sanitary sewer line and analyzing paper charts or downloading electronic the collected wastewater samples for data. Time gaps greater than 59 seconds compliance with local regulations The San José‐Santa Clara may be considered a violation. Regional Wastewater Facility The pH record is a legal document and In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities serves the cities of San José, must be tamper proof Act, City of San José Environmental Services Santa Clara, Milpitas, Cupertino Sanitary District, West Valley pH records must be kept onsite for at Department materials can be made available upon Sanitation District (including least 3 years (back up electronic records request in alternative formats, such as Braille, Campbell, Los Gatos, Monte to prevent loss of data) large print, audio-tape, or computer disk. Requests Sereno, and Saratoga), County may be made by calling (408) 535-8550 (Voice) or Sanitation Districts 2- 3, and Printed on recycled paper (800) 735-2929 (California Relay Service). Burbank Sanitary District. © 2016 0515/0/0/EGAD/ML For questions, contact your Source Control Inspector at: (408) 945-3000..