최근 아이다호(Idaho) Jerome시와 미국 환경보호청(Environmental Protection Agency, EPA)는 최근 합의에서 앞으로의 폐수 배출 능력을 확인하기 위해 폐수처리플랜트의 설비를 개선하기로 했다. 스네이크강(Snake River)에서의 폐수 배출은 결과적으로 J8 운하와 다른 물은 잠재적으로 깨끗하게 해 진척시킨다.

 

수질오염방지법(Clean Water Act)은 폐수 배출 오염 물질의 다양한 허용 기준을 준수하는 것을 필요로 한다. 2010년 4월 7일부터 2011년 7월까지 처리플랜트에서 다수의 배출은 생물학적 산소 요구량·염소·총 부유물질·분변계 대장균·대장균·용존산소 등에 대한 허가 제한을 초과한 바 있다.

 

 

 

In a recent settlement between the City of Jerome, Idaho, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the city has agreed to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant to ensure that the facility has the capacity to handle future discharges. As a result, wastewater discharged into the Snake River, the J8 canal and other waters will be potentially cleaner going forward.

 

The Clean Water Act requires that wastewater discharges comply with permitted limits for a variety of pollutants. Between April 2010 and July 2011, numerous discharges from the treatment plant exceeded permit limitations for biological oxygen demand, chlorine, total suspended solids, fecal coliforms, E.coli, pH, phosphorus, and dissolved oxygen.

 

"Wastewater treatment plants can contribute large amounts of pollution to our waterways, so it's critically important that the discharges are properly controlled and treated," said Ed Kowalski, director of EPA's Office of Compliance and Enforcement in Seattle. "This action will move us closer to our goal of removing the Snake River from the list of impaired waterbodies and ensuring clean water for drinking, fishing, swimming, and other activities for everyone in Idaho."

 

The July 30, 2015, Consent Decree between Jerome and EPA sets forth actions that the city will take to settle numerous violations of its National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. To bring the wastewater discharges into compliance, the city has constructed an emergency storage pond that can hold 21 million gallons of wastewater.

 

It will also make approximately $43 million in improvements to the wastewater treatment facility over the next six years. These upgrades will include adding two basins and increasing blower capacity in the membrane treatment area; adding a new sludge dewatering building; adding an aeration basin, pump station, blower building, and new yard piping; and increasing biotower ventilation.

 

In addition, the City of Jerome will pay an $86,000 civil penalty to settle claims it was discharging wastewater in violation of its permits.

 

[출처 = Water World / 2015년 8월 27일]