Discharge Prohibitions

 Two common chemicals used in Biology research are safe to sewer (WardSafe and Ward's Pure Preserved).

Before starting with the section about Prohibited Discahrges and Local Limits 6.05; I received a letter from the Pretreatment Program Coordinator for Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District stating that two products can go into the sewer system - WardSafe and Ward's Pure Preserved solutions. From Sara Georgel on April 12, 2022.

(De Pere Municipal Code Section 70-1 adopts Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District Use Ordinance)

Sec. 70-1. - Purpose and intent of chapter.(a)The purpose of this chapter is to promote and protect the public health, safety and general welfare of the citizenry of the city, to enhance aquatic life, scenic and ecological values and enhance municipal, industrial and recreational use of water.(b)The city hereby adopts and incorporates herein the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District Sewer Use Ordinance, dated March 2, 2006, and may be amended from time to time. In case of a direct conflict between this chapter and the GBMSD sewer use ordinance, the terms and conditions of the GBMSD sewer use ordinance shall prevail. 

5.2.9 Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District – GBMSD 

Chapter 6 – PROHIBITED DISCHARGES AND LOCAL LIMITS 

6.05 Prohibitions on Discharge No user shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following into the GBMSD sewerage system:

(1) any wastewater in violation of state discharge limitations established pursuant to Wis. Stats.§283.21.

(2) any wastewater which would cause a detrimental effect.

(3) any wastewater or vapor having a temperature higher than 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Centigrade) or lower than 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Centigrade).

(4) any wastewater that creates a fire or explosion hazard, including, but not limited to, wastewater with a closed cup flashpoint of less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Centigrade) using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21.

(5) any volatile substance that causes two consecutive air monitor readings greater than five percent (5%) or any single reading greater than ten percent (10%), of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL). Examples of volatile substances include, but are not limited to, gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethers, alcohol, ketones, aldehydes, and peroxides. Benzene concentrations shall not exceed 0.5 mg/L. Total BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) concentrations shall not exceed 1.0 mg/L.

(6) any solid waste greater than 1-inch diameter.

(7) any wastewater containing color that would cause a detrimental effect or create an obvious plume or colorization in the Fox River or is prohibited by the WDNR.

(8) any wastewater that exceeds the most stringent requirement or limitation set forth in federal, state, or local regulations.

(9) any noxious or malodorous liquids, gases, or solids, or any pollutants that result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes that alone or in combination create a public nuisance or worker health or safety hazard.

(10) any radioactive wastes or isotopes, except those with a half-life or concentration that complies with the Act and are authorized in writing by GBMSD.

(11) any oil or grease or their by-products in amounts that cause a detrimental effect.

(12) any wastewater having a pH lower than 5.0 s.u. or higher than 10.0 s.u., with the following exceptions:(a) The total time that the pH is outside the 5.0 to 10.0 s.u. range, shall not exceed seven(7) hours twenty-six (26) minutes within a calendar month nor sixty (60) consecutive minutes at any time. In cases that a full month of pH monitoring data is not available, compliance with the standard will be maintained if pH values do not exceed the 5.0 to 10.0 s.u. range for more than 1% of the total pH monitoring minutes.(b) The user has been granted a written pH variance from GBMSD. 

6.10 pH Variances An industrial user may request a variance in the pH limits for its wastewater by submitting a request in writing to the GBMSD Executive Director and with a copy to the customer that owns the collector.The GBMSD Executive Director may, in his/her sole discretion, grant a variance for the discharge of wastewater to the GBMSD sewerage system with a pH greater than 10.0 s.u. but less than or equal to 12.5 s.u., under the following conditions:

(1) the industrial user agrees to install and operate, at its cost, equipment to continuously monitor and record the pH of the industrial user wastewater at the point where it exits the industrial user's facility (the "exit point"). The location of the exit point must be approved by GBMSD in writing. The industrial user shall submit such recordings to GBMSD within fifteen (15) days after the end of the month during which the recordings are generated; and

(2) the industrial user agrees to pay GBMSD for all costs incurred in televising the receiving sewers at the time of granting the variance and at intervals thereafter as determined by GBMSD.

No pH variance shall be issued for wastewater with a pH below 5.0 s.u. or above 12.5 s.u. Granting of a pH variance to an industrial user shall in no way relieve the industrial user of any liability for damage to the integrity of the receiving sewer.

Damage to or deterioration of the receiving sewer will be the financial responsibility of the industrial user. Any pH variance may be revoked by the GBMSD Executive Director at any time and for any reason. Each variance is specific to the industrial user and the industrial user's location referred to in the request for variance. pH variances are not transferable or assignable and industrial users shall request a pH variance at any new location if the industrial user or its discharge location is relocated. 

6.13 Combined Discharge Authorization Upon written approval of GBMSD, two or more users may collectively elect compliance based on the pH of their combined wastewater. Each user approved for collective compliance shall discharge wastewater directly to the GBMSD sewerage system through a common sewer that is continuously maintained and repaired at the expense of the users. The users shall continuously monitor the pH of the individual and combined discharges as approved by GBMSD.

Any users of a group that has been approved by GBMSD to comply with the GBMSD pH requirement on a combined wastewater basis shall each be in compliance with GBMSD pH limitations if the pH of the combined wastewater is within the 5.0 - 10.0 s.u. range. If the combined wastewater of an approved group of users is found to be outside the 5.0 - 10.0 s.u. range, then continuous pH monitoring records of each user in the group shall be examined. In such event, any of the users of the group found to have exceeded the 5.0 - 10.0 s.u. range will be in violation of this section.

GBMSD may withdraw combined discharge authorization if repeated combined discharge excursions outside the 5.0 - 10.0 s.u. range occur.