Avoiding The Words 'Toxic Discharges' Into Wastewater Treatment Plants

WTFark are they talking about?????
City Council Report 
Date:  March 19, 2018
To:  City Council Through: Karolyn Kent, Assistant City Manager
From:  Jake West, Water Resources Department Director 
Subject: Approving and Adopting an Amendment to the City Code regarding sewer use and mass based discharge limitations for industrial users. (Citywide)  

Purpose and Recommendation 
The City of Mesa City Code Section 8-4-15: Prohibited Substances and Discharge Limitations, currently does not specifically provide for the use of mass based limits (pounds per day) in lieu of concentration base limits (milligrams per liter) for pollutants of concern for designated industrial users. 

The Water Resources Department recommends that the Mesa City Council approve the incorporation of a specific provision regarding use of mass based limits.  

Background and Discussion 
Recently, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) performed a Pretreatment Compliance Inspection (PCI) of Mesa’s Sewer Use Ordinance - found in the Mesa City Code at Title 8, Chapter 4. 
One item that ADEQ raised as a result of the inspection was that the Code does not specifically provide for the use of mass based limits in lieu of concentration based discharge limits for designated industrial users.   
Establishing a specific provision for the use of mass based limits will potentially allow industrial users to increase manufacturing. 

BLOGGER NOTE:
And discharges of toxic waste into the city's water treatment plants - this is a cost

More jargon >
The use of equivalent mass based limits in lieu of concentration-based limits will allow the industrial user more flexibility to implement water conservation, as

they may elect to control their process wastewater through: 
1. more efficient technologies and pollution prevention practices
 (e.g. resulting in lower pollutant concentrations in the discharged wastewater) or
2. more efficient water conservation practices
(e.g. resulting in less wastewater volume discharged from the industrial operations)
3. or both. 
Mass based limits also allow the City additional options when considering the industrial loading at the water reclamation plants > See Budget Pie

  
Alternatives 
Mesa could decide not to approve the purposed recommendations, but may limit the City’s use of mass based limits for industrial users. 
Fiscal Impact 
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the City.