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Mercury in the Wastewater, an Eight Year Odyssey into Attaining Less Than 1 ppb

Follow the eight-year journey of Northeastern University in Boston, MA, as they work to achieve a mercury discharge limit of less than 1 ppb in their wastewater. Learn about the steps taken, compliance options, and the decision to replace the entire pipe infrastructure.

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Mercury in the Wastewater, an Eight Year Odyssey into Attaining Less Than 1 ppb

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  1. Mercury in the Wastewater, an Eight Year Odyssey into Attaining Less Than 1 ppb Steve Brehio Northeastern University

  2. Northeastern University • A global, experiential, research university located in Boston, MA • 35,696 students • Three suburban campuses including Marine Science Center • Four regional campuses located in Charlotte, Seattle, Silicon Valley, and Toronto • 48 academic buildings and 36 residence halls • 700 research and teaching laboratories (Carnegie R1) CUHMMC 2017

  3. Local POTW • Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) • Toxic Reduction and Control (TRAC) • MWRA Regulations • 360 CMR 10.00 - Sewer Use • Mercury Discharge Limit - 1 ppb • Drinking Water Standard - 2 ppb CUHMMC 2017

  4. Snell Engineering Center(circa 1982) CUHMMC 2017

  5. Snell Engineering Center • Civil and Environmental Engineering and Chemical Engineering departments • 23 research and teaching labs • Chemline acid waste piping • Approximately 90 to 100 gpd flow • Grade 1 pretreatment system • Permit sampling: Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ni, Ag, Zn, TTO, flow and pH CUHMMC 2017

  6. Snell Pretreatment System CUHMMC 2017

  7. NOV History • Notice of Violations – Eleven from the period 2004 through 2010 • Notice of Non-Compliance – First February 2008 and second November 2010 • MWRA Final Action Notice – June 2013 for violations occurring between November 16, 2011 and March 28, 2013 CUHMMC 2017

  8. Notice of Noncompliance Actions Taken - 2008 • Mercury workgroup formed – January 2008 • Sinks traps removed and cleaned – February 2008 (Visible mercury was found in three sink traps) • Pretreatment chemicals replaced – February 2008. Caustic mercury concentration was at 0.0284 mg/l and acid was 0.0164 mg/l • Disposal of unneeded mercury containing chemicals and equipment – March 2008 • Review of all the teaching and research protocols – March 2008 • Sampling of sink traps and commercial chemical products – June 2008 (Gojo hand cleaner 0.0364 mg/l mercury) • Replaced ten sink traps with continued elevated levels of Hg – June 2008 • Achieved Compliance CUHMMC 2017

  9. Notice of Noncompliance Actions Taken - 2010 • Plugged HVAC room floor drains identified as discharging into wastewater treatment system – December 2010 • Focus on power washing of pretreatment system tanks – December 2010 • Replaced all sink and floor traps because testing of some continued to show background of mercury – January 2011 • Sealed Sink Strainers – January 2011 • EHS review of the mercury use in the building – January 2011 • Power washing of horizontal piping at all accessible trap locations to remove potential legacy film that could contain mercury – January 2011 • Facilities cleaning chemicals analyzed for mercury content – January 2011 • Sump groundwater isolated from pretreatment system – January 2011 • COE review of building history – January 2011 • Achieved Compliance CUHMMC 2017

  10. MWRA Final Action Notice • MWRA Final Action Notice – June 2013 • Discharging terminated – temporary batch system set up (through existing pretreatment system) – April 2013 • Larger batch system installed – June 2013 • Wastewater is disposed off site about every month at about $6,000.00 to $8,000.00 per event CUHMMC 2017

  11. Compliance Options • Collect and Dispose as Industrial Wastewater – 7k monthly • Collect and Discharge Compliant Batches - varies • Merge Discharge – 500k • Filtration – 150k initial, 195k annual • Complete Infrastructure Replacement – 1 million • 10k per day fine CUHMMC 2017

  12. Testing of Batch Tanks Mercury still present in the wastewater CUHMMC 2017

  13. Water Flows Trending Down • Egan 2009 – 4,000 to 5,000 GPD • Egan 2014 – 900 to 1,000 GPD • Egan 2015 – 500 to 1,000 GPD • Snell 2009 – 200 to 500 GPD • Snell 2014 – 90 to 100 GPD • Snell 2015 – 75 to 100 GPD CUHMMC 2017

  14. Planned Actions • Initial decision made to combine flow with Egan • Continued forensic testing for mercury • Contaminated sink bowl and associated piping replaced • Intercept tanks monitored and installed to localize source • Plan to conduct additional power washing of pipes CUHMMC 2017

  15. Change in Direction • High concentrations of mercury found in the batch system and reduced flows in Egan made the combined flow option unworkable. • Testing of wastewater from power washing showed significant concentrations of mercury (one sample 6,400 ppb!) • The decision was made that a complete pipe infrastructure replacement was now the best option and could be accomplished in an occupiedbuilding. CUHMMC 2017

  16. Architectural Design CUHMMC 2017

  17. Architectural Design CUHMMC 2017

  18. Laser Scanning – Existing Condition CUHMMC 2017

  19. Pretreatment Systems OLD MODIFIED pH NEUTRALIZATION SYSTEM NEW pH NEUTRALIZATION SYSTEM CUHMMC 2017

  20. Acid Waste Transport System ORIGINAL GRAVITY SYSTEM NEWLY INSTALLED ACID WASTE LIFT STATIONS IN BASEMENT LABS CUHMMC 2017

  21. Crew working in Ceiling above Computer Lab Space Occupied Construction IT Suite – Curtain Wall Room Separation Learning Center – Typical Floor & Room Protection Lab Fume Hoods Tagged Safe for Work CUHMMC 2017

  22. Success! Post Wastewater Pipe Replacement – Compliance Sampling 2015 CUHMMC 2017

  23. Return to Regular Permit • 30 Day Notice to MWRA Prior to Discharge • Resume Discharge into MWRA/BWSS • Ongoing Mercury Testing and Monitoring • Compliance with Permit Conditions • Two Years Continuous Compliance CUHMMC 2017

  24. Mercury Redux • Another building (circa 1941 – 1970) identified with mercury (containing Duriron, cast iron and PVC piping) • MWRA immediately moved from NOV to NON • Allowed to continue to discharge • Power washing and other efforts used earlier again unsuccessful • Pipe replacement viewed as a huge challenge (more labs, existing conditions, animal facility and asbestos) • Pipe replacement ultimately chosen again and 100% successful CUHMMC 2017

  25. Mugar In Lab Pipe Replacement CUHMMC 2017

  26. Mugar Basement Horizontal CUHMMC 2017

  27. Mugar Pipe Debris CUHMMC 2017

  28. Mugar Pipe Replacement CUHMMC 2017

  29. Costs • Snell Engineering – 2.8 million • New pipe and infrastructure • Batch System • Industrial wastewater disposal • New pretreatment system • Sampling • Mugar Life Sciences – 3.9 million • New pipe and infrastructure • Removal of existing chip tanks • Batch System • Sampling • Potable water and safety showers/eyewashes (additional cost) CUHMMC 2017

  30. Keys to Success • Outstanding project managers • Constant Communication with labs and other key personnel • Qualified and knowledgeable contractors • Commitment from leadership • Successful negotiations and collaboration with local POTW • Team work between Facilities, EH&S, contractors and academic departments CUHMMC 2017

  31. Questions? • "Environmental activists say that Trump's border wall would disrupt the migration of hundreds of species. Animals were like, 'No problem. We'll just tunnel under it like everyone else.'" –Jimmy Fallon • "According to a new U.N. report, the global warming outlook is much worse than originally predicted. Which is pretty bad when they originally predicted it would destroy the planet." –Jay Leno CUHMMC 2017

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