WASTE WATER DISCHARGE

1. Industrial Water System

Industrial waste water is any discharge generated from our laboratories, photo shops, dining services, X-ray machines, boilers, and cooling towers.   Industrial waste water discharged into the sewer systems is strictly regulated by the federal Clean Water Act and managed by City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Sanitation, Industrial Waste management Division.

All facilities generating and/or disposing industrial wastewater are required to obtain an industrial waste discharge permit.   Application for industrial waste water permit should be filed with the Bureau of the Sanitation of the City of Los Angeles.  EHS manages campus industrial waste water permit by completing and submitting the permit application and complying with watewater discharge requirements.  EHS, as required by the discharge permit, implements the Best Management Practices (BMP's) to minimize the discharge of contaminated waste water or surface runoff. 

Laboratory Sink Disposal

• Laboratory may use significant hazardous chemicals, such as toxic, corrosive, flammable, reactive, and heavy metals, whcih can not be treated by conventional wastewater treatment systems.  The discharge of these chemicals are stirictly regulated by the Clean Water Act and must be prevented from sink disposal.
• Hazardous chemicals must be disposed of as hazardous waste guided by the EHS Chemical Waste Disposal Program and handled via EHS Hazardous Waste Pick-up Services.
• Solid medical wastes which are defined as "infectious or potentially infectious wastes" must not be disposed into the sanitary sewer system.  Liquid biological or medical waste other than solid wastes can be decontaminated with common bleach or chlorox and can be disposed into the sanitoary sewer system safely.  Contact EHS Biosafety Office for the detailed decontamination process.
• Disposal of any types of radioactive wastes is strictly regulated and must be handled through EHS Hazardous Waste Pick-up Services.

2. Storm Water System

Storm water is any precipitation (rain or snow melt) that comes into contact with a facility or construction site, then drains from the site, and flows into any nearby storm drains and water body.

University of Southern California is allowed to dispose swimming pool water into the storm drains under the strict guidance of the City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Sanitation.  Storm water runoff is regulated under the Clean Water Act.

Common Storm Water Pollutants:

• Oil and grease (leaky cars, kitchen waste)
• Heavy metals (copper and zinc from brake and tire wear disposited as dust)
• Nutrients (fertilizers)
• Chemicals (pesticides, detergents)
• Mud and sediment (landscape, construction activities)
• Litter (cigarettes, food packaging, flyers, and newspaper)
• Coliform bacteria (from animal or human excrement)

Preventing Pollution

The following Best Management Practices (BMPs) are recommended to eliminate polluted water discharges to the storm drain system:

• Reduce chemical pesticides or fertilizers from landscaping and lawns.
• Use secondary containment for chemical storage.
• Maintain secondary containment for chemical/biological/radioactive waste container.
• Keep storm drains clear of debris, dirt, sand, silt, and wastes.
• Perform vehicle maintenance and repair at approved locations.
• Dry sweep or vacuum areas instead of washing down to storm drains.
• Reduce oil on parking lots by cleaning with a surfactants on a regular basis and disposed of the cleaning waste via EHS

3. Photochemical Waste Disposal

Photo processing substances includes fixer, developer, stabilizer, and rinse water.  Chemical constituents in these substances can be hazardous, and discharge of these substances to the sewer is typically prohibited.  Used fixer typically contains levels of silver can exceed the limitation of 2 parts per million.  As a result, discharge of used fixer to the sewer is a violation of LA wastewater regulations.  When exceeded, a specially designed treatments and recovery equipment can be installed and operated to extract silver from the used fixer to allowable (reduce) levels below 2 ppm.

Typically, these silber bearing wates are discharged through a properly sized, designed, installed, operated, maintained and serviced silver recovery unit prior to discharge to the sewer.  The silver recovery equipment must be operated and maintained in accordance with manufacturer's specification. The facility should maintain the manufacturer's specification for its silver recovery equipment and a silver recovery management activity log.  Please contact EHS for assistance with these recommendations and the best management practices for photo processing waste.

4. Mercury Disposal

Mercury may be found in mercury thermometers or blood pressure devices at USC.  Mercury containing devices can break and can enter the sewer system.  Discharge of mercury to the sewer system is strictly prohibited by the Department of Public Works of Bureau of Sanitation.

Once mercury enters a wastewater stream, it is very difficult to remove.  Metallic mercury forms change into highly toxic organic mercury forms through aguatic life such as bacterias living in the sediments. These organic mercury forms are much more toxic than inorganic forms and biomagnified in aquatic environment posing a serious health threat to aquatic and human life

EHS highly recommend that mercury containing device should be replaced by non-mercury or non-toxic containing devices.  EHS will dispose of mercury containing device safely.