Title: | Sanitary Sewer Program | Publication date: | 9/20/2021 | Effective date: | 8/11/2011 |
POLICYA. PurposeThe Sanitary Sewer Program ensures that Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) remains in compliance with sewer discharge limits imposed by the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) by: - Assisting dischargers by reviewing their potential discharge to see if it is eligible for sanitary-sewer disposal;
- Maintaining sitewide, treatment unit, and other special discharge permits with EBMUD; and
- Submitting periodic self-monitoring reports to EBMUD as required by each permit.
B. Persons AffectedAll Berkeley Lab employees who intend to discharge potentially hazardous substances to the sanitary sewer system. This includes career employees, affiliates, subcontractors, visiting researchers, and all casual and participating visitors at the Lab. C. ExceptionsNone D. Policy Statement- Berkeley Lab holds permits with local water districts that have established a permitting process mandating operating conditions that must be fulfilled for all wastewater discharged to their sanitary-sewer systems.
- These wastewater discharge permits specify different discharge limits at the Berkeley Lab site boundary and on-site treatment units. (Work Process A).
E. Roles and ResponsibilitiesRole | Responsibilities | East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) – the local wastewater treatment facility | Accepts and regulates sanitary-sewer discharges from Berkeley Lab. | Employees | - Follow applicable water-district permits and ordinances;
- Must be fully aware of the environmental impact of their activities and comply with all requirements that govern those activities;
- Must take immediate action to stop unplanned releases to the sanitary sewer and report all instances of unplanned sanitary-sewer releases to the EHS Division; and
- Must not discharge paper towels to the sanitary sewer.
| Environmental Services Group (ESG) | - Prepares and maintains sanitary-sewer permits with EBMUD;
- Assists in determining whether a discharge is eligible for sanitary-sewer disposal;
- Prepares special discharge permits with EBMUD for disposing of stormwater to the sanitary sewer at construction sites;
- Makes presentations and participates in discussions regarding sanitary-sewer-permit compliance matters, with Berkeley Lab employees and EBMUD.
- Curtails or suspends any operations that are not in compliance with water-district permits and ordinances;
- Monitors laboratory discharges by sampling the sanitary sewer to verify compliance with applicable regulations and permits, and reports results to EBMUD;
- Investigates reports of unplanned sanitary-sewer releases and notifies water districts in a timely manner, as required; and
- Coordinates and represents Berkeley Lab activities during water district audits.
| Principal Investigators and Supervisors | - Ensure that water-district permits and ordinances are followed;
- Request assistance from the Waste Management Group (Generator Assistant) and the ESG for technical advice on questions relating to sanitary-sewer disposal; and
- Notify the EHS Division immediately of any accidental releases to the sanitary sewer.
| State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | - Regulates sanitary-sewer discharges to San Francisco Bay from Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW).
| Waste Management Group | - The Generator Assistant aids in determining whether the proposed discharge is a hazardous waste. If so, the discharge is not eligible for sanitary-sewer disposal.
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F. Definitions/AcronymsSee the ES&H Manual Sanitary Sewer program for technical terms related to the details of this policy and its implementation. Term | Definition | Environmental monitoring | The collection and analysis of sanitary sewer samples. | Hazardous waste | Waste specifically listed by the EPA as hazardous, or waste that exhibits any of the following characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity. | Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) | A sewage treatment plant. The East Bay Municipal Utility District plant is the POTW that accepts sewage from Berkeley Lab. The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District plant is the POTW that accepts sewage from the JGI. |
G. Recordkeeping Requirements- Discharge Analysis Reports are maintained by the ESG within the EHS Division.
- EBMUD permits and special discharge permits are maintained by ESG.
H. Implementing DocumentsDocument number | Title | Type | 07.09.005.001 | Sanitary Sewer Program | Program | 07.09.005.002 | Work Process A, General Requirements | Process |
Sanitary Sewer Program Subject Matter Expert
Environmental Services Group
EHS Division J. Revision HistoryDate | Revision | By Whom | Revision Description | Section(s) Affected | Change Type | 1/2/2012 | 0 | R. Fox | Rewrite for wiki (brief) | All | Minor | 7/19/2013 | 1 | R. Fox | Rewrite for wiki (policy) | All | Minor | 9/20/2021 | 2 | B. Mulholland | Periodic review | All | Minor |
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