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POLLUTANTS OF
CONCERN |
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Emerging Contaminants / Copper
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Silver
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Mercury |
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To
reduce harmful pollutants at their source, the District determines
which pollutants are a problem currently and which ones may
be a problem in the future. The District identifies pollutants
of concern based on the following criteria:
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• The potential
for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
violation
• Feedback from San Francisco Bay Area
Pollution Prevention Group meetings regarding which pollutants
constitute
a threat to the health of the Bay or the environment
• Feedback from the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) or Regional Water Quality Control Board
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The potential for pollution to impact potable water or
air
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Currently, the District’s
pollutants of concern are copper, silver, and mercury. Pollutants
of concern are re-evaluated regularly and updated based on a
change in condition or as new pollutant(s) of concern are identified. |
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EMERGING CONTAMINANTS |
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Description/Information here.
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COPPER |
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Copper is a pollutant of concern not only because of potential
NPDES violation, but also because East Bay Dischargers Authority
(EBDA) has been directed to target copper. The District will
continue to focus on copper and participate in the combined
efforts of the EBDA dischargers and the City of Livermore to
reduce copper loading.
The main sources of copper to the wastewater treatment plant
are new residential development areas (where copper water pipes
are being installed) and vehicle service facilities (where auto
brake pads are worked on).
To learn how to reduce the corrosion of copper pipes by modifying
the plumbing design, go to Plumbing
Design Modification to Reduce Copper Corrosion.
Vehicle service facilities have the potential to discharge copper,
nickel, zinc, lead, oil, and grease to the wastewater treatment
plant. If you own or manage a vehicle service facility and you
want to learn about preventing pollution in your shop, go to
Vehicle
Service Program, Best Management Practices.
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SILVER |
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The photo processing industry (which includes Dentists, chiropractors,
and one-hour photo shops) is the main source of silver in the
wastewater. The District has conducted site visits of all photo
processors in the service area. Small photo processors –
those who discharge 15 gallons of silver bearing wastewater
per month or less – are monitored in the pollution prevention
program. Photo processors who discharge more than 15 gallons
per month are permitted as an industrial user in the District’s
Pretreatment Program.
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MERCURY |
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Mercury is the newest pollutant of concern for the District.
Sources of mercury are dental offices, laboratories, hospitals,
human waste, food waste, household products, and storm water
inflow. Dental offices are the largest source of mercury to
the wastewater treatment plants. They contribute approximately
60% of the mercury waste.
The types of products found in businesses and homes that contain
mercury include fluorescent lamps, thermostat probes, metal
halide lamps, thermometers, thermostats, dental amalgam, manometers,
gauges, and mercury switches.
MERCURY RECYCLING -
EXCHANGE YOUR MERCURY THERMOMETER FOR A FREE DIGITAL THERMOMETER
To participate in the mercury recycling and thermometer exchange, you must reside in the Dublin San Ramon Services District service area.
In order to reduce the amount of
mercury being released to the environment, the Dublin San
Ramon Services District, the City of Pleasanton, and Pleasanton
Garbage are implementing a two-pronged mercury recycling program:
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(1)
Exchanging mercury thermometers for
free digital thermometers;
(2) Recycling items
that contain mercury – fluorescent light bulbs, thermostats,
mercury switches (often used to turn on the car trunk light),
mercuric oxide batteries (small button-size batteries often
used in cameras, watches, and calculators). |
To
participate in this program, residents must live in the service
area of the Dublin San Ramon Services District or city of Pleasanton.
All the items containing mercury must be intact (NO broken thermometers,
fluorescent light bulbs, etc.). Also, the mercury thermometers
must be transported in their original carrying case and sealed
in a plastic bag, or in another protective container, i.e.,
sealed in two plastic bags, one inside the other, to ensure
safe handling and transport.
Mercury enters the San Francisco Bay from many sources, including
broken thermometers that are flushed down the drain. Wastewater
treatment plants can only remove 60 percent of the mercury from
wastewater and the remaining 40 percent is discharged to the
Bay, causing harm to aquatic life and ultimately human health.
By exchanging mercury thermometers for digital thermometers
and recycling items that contain mercury, individuals are helping
to reduce the amount of mercury in our local environment and
ultimately the San Francisco Bay. When it comes to preventing
water pollution, every drop counts! |
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DSRSD Customers - Thermometer
Exchange and Mercury Waste Recycling Site
DSRSD Wastewater Treatment Facility
7399 Johnson Drive, Pleasanton
By appointment only
For more information, call Erik Kuefner, 925-875-2335
Pleasanton
Residents - Thermometer Exchange Sites
City Hall
200 Old Bernal Avenue
Utility Billing Counter
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
925-931-5427
Operations Service Center
3333 Busch Road
Administration Building
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
925-931-5500
Pleasanton Residents -
Mercury Waste Recycling Site
Pleasanton Garbage Service
3110 Busch Road
Recycling Center
Daily 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
925-846-2042
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