Wastewater Treatment

Mercury Minimization Partnership of Clyde

Introduction The State of Ohio has issued more stringent discharge limits for Mercury at all Wastewater Treatment Plants within the State. The new permitted limit for the Clyde Wastewater Treatment Plant is 2.7 Parts Per Trillion (For comparison, a part per trillion (PPT) is equivalent to a drop of water in a thousand swimming pools). This new limit of 2.7 is below to the human health water quality limit of 3.1 PPT. Since January of 2007, the Clyde Wastewater Treatment Plant has averaged discharge levels at less than 1.1 PPT and has not had a reading greater than the Human Health Criteria.

Mercury Minimization Partnership of Clyde (MMP)

The City of Clyde and the Wastewater Treatment Utility are required to begin a Pollution Minimization Program by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This program will take the form of the Mercury Minimization Partnership of Clyde in which the City hopes that all commercial and industrial wastewater users will actively participate. The program will be largely voluntary, however, the City is required to begin this program therefore some aspects will be required. The effectiveness and level of participation in this partnership will determine how many portions of the program will remain voluntary. At present the City will be required to document the progress of the partnership to the Ohio EPA as well as the discharge limits at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Objective of the Partnership

The objective of the partnership is for all sanitary users to identify mercury sources that are located within the residence or the business establishment. Upon identification of potential mercury sources the following steps should be considered:

  1. All mercury sources that are located that no longer have use should be properly disposed of.
  2. Mercury sources that still are being used should be eliminated if a viable cost-effective alternative is presently available.
  3. Mercury sources that must continue to be used within the business or residence should be labeled and have a spill prevention plan determined in case of accidents.

View the Annual Sanitary Sewer Overflow Report 2022 (PDF).

Mercury Spill Prevention Plan information can be found at the following links:

Residential

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Non-Residential

Information from Wisconsin Source Book:

  • Agricultural
  • Automotive Sector
  • Business or Commercial Establishments
  • Chemical Manufacturers/Users
  • Contractors and Construction
  • Dentists
  • Educational Institutions
  • Food Processors and the Food Service Industry
  • Hospitals and Clinics
  • Industry
  • Metals Industry
  • Laboratories
  • Nursing Homes
  • Unique, Potential Source: Non-Residential Sanitary Sewer Users that cannot appropriately be classified into one of the General Categories will be listed as a "Unique, Potential Source" (Please note that all sanitary users are considered potential source to some extent). As will be the case with each category, the City will conduct one-on-one surveys with each non-residential user to determine possible mercury sources and potential mercury-free alternatives.
  • Unknown, Potential Source: Non-Residential Sanitary Sewer Users whose sewers use is not known from the preliminary classification process will be listed as "Unknown, Potential Source". The City will classify these users during the one-on-one surveys or through telephone surveys. All Users will eventually be classified

External Links for More Mercury Information