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BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Hanover Sewerage Authority
Twenty Years of 100%
Compliance
In June 2008, Hanover
Sewerage Authority achieved a milestone of 100% compliance
with the effluent limitations for twenty years.
The Authority became
concerned with its compliance record in June 1987. The
plant was passing NJDEP inspections but many violations
were reported on DMR’s. The Authority reviewed all factors
which might contribute to non-compliance, including
operations and maintenance, industrial pretreatment,
laboratory and sampling, reporting and permitting issues.
During this time, the
Authority was operating a trickling filter plan with
stabilization ponds to achieve secondary treatment.
Approximately 20% of plant influent was industrial,
including pharmaceutical manufacturing, metal finishing
and a slaughterhouse. The wastewater characteristics
along with the limitations of the plant presented some
challenges. Operations were reviewed to ensure that the
plant was operating at the maximum efficiency possible.
Steps were taken to equalize loadings in the trickling
filter part of the plant. Through our Industrial
Pretreatment Program specific controls were placed on
industrial users discharges. New limitations were also
developed and implemented where needed. Laboratory
procedures and sampling were reviewed to eliminate any
errors and comply with permit requirements. Reporting
procedures were implemented to ensure accurate limits and
data where shown on DMR’s. Lastly, actions were taken to
eliminate permit conditions which had been inappropriately
applied. Between the months of January 1988 to May 1988,
the actions taken had reduced effluent violations to five.
This represented a compliance rate of greater than 99.5%. |
During the past 20 years,
Hanover has been through two NJPDES permit renewals and
numerous modifications. Some extraneous permit conditions
were eliminated but in most cases effluent limitations
were made significantly more stringent.
In 1989, the Authority
started a project to construct advanced treatment
facilities. Throughout the construction, startup and
transition to this facility, 100% compliance was achieved.
In 2000, phosphorus limitations became effective for the
first time. These limitations have been met with 100%
compliance since that time. Hanover’s twenty-year record
was achieved through an on-going program of paying close
attention to all operations, maintenance and laboratory
work. In addition, the Authority carefully monitored all
new and existing users to ensure that their discharges do
not adversely affect the treatment plant. The need to take
all appropriate measures to ensure compliance has been
communicated to our entire staff.
During this time, the
Authority received approximately 75,000 compliance points
and received NACWA Gold Awards for 2003, 2004 and 2005 and
Platinum Awards for 2002, 2006 and 2007. Hanover also
received the Platinum 19 Award in 2008.
A budget was not assigned
to the program since it was expected to receive high
compliance rates. There has been a costs savings in that
Hanover has never been penalized for limitation violations
and has never been under a sewer ban since the completion
of the advanced treatment facilities.
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