Sampling and limits are your environmental fingerprints

Abstract

Summary A single grab sample of your wastewater dischargetaken by your community's regulatory agency may show you are in non-compliance on any one of a number of parameters for which you are held accountable. Without a historical record of relevant, statistically significant data obtained through representative sampling and analyzed by a reputable laboratory, your ability to argue that this one result is an anomaly, or incorrect, is weakened if not nonexistent. It is your reputation on the line and the environmental health of your immediate community, and that of the watershed where it is located, that is put at risk. Secondly, make dual use of your compliance data. Sample in necessary upstream locations to calculate the efficiency of your waste treatment plant and, ultimately, your plant process systems. Working with this information, provided typically as concentration, and with metered flow data, calculate a mass balance for your key process parameters, accounting for its use and disposal. The best protection for achieving the right informationis with a trained and dedicated operator. This individual should be knowledgeable about the production process but also dedicated to waste management. Using production personnel to accomplish these tasks is shortsighted. Wastewater personnel running production processes on an “as needed” basis undermines the value you put into waste management. Do not underestimate the value of your staff wastewater professional. This person can save you regulatory grief, costs and the quality of the environment we all share.