Testing for Mercury in Plant Effluent Gary Grey HydroQual, Inc.

Testing for Testing for Mercury in Plant Mercury in Plant

EffluentEffluentGary GreyGary Grey

HydroQual, Inc.HydroQual, Inc.

The Mercury Sampling The Mercury Sampling DebateDebate

NJDEPs stated purpose for the effluent sampling requirement:NJDEPs stated purpose for the effluent sampling requirement: Evaluate the effect of the Dental Amalgam Rule on the release Evaluate the effect of the Dental Amalgam Rule on the release

of mercury to the environment. of mercury to the environment. DEPs intent is to look at POTW effluent mercury DEPs intent is to look at POTW effluent mercury

concentrations before and after dentists comply with the concentrations before and after dentists comply with the Amalgam Rule. Amalgam Rule.

It is not DEPs intent to use this data to establish effluent It is not DEPs intent to use this data to establish effluent limits. limits.

AEA position on the effluent sampling requirement:AEA position on the effluent sampling requirement: POTWs remove mercury and may mask some of the POTWs remove mercury and may mask some of the

effectivness of Amalgam Rule compliance.effectivness of Amalgam Rule compliance. POTW influent sampling would be more appropriate for POTW influent sampling would be more appropriate for

evaluating the effect of the Rule.evaluating the effect of the Rule. Low level sampling is sensitive to contaminationLow level sampling is sensitive to contamination

DEP response:DEP response: Requirement remains as effluent sampling but DEP will Requirement remains as effluent sampling but DEP will

welcome influent sampling as well.welcome influent sampling as well.

EPA Method 1631EEPA Method 1631E

Sample MDL (ng/L)

Clean Blanks 0.05 to 0.2

Effluent 1 to 50

Influent 50 to 500

Current NJ WQ standard = 50 ng/L FW

51 ng/L SE/SC

NY DEC WQ standard = 0.26 ng/L or MDL(wildlife based criterion)

EPA DW MCL = 2,000 ng/L

Many Cautions on Many Cautions on ContaminationContamination

Buried in the Method 1631E Protocol Buried in the Method 1631E Protocol is a Statement that Clean Methods is a Statement that Clean Methods

Sampling Is RequiredSampling Is Required

NJDEP is requiring grab samples

Two person sampling team – “Clean Hands” and Two person sampling team – “Clean Hands” and “Dirty Hands”“Dirty Hands”

Segregates “diry” operations from “clean” Segregates “diry” operations from “clean” operations.operations.

““Clean Hands” handles the sample bottle, collects Clean Hands” handles the sample bottle, collects the sample and returns the bottle to the inner the sample and returns the bottle to the inner sample bag.sample bag.

We have seen blank detections of 0.2 to 0.4 ng/L We have seen blank detections of 0.2 to 0.4 ng/L in a clean laboratory setting.in a clean laboratory setting.

Wisconsin DNR has helpful information posted on Wisconsin DNR has helpful information posted on their website: their website: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/ww/mercury/mercury.htmhttp://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/ww/mercury/mercury.htm

NJDEP will be posting mercury sampling Q&A and NJDEP will be posting mercury sampling Q&A and guidance in their websiteguidance in their website

Method 1669 Clean Method 1669 Clean Sampling Method Sampling Method

Labs Running Method Labs Running Method 1631 E1631 E

Lab Name Location Phone #MDL

(ng/L) Cost ($)

Northern Lake Service Crandon, WI (715) 478-2777 0.13 96

North Shore Analytical, Inc. Duluth, MN (218) 729-4658 0.1 105

PACE Analytical Green Bay, WI (920) 469-2436 0.16 80

Columbia Analytical Services Rochester, NY (585) 288-5380 0.2 85

Test America North Canton, OH (330) 966-9281 0.12 100

Frontier Geoservices Seattle, WA (206) 622-6960 0.2 105

Battelle Marine Sciences Sequim, WA (360) 681-3650 -- --

Brooks Rand LTD Seattle, WA (206) 632-6206 0.15 75

Lancaster Laboratories Lancaster, PA (717) 656-2300 0.2 110

S-F Analytical Milwaukee, WI (800) 300-6700 5 97

Mercury Sources Affecting Mercury Sources Affecting POTWsPOTWs

0.0010.010.1

110

1001000

10000100000

Denta

l

Hospita

l

Indust

ry

Resid

entia

l

Storm

wat

er

Sodium

Hyp

ochlo

rite

POTW

Influ

ent

POTW

Effl

uent

Mer

cury

(p

pt)

Data from "Monroe County's Mercury Reduction Program", Harry Reiter, Clearwaters (NYWEA) Winter 2007

Ask Hypo suppliers for metals assay

In-plant Sources of In-plant Sources of MercuryMercury

Wisconsin POTW Monitoring Wisconsin POTW Monitoring ResultsResults

(used to trigger Mercury Management Plans if > (used to trigger Mercury Management Plans if > 12 ng/L)12 ng/L)

Milwaukee

0.1

1

10

100

1000

Sep-0

3

Jan-

04

May

-04

Sep-0

4

Jan-

05

May

-05

Sep-0

5

Jan-

06

May

-06

Sep-0

6

Jan-

07

May

-07

Sep-0

7

Hg

(n

g/L

)

1 = EFFLUENT GROSS VALUEG = RAW SEW/INFLUENT

Madison

0.1

1

10

100

1000

Apr-04

Jul-0

4

Oct-0

4

Jan-

05

Apr-05

Jul-0

5

Oct-0

5

Jan-

06

Apr-06

Jul-0

6

Oct-0

6

Jan-

07

Apr-07

Jul-0

7

Hg

(n

g/L

)

1 = EFFLUENT GROSS VALUEG = RAW SEW/INFLUENT

Green Bay

0.1

1

10

100

1000

Oct-0

5

Dec-05

Feb-0

6

Apr-06

Jun-0

6

Aug-06

Oct-0

6

Dec-06

Feb-0

7

Apr-07

Jun-0

7

Aug-07

Oct-0

7

Hg

(n

g/L

)

1 = EFFLUENT GROSS VALUEG = RAW SEW/INFLUENT

NY/NJ Harbor DataNY/NJ Harbor Data

New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program1998 to 2000 Sampling Program

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

POTW Number

Mer

cury

(n

g/L

)

SummarySummary Make sure the lab is:Make sure the lab is:

Certified for Method 1631E Certified for Method 1631E Can achieve an MDL < 1 ng/LCan achieve an MDL < 1 ng/L Will provide sample bottles and Hg-free blank waterWill provide sample bottles and Hg-free blank water

Low level mercury sampling MUST be a separate Low level mercury sampling MUST be a separate effort to itself and not combined with other effort to itself and not combined with other sampling efforts.sampling efforts.

Use dedicated and clean sampling equipmentUse dedicated and clean sampling equipment USE CLEAN METHOD SAMPLINGUSE CLEAN METHOD SAMPLING Collect grab samples and field blanksCollect grab samples and field blanks Expect plant effluent results at 1 to 50 ng/L.Expect plant effluent results at 1 to 50 ng/L. Influent sampling should be conducted as well.Influent sampling should be conducted as well. NJDEP will be posting Q&A regarding the mercury NJDEP will be posting Q&A regarding the mercury

sampling program as well as some guidance on sampling program as well as some guidance on sampling methods.sampling methods.