Mercury minimization program

The sewer discharge limit for all users for mercury recommended in the N. Sewer Use Ordinance template is 0. Local limits may differ.

Dischargers to a septic tank are prohibited from discharging hazardous waste and form contaminating groundwater at the compliance boundary. Exposure to methylmercury can result in impairment of peripheral vision, lack of coordination in movement, speech impairment and muscle weakness. Exposure to elemental mercury can lead to mood swings, headache, irritability, nervousness, insomnia and neuromuscular changes.

Higher exposure can also cause kidney failure or lung failure and eventually lead to death. Exposure to inorganic mercury can cause skin rashes, loss of memory, mental disturbances, and dermatitis and muscle weakness.

Exposure to organic mercury can also lead to same effects, but organic mercury is more readily absorbed by the body, and hence the ill effects are relatively less. If the person has inhaled mercury in significant amount, he should be put on emergency respiratory support to avoid further damage to the lungs. In case of ingestion of caustic inorganic mercury, making the individual vomit will only lead to further exposure of the tissues to the caustic toxin and hence should be strictly avoided.

The right method to treat this case would be to remove the source of poisoning. This should be only executed by an experienced medical professional.

In case of acute organic forms of mercury the treatment need not be as aggressive as in case of inorganic forms. It can be treated by using a charcoal or laxative to remove the source. If the person has ingested elemental mercury; a laxative can be used to remove the elemental mercury. A more aggressive method has to be chosen if the intestinal tract is damaged. If there are any broken pieces of glass or sharp objects, pick them up with care.

Place all broken objects on a paper towel. Fold the paper towel and place in a zip lock bag. For additional resources, please see our Environmental documents. If you would like further information please contact:.

Reduce the likelihood of raw sewage backing up into your home by placing non-dispersible products such as wipes, cloths, and rags in the trash can instead of flushing them down the toilet. The objective of this program includes but are not limited to: Prevent pollutants into the POTW that will interfere with normal operation of the system or contaminate resulting biosolids, Prevent pollutants from passing through the POTW untreated into the waters of the state, Protect health and safety of POTW workers and citizens, Provide for equal distribution of the operation and maintenance costs of the program and work with other agencies to protect the environment.

Regulates contributors to the municipal sanitary sewer through: Enforcement of general requirements for all users Issue permits to commercial and industrial users Monitor activities Reporting requirements For additional resources, please see our Environmental documents.

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