Common Industrial Pollutants of Concern
The recurring risk categories every pretreatment coordinator encounters, and what to watch for from each.
Heavy Metals
Copper, zinc, nickel, lead, chromium, and cadmium all pass through biological treatment and accumulate in biosolids.
Fats, Oils, Grease & Petroleum-Based Solvents
FOG can blind primary clarifiers and biological processes, while petroleum solvents inhibit microorganisms and pose a vapor explosion risk.
High BOD & Hydraulic Loading
Industrial discharges that are simply very strong wastewater can be a pretreatment problem even without toxic compounds.
pH Extremes and Temperature
Industrial discharges with pH outside the 5.0-11.0 range, or hot discharges above 40°C / 104°F, are common pretreatment violations.
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