Purpose

The guidance is to provide laboratories on Northeastern University’s Boston Campus (the University) with the regulations governing the disposal of materials into the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) sewer system.

Background

The University maintains 10 industrial wastewater treatment systems (IWPS) for the neutralization of laboratory wastewaters. Laboratory wastewater enters the IWPS for treatment prior to entering the main sanitary line, which feeds into the MWRA treatment system on Deer Island. The IWPS’s are installed in most academic and research buildings – Egan, ISEC, EXP, Hurtig, Mugar, Behrakis, 140 The Fenway, and Snell Engineering. Some academic buildings with lower daily flows are equipped with lime chip neutralization tanks instead of the larger pH neutralization systems.

The MWRA determines which materials are allowed for discharge and at what concentration. The MWRA enforces their regulations by periodically sampling the laboratory wastewater and issuing notices of violations and monetary fines should the University discharge any regulated pollutant over the permitted concentration. The MWRA lists which pollutants are not allowed for discharge in 360 CMR 10.000. Any material that poses a risk to the wastewater treatment process, its equipment, or to the personnel operating the equipment is strictly prohibited.

The discharge of treated laboratory wastewater is permitted at the University under two separate MWRA discharge permits held by the ECOS Department. Comprehensive sampling is required under these permits by the MWRA for all 10 wastewater treatment systems on campus. Continuous pH, flow, and temperature monitoring is also required for all 10 systems, in addition to daily inspections by certified wastewater treatment operators, and monthly preventative maintenance inspections to ensure all equipment and systems are in working order. Any new or modified wastewater discharges must be reviewed by the ECOS department prior to entering the laboratory drains. Please reach out to ECOS prior to discharging any potentially polluted wastewater into the laboratory drains.

Environmental Compliance Requirements

The University’s MWRA discharge permits do not allow hazardous materials into the sewer system. Prohibited materials include those listed in 360 CMR 10.000 and within the University’s MWRA wastewater permits. Should you require disposal of any of these prohibited materials, contact ECOS or OARS for guidance.

01. Specific Prohibited Materials

1. 1. Groundwater, storm water, surface water, or roof water.
   2. Non‐Contact Cooling Water, except when permitted by the MWRA.
   3. Fuel oil, crude oil, lubricating oils, grease, hydrocarbons, waxes, and fats.
   4. Any liquid, solid, or gas including, but not limited to, gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethers, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, peroxides and methyl ethyl ketone, which may be sufficient, either alone or by interaction with other substances, to create a fire or explosion hazard.
      • • Includes wastewaters with a closed cup flash point of less than 140⁰F.
        • Includes any pollutant with an exceedance of 10% of the lower explosion
   5. Any noxious or malodorous liquid, gas, or solid which could contribute to the creation of a public nuisance or make it dangerous for personnel or equipment to enter the sewer for purposes of maintenance and repair.
   6. Any wastewater with a pH lower than 5.5 or higher than 12.0 or with any corrosive or injurious property which may cause damage or be hazardous to the sewer system or personnel.
   7. Any material that prohibits or obstructs the flow within the sewer system, such as sand, mud, metal, glass, wood, plastics, improperly shredded garbage, rubber, latex, lime or other slurries, grease, animal guts or tissues, bones, hair, hides or fleshings, entrails, feathers, ashes, cinders, stone or marble dust, straw, shavings, grass clippings, rags, spent grains, spent hops, tar, asphalt residues, residues from refining or processing fuel or lubrication oil, or glass grinding or polishing Wastes.
   8. Any wastewater with a temperature above 180⁰F.
   9. Any radioactive materials.
   10. Any hazardous waste.
   11. Any infectious or physically dangerous medical or biological waste.
   12. Any oxygen‐demanding pollutants (BOD, COD) that would interfere with treatment at the MWRA.

02. Permit Specific Prohibited Materials

03. Any Toxic Organic Listed Below.

Each toxic organic has a permit limit of 1.0 mg/L. The total concentration of all detected toxics has a permit limit of 5.0 mg/L.