City of Pocatello

Every year city departments are required to present a performance report to the Mayor, City Council and citizen stakeholders (Service Level Report). Under the supervision of the Chief Financial Officer, the departments discuss their mission, financial inputs, workload outputs, measures of efficiency & effectiveness (including comparisons to other cities & industry norms), results and their issues and concerns for the future.

	Service level video report
	Service level .pdf report

WASTEWATER POLLUTANT LIMITATIONS

Pocatello establishes local limits to ensure that industrial discharges do not damage the city's treatment plant and the surrounding environment. In addition to local limits, some businesses are subject to federal pretreatment regulations which may be stricter than the local limits. If your business falls in the industrial categories (click here to see if this applies to your business) you are subject to the federal pretreatment regulations.

FEDERAL PRETREATMENT LIMITS

The federal government has established discharge limits for specific activities. The following is a partial list of industries considered “categorical dischargers.” These companies require a full permit regardless of wastewater discharge volume.

Aluminum forming
Metal foundries
Battery manufacturing
Nonferrous metal manufacturing
Coil coating
Pesticide manufacturing
Copper forming
Petroleum refining
Electrical/electronic components
Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Electroplating
Circuit board manufacturing
Porcelain enameling
Iron/steel manufacturing
Pulp/paper mills
Leather tanning finishing
Wood preserving
Metal finishing
Inorganic chemical manufacturing
Centralized waste treatment

POCATELLO LOCAL LIMITS

The following pollutants are subject to local limits. These limits apply to all businesses that discharge industrial wastewater to Pocatello 's sewer system.

Organic compounds

Organic compounds such as solvents, cleaners, thinners, pesticides, and laboratory chemicals may cause toxic gases and fumes in sewer lines. Discharges of pure organic products and discharges of compounds that may affect worker safety or health problems are prohibited.

Para meter Daily Maximum mg/L (ppm)
Total toxic organics (TTO) 2.13

TTO means the summation of all values greater than 0.01 mg/L for each of the toxic organics specified in the 40 CFR Part 122, Appendix D. See the Appendix D list. (Note: you can also go to http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/ select Title 40-Protection of Environment, then 100-135, then 122.1-122.64, then Appendix D.

Metals and cyanide

Heavy metals in excess of the permitted limits can upset or disable treatment plant operations. Heavy metals either pass through the plant into the final effluent discharged to Portneuf Fiver or accumulate in the biosolids.

Parameter Daily Maximum mg/L (ppm)

Arsenic 0.06
Cadmium 0.2
Chromium 2.8
Copper 0.5
Lead 0.3
Mercury 0.0006
Nickel 1.0
Silver 0.6
Zinc 1.2
Fluoride 32
Cyanide 0.2

The values listed as metal limits are for total metals, not just dissolved metals.

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG)

FOG from a petroleum or mineral origin (nonpolar FOG) can harm the biological treatment process. Oil/water separators used to pretreat oily wastewater must be approved before installation. Plans for separators should be submitted to the city for review and approval. Nonpolar FOG is limited to 100 mg/L. Contact Industrial Pretreatment to obtain a copy of the Oil/Water Separator Fact Sheet (click here) for information on plan submittal and installation guidelines.

FOG from an animal or a vegetable origin (polar FOG) can block sewer lines. The City requires a minimum of a 1500 gallon grease interceptor and the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for all food service industries. Although polar FOG has no numerical limit, discharges shall not have any free-floating (visible) polar FOG discharging to the sewer. Dischargers may not add agents to emulsify free-floating polar FOG. Companies discharging polar FOG are required to complete an application for discharge approval. Solids capable of settling can restrict or block flow in sewer lines. Any industry discharging grease is liable for any damages caused by sewage backups. Contact Industrial Pretreatment to obtain a copy of the Grease Interceptor (click here) and BMP Fact Sheet (click here) for information on plan submittal and installation guidelines.

Corrosive substances (pH)

Wastewater with a pH either above or below the permitted level can damage the sewer lines and disrupt treatment plant operations. It can also react with other substances in the sewage to create noxious fumes. The lower pH limit is a minimum of 6.0. No single sample or reading may be less than 6.0. The upper pH limit is 11.0. The upper limit may be exceeded only with a written or verbal authorization from the City.

Flammable or explosive materials

Sewer lines have been known to explode, causing severe damage to people and property as a result of explosive or flammable materials entering the sewer. To prevent this hazard, certain pollutants are prohibited from the sewer system. Prohibited pollutants include, but are not limited to: gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethers, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, bromates, carbides, hydrides, and sulfides and any other substances that the City, the fire department, EPA, or the State of Idaho recognizes as a hazard to the system. For information about discharging solutions containing any amounts of flammable or explosive substances, contact the Industrial Pretreatment Program at 208-34-6256. The type of material, degree of hazard, and amount present will determine whether a discharge approval is granted.

Hydrogen sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide is dangerous to breathe and presents serious odor problems. It also reacts with water to form sulfuric acid which in turn destroys sewer lines. The atmospheric hydrogen sulfide limit is 10 ppm measured at a Pocatello designated monitoring manhole. The soluble sulfide limits may be established on a case-by-case basis.

Solids and food waste

Solids capable of settling can restrict or block flow in sewer lines. The company discharging the solids is liable for any damages caused by sewage backups. Discharge of materials such as, but not limited to, ashes, sand, grass, and gravel that can clog sewage flow is prohibited. All food waste, including food grinder waste, must be capable of passing through a 3/4-inch sieve.

High temperature

High temperature can cause the release of gases in sewers or disrupt treatment plant operation. The temperature of industrial wastewater shall not exceed 65°C (150°F) at the point where the wastewater enters the public sewer system. Heat in such quantities that the temperature at the wastewater treatment plant exceeds 40 ºC (104 ºF ) is prohibited.