Paper Mill Effluent Characterization and NPDES Permitting, 1992 Environmental Conference Proceedings

In response to production increases, two Massachusetts paper mills which jointly share a wastewater treatment plant, applied for an NPDES permit modification to obtain higher effluent BOD limits. The permit modification was complicated by recently enacted toxicity requirements, water quality impacts, concerns for anadromous fish passage and the construction of a fish research laboratory downstream of the mills’ discharge.

This paper discusses permit requirements and water quality impact evaluations which were required to obtain the modified NPDES permit. A presentation of an effluent characterization provides information on the wastewater treatment plant and optimizing plant operation; mill chemical use; and receiving water quality impacts from increased effluent BOD, priority pollutants, whole effluent toxicity and sublethal effects on fish. Permit application strategies which enabled the mills to obtain the requested BOD increase are discussed.