The township and the authority have adopted regulations to implement a NRW (nonresidential wastewater) program. The program is intended to limit the amount of FOG (fats, oils, grease) and other chemicals into the public sewer system. This is expected to prolong the life and capacity of the system. The authority’s annual wastewater report indicates that the treatment plant’s organic capacity is being consumed faster than its hydraulic capacity. This is due to an increased strength-of-waste entering the system from the amount of FOG and other chemicals – from restaurants , food processing, and other businesses.
The program involves these steps:
- Inframark, the contracted system operator, will send letters and questionnaires to nonresidential users connected to the sewer system.
- Inframark, township staff, and our engineer will – using the adopted regulations and the returned questionnaires – identify users that are required to submit a completed Nonresidential Waste Discharge Application and instructions.
- If approved, a Nonresidential Waste Discharge Permit will be issued to the user. The permit will identify reporting requirements, discharge limits, fees, and other provisions.
- The user submits quarterly waste sampling reports from a qualified laboratory and gets its grease interceptor cleaned and inspected regularly.
Why is the NRW program important?
- To prevent the introduction of pollutants into the sewerage system that may interfere with the operation of the system, interfere with sludge management options, harm the system, or the health and well-being of operating personnel, or otherwise be incompatible with the system.
- To prevent the introduction of pollutants which will pass through the sewerage system, inadequately treated, to receiving waters or the atmosphere.
- To improve the opportunity to recycle and reclaim wastewater and sludge from the system.
- To provide for equitable distribution of the cost for operation of the sewerage system.
For a more detailed explanation see Becker Engineering’s Memorandum to the authority at https://penntwplanco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/MEMO-NWLCA-NRW.pdf.
Enforcement of the program can involve a $1,000 per quarter discharge fee to the customer’s sewer bill, as identified in NWLCA Resolution 2-2022.