Below is an example of HRSD working with the regulated community to Identify How a Discharge Affects Wastewater Treatment (and the surprising side effect!)

HRSD was approached in the 1970s about potentially allowing Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) waste to be discharged to the sanitary sewer. AFFF is a foam used in firefighting activities and this entity was going to routinely generate this waste and wanted to discharge this waste to the sanitary sewer. After some testing, HRSD determined that the AFFF interfered with a standard, vital treatment plant process. This led HRSD to create a policy stating AFFF could not be discharged to the sanitary sewer and must be handled through alternative, proper disposal. Little did we know that would pay dividends years later! The environmental impact of PFAS, commonly found in AFFF, was not on our radar in the 1970s, or anyone else’s. Due to this prohibition, HRSD has been able to minimize the impact of PFAS on our wastewater system.