Alcohol Beverage Manufacturing

Alcohol Beverage Manufacturers (ABMs) use various grain products and yeast and similar processes and equipment to produce alcohol. This sector, which includes breweries, wineries, distilleries, and meaderies, generates various quantities and types of liquid and solid wastes during the manufacturing process.

The wastes produced are high in organic material and suspended solids (much higher than regular domestic waste) and have pH values that can be less than 5.5 or greater than 11.5. Other wastes of concern include: ammonia nitrogen, nitrate/nitrite, phosphorous, certain metals, and sulfides. If not properly managed with Pretreatment, high-strength wastewater and solids discharged to the sanitary sewer system can adversely affect the City's collection system and Loveland's Water Reclamation Facility.

To gain a better understanding of Loveland's ABM operations and its potential impact on the wastewater collection system and Water Reclamation Facility, the Pretreatment Program requires facilities to report the following data on a quarterly basis:

• Monthly water usage
• Monthly wastewater discharge volume
• Monthly volume of solid waste disposed off-site

Dental Facilities

In 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated published technology-based Pretreatment standards for dental facilities to reduce mercury discharges into sewer systems. The requirements can be found in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 441.

Pretreatment staff will conduct periodic dental facility inspections to evaluate compliance with the requirements specified in 40 CFR Part 441 and the One-Time Compliance Report. Dental facilities are required to maintain applicable information for the amalgam separator and line cleaner on-site, as well as documentation for inspection of the equipment and for amalgam waste disposal.

The City recommends dental facilities create a 3-ring binder to maintain information required by the dental regulation (40 CFR 441), including, but not limited to:

1. The One-Time Compliance Report (facilities are required to maintain a copy in either physical or electronic form)
2. The amalgam separator's operating manual
3. The Safety Data Sheet for the line cleaner
4. Inspection/maintenance logs for a minimum of three years
5. Disposal records for the waste amalgam container for a minimum of three years
6. Repairs made to the separator or replacement information

Food Service

Wastewater discharges containing fats, oil, and grease (FOG) cause blockages in the sanitary sewer collection line, lead to sewer backups, and create operational problems at Loveland’s Water Reclamation Facility. The City is required to prevent grease related problems and has information available to residential and commercial customers for FOG reduction strategies.

Grease Removal Devices

Food service establishments are required to install and maintain a grease removal device. Grease removal devices can include a grease trap or grease interceptor.

1. Grease Trap. A device usually found inside a facility that requires frequent cleaning (daily to monthly).
2. Grease Interceptor. A device typically located outside a facility and underground. This device is serviced by a waste hauler due to the large volume of waste grease. Due to the variety of food service establishments and interceptor sizes, cleaning frequency varies between facilities.

Maintenance

Proper operation and maintenance of a grease removal device is required by Loveland's Municipal Code.

To ensure a grease removal device is being properly maintained, the food service establishment should verify the FOG waste was totally removed and that interior components (piping, baffle, etc.) were not damaged during the cleaning process.

Cleaning records (e.g., cleaning log, manifest, invoice) must be provided to the Pretreatment Program within 30 days after the grease removal device is emptied. Records must also be kept on-site in the event an inspection is conducted.

The Pretreatment Program conducts periodic inspections to determine if an establishment is maintaining the grease removal device frequently enough so as not to create issues in Loveland's sanitary sewer system.

Pharmaceutical Disposal

On February 22, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final Rule that prohibits the discharge of any pharmaceutical hazardous waste or Drug Enforcement Agency controlled substance into the sanitary sewer. (e.g., no disposal down the drain and no flushing). As of August 21, 2019 no healthcare facility shall discharge any pharmaceutical waste into the City's sanitary sewer system.

Healthcare facilities prohibited from discharging these wastes include, but are not limited to:

• Ambulance services
• Ambulatory surgical centers
• Chiropractors
• Dental providers
• Health clinics
• Hospitals
• Long-term care facilities
• Military medical logistic facilities
• Optical providers
• Pharmacies (including long-term care and mail order)
• Physicians’ offices
• Psychiatric hospitals
• Pharmaceutical retailers
• 3rd party logistics providers
• Veterinary clinics & hospitals
• Wholesale distributors of pharmaceuticals

If any commercial business or industry discharges hazardous waste into the City's sewer system, they must report this discharge as specified in Section 13.10.609 of Loveland's Municipal Code.

Resources

• Federal Register for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals 
• EPA - Information on Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals 

Hazardous Waste

Industrial users must notify the City of Loveland, EPA Region VIII Waste Management Division Director, and the Colorado Hazardous Waste Management authorities in writing of any discharge of a substance, which, if otherwise disposed of, would be a hazardous waste under 40 CFR 261.

An industrial user is any non-residential user that discharges non-domestic wastewater to the City of Loveland’s sanitary sewer system.

An industrial user is generally exempt from the requirements during a calendar month in which they discharge no more than 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of hazardous wastes, unless the wastes are acute hazardous wastes as specified in 40 CFR 261.30(d) and 261.33(e).

Hazardous Waste Disposal Options

Larimer County

Larimer County has a program in place to assist small businesses in disposing of hazardous waste they generate. The Business Hazardous Waste Assistance and Education Program (BHAPE) provides a safe and affordable disposal/recycling option for Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CESQG) in Larimer County. This voluntary program is fee based and operated at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at the Larimer County Landfill.

Colorado

The State of Colorado's Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division Division’s can assist a business in complying with regulatory requirements associated with hazardous waste disposal. For more information, contact the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Generator Assistance Program.

High Strength Sewer Surcharge

The City of Loveland’s Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) is primarily designed to treat domestic wastewater. Typical pollutants found in domestic wastewater are ammonia, biological oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS).

The WRF also accepts wastewater from non-domestic (commercial/industrial) sources and can regulate their wastewater to comply with its wastewater discharge permit requirements. Certain commercial and industrial businesses discharge wastewater containing pollutants with higher concentrations, or in addition to, domestic contributions.

Surcharge

The High Strength Sewer Surcharge recovers costs for treating wastewater above domestic contributions. When a determination is made that a business falls under the High Strength Sewer Surcharge, the business is notified, provided an explanation of the surcharge fee, informed that the surcharge amount will be added to their monthly utility bill, and provided an opportunity to contest the charge.

The High Strength Sewer Surcharge ordinance is located in Loveland's Municipal Code and can be traced back to Ordinance 1536 (1976).

Treatment Devices

The City requires some businesses to install a treatment device (grease removal device, oil/sand interceptor, etc.) so that certain pollutants (e.g. sand, petroleum oil, fats, oil and grease) are removed from wastewater prior to discharge. At a minimum, this reduces sewer blockages, sewer overflows and City maintenance. The surcharge customer is billed for the cost of treating excessive BOD and TSS. Installing a treatment device does not remove a business's requirement to pay surcharge fees.

However, if a user feels the information Loveland used to calculate a surcharge rate is inaccurate, a review process can be initiated. This includes filing an application for review and wastewater analyses to determine actual wastewater strength. The surcharge will be adjusted to reflect the results of the test, either higher or lower.

FOG stands for fats, oils and grease. FOG is contained in many foods such as cheese, butter, gravy, dressing and dessert. FOG can be a result of cooking meat and fish or using oil, lard, etc. to cook food. 

What is the problem?

Grease, fat and oil poured down the drain, sticks to drain pipes and to the City’s sewer lines, building up over time. 

This can damage your home, create operational problems at the City's wastewater treatment plant and pollute the environment.

Why prevent sewer backups?

• Avoid having raw sewage go into homes, businesses, parks, yards, streets, ditches, rivers or lakes.
• Prevent an offensive and expensive cleanup.
• Reduce the potential contact with a disease causing organism.
• Eliminate the need to temporarily relocate living arrangements.
• Lower the City's maintenance costs to help keep sewer rates from increasing. 

Fact Check

• Using hot water to flush grease down a drain is a waste of hot water. When the hot water contacts the cooler piping, the grease comes out of the solution and sticks to the sewer line.
• Using soaps and detergents that claim to dissolve grease may pass it down the sewer line and cause problems elsewhere.
• A garbage disposal does not prevent grease from going down the drain.
• Excessive use of drain cleaners will eventually damage the sewer line resulting in costly repairs. 

How do I help?

• Never pour grease or oil down the kitchen drain.
• Never pour grease or oil into a toilet.
• Never use enzymes or emulsifying products.
• Do not use the garbage disposal for left-over food waste.
  • This also prevents other issues because many food items are stringy, fibrous or difficult to grind in a garbage disposal. Food waste can cause a garbage disposal motor to jam, damage the grinding blades, create odors by clinging to sidewalls, or worse, lead to a clogged drain. 
• Put hot grease in a dry, metal container. Allow to cool and place in trash.
• Allow grease to cool in the frying pan. Then scrape into suitable container. Discard in the trash.
• Allow cooking oil to cool. Then pour into a plastic bottle or container.
• Scrape food wastes into a lined trash can. Some people put the scraps in a plastic bag first and then place in the trash.
• Use a paper towel to wipe oil and grease from plates, pots and pans. Discard in the trash. (Your dishwasher will thank you for this too.)
• Use a strainer/sink screen to catch food scraps from going down the drain. Empty the strainers in the trash. 

Composting: Some food scraps can be placed in the trash or compost bin. Non-compostable food scraps and food soiled paper should be placed in the trash.

• Compostable food scraps include: fruit, vegetables, bread, pasta, grains, eggshells, nutshells, coffee grounds, filters and tea bags.
• Non-compostable food scraps include: meat, bones, fish, shellfish shells, milk, butter and cheese.

Where is the grease?

People usually associate grease with cooking, such as roasting a turkey or frying meat. Other foods contain fats that also cause sewer line problems. Put the following in the trash, rather than down the drain:

• Baked goods
• Butter
• Cheese
• Cooking oil
• Fat from meat
• Gravy
• Lard
• Margarine
• Sauces
• Shortening
• Table scraps

Did you know you can recycle cooking oil?

If you're using a fryer or cooking for a big meal, remember that leftover cooking oil can be recycled (five gallons or less per visit) at the Loveland Recycling Center at 400 N. Wilson Ave. 

An overflowing toilet can ruin your home in an instant! Just a small amount of household waste flushed down the toilet (or dumped down the drain or garbage disposal) can clog pipes and cause nasty messes in your home, and expensive sewer backups in our City.

Avoid clogs by keeping this stuff out of your toilet:

• "Flushable wipes"
• Cleaning wipes
• Baby & facial wipes
• Disposable diapers
• Tampons & applicators
• Maxi pads & their wrappers
• Bandages & sticker backs
• Whitening strips & their wrappers
• Cotton swabs & makeup pads
• Dental floss
• Condoms & their wrappers
• Hair
• Prescription and OTC medications

Did you know "flushable wipes" are the biggest  problem for sewer backups in our community? That's right, even if the package says "flushable," they should NEVER be flushed. They belong in the trash.

Flush ONLY toilet paper. Put trash in the trash can. 

The concern with medication disposal to the sewer has been heightened in recent years. Improper disposal can cause harm to aquatic life and drinking water supplies and lead to accidental poisoning and intentional misuse of medications.

Expired and unused medications should be returned to the pharmacy or taken to an approved drug takeback drop-off site.

When the above options are not available, use the following steps for  disposing of expired and unused over-the-counter and prescription  medication:

• Conceal or remove personal information, including Rx number, using  black ink pen or permanent marker, duct tape, or by scratching it off.
• Place tablets and capsules in a disposable container such as a plastic milk container. Add some water or soda to dissolve them.
• Mix liquid medication with coffee grinds, cat litter, dirt, or other  undesirable substance.
• Put the combined mixture in a second container or plastic bag and secure with duct tape or packing tape.
• Place the sealed container and any empty drug containers in the trash.

Common household products become “Hazardous Waste” when poured  down a drain or flushed down a toilet because they harm our environment and wreak havoc on the city sewer system. Never dump paint, paint  thinner, cleaning chemicals, pesticides, fertilizer, root killer or any product that has a CAUTION, WARNING, DANGER or POISON label.

For information on recycling common household products, waste oil, and hazardous waste (including medications) visit the Solid Waste web page.

Another resources is the Larimer County Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 5887 S. Taft hill Road.

• 970-498-5771
• 24 hour info line: 970-498-5770
• https://www.larimer.gov/solidwaste/haz/household