Hospital Mercury Reduction

1
Hospital Mercury Reduction

• Gary Goodman
• Environmental Specialist
• Sacramento County
• Department of Water Quality

2
Road Map to Hospital Mercury Reduction

• Why is it a Problem?
• Levels in Sacramento County
• Hospital Levels
• Workplan to Reduce Mercury
• Overall Project Goals

3
Why is Mercury a Problem?

• Mercury can produce adverse effects in humans
• Developmental problems in fetuses and children
• Nervous system effects in adults
• Mercury can produce adverse effects in wildlife
• Mercury concentrations in wildlife increase up
  the food chain
• The highest levels are found in predatory fish
  and fish eating birds and mammals
• The Sacramento River is listed by EPA as an
  impaired waterway for mercury

4
Residential hook-up
Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant
Business hook-up
Sacramento River
5
Current Levels of Mercury in Sacramento County

• Influent to Treatment Plant
• 204 parts per trillion
• Effluent to Sacramento River
• 8 parts per trillion
• Permit Requirements for Discharge to Sacramento
  River
• 5.1 lbs per year

6
Levels of Mercury Coming from Hospital Facilities
7
Factors Contributing to Mercury in Hospital
Wastewater

• Mercury containing equipment
• Thermometers, Spyghmomemeters, Barometers,etc
• Age of Facility
• Collection in Sumps
• Collection in Plumbing
• Laboratory Chemicals

8
Workplan for Reducing Pollutant Loads to the
Sacramento River

• Identify sources of mercury within Sacramento
  County
• Test and evaluate wastewater from subject
  facilities
• Reduce amounts of mercury discharged to Treatment
  Plant

9
Current Programs

• Dental Facilities
• Hospitals
• Industry
• Residential Community
• Schools and Universities

10
Project Goals for Hospital Program

• Work with DHS and hospital staff to identify
  sources of mercury
• Wastewater testing to determine actual levels of
  mercury
• Reduction of mercury levels discharged by
  facilities

11
Contact Information

• Gary Goodman
• Environmental Specialist
• Sacramento County
• 916-875-6254
• goodmang_at_saccounty.net