Environmental Progress - Summer 2004

Illinois EPA Proposes Phosphorous Discharge Limits

Fulfilling Governor Rod Blagojevich's pledge to address the impact of phosphorus in sewage plant discharges, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has asked the Illinois Pollution Control Board to adopt new standards for new and expanding larger municipal and industrial wastewater/sewage treatment plants.

"We owe it to our future generations to do everything we can now to ensure that they'll be able to enjoy Illinois' natural habitat and wildlife for years down the road," said Governor Blagojevich. "This proposal takes a big step forward in protecting threatened plant and fish life around the state's many wastewater and sewer treatment facilities,"

"These standards are intended to address concerns that too much phosphorus results in excessive plant growth and algae, may be detrimental to fish and aquatic life and may cause odor and taste problems in drinking water," said Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano. "The Agency has been working on the proposal at the request of Governor Blagojevich, who pledged during his 2002 campaign to address the phosphorus concerns raised by state and local environmental groups."

"The Governor's proposal will help protect drinking water and wildlife across Illinois," said Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. "This initiative will help growing communities ensure that local streams and rivers will remain clean, even as population and wastewater discharges increase."

Under the proposed standards, new or expanding domestic sewer and wastewater treatment facilities, that discharge more than 1 million gallons a day, will be required to reduce their phosphorus content to 1 milligram per liter. Certain industrial facilities will also have the same limit applied to them.

The facilities will be able to meet the limit by incorporating available phosphorus reduction technology. Phosphorus removal can be achieved with either biological or chemical technologies. Phosphorus removed from treated wastewater is contained in the sludge or bio-solids generated during the sewage treatment process and may increase the nutrient and soil enhancement properties when it is disposed of through land application.

Phosphorus is a naturaly occuring nutrient and a basic building block necessary to support life, but too much phosphorus from organic materials in wastewater discharged into a stream or lake may upset the balance in a body of water.

However, because there is still scientific debate over how much phosphorus is too much, Illinois EPA has proposed an "interim" standard that would be in effect for the next several years to allow the science to further evolve.

The Pollution Control Board will hold hearings to obtain testimony from interested constituencies on the proposed standards and then will issue a decision.