Background

As municipalities across the nation enact programs to control combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and storm water runoff, disinfection of these wet-weather flows is becoming more prevalent.

Disinfection of wet-weather flows is nothing new; the USEPA has consistently demonstrated the benefits, in terms of public health protection, for more than 30 years. USEPA research has also shown that disinfectants can react with organic matter in wet-weather flows to form substances known as disinfection by-products (DBPs). Concerns about potential impacts on aquatic organisms over the past decade have led to requirements for dechlorination when chlorine disinfectants are used to treat sewage and wet weather flows to eliminate free chlorine and limit the production of chlorine by-products.

USEPA and the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) are sponsoring an evaluation of the benefits and risks of disinfecting wet-weather flows. Preliminary findings from the WERF project were presented at this workshop. The results of the evaluation will help guide municipal officials, regulatory policy-makers, and wastewater professionals who are developing CSO or storm water disinfection policies and selecting disinfection technologies.

Excerpt from the workshop
The NYSDEC attempts to balance human health protection with potential environmental impacts, but human health protection is the priority. If bathing beaches, public water supplies or potential for impacts to human health are present, then disinfection is generally required. NYSDEC's position on chlorination-dechlorination is that it is a safe practice for human contact recreation and sensitive aquatic organisms.

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Susan Miller, Project Deputy Director
Phone 315-435-2260   Fax 315-435-5023
 Onondaga County Dept of Water Environment Protection