ML20205B954

NPDES Noncompliance Notification:During Jan 1987,two Samples from Discharge Point 501 Exceeded Monthly Average & Instantaneous Max Permit Limits.Caused by High Settleable Solids in Aeration Tank.Program of Wasting Solids Begun

ML20205B954
Person / Time
Site:	Peach Bottom
Issue date:	03/17/1987
From:	Leitch G PECO ENERGY CO., (FORMERLY PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC
To:	PENNSYLVANIA, COMMONWEALTH OF
References
NUDOCS 8703300078
Download: ML20205B954 (2)

Text

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PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC COMPANY 2301 MARKET STREET P.O. BOX 8699 PHILADELPHIA. PA.19101 taim e414ooo March 17, 1987 Department of Environmental Resources Bureau of Water Quality Management One Ararat Blvd.

Harrisburg, PA 17110

SUBJECT:

Noncompliance with NPDES Permit Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station Permit No. PA 0009733 Gentlemen:

DESCRIPTION OF NONCOMPLIANCE:

The BOD of two samples from discharge point 501 (Sewage Treatment Plant) exceeded the monthly average and the instantaneous maximum permit limits.

Date Sample Taken: 1/07/87 1/28/87 Date Results Received: 1/23/87 2/14/87 Results of Analysis: 59 mg/l 113 mg/l Monthly Average Analysis: 86 mg/l Monthly Average Permit Limitation: 30 mg/l Monthly Average 60 mg/l Instantaneous Maximum CAUSE OF NONCOMPLIANCE:

The cause of the noncompliance was high settleable solid in the aeration tank.

DURATION OF NONCOMPLIANCE:

Based on daily settleable solids and turbidity data, the monthly average limit was exceeded for almost the entire month.

During the period of January 26 to January 30, 1987, the settleable solids and turbidity had increased, therefore, the instantaneous maximum was exceeded for this period.

CORRECTIVE ACTION:

Through a program of wasting solids, the settleable solids levels were improved over that of December. However, some periods of high solids continued in January. For evample, the settleable solids on January 28 was 600 ppm which is in excess of the desired level of about 250 ppm. Solids were at an acceptable level on January 7, 1987, (250 ppm), but clarifier effluent turbidity was still recovering from the high December levels.

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4 By January 7, the clarifier turbidities were reduced to 8 JTU and 13 JTU from the A and B clarifiers. Continued wasting held the settleable solids at 260 ppm on January 8, 1987, and the clarifier turbidities had decreased to about 7 JTU on each clarifier. When the settleable solids increased during the week of January 26, 1987, wasting was increased to reduce the solids level. At this time, the high solids level also decreased efficiency of the pressure filters, therefore, the filters were backwashed with clean water to improve their efficiency.

PREVENTION OF FURTHER OCCURRENCES:

Our program of monitoring the settleable solids and maintenance of the level at about 250 ppm via wasting has shown improvement on the sewage plant performance. Solids levels exceeded 300 ppm for nine days in January compared to thirteen days in December. The average settleable solida decreased from about 470 ppm in December to about 330 ppm in January. Continued monitoring of the solids level and appropriate wasting have i

helped improve sewage plant performance and no BOD violations occurred in February, 1987.

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Very truly yours, i

N0 u G. M Leitch r-Manager 4

Nuclear Generation Department GKB/ala cc: Environmental Protection Agency Water Permits Branch Pennsylvania Section 3WM52 841 Chestnut Building j Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 Director Administrator ONRR Region I US NRC Office of Inspection and Enforcement Washington, DC 20555 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission 631 Park Avenue i

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 1

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