New EPA regulations have placed extremely low limits on mercury discharges from water resource recovery facilities. While Mishawaka’s Water Resource Recovery Facility removes over 96% of the mercury that flows into the facility, it still has effluent mercury levels greater than the recently adopted limits. The purpose of the Pollutant Minimization Program is to help educate citizens, businesses, and industries about mercury and how they can reduce the amount of mercury that they discharge to the treatment facility.
Mercury, in its most recognizable form, is heavy, silvery metal that is liquid at room temperature. This liquid metal form emits invisible, odorless, toxic vapors. Examples of products that contain mercury include electrical tilt switches, thermostats, certain batteries, dental amalgam, household mercury thermometers, laboratory thermometers and barometers. Fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) manufactured today also contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. Organic compounds such as fungicides and herbicides also contain forms of mercury, as do preservatives or anti-fouling agents for seed, latex paint, paper products, medicines, vaccines, and cosmetics.
Proper disposal of items or compounds containing mercury is beneficial to our environment and public health. These items and compounds should not be put in the garbage or poured down the drain but rather should be recycled or disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. Some area hardware stores will accept small CFLs for recycling at no charge. For the residents of St joseph County, the Solids Waste Management District’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility will accept mercury and mercury-containing products at is South Bend facility year-round, located at, 828 Kerr Street, South Bend. Find more info online at http://mishawaka.in.gov/wastewater
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