Publication Summary

An announced Class II inspection was conducted at the City of Bremerton Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) on June 21-23, 1999. The plant was performing well during the inspection. The conventional parameters of BOD5, TSS, and fecal coliform indicate a well treated, high quality effluent. The effluent met permit limits for BOD5, TSS, fecal coliform, pH, and total residual chlorine. Split samples showed good agreement between Ecology and Bremerton WWTP sampling and analysis.

An announced Class II inspection was conducted at the City of Bremerton Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) on June 21-23, 1999. The plant was performing well during the inspection. The conventional parameters of BOD5, TSS, and fecal coliform indicate a well treated, high quality effluent. The effluent met permit limits for BOD5, TSS, fecal coliform, pH, and total residual chlorine. Split samples showed good agreement between Ecology and Bremerton WWTP sampling and analysis.

Six priority pollutant metals were detected in the Bremerton WWTP final effluent composite sample. The copper concentration in the final effluent exceeded both acute and chronic water quality criteria but no reasonable potential for copper to violate water quality standards in the receiving water was found when dilution factors are considered. Other than copper, no metal in the Bremerton WWTP final effluent sample exceeded water quality criteria.

The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) is permitted to contribute wastewater to the Bremerton facility. Twenty-two volatile and fourteen semivolatile organic compounds were found in the PSNS wastewater samples. Of those associated with water quality criteria, all concentrations were close to or below criteria. Eight priority pollutant metals were found in samples of PSNS wastewater. Copper was found in the highest concentration (365 mg/L, total at the WB-3 monitoring vault). The copper concentrations of the PSNS discharges were within permitted limits.

Eight metals were detected in the sludge. All metals in the sludge sample were in concentrations well below EPA Sludge Application Limits and EPA Ceiling Concentrations. The fecal coliform count for the sludge sample was greater than 123,700,000/100g-dry. The EPA Class B sewage sludge limit is 200,000,000/100g-dry. Bremerton reports that as an alternative to pathogen limits, it meets anaerobic digester mean cell residence time and temperature requirements.