(a) All photoprocessors shall comply with either subdivision (2) or subdivision (3) of this subsection (a). Persons who fully comply with subdivision (3) shall not be required to obtain an industrial waste discharge permit pursuant to Section 16.09.080, unless required to do so pursuant to other sections of this chapter, but shall be required to meet applicable maximum allowable limits for wastewater discharge and other requirements.
(1) Definitions. For the purposes of this section the following words and phrases shall be as defined herein.
(A) “Photographic materials processing” means developing silver-bearing film, including x-ray film, or photographic paper.
(B) “Photoprocessor” means any person who owns a photographic materials processing system including a business that does photographic materials processing or any person who engages in photographic materials processing.
(C) “Spent solutions” means spent fixer, bleach fix, stabilizer from washless systems, silver-bearing cleaning solutions and functionally similar solutions other than washwater.
(D) “Regeneration” means the treatment of washwater, fix, or bleach fix for re-use.
(E) “Washwater” means water that has been used to rinse fix or bleach fix from photographic film or paper.
(2) Silver Removal System. Persons who comply with this subdivision (2) shall install and operate in their facilities a silver removal system, in a manner which shall insure consistent compliance with the following effluent standards:
(A) The maximum allowable limit for silver shall be 1.0 mg/liter. The maximum allowable limit for copper shall be 2.0 mg/liter.
(B) All spent solutions and wash water that are not sent off site shall be treated to insure consistent compliance with the effluent standards set forth in this subsection (a)(2). Silver removal from wash water shall be conducted in a manner that does not reduce the effectiveness of the treatment of spent solutions.
(C) The photoprocessor shall sample the discharge at a frequency determined by the superintendent based upon the flow rate from the facility. However, in no event shall sampling be done less frequently than once a month. A duplicate of each sample collected shall be kept until the next sampling event. The duplicate sample shall be immediately relinquished to the superintendent upon request. A sampling port shall be installed in accordance with specifications set forth in the wastewater discharge permit.
(D) Every person owning or operating a silver removal system shall cause such system to be serviced at least once per year by the manufacturer, equipment distributor, or qualified consultant who shall certify that all equipment in the system is functioning in accordance with the manufacturer's standards for such equipment. Records of system service shall be maintained and made available for inspection as described in Section 16.09.160.
(E) Every person intending to comply with the provisions of this subsection (a)(2), shall submit a completed permit application to the superintendent, per Section 16.09.085, at least forty-five days prior to commencing operation of such system.
Every person intending to comply with the provisions of this subsection (a)(2) shall submit an annual report to the superintendent on or before February 1 of each calendar year. The annual report shall contain the following information for the preceding calendar year:
(i) Type and description of silver removal processes and any regeneration systems employed;
(ii) Amount of spent solutions generated;
(iii) Dates of equipment servicing;
(iv) Description of any major changes in equipment or operation; and
(v) All wastewater sampling data.
(3) Off-Site Disposal. Persons who comply with this subsection shall ship or cause to be shipped off site, for recovery or appropriate disposal, all spent solutions or shall regenerate all spent solutions on site.
Storage, shipment and disposal of spent solutions shall be in accordance with all state, federal and local requirements.
(A) Every person who complies with this subsection (a)(3) shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, records that detail the purchase date and quantity of all new fixer, bleach-fix, stabilizer and functionally similar solutions kept or used by such person. Such person shall also maintain, or cause to be maintained, detailed disposal records that include the date, type and amount of waste solution disposed of; the name, address and identification number of the shipper; and the ultimate destination of each batch of waste solution shipped off site. Such person shall also maintain, or cause to be maintained, a record of the amount of spent solutions regenerated on site.
(B) Every photoprocessor intending to comply with the provisions of this subsection (a)(2) shall submit an annual report to the superintendent on or before February 1 of each calendar year. The annual report shall contain for the preceding calendar year a summary of the required records maintained by such person relating to purchase and disposition of photographic solutions. The summary shall be on a form provided by the superintendent. Along with the summary, the photoprocessor shall submit a statement certifying that it is in compliance with this subsection and that the required records shall be maintained and made available for inspection as described in Section 16.09.160.
(C) Photoprocessors that comply with this subsection need not meet the silver discharge limitations set forth in subsection (a)(2)(A) of this section, nor the silver discharge limitations set forth in Section 16.09.040(q) with respect to the photographic materials processing portion of their operations; provided, however, that those photoprocessors generating a total of one hundred gallons or more per month of spent solutions shall be required to meet the silver limitations of subsection (a)(2) of this section with respect to washwater, even if all spent solutions are shipped off site.
(b) The maximum allowable limit for copper for photographic materials processing shall be 2.0 mg/liter.
(Ord. 5084 § 2 (part), 2010)