A staff of two full-time persons and one half-time person manages the program.  WSA personnel monitor the incoming wastestream (raw influent) to the WWTF on a 24-hour per day basis to ensure that elevated levels of pollutants, in excess of permitted levels, are not present.  Should monitoring demonstrate elevated levels of pollutants, IPP personnel deploy 24-hour sampling devices in select manholes throughout the City in order to determine the origin of the elevated pollutants.  Non-compliant discharges are traced back to the business in violation of their permit discharge limits and enforcement action ensues. 

The total metals concentration has been reduced from approximately 1.85 mg/L (1986) to approximately 0.24 mg/L (2005), a testament to the effectiveness of the program and the application of local limits (LLMP).  Wastewater discharge limits, as derived from ongoing local limits research, maintain headworks loadings that facilitate optimum treatment conditions within the plant.  Optimum treatment conditions have indeed provided for an effluent compliant with RIPDES effluent limitations.

Where non-compliance has been detected within the industrial base, the ERP has provided for an essential fining mechanism, which has certainly acted as a deterrent to repeat violations.  Over the past reporting period, the WSA has, in good faith, allowed for two of our SIU’s to defer payment of fines and instead use the fine monies to upgrade their systems.  This has provided our SIUs with an incentive to maintain compliance. 

Over the past 4-5 years, the Warwick Sewer Authority has worked closely with the RIDEM Pretreatment division in revisiting and updating our Sewer Use Ordinances (SUO), Rules and Regulations (specifically Regs. 9, 10, 40, 48, 54 and 55) to be consistent with EPA requirements.  Back in October 2000, our IPP had its SUO/ERP modified to indicate a maximum fine penalty increase from $5,000/violation/day to $25,000/violation/day.  Additionally, within that same 3-4 year time frame, improvements (approved by RIDEM) were made to the Spill Control Plan and Permit Templates.  These improvements have allowed the IPP to assist its Commercial and Industrial user base in discharging compliant wastewaters, as well as, enforce rules where non-compliance has been encountered.

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