Board moves overhaul of industrial wastewater permits to council, cites repeated exceedances

The City of Monroe Board of Public Works voted May 6 to forward an ordinance to the city council that would repeal and recreate the city’s industrial wastewater discharge permit rule (City of Monroe code 5-8-511), reset permit limits to recent averages and introduce penalties for future exceedances.

Wendy, who presented the item to the board, said the change would “adjust the permits and the policy for more violations if they violate their discharge permit” and that the ordinance, if approved by council, would take effect in September. The council scheduled a public hearing on the measure for May 19.

Board members pressed staff on the extent of past exceedances. One member noted that the board had seen “3 industries that have been over 200% of their existing permit on the BOD” and said “we've had 1 industry that has been 568% of its existing permit on flows.” Utility staff answered that past permits were set long ago for earlier operations, that industries grew without updated permits and without penalties, and that the proposed reset uses recent two-year averages so the limits match what the industries have actually been sending.

Utility staff said the reset is meant to reflect current operations while establishing consequences for future exceedances. “Since it did cause a problem with the plant, that's why we're kinda at where we're at,” the staff member said, describing why staff recommends a reset and a tiered penalty approach. Staff also said the city can consider permit increases case by case if a business requests expansion and demonstrates the necessary infrastructure or treatment.

Board members asked whether residential customers were effectively subsidizing industrial use and whether Monroe’s bills compare to similar communities. Staff replied that residential bills in some neighboring towns can be higher, and that, in Monroe’s case, most plant funding comes from industry charges rather than from a general tax.

After discussion, a committee member moved and the board seconded the motion to forward the ordinance repealing and recreating the industrial wastewater discharge permit code to the city council for consideration. Roll call vote was unanimous among the four alder members present, and the item will move to council with the public hearing scheduled for May 19.

Next step: the ordinance will be considered at the city council public hearing on May 19; if council approves it, the board indicated the provisions would take effect in September.