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Commission asks for inspections after commissioner flags ‘industrial wastewater’ rules
Summary
A commissioner flagged PADP regulations that could classify truck and hose washing as industrial wastewater; the applicant said gear washing will route to an internal floor drain and septic, and the commission asked for tank/drain-field inspections and a Hanover Engineering review.
A commissioner raised a regulatory question that became central to the meeting: whether washing trucks, gear and hoses at the fire station could be categorized as industrial wastewater and therefore trigger more stringent handling requirements.
"All wastewater is treated as industrial waste. That is the regulation, I believe," a commissioner said while reading the packet. Ian Kaufman said gear washing would be routed inside the building to a floor drain and then to the existing septic system. "It will be routed inside through the MEP and it will go to the septic tank," Kaufman said.
Commissioners asked the applicant to schedule a camera inspection of the tanks and absorption area and to document tank volumes, compartment counts and system integrity before the commission acts on waivers or final approvals. Hanover Engineering offered to assist in reviewing whether the PADP (as cited in the packet) or other rules apply and what design changes—curbing, drains or treatment—would be necessary if the wastewater is regulated as industrial discharge.
Ty Johnson, the chief, said the station has three 3,000-gallon tanks and that historic social-hall use produced much larger flows in the past; the proposed station would have lower average flows and the applicant estimated the current tanks provide significant spare capacity. The commission requested the inspections and a written engineering determination to reduce uncertainty.
