Copper Sources and Management Strategies Clearinghouse

 

 

 

Copper Sources - P2/BMPs

Stormwater Runoff

Vehicle Brake Pads
Architectural Copper
Pool/Spa/Fountain Algaecides
Copper Pesticides
Industrial Copper Use
Soil Erosion
Mobile Cleaning
Vehicle Washing
Vehicle Services

Discharges to POTWs

Copper Piping Corrosion
Industrial Copper Use
Cooling Towers
Printing
Vehicle Services

Shoreline Activities

Marine Anti-fouling Coatings
Copper Algaecides
Site Source Control, Design, and Waste Management

 

 

 

Industrial Copper Use

Metal finishers, electroplaters and semi-conductor manufacturers may use copper-containing materials in their manufacturing processes. Metal finishers and electroplaters are regulated under four different sets of Federal categorical standards (found in 40 CFR 413 and 433) depending on the type and age of facility. Semiconductor manufacturers are regulated under 40 CFR 469 and may also have certain unit operations regulated in accordance with 40 CFR 433. Federal categorical standards were derived from the statistical performance of model treatment units and source controls.

Stormwater Control Measures

Since manufacturing processes occur indoors, copper-containing materials typically do not have the potential to be released to stormwater runoff. However, certain processes could potentially release droplets of copper-containing solutions into building air exhaust systems and onto building roofs and surrounding areas. Studies conducted by the Cities of San Jose and Sunnyvale show that metal finishing and electroplating processes contributed (through air and roof deposition) greater amounts of copper and nickel to stormwater runoff than other industrial and commercial activities. Potential sources identified for copper and nickel in roof deposition included copper chloride etchers, ammonia etchers, and acid plating bath exhaust vents. Some best management practices to reduce or eliminate roof contamination include a vent cover and drip pan collection system and treating ammonia etchant vapors with a scrubber system.

Wastewater Control Measures

Metal finishers, electroplaters and semi-conductor manufacturers subject to Federal categorical standards are highly regulated by POTWs and must meet NPDES permit Pretreatment Program requirements (for certain constituents) prior to discharging wastewaters to the sanitary sewer. To further reduce discharges of copper and nickel to the sanitary sewer, these industries can implement pollution prevention measures which include both modifications of industrial processes and improved waste handling and treatment techniques. Pollution prevention and reasonable control measure information sources are provided below.

Best Management Practices

Best Management Practices information sources include:

California

  • City of San Jose- Is Your Roof Runoff Polluted? - This fact sheet developed by the City of San Jose discusses why roof runoff from metal finishing and electroplating processes could contribute copper to stormwater runoff. Best management practices to prevent rooftop pollution are provided.
  • Palo Alto RWQCP- Pollution Prevention at Specific Plating Company - This case study prepared by the Palo Alto RWQCP provides the results and benefits of pollution prevention projects implemented by Specific Plating Company. The implementation of these projects resulted in an 88 percent reduction in copper and 85 percent reduction in nickel discharged to the sanitary sewer

Pollution Prevention Websites

  • Pollution Prevention for the Metals Finishing Industry - A Manual for Pollution Prevention Technical Assistance Providers - This website provides an overview of the metal finishing industry, the planning of pollution prevention projects and common pollution prevention projects implemented within the metal finishing industry.
  • Waste Reduction in Electroplating - This website provides links to websites, manuals, articles and reports and fact sheets on pollution prevention measures, regulations, permits, trade associations and available technologies within electroplating or metal finishing industry.
  • Business Assistance Tools - Metal Finishing Industry - This website hosted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency provides links to pollution prevention and compliance assistance information from a variety of websites on the metal finishing industry. The links have been divided into the following categories: regulations and compliance, technical publications and sites, programmatic/non-regulatory sites, research and related sites.
  • Metal Finishing Pollution Prevention - This website developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency - Region 9 provides detailed descriptions of pollution prevention projects implemented by metal finishing facilities in Southern California and Phoenix, Arizona.

Organization/Agencies