Dawn Dickinson, chemical process technician, conducts water quality tests in the lab.

Community Question

I see foam in the river near the plant. What is this?

During the summer months, the discharge from our main outfall creates turbulence upon entering the river and stirs the organic materials in the river water, which creates foam. The same effect occurs naturally in the ocean and other bodies of water.

How many people get to spend their workdays overlooking a magnificent body of water? The Potomac River — nicknamed the Nation’s River — is a major asset to the region. As citizens, we treasure it. Our commitment to environmental quality includes efforts and controls to keep the Potomac River and other waters clean, safe and inviting.

Water Quality Test Results

As part of our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, we must sample and analyze different parameters such as pH, total suspended solids (TSS), and oil and grease. The EPA has issued limits that we must not exceed. For example, our limit for pH is between 6 and 8.5. We take samples from four different locations on the plant property.

Below is the data we reported to the EPA for April 2006.

Preserving Water Quality

Our principal use of river water is to cool the condensers and auxiliary equipment associated with steam turbines. Almost all of it is returned to the river. No chemicals are added to the water used for this purpose.

River water used to cool critical plant equipment other than the condensers and equipment associated with steam turbines is chemically treat to remove all suspended solids, producing clear, colorless water.

We work to preserve water quality in a variety of ways:

• Once water is used to cool equipment, it’s discharged back to the river in compliance with the District of Columbia’s water quality standards.
• Ash loading runoff is captured and treated prior to being discharged to the river.
• Major water treatment equipment includes:
  Clarifier
  Settling pond
  Neutralization system
  Oil/Water separator

None of our water processes use chlorine or chlorine substitutes.

Monitoring

In accordance with federal regulations, we monitor four water outflows and discharge points for a combination of six parameters, including: flow, pH, total suspended solids, oil and grease, and temperature rise (difference in temperature between the water taken in and returned back to the river). Monthly reports are submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Washington, D.C. Department of Health (DOH). In addition, the DOH conducts on-site inspections at our facility twice a year.

On an annual basis, we send 12 months of water quality data to the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.