Case Studies
MMS, LLC relishes taking on difficult challenges and have regularly met and exceeded their expectations. We provide a few examples of the problems that we have solved.
Diagnosing Environmental Violations
Identifying sources of Phenols
Our Client's Challenge:
An industrial user contacted MMS to assist with identifying the source of chronic Total Phenols violations. The industry said that they have searched through all the chemicals MSDS’s and could find very limited phenol in the ingredients.
Our Solution:
MMS initiated the onsite inspection at the sample location which was approximately 1500 yards from the main industrial facility. The industry had a sample room where wastewater samples were poured up to take to the contract laboratory. MMS identified an aerosol spray disinfectant can on the sample room table and asked how this was used. The industry technician said that the spray was used to clean up the sample room each day. The aerosol spray disinfectant contained 1.4% pentachlorophenol which is 14,000 mg/L. MMS recommended stopping the spray use and the total phenol violations ceased.
FOG Source Investigation
Identifying source of FOG pollution
Our Client's Requirements:
MMS received a call from City that a small sewer pump station (SPS) was experiencing large dumps of grease over the last 4 weeks which caused interference to SPS pumps and wet well.
Our Solution:
MMS reconned the upstream area that discharges to the small SPS. The main contributor was a strip mall with a Kroger, Walmart, Subway, Mexican restaurant, and Chinese restaurant. MMS checked the strip mall tenants grease interceptors and the upstream manholes from the SPS every 1 to 2 days. MMS identified evidence of abnormal surge evidence in the Chinese restaurant grease interceptor as well as red straws. The Chinese restaurant did not use red straws which was evidence of illegal dumping. MMS set up trail cameras at the Chinese restaurant and identified a grease waste hauler company illegally dumping FOG waste from their tanker truck on 3 occasions. MMS did an audit of the grease waste hauler company which further confirmed that tracking of daily pumped FOG volumes could not be accounted for at final disposal location. MMS worked with EPA Criminal Investigation Division which indicted the grease waste hauler company and resulted in the company paying fines, the manager serving jail time, and the company filing for bankruptcy.
Diagnosing Environmental Violations
Identifying sources of zinc in discharge
Our Client's Challenge:
An industry that makes windshield wipers contacted MMS due to sudden surge in zinc violations. The industry said that their process and treatment plant operation had not changed and could not figure out why there was such high zinc concentrations in their discharge.
Our Solution:
MMS did an onsite audit and identified that the accounting department had changed their source of rubber for the windshield wipers due to cost savings. MMS identified that zinc stearate is used as an antistick chemical for the rubber when it is shipped. MMS identified that the new source of rubber had twelve times the zinc stearate concentration vs. the previous supplier. The company changed back to the original supplier and zinc violations stopped.
FOG Source Investigation
Identifying source of FOG pollution
Our Client's Requirements:
A franchise steakhouse had heavy grease in their downstream sewer for several years, even with a 2000-gallon interceptor and cleaning the interceptor every month.
Our Solution:
MMS did dye tests on all the kitchen drains and identified that the pre-rinse sink (with 80% of grease loading) was not connected to the interceptor. The pre-rinse sink was connected to the interceptor which stopped the heavy grease discharge to the sewer and allowed pumping of the interceptor every 90 days.
Diagnosing Environmental Violations
Identifying sources of chloroform
Our Client's Challenge:
A City contacted MMS to conduct an inspection at an industry that had repeated chloroform violations, but the industry did not use chloroform in their process.
Our Solution:
MMS inspection identified the use of HTH that was added to change the dark color of the process water. The HTH was reacting with organic matter in the process water and forming the chloroform.
FOG Source Investigation
Identifying source of FOG pollution
Our Client's Requirements:
A City contacted MMS due to heavy grease loading coming into a large SPS. The grease loading was so high that it broke the conveyor belt that takes the SPS screen rake material to the dumpster.
Our Solution:
MMS collected a sample of the grease and sent it to a lab to perform a fatty acid profile. The fatty acid profile sample result was reviewed and determined to contain some types of pizza pocket beef and/or chicken material. MMS did recon of the large area upstream of the SPS and identified 3 possible industrial sources. One industry that MMS checked had heavy grease in 6 of the first downstream manholes from their facility. The industry made beef and chicken hot pockets and pizzas. This information was turned over to the City’s pretreatment program that took enforcement action and stopped the grease dumping at the SPS.