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Silver compounds are the basic light-sensitive material used in most of today’s photographic films and papers. Each facility that processes silver-based images generates wastewater containing silver. During processing, particularly in the fixing bath or bleach-fix, silver is removed from the film or paper and is carried out in the solution, usually in the form of silver thiosulfate complex. If your facility uses photographic developing equipment, you may be discharging silver into the sanitary sewer system.
While there is no current legislation in the town’s by-laws which require that silver recovery equipment be installed on photo-processing equipment, the Town of Amherst’s Sewer Use Ordinance states that any discharge having a total silver concentration greater than 0.064 milligrams per liter (mg/l) is prohibited. To be in compliance with this limitation, however, it will likely be necessary you’re your businesses to utilize some form of silver recovery system.
What’s The Concern With Silver?
We wear silver jewelry, eat off silverware and carry silver fittings in our teeth. Then why is the silver in film processing solutions regulated?
The answer has to do with the different forms that silver can take. The metallic silver that we use in eating utensils and jewelry is nontoxic. But some forms of silver can be very toxic to aquatic organisms. In fact years ago, silver cation (Ag+) was used as a biocide in wastewater treatment. Even today, silver nitrate is sometimes added to the eyes of new infants in order to kill bacteria.
How Can Silver Recovery Benefit You?
Besides the obvious environmental benefit to aquatic environments, the silver discharged from photo-processing equipment is a valuable, finite natural resource, which can be captured and recycled. By using some form of silver recovery, dischargers will maximize the amount of silver they recover. In many cases, this will provide economic returns to the discharger.
How Does Silver Recovery Work?
The simplest and most cost effective form of silver recovery is a process called metallic replacement. Metallic replacement requires little capital expenditure for equipment and requires only a few simple plumbing connections. The equipment needed for a metallic replacement system includes a plastic container, a plastic-lined steel or stainless steel drum filled with metal (usually steel wool) and some plastic hose and plumbing connections. Silver is recovered when the silver bearing solution flows through the cartridge and makes contact with the steel wool. The iron goes into solution as an ion, and the metallic silver is released as a solid to collect in a sludge at the bottom of the cartridge or is deposited on the steel wool. When the cartridge can no longer effectively remove silver (approximately 6 months – 1 year, depending on frequency of use) the silver bearing sludge is sent to a refiner who will refine it and in most cases will pay the customer for the recovered silver.
The Town of Amherst Environmental Control Division is asking business owners and operators to take responsibility on themselves to limit the amount of silver discharged to the sanitary sewer systems. By taking steps to remove silver from wastewater discharges, your company will be participating in a town-wide effort towards a cleaner environment as well as avoiding unnecessary fines.
For more information on Silver and Silver Management Practices contact:
The Silver Council
550 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 307
Harrison, NY 10528-1612
phone: 914.698.7603
fax: 914.698.7609
Engineering Department
1100 N Forest Rd
Williamsville,
NY
14221
(716)
631-7154
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Mon-Fri)
Engineering Department
Engineering Support Division
Sewer Maintenance Division
Water Pollution Control Division
Environmental Control
Engineering Services Division
Armstrong, Brian
Director of Engineering Services
716-631-7154 ext.
7412
Boudreau, Jessica
Project Manager
716-631-7154 ext.
7427
Hitzel, Michael
Architect
716-631-7154 ext.
7069
Pontikos, Asher
GIS Analyst
716-631-7154 ext.
7415
Schregel, Chris
Project Manager
716-631-7154 ext.
7416
Sewer Maintenance Division
Reberholt, Vaishali
Assistant Town Engineer
716-631-7154 ext.
7421
Burow, Sarah
Senior Engineer Assistant
716-631-7154
Goldstein, Noemi
Messenger
716-631-7154 ext.
7422
Princess, Brian
General Crew Chief
716-631-7154 ext.
7434
Wastewater Treatment Facility
Colter, Quinton
Pretreatment Coordinator
716-691-9771 ext.
8028
Burroughs, Jeffrey
Town Engineer
716-631-7154 ext.
7418
Suszynski, Jerome
Assistant Plant Superintendent
716-691-9771 ext.
8036
Abramo, Joe
Electronics Technician
Barnes, Brian
Senior GIS Analyst
716-631-7154 ext.
7069
Berger, Corey
Senior Electrician
Dean, W. Tom
Purchasing Agent
716-691-9771 ext.
8041
Hoose, Richard
Electronics Technician
Poslinski, Michael
Senior Engineer Assistant
716-691-9771 ext.
8045
Process Control
Process Control
716-691-9771 ext.
8015
Rink, Richard
Project Manager
Russell, Crystal
Accounts Payable
716-691-9771 ext.
8010
Struzik, Gregory
Network Coordinator
716-691-4331 ext.
8025
Tirone, Mark
Chief Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
716-691-9771 ext.
8017
Vaillancourt, Andrew
Senior Electrician
716-691-9771 ext.
8053
Citizen’s Guide to Identifying and Preventing Stormwater Pollution
The Town of Amherst is a MS4 Community and together with the Western New York Stormwater Coalition, Amherst is providing this Citizen’s Guide to help identify and prevent stormwater pollution. Please see the attached document for helpful tips on understanding illicit discharges and things you can do to protect water quality. For questions or to report an issue, email sburow@amherst.ny.us. Thank you for doing your part to keep our water clean!
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