New village law targets phosphorous emissions

 The Saukville Village Board on March 6 unanimously approved an ordinance amendment limiting the amount of phosphorous discharged by local industries.

“We were looking at what we currently have for phosphorous limits last year, and we felt the need to bring them down a little bit for a safety net,” Wastewater Utility Supt. Ray Hartmann said during the Utility Committee meeting before the Village Board meeting.  

The previous ordinance had allowed permits to be issued for a business that discharge more than 20,000 gallons of phosphorous per day. 

 “That is another reason why we are looking at this, because 20,000 gallons a day can have a high-phosphorous rate throughout the plant,” Hartmann said.

Hartmann said there are only a few companies in the village that exceed 20,000 gallons of phosphorous discharge per day. Among them is Charter Steel.

Most phosphorous emissions come from cleaning agents and food products.

The village currently has a 1-part-per-million limit on phosphorous emissions that will be reduced to .075, or .16.

“I think for every company that will be manageable, and it shores up our discharge output,” Hartmann said.

According to Village Administrator Dawn Wagner, the amendment to the ordinance will make it clear to future businesses that move into the village what the appropriate level of phosphorous discharge is allowed.  

“It’s important to review what our requirements are and to make sure our ordinance reflects that,” Wagner said.