Program To Target Sources Of Heavy Metals In River

Spokane and state officials have launched a program to reduce mercury and silver contamination in the Spokane River.

The metals, toxic in minute quantities, are traveling from area businesses and homes into Spokane’s sewage treatment plant.

The metals harm plants and animals living in water, said Mike Llewelyn, water quality program manager for the state Department of Ecology.

“That is why it’s so important to keep these metals out of the water,” Llewelyn said.

Mercury and silver discharges into the Spokane River exceed the limits allowed in the sewage plant’s discharge permit, said Mike Coster, a laboratory supervisor in Spokane’s waste-water management program.

“We tend to exceed the limits during the low flow season” from July to October, Coster said.

During that season, the limits for mercury are an average .01 pounds per day and for silver, .12 pounds per day.

City, county and Ecology officials will identify the sources of the contamination and work with individuals and businesses to reduce discharges.

The metals are from a variety of sources, including latex paints manufactured before 1990, photo labs, dental practices and medical laboratories.

The $2,000 pilot project to improve water quality will be finished by September, Ecology officials said.