During the week of October 9, 2023, the CBJ Utility detected and responded to three separate instances of discharges of toxic and prohibited substances into the public sewer system, comprised of fuels, acids and solvents. None of these substances belong in the sewer system. They each pose threats to human health and risk to the environment, disrupt waste treatment operations, and cost the community-owned system a lot of money to manage.
Discharging toxic and prohibited substances to CBJ’s sewer system constitutes a violation of CBJ’s Sewer Code, Section 75.02.080 – Use of public sewers;
- No persons shall discharge or cause to be discharged to any public sewer any harmful waters or wastes, whether liquid, solid or gas, capable of causing obstruction to the flow in the sewers, damage or hazard to structures, equipment and personnel of the sewage works, or other interference with the proper operation of the sewage works.
CBJ Utility staff are currently tracking the source of the discharges detected last week and are conducting an investigation to determine the responsible parties.
Safe and legal disposal of toxic materials is easily accomplished by bringing those materials to Juneau’s RecycleWorks. For further information about RecycleWorks, contact Stuart Ashton at (907) 364-7405 or stuart.ashton@juneau.gov .
For more information about the Utility, contact Chad Gubala at chad.gubala@juneau.gov or (907) 586-0393.