BP Whiting Refinery Water Permit FAQ

Why did BP's Whiting Refinery pursue renewal of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit?

Approval of the permit renewal by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is an important step in BP's plans to invest more than $3 billion to modernize its Whiting Refinery in order to process a greater percentage of Canadian heavy crude oil, and serve as a dependable source of energy for the US Midwest. Renewal of the NPDES permit is important because:
Issuance of the permit will incorporate standards updated since its last renewal in 1990, which will afford greater protection of the environment over the current permit. It implements new water quality standards set by the Great Lakes Initiative that are not covered in the current permit.

BP's permit must be current to allow any modifications for significant facility production changes. To meet the new permit requirements, BP plans on about $150 million in investments in both refinery process and wastewater treatment plant improvements to enhance the capabilities of the environmental system at the refinery.

Upgrades to the refinery's wastewater treatment capability include the installation of a new sour water stripper, additional storm water storage, desalter brine treatment, more efficient final filters and wastewater reduction projects.

What is an NPDES permit?

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, authorized by the Clean Water Act, controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge into waters of the United States.

Where does the wastewater come from?

There are three sources of discharge from the Whiting Refinery's operations:
Water from Lake Michigan - BP takes approximately 120 million gallons a day from the lake, uses it as a once-through, non-contact coolant (meaning it does not come into contact with crude oil or petroleum) and that same amount is returned to Lake Michigan.
Treated wastewater - Each day about 20 million gallons of treated wastewater is discharged into Lake Michigan. This treated wastewater consists of water used in the refinery and related facilities, recovered ground water and most of the storm water from the site.
Storm water - Sometimes, in the case of extremely large storms, excess rainwater is discharged into the Indiana Harbor Canal that eventually feeds into Lake Michigan. This rainwater does not mix with any other discharges or any other processes at the refinery. The amount of this discharge is different every year, depending on how many major rainstorms occur.

Is the treated wastewater toxic?

No. The 1977 Clean Water Act, on which IDEM's NPDES regulations are based, prohibits the discharge of wastewater with toxic amounts of toxic pollutants. BP has been discharging treated wastewater from the Whiting Refinery in compliance with its approved NPDES permit since 1990. If BP's treated wastewater were toxic, it would not be allowed to be discharged into Lake Michigan.

Is the treated wastewater harmful to humans or aquatic life?

No. Federal and state regulations are set to protect humans who drink Lake Michigan water and consume fish from Lake Michigan. The Whiting Refinery's discharge meets these regulations. Biological assessments and hydrodynamic studies conducted on behalf of BP demonstrate that BP's discharge will not cause harm to aquatic life, wildlife or human health.

What's in the treated wastewater?

The treated wastewater is 99.9% water. The other most prevalent constituents in it are two kinds of salt - chloride and sulfate. The treated wastewater also contains nutrients, organics and metals - most of which are found naturally in Lake Michigan.

Is the refinery in compliance with its NPDES permit?

Yes. The Whiting Refinery has a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant that is equipped with primary, secondary and tertiary treatments. Since BP's NPDES permit was issued by IDEM in 1990, the company has had an excellent compliance rate. BP has fully disclosed any and all permit exceedences to IDEM, as required by state and federal rules.

What takes place in the refinery's wastewater treatment plant before treated water is discharged into Lake Michigan?

The Whiting Refinery's wastewater treatment facility uses state of the art wastewater treatment technology. Many of the constituents in the wastewater generated at Whiting are processed through biodegrading systems that rely on microbial action to digest certain solids. Others are removed and recycled or disposed of in compliance with federal and state environmental regulations.
For example, the sludge from large tanks is removed and processed to recover hydrocarbons. The remaining volume of dry solids is then disposed of in compliance with federal and state regulations.
The refinery discharges only treated water into Lake Michigan, not sludge. All wastewater sludges are treated separately and according to regulatory requirements.

Are there alternatives to discharging wastewater into Lake Michigan?

BP continuously considers approaches that pose the least impact on health, safety and the environment. The environmental costs associated with land filling or further processing the wastewater would increase other deleterious environmental impacts, and make any alternative to discharging the wastewater impractical.

Will BP’s plans for the Whiting Refinery lead to increased water discharges?

In August 2007 BP committed to operate the modernized Whiting Refinery in Northwest Indiana to meet the lower discharge limits contained in the refinery’s previous wastewater treatment permit for ammonia and total suspended solids (TSS). We are investigating a number of possible options to meet that commitment in order to proceed with the Operation Canadian Crude (OCC) project.

We are tapping into BP’s internal experts from refineries and other industrial operations across the globe. Additionally, BP continues to work with Environ, a nationally renowned environmental consulting and engineering firm, and has hired the engineering consulting firm CH2M Hill to conduct a separate, detailed analysis of water treatment options. We expect this extensive technical work will help inform our decision on whether to proceed with final approval for the project.

We are also engaged in longer-term efforts with the Purdue Calumet Water Institute (PWI) and the Argonne National Laboratory to address wastewater treatment and discharge challenges, such as the very stringent mercury discharge limits. Additionally, BP is actively engaged in the Petroleum Environmental Research Forum (PERF), a joint industry cooperative effort to develop technologies to address environmental issues in the petroleum industry.

Does treated wastewater from Whiting have a negative impact on Lake Michigan’s aquatic life?
No.  Biological assessments and hydrodynamic studies conducted on behalf of BP by Advent Environ (included in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 NPDES permit applications) demonstrate that our discharge will not cause harm to aquatic life, wildlife or human health.

Is the treated wastewater harmful to humans?

Absolutely not.  After processing at our water treatment plant, what is returned to Lake Michigan is more than 99.9% ordinary water.  It is safe for human and aquatic life, and it is non-toxic.  
Contrary to some claims, the refinery does not, and will not, release sludge into the lake.

Will the treated wastewater pollute drinking water?

No. Indiana regulations specific to Lake Michigan are structured to ensure safe drinking water, and we meet these regulations.

Can’t BP afford to invest in a better process for dealing with its wastewater?

We are continually investing in making the Whiting Refinery safer for our employees, our neighbors and our environment.  
Wastewater is a necessary by-product of refining fuels.  We have a state-of-the-art wastewater plant to effectively meet or exceed regulatory requirements and thus protect human health, aquatic life and the environment.

Will Whiting water outflow from your treatment plant lead to increases in mercury in Lake Michigan?

Mercury is found everywhere in our environment and, in fact, is present in the lake water we draw into the refinery and the rainwater we collect in our storm sewer system.  Even so, the Whiting modernization project is not expected to increase the level of mercury in the water entering Lake Michigan from the refinery.

What is your plan for reducing mercury?

The new water permit calls for us -- and anyone else who applies for a new permit -- to reduce mercury discharges to 1.3 parts per trillion.  However, we are not aware of any proven control technology for a refinery that would remove mercury to that standard. However, we will be working with regulators to evaluate such technology to achieve these mercury levels in coming years.  

Does the Whiting refinery send sludge in Lake Michigan?

Claims that the BP Whiting Refinery dumps sludge into Lake Michigan are false.  Treated water discharged from the refinery is 99.9 percent ordinary water, clear and non-toxic.