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| Resource Conservation |
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Westar Energy identifies and evaluates the variety and uses of materials that produce hazardous wastes in company operations. When possible, those materials are replaced with nonhazardous environment-friendly substitutes. The company continually looks for ways to reduce the amounts of hazardous wastes it generates.
Since 1985, Westar Energy has surpassed regulatory requirements in the removal of polychlorinated byphenyl (PCB) equipment to reduce the potential for PCB spills. By 1987, all PCB transformers near public buildings had been replaced or retrofilled with non-PCB fluids. Westar Energy continues to reduce the number of PCB-contaminated transformers and capacitors throughout its electric transmission and distribution system as oil-filled equipment is removed or refilled with new oil.
The company continues to replace harmful biocides to reduce the levels of chlorine used to treat discharge water at power plants and control microbiological growth in cooling towers. Chlorine usage levels have dropped because the company has installed systems that use liquid chlorine solutions and bromide, thereby eliminating the use of gaseous chlorine in its plants. Improved chlorination control equipment and procedures as well as covers placed over cooling tower distribution heads have further reduced chlorine levels.
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