Working for Clean Water
An Information Program for Advisory Groups
Industrial
Pretreatment
Are there any industries discharging into
the public sewer system? Can the community benefit by
industrial joint treatment or pretreatment using a publicly-owned
treatment works? Does your community have industrial
pretreatment effluent standards and regulations?
Has the public had input into the pretreatment standards
and regulations?
Citizen Handbook
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This program was prepared by
The Pennsylvania State University
Institute of State & Regional
Affairs
Middletown, PA 17057
Dr. Charles A. Cole
Project Director
Dr. E. Drannon Buskirk, Jr.
Project Co-Director
Prof. Lorna Chi. Stoltrfus
Editor
This unit was prepared bv
John B. Nesbitt
Advisory Team for the Project
David Elkinton, State of West
Virginia
Steve Frishman, private citizen
Michele Frome: private citizen
John Hammond, private citizen
Joan Juraneich. State of California
Richard Hetherington, EPA
Region 10
Rosemary Henderson, EPA
Region 6
George Hoessel, EPA Region 3
George Neiss, EPA Region 5
Ray Pfortner, EPA Region 2
Paul Pinault, EPA Region 1
Earlene Wilson. EPA Region 7
Dan Burrows, EPA Headquarters
Ben Gryctko, EPA Headquarters
Robert Hardaker, EPA
Headquarters
Charles Kauffinan, EPA
Headquarters
Steve Maier, EPA Headquarters
EPA Project Officer
Barry H. Jordan
Office of Water Programs
Operations
Acknowledgements
Typists:
Ann Kirsch, Jan Russ, Tess
Startoni
Student Assistants:
Fran Costanzi. Kathy DeBatt,
Mike Moulds, Terry Switzer
Illustrator:
Charles Speers
Graphics support was provided by
the Office of Public Awareness,
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
U,S. Environmental Protection
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Industrial Pretreatment
Is there an industry in your municipality
that discharges manufacturing wastes into
the sanitary sewer system? Do toxic
industrial wastes complicate the operation
of your wastewater treatment plant? Is
industry failing to pay for its fair share of
the treatment plant operating costs?
If the answer to any of these questions is
yes, this discussion is for you.
Business is an important part of America's
lifestyle. Although it makes possible a high
material standard of living, it can produce
wastes which are toxic to both surface
waters and treatment plants. Each of these
three systems (business, surface waters,
and treatment plants) is sensitive in its
own way to various influences. A healthy
society needs all of them. The problem is to
manage them together. The issues to be
addressed in this balancing are:
Roles of local, state, and federal
governments
• Safety factors built into waste disposal
systems
• Effective regulatory agencies
• Long term administrative and financial
commitments by regulatory agencies.
The public has several concerns about
industrial wastes. They include:
• Environmental impacts of land uses
• Groundwater pollution from industrial
wastes
* Air pollution and odors
" Noise
* Silting and sludge disposal
• Safety and health.
These important concerns can be dealt
with in several ways.
Industrial Waste Treatment
Options
Industry has three major options in
treating and disposing of industrial
wastewaters:
1. Treat the wastewater in its own facility,
and discharge it directly into the receiving
waters (direct discharge)
2. (indirect discharge, joint treatment)
publicly-owned treatment works that can
treat both industrial and municipal
wastewaters (joint treatment, indirect
discharge)
3. (indirect discharge, joint treatment)
pollutants that would cause problems with
the municipal treatment processes, and
then discharge them to the municipal plant
for joint treatment.
An industry may treat its own
wastewater and discharge it
directly to surface waters.
MUNICIPAL
TREATMENT
PLANT
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Direct Discharge
If an industry treats and discharges its
wastewaters in its own facilities, it must
obtain a National Pollution Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit. It
will be responsible directly to the
regulatory agency in meeting the
conditions of the permit. Therefore,
pretreatment regulations are unnecessary
and inappropriate for plants that treat only
sanitary wastewaters.
An industry may discharge itx
wastewater to a publicly-owned
treatment plant which has the
ability to jointly treat the
municipal and industrial
wastewaters.
Indirect Discharge (Joint
Treatment)
The other two options involve the joint
treatment of municipal and industrial
wastes. With joint treatment, an industry
can discharge its wastewater to the
municipal treatment plant for total
processing, or it can first pretreat its waste
and then discharge to the municipal plant
for final processing. In both cases,
industrial wastes are considered to be
directly discharged to the receiving water,
since the final treatment occurs in the
municipal plant.
Joint treatment has advantages for both
the municipality and the industry. The
economy of scale in building a larger plant
can reduce capital and operating costs.
Administrative costs are lowered by the
reduced number of direct discharges. Land
resources are used more efficiently. Also
the treatment processes may have
increased reliability and flexibility.
The main disadvantage of joint treatment
without first pretreating the industrial
waste is that some industrial pollutants
interfere with treatment processes in the
municipal plant. Cyanide is an example of
a pollutant that is toxic to microorganisms
used in biological treatment methods.
Treatment plant processes can be
overloaded by an excess of organic matter
or suspended solids. Certain toxic
pollutants, such as the metal cadmium,
cause the sludge to be unsuitable for land
disposal. Still other pollutants, such as
chlorides, pass through the treatment plant
without causing interference, but violate
water quality standards for receiving
waters. All of these pollutants are said to
be incompatible with, or to upset,
treatment processes.
The NPDES permit for an indirect
discharge is issued only to the municipality
which has the responsibility to see that
industrial pollutants do not cause the
permit to be violated. A well-conceived
pretreatment program can assist the
municipality with this responsibility. A
program which requires an industry to
pretreat its wastes will protect the
municipal treatment plant and sewers from
incompatible wastes. It will also allow the
municipality to prosecute an industry that
continuously or intermittently discharges
incompatible wastes.
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The Pretreatment Program
Legislation enacted by Congress requires
the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) to see that
effective pretreatment programs are
established. The EPA mandate involves
two actions:
• Establish pretreatment effluent
standards for industrial wastes, paying
particular attention to toxic pollutants
• Require certain municipalities to develop
local pretreatment programs capable of
enforcing the national and local
pretreatment standards.
Pretreatment Effluent Standards
The EPA is developing industrial
pretreatment standards for specific toxic
pollutants. These standards concentrate on
about 125 priority pollutants in 34
industrial categories. The standards are
uniform for a particular industrial
category, and thus are called categorical
standards.
Effluent standards for prohibited
pollutants apply to all industries. Although
these prohibited discharge standards are
general, municipal pretreatment programs
must have specific local prohibitive limits.
This is to protect wastewater treatment
plants from interference by the pollutants.
Pretreatment Regulations
Pretreatment regulations have been in
effect since mid-1978 as the EPA General
Pretreatment Regulations (40 CFR Part
403). These regulations were proposed
again in October 1979. They establish the
framework for municipal standards. They
specifically:
• Apply whether or not the municipal
wastewater treatment plant is federally
funded
• Contain prohibited discharge standards
to prevent the introduction of substances
which are hazardous, dangerous, and
otherwise incompatible with treatment
plants
• Require the EPA to have certain
municipalities develop local pretreatment
programs
• Describe minimum requirements for
local programs and approval procedures
• Describe industrial responsibilities
under categorial pretreatment standards
• Outline the rules whereby industry may
receive credit for removal of pollutants in
the municipal treatment plant.
The development of a pretreatment program
is eligible for 75 percent federal funding
with both 201 and 208 grants. The
pretreatment program was to be developed
as part of 208 planning, but since
regulations were published at a late date,
it was made an eligible cost in 201 grants
for all steps of the Construction Grants
Program.
The proposed pretreatment effluent
standards and the general pretreatment
regulations are very recent actions of the
EPA. These areas have been challenged in
the courts. Further litigation will probably
occur. Therefore, changes in both areas are
expected. Consulting engineers should be
familiar with the most recent information.
An industry may pretreat its
wastewater before discharging
it to a publicly-owned treatment
plant where the industrial and
municipal waste waters will
then be jointly treated.
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Program Requirements
Approval of a pretreatment program by the
EPA requires these actions:
• Community involvement is encouraged
• Local legal authority is established and
evaluated
• Procedures for compliance with the
program are developed
• Resources to carry out the program are
obtained
• An organizational structure is developed
• An industrial waste, survey is conducted
• If desired, the authority to revise
categorical standards is obtained
• Variances from categorical standards,
because of unusual manufacturing
processes, are sometimes determined
• A detailed description of the
pretreatment program is submitted to a
regulatory agency for review.
Community Involvement
An important element in a successful and
effective pretreatment program is its
credibility in the community. The
involvement of both the public and
industry is essential. Local considerations
play an important role in administering
and enforcing a pretreatment program.
Open communication among the various
participants fosters trust. Active and
informative community involvement can
minimize enforcement conflicts. Industrial
awareness of the nature, intent, and
sincerity of the pretreatment program can
encourage cooperation.
Before approval by the control authority,
as a minimum, a description of the
pretreatment program is made available to
the public. Therefore, public involvement is
not only a good idea; it is required by the
EPA.
The following techniques can be used to
develop and maintain the program:
• Public workshops
• Industrial meetings
• Advisory committees
• Mailing lists
• Media such as newspapers, television,
and brochures
• School educational programs.
Advisory Group Questions
in Facility Planning
1. Assessing Current Situation
What industrial users do we have?
What other industries do we have?
How much treatment capacity do
they need?
What problems might they cause?
2. Assessing Future Situation
What industries are expected to
move into the area?
What expansion is anticipated for
existing industries?
How much treatment capacity is
needed? When is it necessary?
What problems might they cause?
3. Identifying Alternatives
What alternatives provide
benefits to the
community as a whole?
4. Evaluating Alternatives
What are the impacts and
potential problems of the
industrial wastes on the effluent,
on the sludge, and on the
environment?
5. Selecting Plan
Do we have satisfactory
pretreatment standards and
regulations?
Do these plans include adequate
personnel and equipment to
implement the regulations?
Are these plans adequately funded
through a local revenue system?
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Legal Authority
The municipal treatment agency operates a
pretreatment program under local legal
authority. Thjs legal authority may take
the form of statutes, ordinances, contracts,
agreements, or other legal documents. It
must be binding upon industrial users,
enforceable under contract law or police
powers, and at a minimum should allow
the municipal plant to:
• Deny or place conditions on discharges
• Require compliance with pretreatment
standards
• Require an industrial compliance
schedule for required technologies
• Require industries to submit
self-monitoring reports so that compliance
can be assessed
• Conduct inspections, surveillance, and
monitoring to determine compliance or
non-compliance. Access to industrial
records and entry to any industrial users'
premises must also be allowed
• Independently assess or recover through
judicial action: fines, penalties, or
injunctive relief damages for
non-compliance by the industrial users
• Immediately and effectively eliminate
any discharge of pollutants to the
municipal treatment plant which endanger
the health and welfare of the community,
and/or the proper operation of the facility.
Industrial Waste Ordinance
All of these requirements must be met
before the pretreatment program can be
approved. They can usually be met through
the development of an industrial waste
ordinance. No ordinance now exists that
can be considered a truly typical ordinance.
Each situation demands its own special
features. However, existing ordinances
may be modified to fit special needs.
Ordinances, in general, may:
• Be self-contained (complete in itself with
no separate documents required)
• Consist of simply stated general
principles using separately published rules
and regulations for enforcement
• Incorporate a permit system.
Smaller communities with few industries
will often use a self-contained ordinance
without permits. A general ordinance that
is supplemented with rules, regulations,
and permits is more flexible for larger
cities.
Parts of an Industrial Waste
Ordinance
General Provisions — includes
purpose, policy, legislation and
definitions
Regulations — includes prohibitive
discharge standards, categorical
standards, state requirements,
excessive and/or accidental
discharges, and any applicable local
requirements and options
Fees and Charges — includes
information applicable to
administering a pretreatment
program
Administration — includes reporting
requirements, permits, monitoring,
sampling, and required pretreatment
facilities
Enforcement — includes provisions
and responsibilities for accidental
discharges, non-compliance situations,
permit revoking, show-cause hearing,
and legal actions
Penalties — includes civil penalities
and fines
Legal Clauses — includes conditions
and provisions for avoiding conflicts
or establishing priorities with other
laws
Effective Dates — includes calendar
dates
Sample Sewer Connection Application
Form
Sample Wastewater Discharge Permit
The development of an effective industrial
waste ordinance is relatively simple if the
boundaries of the wastewater management
agency coincide with the boundaries of a
political subdivision. However, if several
political subdivisions are served the
development can become complicated. The
guidance and assistance of legal counsel
are needed in either case.
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Resources
The treatment agency must show sufficient
resources (funds and personnel) to operate
an effective program. User charges are
required when construction grant funds are
involved. There are various bulletins which
help in estimating resources.
Pretreatment Program
Personnel Requirements
Wastewater
Flow
(mgd)
5
5-25
25-50
50
100
Number of
Industrial
Dischargers
small
large
small
large
small
large
small
large
large
Personnel
Requirements
2-4
3-6
2-4
4-8
4-6
10-15
6-8
10-15
50-100
Organizational Structure
The success of a pretreatment program
depends on how it is developed and
managed. Furthermore, as a condition for
federal grants, the municipality must
adopt a program that includes regular
monitoring and enforcement of the
national standards. For large treatment
systems, a well-defined organizational
structure having personnel with specialized
training and qualifications may be
necessary. This organization would have a
separate industrial waste division with
responsibilities for operating the industrial
pretreatment program.
For small systems the workload imposed
by the pretreatment program is
considerably less than the activities of a
large organization. Instead of an industrial
waste division, the work can be handled
within the existing organizational
structure, or by supplemental contract
services.
The Industrial Waste Survey and
Management Procedures
The treatment agency is responsible for
conducting an industrial waste survey on
its system. This survey concerns the
identification and classification of the
industrial users.
The advisory group should help:
• Identify the principal industrial
users of the treatment system
• Gather information about the
industrial processes that produce
wastes, the quantity and
characteristics of the waste produced,
in-plant control procedures, and
pretreatment operations.
As a result of this survey, the treatment
agency should develop an information
system, and written procedures for
enforcing federal and local effluent
standards. Guidelines must be developed
to:
• Notify industrial users of specific
categorical and prohibited discharge limits,
including future requirements
• Analyze construction schedules of
pretreatment works and self-monitoring
reports submitted by the industrial users
• Respond to evidence of non-compliance
by industrial users such as overdue reports
and effluent violations
• Prepare an annual report of significant
violations
• Set up a random sampling program to
spot check the self-monitored reports.
The advisory group should be assured
that the management procedures will
provide the necessary information
without adverse effects on the
cooperation between industry and the
community.
Revision of Categorical Standards
In some plants the treatment process may
change a specific pollutant to a less
harmful form. If the processes causing this
alteration are not used generally in
treatment plants, their effect may not have
been considered in setting the nationwide
categorical standard for this pollutant. In
such a case, the treatment agency may
apply for a revision of the categorical
standard. This will allow more of the
altered pollutant to be discharged, and
reduce costs to industry with no
environmental drawbacks. However,
application and approval procedures for
revised categorical standards are extremely
stringent. They require extensive
documentation, and are ineligible for
federal funding.
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Industrial Waste Enforcement
Organization of a
Large Municipal System
Municipal Government or
Board of Commissioners
General Counsel
Director of Pollution Control
Treatment Plant
Operation and
Maintenance
Research and
Development
Operations
Administers permit program
Evaluates pretreatment practices
Coordinates enforcement activities
Formulates industrial wastewater policy
Administers user charge and industrial
cost-recovery programs
Monitoring
Develops industrial wastewater
monitoring procedures
Conducts site monitoring and inspection
Engages in unscheduled surveillance for
compliance
Conducts monitoring as necessary
Variances from Categorical
Standards
Categorical standards are set on an
industry-wide basis. Specific industries
may use a manufacturing process which is
not considered in the development of a
categorical pretreatment standard. In these
cases where industrial processes are
fundamentally different from other
facilities, the categorical standards may be
changed, thus making them more or less
stringent than before. Any interested
party, including the industrial user, may
request a variance.
Approval of Pretreatment Program
After the pretreatment regulations are
developed, they are transmitted to the
proper regulatory agency for approval. The
documents submitted must contain enough
information to demonstrate the treatment
agency's ability (financial, legal, and
technical) to carry out the pretreatment
program.
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Enforcement
The treatment agency plays the major role
in enforcing the compliance of
pretreatment standards by industrial
users. Where approved pretreatment
programs exist, state and federal
enforcement activities serve in a backup
capacity.
The Clean Water Act, besides granting
enforcement mechanisms and authority to
the EPA and states authorized to issue
NPDES permits, aiso permits citizens to
bring civil suits against the violators of
pretreatment standards. This consideration
must be taken into account when
developing a pretreatment program and
during subsequent public notification.
The main vehicle for enforcing
pretreatment programs is through the
treatment agency's NPDES permit.
Therefore, municipalities should:
• Develop sound pretreatment programs
• Enforce the requirements
• Give credit to industry for pollutant
removal and sludge management.
Failure to enforce a pretreatment program
in accordance with a permit schedule may
preclude a municipality from receiving
future construction grants.
Compliance
The state or the EPA develops compliance
schedules as part of the NPDES permit.
Completion dates for certain activities are
based on construction grant award dates,
pretreatment, and the industrial group to
which the user belongs.
Regulatory limits on the time for
developing a pretreatment program are:
• Approval of the program by the state or
EPA within three years from the
incorporation of a pretreatment compliance
schedule in the municipal permit, or in
accordance with the permit schedule and
no later than July 1, 1983
• Approval of the program by the state or
EPA by July 1, 1983
• Development of certain elements in the
pretreatment program for the Step 2
(design) and Step 3 (construction) grant
applications after December 31, 1980
• Approval by whatever more stringent
time limit is imposed by the agency that
issues the permit.
The treatment agency must develop
procedures to insure compliance with the
pretreatment program.
Summary
A publicly-owned treatment works
should view the development and operation
of a local pretreatment program as a
chance to ensure reliability in operation of
the wastewater treatment facility, and to
provide a consistent and fair approach to
local industry affected by General
Pretreatment Regulations. The treatment
agency should set as its goal the
development of a sound pretreatment
program with a firm commitment to
enforcement.
Both the pretreatment program
requirements and the industrial categorical
standards are recent actions by EPA. In
some areas they are still in the
developmental stages. Changes in both
areas are likely in the future.
The advisory group can help
implement a satisfactory pretreatment
program that controls toxic materials
and other pollutants that are
incompatible with wastewater
treatment processes. Implementation of
this program takes cooperation
between industry and the agency. The
public also must be involved.
The advisory group should evaluate
the interests of the industrial users, the
treatment agency, and the public as
soon as facility planning begins. In this
way the needs of all three groups can
be built into the facility plan.
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Case Study
Industrial Pretreatment Ordinance
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Adapted from "Case History, City of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Program of
Industrial Waste Control" by J. A. Breiner and H. H. Bouma.
Pretreatment of Industrial Waste, Joint Municipal and Industrial
Seminar, U.S. Environmental Protection Agencv, Seminar Handout. 1978.
pp. 453-488.
Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a city of 190,000 persons.
Industry is highly diversified, and includes one of the
largest concentrations of electroplating firms in the
country. The Grand River which runs through the heart of
the city is an important recreational resource for western
Michigan.
an acceptable sampling procedure for toxic wastes. R-5
establishes penalty charges. R-6 assigns responsibility for
the construction, operation, and maintenance of
pretreatment facilities. R-7 controls the disposal of septic
tank wastes. R-8 requires the disposal of all residue
sludges in properly licensed sites.
Industrial Problem
During the late 1950's and 1960's industrial pollution of
the Grand River created severe environmental problems,
including periodic fish kills. As the environmental
movement gained momentum during the mid 1960's,
public attention in Grand Rapids was focused on the
deteriorating state of the Grand River. In January of
1969, the Grand Rapids City Commission enacted the
Comprehensive Water Pollution Control (Sewer Use)
Ordinance, establishing effluent limitations for cyanide,
heavy metals, as well as other provisions. Metal plating
companies lobbied strenuously against any limitations,
arguing that the cost of pretreatment would force them to
relocate elsewhere. The quality of the water and the
environment remained paramount, as the ordinance was
adopted.
Enforcement Program
The effluent limitations stipulated in the Sewer Use
Ordinance and accompanying regulations require
significant changes in industrial waste disposal practices.
At the time of enactment, the city recognized that
compliance would be best achieved through cooperation
between the city and local industry. Each company was
granted a two-year variance to the ordinance. This
allowed them to exceed effluent limitations, provided that
the city felt that satisfactory progress was being made
toward reaching the limitations. An additional six-month
variance was given as a "shake down" period after which
active enforcement began. The extension was granted due
to the slower delivery of pumps, motors, and other
electrical equipment needed to complete the pretreatment
systems in every plant.
Ordinance Provisions
The city ordinance designates the management authority
and legal authority necessary to implement and enforce
sewage regulations. The ordinance subjects all users to the
provisions, including a detailed definition of prohibited
and restricted pollutants. Violations are designated as a
public nuisance subject to penalty. The ordinance also
permits the inspection of the sewer users' premises by
properly authorized municipal employees.
Industrial Use Regulations
The regulations are divided into eight sections. R-l
specifies the inclusion of users in the industrial cost
recovery system in which users are required to pay their
share of construction costs. R-2 provides the authority to
require the construction of a sampling manhole, if needed.
R-3 designates the standard methods that are to be used
for the analysis of effluent. R-4 calls for a grab sample as
Compliance Procedure
Following the two and one-half year period, industries
were subject to penalties for the violation of effluent
limitations. A standard procedure was adopted by the city
to ensure uniform processing of all violations.
Public Involvement
The news media played an important role in the
enforcement program. During the two-year variance, the
industrial progress reports made to the City Commission
were given a great deal of attention by the press.
Following the end of the variance period, the news media
frequently publicized violations, resulting in great
embarrassment to the industries involved. In fact, the
negative publicity was more of a deterrent than were the
monetary fines.
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Surveillance Program
Industrial compliance with effluent limitations is insured
by an effective surveillance program. It is set up as a
full-time operation that is adequately staffed and equipped
to conduct regular and routine effluent sampling in such a
way that proper and reliable data results.
Collection and Disposal of Industrial Sludges
Sizeable quantities of both liquid and solid metallic
sludges were generated once the pretreatment systems
became operable. The creation of industrial sludges
created a local demand for the transportation and disposal
of these wastes. Disposal is under the jurisdiction of the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Little
attention was initially paid to disposal practices due to the
lack of applicable legislation and experience.
Recently, however, with increased knowledge of sludge
disposal, strict legislation was enacted and many sites
were closed. At present, there is no licensed site in or near
Grand Rapids for the disposal of industrial sludges. The
cost for transporting and disposing of sludge has tripled or
quadrupled as a result.
Effects of the Pretreatment Ordinance
Since the adoption of the pretreatment ordinance, there
has been significant reduction in metals found in sewage
influent and effluent.
Metal Concentrations
Before pretreatment
With pretreatment
Percent reduction
Influent
(mg/L)
12-13
2
87
Effluent
(mg/L)
9-10
1
92
It appears that municipal treatment plants are capable of
removing or treating low levels of metals, but efficiency
decreases with increasing influent concentration.
Land application of sludge becomes more feasible in
Grand Rapids as the metal content in sludges continues to
decrease. The agricultural use of sludge could prove
worthwhile both in resource recovery efforts and in
reducing the costs of incineration.
Water Quality Improvement
By 1972 the flow of industrial wastes into the Grand
River was slowed to a mere fraction of its former volume.
In the spring of '72 the river was stocked with trout and
salmon. Development of the fishing industry is only the
beginning, and the future of the Grand River as a
recreational resource is almost unlimited. Additional
parks are being planned for development and many
recreational activities are centered on or near the river.
The public attitude toward the Grand River has been
converted to one of appreciation and respect in just a few
years. The situation continues to improve.
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Selected Resources
Federal Guidelines, State and Local Pretreatment Programs. MCD-43, Vols. I, II, HI. Need More
Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Program T f j_; o
Operations, 1977. 661 pp. InlormatlOIl.'
This document contains the most detailed information available on pretreatment
programs. However, it is being revised in 1980. Volume I describes the program.
Volume II provides information on pollutant removal, pass through, and
interference with the municipal treatment plant. Volume III contains
information on the 24 industries for which categorical standards are being
developed. This document is available from the General Services
Administration, Centralized Mailing List Services, Building 41, Denver Federal
Center, Denver, CO 80225. Be sure to mention the title of the publication and
the MCD number when ordering.
Guidance for NPDES States on Implementation of the General Pretreatment Regulation
(40 CFR, Part 403), 1979.
This document may be procured from the Permits Division (EN-336), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460.
Local Pretreatment Program Requirements and Guidance. Springfield, VA:
Environmental Technology Consultants, Inc., September 1979. 135 pp.
This document serves as the basis for the preparation of this handbook. It
represents the viewpoints of the consultants, and the requirements to be met by
wastewater treatment agencies in developing an approved local pretreatment
program. It is the most up-to-date document on the subject. It contains detailed
information on each of the subjects discussed in the handbook. It can be obtained
from Environmental Technology Consultants, Inc., The Executive Plaza, Suite
502, 6501 Loisdale Court, Springfield, VA 22150.
11
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Glossary
Categorical Standards — effluent standards
established for a particular industrial category.
Direct Discharge — discharge of an industrial
waste other than to a publicly-owned treatment
works.
Effluent — treated or untreated waste
material discharged into the environment.
Incompatible Waste — a waste that will
1) upset a treatment works; 2) pass through a
treatment works and cause a pollution problem;
3) be removed in the treatment works, but
interfere with the disposal of the sludge from
the treatment works.
Industrial Waste Ordinance — a common
instrument of legal authority for enforcing
pretreatment programs.
Influent — the raw wastewater entering a
sewage treatment plant.
Joint Treatment — treatment of both
municipal and industrial wastes in a
publicly-owned treatment works.
Legal Authority — statutes, ordinances,
contracts, or agreements through which a
municipality enforces its pretreatment
program.
Local Pretreatment Program — a procedure
for regulating the discharge of industrial waste
to a publicly-owned treatment works.
NPDES Permit — permit for discharge of a
municipal or industrial waste issued by the
EPA or state regulatory agency.
Pretreatment — treatment of an industrial
waste before discharge to a municipal sewer
system.
Pretreatment Effluent Standards —
concentrations or amounts of toxic chemicals
that may be discharged to publicly-owned
treatment works.
Prohibited Wastes — wastes not allowed to be
discharged to a publicly-owned treatment '
works.
Sanitary Wastewater — refers to wastewater
produced in homes and industry, and separate
from stormwater runoff.
Sedimentation — the settling out of solids in
wastewater by gravity.
Sludge — the concentration of solids removed
from sewage during wastewater treatment.
Toxic Chemical — one of a number of deadly
substances; it appears on a list published by -the
EPA.
201 Planning — deals with the planning,
designing, and construction of local wastewater
treatment facilities.
208 Planning — water quality planning with a
state, regional, and areawide scope.
* GPO : 1980 0 - 326-60U
12
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Working for Clean Water is a
program designed to help advisory
groups improve decision making in
water quality planning. It aims at
helping people focus on essential
issues and questions by providing
trained instructors and materials
suitable for persons with
non-technical backgrounds. These
materials include a citizen
handbook on important principles
and considerations about topics in
water quality planning, an
audiovisual presentation, and an
instructor guide for elaborating
points, providing additional
information, and engaging in
problem-solving exercises.
This program consists of 18
informational units on various
aspects of water quality planning:
• Role of Advisory Groups
• Public Participation
• Nonpoint Source Pollution:
Agriculture, Forestry, and Mining
• Urban Stormwater Runoff
• Groundwater Contamination
• Facility Planning in the
Construction Grants Program
• Municipal Wastewater Processes:
Overview
• Municipal Wastewater Processes:
Details
• Small Systems
• Innovative and Alternative
Technologies
• Industrial Pretreatment
• Land Treatment
• Water Conservation and Reuse
• Multiple Use
• Environmental Assessment
• Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
• Wastewater Facilities Operation
and Management
• Financial Management
The units are not designed to
make technical experts out of
citizens and local officials. Each
unit contains essential facts, key
questions, advice on how to deal
with the issues, and
clearly-written technical
backgrounds. In short, each unit
provides the information that
citizen advisors need to better
fulfill their role.
This program is available through
public participation coordinators at
the regional offices of the United
States Environmental Protection
Agency. D
This information program was
financed with federal funds from
the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency under Cooperative
Agreement No. CT900980 01. The
information program has been
reviewed by the Environmental
Protection Agency and approved
for publication. Approval does not
signify that the contents
necessarily reflect the views and
policies of the Environmental
Protection Agency, nor does the
mention of trade names or
commercial products constitute
endorsement of recommendation
for use.
This project is dedicated to the
memory of Susan A. Cole.
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