Pre-Treatment
Clean Water Act
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act was amended in 1977. These amendments are also known as the Clean Water Act (CWA). The overall framework of the National Pretreatment Program is contained in the General Pretreatment Regulations that EPA published in 1977. The General Pretreatment Regulations can be found in 40CFR 403.
The amendments required the local Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) with capacities greater than 5 million gallons per day or those with significant industrial discharges to establish pretreatment programs. In other words, the administration of the Pretreatment Program was delegated from EPA to the local level.
The decision to delegate the Pretreatment program to the local POTWs was based on several factors. First, EPA realized it was having a difficult time implementing the Pretreatment program. Second, POTW officials are familiar with their industrial users. Third, the POTWs are in better position to understand and correct problems within their own treatment systems. Finally, the POTW is the logical level of government to respond to emergencies in the treatment system.
Program
The Pretreatment program for the Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority (ACWWA) is being established to provide protection to the publicly owned treatment works (POTW) and the sewer collection system by controlling the introduction of non-domestic pollutants to the POTW. This program uses the Federal General Pretreatment Regulations (40 CFR 403) to enforce general discharge prohibitions and categorical standards.
How the Program Works
Inspection, sampling, documentation and public education are the basis of ACWWA’s program. Inspection and sampling ensure that pollutants and wastes are being discharged and /or handled by the commercial or industrial user (IU) in compliance with ACWWA’s sewer use ordinances. Documentation gives ACWWA a hard copy of sampling, inspections and any event that may have occurred. Public education offers ACWWA the opportunity to give the public and industry an overview of the pretreatment program, provide assistance in program compliance and answer questions.
Inspections
All permitted industries get inspected. Permitted industries include, but are not limited to; electroplaters, laundries, restaurants, automotive repair shops, photofinishers, carwashes, dry cleaners, radiator shops, etc. Depending on the permit issued, a facility may be inspected up to four times a year.
Facility Classification
All facilities are evaluated by the information provided on the wastewater questionnaire and inspection before being classified. Facilities are classified as significant industrial users (SIU) if they fall under the federal definition of a significant or categorical industry.
Class I: Industrial users are defined as facilities that has no reasonable potential for adversely affecting the POTW operation or for violating any pretreatment standard.
Class II: Industrial users are defined as facilities that have materials or wastes that may impact ACWWA facilities in a negative manor. These wastes include, but are not limited to; hazardous wastes and materials, pH, and other non-conventional pollutants.
Class III: All industrial user subject to Categorical Pretreatment standards and industrial users who’s discharge may have an adverse effect on the POTW
