Pretreatment

OVERVIEW

Publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) collect wastewater from homes, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities and transport it via a series of pipes, known as a collection system, to the treatment plant.  Here, the POTW removes harmful organisms and other contaminants from the sewage so it can be discharged safely into the receiving stream.  Generally, POTWs are designed to treat domestic sewage only.  However, POTWs also receive wastewater from industrial (non-domestic) users.  The General Pretreatment Regulations establish responsibilities of Federal, State, and local government, industry and the public to implement Pretreatment Standards to control pollutants from the industrial users which may pass through or interfere with POTW treatment processes or which may contaminate sewage sludge.

WHAT CAN I FIND ON THIS WEB SITE?

Click on the following links to obtain additional information related to the pretreatment program:

• Introduction to the National Pretreatment Program (PDF) (91 pp, 1.92MB, About PDF) (EPA-833-B-11-001) - Provides a general introduction to the Pretreatment Program.
• For Final Regulations pertaining to the Pretreatment Program, go to: 40 CFR Part 403 (general pretreatment regulations)
• Pretreatment Standards & Limits
• Prohibited Discharge Standards
• Categorical Pretreatment Standards
• Local Limits
• Analytical Methods
• Local Limits Development Guidance (PDF) (134 pp, 2.27MB, About PDF) and Appendices (PDF) (128 pp, 1.93MB, About PDF)
• Pretreatment Streamlining Rule - Provides information on the pretreatment streamlining rule, including fact sheets and additional resources.
• Pretreatment Training - Provides training courses, meetings, and webcasts to explain the regulatory framework and technical considerations of the program.