Industrial Pretreatment


The purpose of our Cityโ€™s Industrial Pretreatment Program is to protect public health, the environment, and our wastewater infrastructure from harmful pollutants that may be discharged by industrial and commercial facilities. By regulating these discharges, we ensure businesses comply with federal, state, and local environmental standards. Industrial pollutants can disrupt the biological treatment process at the Water Reclamation Center, where microorganisms play a vital role in breaking down organic matter. When these pollutants interfere, they reduce treatment efficiency, potentially causing costly damage and regulatory violations. Our program prevents harmful substances from entering the sanitary sewer system, safeguarding water quality, preserving the integrity of the treatment process, and minimizing risks to both the community and the local ecosystem.


Permitting

Our program issues individual wastewater discharge permits to applicable industrial and commercial facilities that discharge wastewater to the City’s sanitary sewer system, specifying allowable pollutant limits in accordance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations. We maintain an up-to-date inventory of all commercial and industrial users in the City, which helps track compliance, monitor potential pollutant sources, and ensure proper permit coverage. As part of this inventory management, the Wastewater Division will periodically send out an Industrial Waste Survey (IWS) to new and existing commercial and industrial users to confirm whether they will be required to obtain a permit in order to begin or continue discharging to the City’s sanitary sewer system. This allows us to manage and prioritize industries based on their potential environmental impact and ensure they operate within federal, state, and local law.

Monitoring and Sampling

Regular monitoring and sampling are conducted through out our public sanitary sewer system to ensure any potential impacts to the City’s infrastructure do not go unnoticed. Our team also performs scheduled and random sampling of permitted industrial users to confirm they are operating within permit limits. These efforts allow us to meet regulatory requirements and maintain general oversight of our public sanitary sewer system.

Inspections

We perform routine inspections of industrial facilities to assess their pretreatment systems and wastewater management practices. During inspections, we verify that industries are following the proper procedures to treat their wastewater before it enters the public sanitary sewer system, review records for compliance with permit conditions, and inspect handling and disposal methods for hazardous materials. Inspections may also be conducted as follow-up to IWS’s to determine whether a commercial or industrial user will be required to obtain an individual wastewater discharge permit.

Enforcement

When facilities fail to comply with discharge limits or other permit requirements, our program takes corrective actions, which may include issuing notices of violation, imposing fines, or requiring immediate operational changes. In serious cases, we can suspend or revoke discharge permits. Enforcement ensures that all industries remain accountable and helps prevent damage to publicly owned wastewater infrastructure and the environment. Our team works closely with facilities found to be in non-compliance to ensure they are brought back into compliance as quickly as possible.

Data Collection and Reporting

Or program collects, manages, and analyzes discharge data from industrial users, including pollutant concentrations, discharge volumes, and compliance reports. This data is used to assess trends, measure the performance of pretreatment efforts, and report compliance to regulatory agencies. Accurate data management ensures transparency and demonstrates the program’s role in protecting water quality.


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