Industrial and Wastewater Discharges

Summary

The 1977 amendments to the Clean Water Act (CWA) shifted emphasis from controlling conventional pollutants to controlling toxic discharges. This era of toxic pollution control is referred to as the second round of permitting. In addition to treatment technology-based standards, the Clean Water Act also requires that minimum receiving water quality standards be achieved. Water quality standards are designed to not only protect for aquatic life ("fishable") and recreation ("swimmable"), but also for all other uses of the receiving waters, including agriculture, public and industrial water supply, and navigation. These requirements were amended again on February 4, 1987 with the Water Quality Act (WQA). These amendments outlined a strategy to accomplish the goal of meeting water quality standards set by the individual States and required all States to identify waters that were not expected to meet water quality standards after technology-based controls on point sources have been imposed. The State must then prepare an individual control strategy to reduce toxics from point and nonpoint sources in order to meet the water quality standards. Among other measures, these plans were expected to address control of pollutants beyond technology-based levels.

cleanWATER professional staff can provide a full spectrum of services to assist in compliance with the general provisions and specific requirements of your NPDES waste water discharge permit.

Service Options

Permitting

Whether you discharge wastewaters to a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) or discharge directly to the surface waters you may need to obtain a permit or certificate of coverage under a general permit prior to discharging. cleanWATER staff have successfully completed permit applications and/or request for certificate of coverage required by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality-Water Bureau, City of Detroit Wastewater Treatment Plant, YUCCA, and other municipal wastewater treatment plants throughout the region. These permit submissions and requirements vary widely depending on the receiving facility or waterbody. cleanWATER professional staff can assist in determining the agency or department in which to submit an application, conduct required pre-discharge sampling and analysis, and identify any pre-treatment requirements that may apply to the specific type and quantity of discharge.

Monitoring

Many NPDES discharge authorizations require periodic monitoring and testing for permit compliance. cleanWATER staff is trained and experienced in the protocols and techniques associated with periodic sampling, monitoring, and analytical requirements. Monitoring program requirements typically include provisions to ensure that the permitted discharges are compatible with the POTW systems and restrict solid or viscous pollutants in amounts that would obstruct flow in the collection system and treatment plant, resulting in interference with operations; test for any pollutants, including oxygen demanding pollutants released in a discharge at a flow rate and/or concentration which would cause interfence; monitor for pollutants which result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes in a quantity that may cause acute worker health and safety problems; and test for petroleum oils, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin in amounts that will cause pass through or interference with the treatment system.

Reporting

Revised administrative rules (R 299.9001 through 299.9008) governing Michigan's Annual Wastewater Reporting (AWR) program went into effect July 28, 2000. The new rules are the result of a thorough review and updating of the AWR program. Companies who are required to file wastewater reports should begin compiling data on January 1, 2001 for submission of their first report on August 1, 2002.

Part 31, Section 3111 requires that a report be filed by every person doing business within this state who either discharges wastewater to the waters of the state or to a sewer system. The report includes the quantities of critical materials used in and incidental to the businesses manufacturing processes, including by-products and waste products (same as existing paragraph). Copies of the revised AWR report form (standard and abbreviated) and instructions on how to fill out the report forms are available. A fact sheet has also been developed by the MDEQ which serves as a useful guide in answering pertinent questions about the AWR program.

cleanWATER professional staff can assist in gathering statistical data and preparation of required reports specific to your permit or certificate of coverage (COC). These requirements vary widely depending on the receiving facility or waterbody.