Do I need a Wastewater Discharge Permit?
All non-residential wastewater dischargers may be required to complete a permit application. The purpose of the permit application is to identify the volume and characteristics of the wastewater to be discharged into the sanitary sewer. The following procedure will be utilized to determine whether or not a user must submit an application:
These questions are to be answered and will help with the review:
- Does the discharger have a manufacturing process that generates wastewater?
- What is/are the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code(s) for the facility?
- Are there chemicals of concern stored on site?
- *Is there treated groundwater or site remediation wastewater generated?
- *Is there more than 25,000 gallons per day of process wastewater generated?
- *Is the proposed discharge subject to categorical pretreatment standards under Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations?
- *Could the proposed discharge adversely affect the Publicly Owner Treatment Works (POTW)?
A "Yes" answer to any above item with a * means the IU is considered a Significant Industrial User (SIU) and will be permitted as such.
The District requires an industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit Application from a Significant Industrial User (SIU) at least 90 days before they wish to dispose of wastewater.
The District will issue industrial wastewater discharge permits to SIUs where pollutants of concern are, or have the potential to be, discharged at levels that could: impact the POTW, impact the environment, or affect worker health and safety.
Industrial users who are considered categorical, but who discharge no process wastewater to the sanitary sewer system will be issued a Non-Discharger Categorical Industrial User Permit (NDCIU),
The District may elect to issue discharge permits to non-Significant Industrial Users under a local control program. Examples of such industries may include, but are not limited to:
- Food processors with less than 25,000 gallons per day process wastewater
- Metal fabricators or machine shops without surface finishing operations
- Concrete products manufacturers and ready-mix batch plants
- Electronic circuit board assembly, wave solder, solder reflow, board washing and testing
- operations without either electro-less or electrolytic plating or chemical etching or milling
- Beverage processors including dairies, breweries and soft drink operations with less than 25,000 gallons per day process wastewater
- Testing laboratories, either analytical or product
- Chemical repackagers, and container recycling activities
- Any discharger required, after review, to implement effective control of the outgoing pH of their discharged wastewater.
The District may also elect to issue permits to those industrial and commercial facilities without the need for monthly reporting or frequent oversight. These permits are classified as Best Management Practice (BMP) permits. BMP permits require less frequent inspection and oversight. Examples of such industries may include, but are not limited to:
- Vehicle and equipment washing and maintenance activities
- Electronic equipment testing (no manufacturing activities)
- Industrial gas repackaging and vessel hydro-testing
- Warehousing operations
- Transfer and recycling operations
- Small-scale food or beverage processors, who, after review, require no pH control of their wastewater discharge.