Industrial Pretreatment Programs (IPP)

stop pollutants at their source

Industrial Pretreatment Programs (IPP) prevent the introduction of pollutants into a Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs), such as sewage system or treatment plant from industrial and commercial users connected to the system. Your wastewater treatment plant is designed to treat and safely discharge household human waste and biodegradable commercial/industrial waste, not necessarily the specific pollutants or high concentrations that Industrial users connected to your collection system can discharge as a byproduct of their processes. An IPP stops them at their source, protecting your plant from treatment interference and pollutant pass-through, while keeping your people and system out of danger.

Unregulated industrial pollutants have real costs and impacts for your plant, your people, and the planet.

• If pollutants end up in your effluent and/or residual biosolids, violations and higher disposal costs are incurred, and those pollutants end up on our lands and in our waterways.
• Gases and vapors from volatile pollutants can accumulate and lead to explosions or exposures, neither of which are good for people or equipment.
• Pollutants can corrode collection and treatment components, leading to premature replacement and capital costs.

All industrial dischargers are required to prevent the release of pollutants into a wastewater treatment stream that can cause treatment interference or pass-through pollution. It is also the responsibility of the POTW to mitigate and control industrial discharges that have the potential to cause interference, upset, and harm. It’s important to know when an IPP is required and how to implement to ensure the integrity of a community’s sanitary sewer system.

mandated vs non-mandated IPP programs

All wastewater treatment plants designed for flows over 5mgd, as well as smaller POTWs, with significant industrial discharges as deemed by the Approval Authority (State or EPA), must establish local mandated industrial pretreatment programs. POTWs with chronic NPDES violations due to non-domestic discharges need them too.

But, many utilities have initiated their own voluntary or non-mandated industrial pretreatment programs as a proactive step to better manage their wastewater treatment systems, comply with wastewater limits, ensure collection system safety, and reduce treatment costs.

Since annual Chapter 94 reporting requirements include pretreatment initiatives regardless of whether a program is mandated or non-mandated, you may already have the bulk of IPP information collected. We can help you fill in the gaps and get it implemented.

Industrial Pretreatment Program Services:

Survey & inspection of industrial/commercial dischargers Sampling & reporting of industrial/commercial dischargers Industrial pretreatment program education and training programs Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and Best Management Practices (BMP’s) Establishing local limits to develop technically based enforceable limits Industrial Pretreatment Ordinance Development Enforcement Response Plan Development Industrial User Permits & Fees Development Related Program Development including Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) and High Strength/Surcharge Programs Completion of Required Regulatory Annual Pretreatment Reports Intermunicipal Agreement Development