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Pretreatment Regulations and
Useful links for industrial wastewater dischargers

KCIW and Pretreatment Regulations | Pretreatment regulations links | Resources for industrial dischargers links | Agencies and Organizations links

KCIW and Pretreatment Regulations:

The King County Industrial Waste Program reviews proposed local, state and federal regulations that may affect King County’s ordinances pertaining to the pretreatment of industrial wastewater and the program’s regulated industrial waste dischargers.

Regulations that KCIW is reviewing | Past regulatory comment by KCIW

Regulations that KCIW is reviewing:

EPA Streamlining Rule amendments and proposed King County Code and Public Rule changes

New streamlining rule amendments: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Pretreatment Streamlining Final Rule (external link) became effective in 2005, updating the National Pretreatment Program. The purpose of the new streamlining rule is to reduce the burden of and provide flexibility in technical and administrative requirements for industrial users and publicly owned treatment works while continuing to protect the environment.

Proposed changes to King County Code and Public Rules:
As a result of the rule amendments, KCIW is proposing changes to both King County Code –Title 28–and Public Rules that govern the discharge of industrial waste into the wastewater treatment system. KCIW is also proposing several changes to clarify or enhance King County’s existing regulations and to acknowledge other changes in federal requirements.

Announcement about public comment period and public hearings: Notice of Intent to Adopt Public Rules and Revise King County Code 28.84.060

KCIW is in the process of adopting Public Rules pertaining to:

Industrial Waste Local Discharge Limits (Draft proposed public rule text)

The Industrial Waste Enforcement Response Plan (Draft proposed public rule text)

Discharging Hauled Waste at a King County POTW Treatment Plant Draft (Draft proposed public rule text)

The King County Industrial Waste Program (KCIW) will also accept comments on the draft revisions to King County Code 28.84.060 (PDF 578KB) prior to a formal process through the Metropolitan King County Council in 2009. There will be additional opportunities for comment and review during the subsequent public comment process.

Additional resources:

Read a special insert to our December 2005 - January 2006 newsletter about the amendment(PDF File, 49KB).

KCIW’s Internet page Sending commercial septage to King County with fact sheet and resource links.

For more information contact KCIW Compliance Investigator Jim Sifford at 206-263-3008 or TTY:711 or e-mail: Jim Sifford.

Next steps:

The rules will be adopted in approximately mid-2008.

Following the Public Rules change process, and planned revisions by King County to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for the county’s West Point and South treatment plants, KCIW will submit changes to King County Code – Title 28 for the Metropolitan King County Council adoption process which includes public comment.

EPA Preliminary 2008 Effluent Guidelines
EPA establishes national, technology-based regulations known as effluent guidelines and pretreatment standards to reduce pollutant discharges from categories of industry discharging directly to waters of the United States or discharging indirectly through Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires EPA to annually review these effluent guidelines and pretreatment standards.
Every two years the CWA requires EPA to identify any new or existing industrial categories selected for effluent guidelines rulemaking and to publish a plan to implement these after public notice and comment.
In December 2007 KCIW reviewed the Preliminary 2008 Effluent Guidelines Program Plan for the health services sector: dental offices and pharmaceuticals.
Dental mercury: KCIW’s comments emphasized the effectiveness of its non-permit approach in reducing mercury loading in the county’s biosolids. The program noted that, in its experience a voluntary program had not worked, whereas mandatory controls with follow-up inspections did. Based on KCIW’s experience the program argued that the additional resources that would be required to implement categorical standards were not justified.
Unused pharmaceuticals: KCIW pointed out that the Washington State Department of Ecology recently developed an Interim Enforcement Policy for Pharmaceutical Waste and that KCIW has advised local hospitals to employ it. KCIW’s conclusion is that the methods being used to control the disposal of unused pharmaceuticals to the sewer can be as effective as, or even more effective than the use of categorical standards.

Past regulatory comment by KCIW

2005 - KCIW commented on the EPA’s Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program plan for 2006, stating its support for EPA’s findings that four of the industrial sectors being considered for categorical standards ( food service; industrial laundries; photo processing, and printing and publishing) do not have pass-through potential. (“Pass-though” means that any pollutants are present in the wastewater could be adequately treated by the treatment plants.)

2002 - KCIW commented on proposed effluent limits and guidelines for the Metal Products and Machinery Point Source Category, requesting that the EPA either revise or eliminate its proposed regulations for the category (40 CFR 438). KCIW presented data showing that the proposed rule would not be beneficial to the environment and that enforcement would result in higher costs for industry and sewage agencies. The resulting EPA rule, issued in 2003, limited its scope to direct dischargers of oily wastewater and did not affect any dischargers within King County’s sewage system.

Pretreatment regulations links:

Federal pretreatment regulations--Title 40 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) (external link)

King County Code--See Title 28; portions of Sections 28.81, 28.82, and 28.84 establish the fees, rules, and regulations for the disposal of industrial waste into the sewerage system.

King County Public Rules --See Classification PUT 8 (Surface Water Management and Wastewater Treatment) for Public Rules relating to such subjects as the Industrial Waste Enforcement Response Plan, local discharge limits, construction dewatering, discharge of contaminated groundwater to the sewer, and discharge of cooling water to the sewer.

Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) (external link)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Industrial Water Pollution Controls: Effluent Guidelines (external link)

To track recent and pending federal, state and local regulations of note:

Federal Register (external link) -- Track any changes in federal regulations with this official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents. Most environmental regulations will be in the EPA section.

Washington State Register (external link) The Washington State Register is a biweekly publication which includes notices of proposed rules, emergency and permanently adopted rules, public meetings, requests for public input, notices of rules review, executive orders of the governor, court rules, summary of attorney general opinions.

Resources for industrial dischargers:

The King County Office of Business Relations and Economic Development's Environmental Resources for Business guide. A comprehensive list of regulatory agencies, information and service providers to facilitate environmental compliance and cleanup and to promote clean technologies and production practices.

The King County/City of Seattle Brownfields Program provides assistance to qualified private businesses and landowners, nonprofit organizations and municipalities within King County to assess and clean up contaminated sites, or brownfields.

Laboratory Waste Management Guide (212KB) prepared by the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, Washington.

The National Compliance Assistance Centers(external link) --The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has sponsored partnerships with industry, academic institutions, environmental groups, and other agencies to launch sector-specific Compliance Assistance Centers (Centers). Each Center addresses real world issues in language that speaks to the regulated entities. Through Internet Web sites, telephone assistance lines, fax-back systems, and e-mail discussion groups, the Centers are helping businesses, local governments, and federal facilities understand federal environmental requirements and save money through pollution prevention techniques.

The NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (NPG)(external link) is intended as a source of general industrial hygiene information on several hundred chemicals/classes for workers, employers, and occupational health professionals. The NPG does not contain an analysis of all pertinent data, rather it presents key information and data in abbreviated or tabular form for chemicals or substance groupings (e.g. cyanides, fluorides, manganese compounds) that are found in the work environment. The information found in the NPG should help users recognize and control occupational chemical hazards.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness.

Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC) (external link) is a non-profit organization that is one of the Northwest’s leading sources of pollution prevention (P2) information.

"King County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Manual"

View the Washington State Department of Ecology's publications including the newsletter Shoptalk, A Publication for Dangerous Waste Generators.(external link)

Washington State Certified Labs (external link)

The Washington State Department of Ecology TREE (Technical Resources for Engineering Efficiency) Team (external link) -- is made up of Ecology engineers and scientists who use their expertise in industrial processes and pollution prevention to improve a facility's efficiency. The team uses research, process modeling and engineering analysis to find ways to reduce waste while saving money. The TREE team provides FREE, non-regulatory, and non-binding technical assistance for small to mid-size private businesses.

Agency and organizations Links:

King County Environmental Laboratory provides quality field, laboratory, information technology services, and advisory services in support of King County and other publicly-sponsored programs that protect and enhance water quality.

King County Wastewater Treatment Division -- --The Industrial Waste Program is a part of this division. Our mission is to protect public health and the environment by conveying and treating the region's wastewater. Since 1958 we have helped prevent water pollution and improve water quality while recycling natural resources. King County provides wastewater treatment to 17 cities, 16 sewer districts and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe in the central Puget Sound region. The system serves about 1.4 million people, including most urban areas of King County and parts of south Snohomish County and north Pierce County.

Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County (external link) is a regional program of local governments working together to protect public health and environmental quality by helping citizens, businesses and government reduce the threat posed by the use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials.

Local sewer agencies-- --Links to sewer agencies in King County's wastewater service area; the King County Council's Regional Water Quality Committee and information about the Metropolitan Water Pollution Abatement Advisory Committee (MWPAAC).

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) (external link) (formerly AMSA) represents the interests of the country's wastewater treatment agencies. NACWA maintains a key role in the development of environmental legislation, and works closely with federal regulatory agencies in the implementation of environmental programs.

Network for Business Innovation & Sustainability NW (NBIS) (external link) NBIS is a unique organization designed to help businesses meet the sustainability challenge and prepare for success in the changing global marketplace. NBIS offers a multidisciplinary response that draws upon the technical assistance provided by government and non-profit organizations, the expertise and student talent from member academic institutions, and the collaborative resources of individuals and businesses charting the path to sustainability.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (external link) is the federal agency created in 1970 to permit coordinated and effective governmental action, for protection of the environment by the systematic abatement and control of pollution, through integration of research monitoring, standard setting, and enforcement activities.

Washington State Department of Ecology (external link)
-- -- State of Washington's principal environmental management agency.

(Page revised 9/15/08. For further information, e-mail Doug Hilderbrand.)

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