Industrial Pretreatment

Federal Water Pollution Control Act

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 initially defined the pretreatment program. Section 307 of the act required the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to develop pretreatment standards designed to prevent the discharge of pollutants from industrial users to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) “which interfere with, pass through, or are otherwise incompatible with such works”. The Act was amended in 1977 to require POTWs to establish a pretreatment program to ensure compliance with the pretreatment standards.

What is Pretreatment?

The term "pretreatment" means the treatment of wastewater by commercial and industrial facilities to remove harmful pollutants before being discharged into the sewer system and the POTW.

Pretreatment Program

The purpose for the City of Garland’s Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) is to:

• Protect the POTWs and the collection system.
• Protect the health and safety of the workers at the POTWs and the collection system
• Protect the receiving waters and the environment
• Prevent non-compliance of the EPA/TPDES permit
• Improve opportunities to recycle and reclaim municipal and industrial wastewaters and sludges

Permitting & Enforcement

To accomplish these purposes, IPP inspects, and when appropriate, issues permits to and monitors industrial dischargers. IPP is also responsible for enforcing the applicable discharge regulations. The IPP’s ability to implement and enforce this program is determined by the City Ordinance, which gives the IPP its legal authority.