As communities expand wastewater treatment capacity, regulatory requirements can become as complex as the project design/engineering itself. Among the most nuanced requirements is anti-degradation, also known as non-degradation, a policy rooted in the Clean Water Act (CWA) that is increasingly relevant for growing systems. While technology-based effluent limits (TBELs) such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) Read More
Tag: wastewater
Wastewater Regulatory Changes Planned in Support of Energy Industry
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced plans to modernize the effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) on oil and gas extraction wastewater discharges to lower energy costs while supporting environmentally sustainable water reuse. The regulatory review will evaluate modern technologies and management strategies to provide flexibility for produced water to be treated for beneficial Read More
Holiday FOG Alert – Clogged Pipes Ahead
Tis the season…. for clogged drains? This time of year means big trouble for wastewater utilities when residents pour fat, oil, and grease (also known as FOG) down the drain where it can harden and clog pipes. The clogs can be expensive to address, but they are easy to prevent. “The best way to dispose Read More
Novel Approach to Address Effluent Mercury Regulatory Limit
A novel approach to addressing a new effluent mercury regulatory limit will help a northern Minnesota town’s wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) remain in compliance under its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NDPES) permit. The City of Ely hired the team of AE2S and JPJ Engineering in 2017, to develop a wastewater facility plan to address Read More
USEPA Announces New Wastewater Regulations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has released Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (Preliminary Plan 15), which identifies opportunities to better protect public health and the environment through the regulation of wastewater pollution. Preliminary Plan 15 includes three new rulemakings to reduce contaminants including PFAS and nutrients from key industries. The USEPA will initiate the three new rulemakings after concluding several Read More
USEPA Announces Interim Strategy to Address PFAS Through Wastewater Permits
Aggressively addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment continues to be an active and ongoing priority for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The USEPA has issued a memorandum detailing an interim National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting strategy for addressing PFAS in USEPA-issued wastewater permits. In addition, USEPA released information on Read More