Pretreatment Policy

Keep our waters clean by safely disposing of prescription and other medications.

 PRETREATMENT POLICY 

 On May 9, 2012, the TRRWA adopted a Discharge Pretreatment Policy. This policy sets forth uniform requirements for use of the Three Rivers Regional Wastewater Authority Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) and enables the TRRWA to comply with all applicable state and federal wastewater laws, including the Clean Water Act (33 United States Code, Section 1251 et seq.) and the General Pretreatment Regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 403). The objectives of this Policy are: 

1.  To protect the POTW from potential harm by establishing clear standards and requirements for pretreatment of non-domestic waste. Harm to be prevented includes: interfering with the operations or maintenance of, reducing the expected life of, or otherwise harming, the collection system; causing pollutants to pass through the POTW without adequate treatment, or otherwise harming the receiving environment; or causing the POTW to respond to a discharge based on a real or perceived threat; 

2.  To protect POTW staff and/or collection systems staff who may be affected by wastewater and sludge in the course of their employment, and to protect the general public; 

3.  To promote reuse and recycling of industrial wastewater by Industrial Users; 

4.  To protect high-quality POTW end products for beneficial use, such as reclaimed water and biosolids; 

5.  To provide for user fees for the equitable distribution of the cost of operation, maintenance, and improvement of the POTW; and 

6.  To enable the TRRWA to comply with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit, sludge use and disposal requirements, and any other federal, state, or local laws to which the POTW is subject. 

This Policy applies to all Users of the POTW. The Policy authorizes the issuance of Wastewater Discharge Permits; provides for monitoring, compliance, and enforcement activities; establishes administrative review procedures; requires User reporting; and provides for the setting of fees for the equitable distribution of costs resulting from the program established herein. 

This policy was adopted by reference or otherwise fully incorporated into the laws and regulations applicable to the City of Longview, City of Kelso, and Cowlitz County, and in policy resolution form by the Beacon Hill Water & Sewer District.