Pretreatment is the reduction, the elimination, or the alteration of pollutants in wastewater to a less harmful state prior to discharge of the wastewater to a sanitary sewer system. The term "pretreatment" refers to the requirement that non-domestic sources control their wastewater before discharge to meet all applicable pretreatment standards and requirements (federal, state and local).

It is an EPA-mandated program (40 CFR 403) that requires HRSD to regulate industrial and other non-domestic wastewater sources that discharge into HRSD’s wastewater collection system, thereby reducing the amount of pollutants released into the environment from HRSD's treatment plants.

All industrial and commercial users located within the HRSD service area must comply with HRSD's Industrial Wastewater Discharge Regulations. In addition, industrial users that perform processes deemed "Categorical" by the EPA and/or Significant by HRSD, must comply with additional requirements.

If you are discharging anything other than domestic wastewater to the sanitary sewer, an HRSD Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit may be required. If you are unsure or need a permit, Request A Permit Application and HRSD staff will contact you.

If you would like to haul septic, grease control device or port-a-john waste directly to HRSD’s treatment plants, an HRSD Indirect Wastewater Discharge Permit is required. If you are unsure or need a permit, Request A Permit Application and HRSD staff will contact you.

The term Significant Industrial User (SIU) as defined by the EPA means: (1) All industrial users subject to Categorical Pretreatment Standards under 40 CFR 403.6; or (2) Any other industrial user that: discharges an average of 25,000 gallons per day or more of process wastewater, contributes a process waste stream which makes up five (5) percent or more of the average dry weather hydraulic or organic capacity of the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW); or is designated by HRSD on the basis that the industrial user has a reasonable chance for adversely affecting the POTW's operation or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement.

To help prevent mercury, a neurotoxin, from entering wastewater, a new federal rule requires dental practices that insert or remove amalgam fillings to install an amalgam separator to capture waste amalgam. The Virginia Dental Rule Compliance Form, which is designed to be filled in electronically, and other resources to help comply are available at www.deq.virginia.gov/DentalRule.aspx . The Dental Rule was developed by EPA, codified at 40 CFR Part 441, and published in the Federal Register on June 14th, 2017. There were two addendums published June 26th, 2017 and July 5th, 2017 to correct compliance dates in the rule. Additional information on the development of the rule can be found on the EPA site, www.epa.gov/eg/dental-effluent-guidelines.

Click to view a list of HRSD permitted Grease Haulers. Grease control devices smaller than 50 gpm are approved to be cleaned by the Food Service Establishment (FSE). Visit http://hrfog.com/ for more information on proper grease control device maintenance, required cleaning frequencies or to contact your localities Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) representative.

Pretreatment & Pollution Prevention (P3) Division Condensate Policy

Condensate discharge to the sanitary sewer is prohibited, unless approved by HRSD’s P3 Division.  Most condensate is viewed as unpolluted water and per Section 301 of the HRSD Industrial Wastewater Discharge Regulations these waste streams are prohibited.
Condensate from new construction is not allowed to be connected to the sanitary sewer.  If a facility is going through a remodel or rehab, the cost to route or reroute the discharge lines to the storm sewer must be calculated, along with a Professional Engineer (PE) estimate of the discharge volume.  HRSD can opt to allow discharge to the sanitary sewer depending on the volume and cost to route or reroute the condensate lines to the storm sewer.  Approved condensate discharges to the sanitary sewer are billed on the annual wastewater volume.  For remodel or rehab project approval, HRSD requires the following information:

• Physical address of project location
• Cost estimate to route or reroute the condensate discharge to the storm sewer
• Calculation(s) of the condensate discharge per year (must be stamped by a PE)
• HRSD account number(s) associated with the project and/or water meter information (to include serial number)
• Contact information (name, title, address) for who the approval letter will need to be mailed to if approval is given.  At a minimum, HRSD prefers the building owners’ information as they are the ones that will be receiving the annual charges on the wastewater bill.

All air compressor condensate should be routed to the sanitary sewer if an oil sheen is present or suspected to be in the discharge. An oil/water separator must be installed and maintained for this condensate stream.  Condensate that comes into contact, or has a strong potential to come into contact, with food, chemicals or other pollutants, may be routed to the sanitary sewer if the discharge can meet local limitations and the chemicals associated with the condensate is approved by the HRSD P3 Division.

HRSD Pretreatment & Pollution Prevention (P3) Division Construction Dewatering Policy