“Introduction to Industrial Pretreatment” - An Informative Training Session

Last month, Adam Bonomo, the recently appointed Director of Pretreatment Compliance, conducted a training session on the “Introduction to Industrial Pretreatment.” The objective of the training was to equip our operators with the requisite skills and knowledge to work with systems that have pretreatment programs in place. However, the training was open to anyone interested in the subject matter.

This session was a success, with 14 attendees participating. During the session, Adam provided a comprehensive overview of the various requirements of the different states' programs, as well as a detailed explanation of the rationale behind their implementation. Adam's presentation was thorough and informative. He expounded on the concept of a pretreatment program and elaborated on the pollutant control requirements for non-domestic sources that discharge wastewater to sewer systems, which are connected to wastewater facilities. Adam also provided an in-depth explanation of the content of NPDES permits.

The purpose of the pretreatment program is to prevent the introduction of pollutants into wastewater treatment plants, which would otherwise interfere with the treatment process or prove incompatible with the system. The program also aims to improve opportunities to recycle and reclaim wastewater and sludge, thereby minimizing waste and reducing costs. Furthermore, the program seeks to safeguard wastewater treatment plant workers from exposure to harmful contaminants.

The next training session is scheduled for May 23, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Katie Hill, Director of Training, or Adam Bonomo. The next Pretreatment Training will cover the Industrial Waste Survey (IWS), which is the process of identifying and locating industrial users and characterizing their industrial discharges. This training will be helpful for all facility operators whether they have a pretreatment program or not as many States’ NPDES permits require all permittees to conduct an IWS regularly. The IWS is a useful exercise to identify non-domestic dischargers and is a major building block of all Pretreatment Programs.