Definitions All Grades Flashcards

Question

PSES

Answer 1

Pretreatment Standards for Existing Sources

Answer 2

Pretreatment Standards for New Sources

Answer 3

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Answer 4

Standard Industrial Classification

Answer 5

Significant Industrial User (SIU) [40 CFR 403.3(v)] (1) All users subject to categorical pretreatment standards under 40 CFR 403.6 and 40 CFR chapter I, subchapter N, except those designated as NSCIUs (see definition above); and (2) any other IU that discharges an average of 25,000 gpd or more of process wastewater to the POTW (excluding sanitary, noncontact cooling, and boiler blowdown wastewater); contributes a process wastestream that makes up 5 percent or more of the average dry-weather hydraulic or organic capacity of the POTW treatment plant; or is designated as such by the POTW on the basis that the IU has a reasonable potential for adversely affecting the POTW’s operation or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement [in accordance with 40 CFR 403.8(f)(6)].

Answer 6

Significant Noncompliance

Answer 7

Sewer Use Ordinance (SUO) A legal mechanism implemented by a local government entity that establishes requirements for the discharge of pollutants into a POTW.

Answer 8

Technical Review Criteria

Answer 9

Total Suspended Solids

Answer 10

Total Toxic Organics

Answer 11

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act (CWA), as amended, Title 33 of the United States Code (U.S.C.), sections 1251 et seq.

Answer 12

The estimated maximum loading of a pollutant that can be received at a POTW’s headworks and not cause a POTW to violate a particular treatment plant or environmental criterion. AHLs are developed to prevent interference or pass through.

Answer 13

The director in an NPDES Authorized State with an approved state pretreatment program, or the appropriate EPA regional administrator in a non-NPDES Authorized State or NPDES state without an approved state pretreatment program.

Answer 14

A program administered by a POTW that meets the criteria established in 40 CFR Part 403 and that has been approved by a regional administrator or state director.

Answer 15

The discharge of water with high concentrations of accumulated solids from boilers to prevent plugging of the boiler tubes or steam lines. In cooling towers, blowdown is discharged to reduce the concentration of dissolved salts in the recirculating cooling water.

Answer 16

The intentional diversion of wastestreams from any portion of an industrial user’s treatment facility.

Answer 17

Standards specifying the quantity, concentration, or pollutant properties of pollutants that may be discharged to POTWs. EPA promulgates pretreatment standards for specific industry categories in accordance with CWA section 307. These standards are codified in 40 CFR chapter I, subchapter N, Parts 405–471. https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=2098ba12dd8a8bbfbdade19854bf94c4&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40CIsubchapN.tpl

Answer 18

Procedure for calculating alternative discharge limits at industrial facilities where a wastestream regulated by a categorical pretreatment standard is combined before treatment with wastestreams other than those subject to the standard.

Answer 19

A schedule of remedial measures included in a permit or an enforcement order, including a sequence of requirements (for example, actions, operations, or milestone events) that lead to compliance with the CWA and regulations.

Answer 20

A series of water samples taken over a given period of time and weighted by flow rate.

Answer 21

A limit based on the relative strength of a pollutant in a wastestream, usually expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/L).

Answer 22

A discharge that occurs without interruption during the operating hours of a facility, except for infrequent shutdowns for maintenance, process changes, or similar activities.

Answer 23

The POTW, in the case of a POTW with an approved pretreatment program, or the Approval Authority, in the case of a POTW without an approved pretreatment program.

Answer 24

Pollutants typical of municipal sewage, and for which municipal secondary treatment plants are typically designed. EPA has, pursuant to section 304(a) of the CWA, identified BOD5, total suspended solids (TSS), fecal coliform bacteria, oil and grease, and pH as conventional pollutants.

Answer 25

The maximum allowable discharge of pollutants during a 24-hour period. Where daily maximum limitations are expressed in units of mass, the daily discharge is the total mass discharged over the course of the day. Where daily maximum limitations are expressed in terms of a concentration, the daily discharge is the arithmetic average measurement of the pollutant concentration derived from all measurements taken that day.

Answer 26

The minimum concentration of an analyte (substance) that can be measured and reported with 99 percent confidence that the analyte concentration is greater than zero as determined by the procedure set forth in 40 CFR Part 136, appendix B.

Answer 27

A point source that discharges a pollutant(s) to waters of the United States, such as streams, lakes, or oceans. These sources are subject to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program regulations. Municipal and industrial facilities that introduce pollution through a defined conveyance or system such as outlet pipes are direct dischargers.

Answer 28

One of the key components of an approved POTW pretreatment program; includes step-by-step enforcement procedures developed and followed by POTW personnel to identify, document, and respond to violations by IUs.

Answer 29

Any source of discharge, the construction or operation of which commenced before the publication by EPA of proposed categorical pretreatment standards that will be applicable to such source if the standard is thereafter promulgated in accordance with CWA section 307.

Answer 30

A sample consisting of a series of aliquots (equal portions of the sample) in which each aliquot is collected after the passage of a defined volume of discharge.

Answer 31

Prohibitions that apply to each IU introducing pollutants into a POTW whether or not the IU is subject to other national pretreatment standards or any national, state, or local pretreatment requirements:  No IU may introduce into a POTW any pollutant(s) that cause pass through or interference.  An IU may have an affirmative defense in any action brought against it alleging a violation of the general or specific prohibitions where the IU can demonstrate that: – It did not know or have reason to know that its discharge, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources, would cause pass through or interference; and – A local limit designed to prevent pass through or interference (or both) was developed for each pollutant in the IU's discharge that caused pass through or interference, and the IU was in compliance with each such local limit directly before and during the pass through or interference; or – If a local limit designed to prevent pass through or interference or both has not been developed for the pollutant(s) that caused the pass through or interference, the IU's discharge directly before and during the pass through or interference did not change substantially in nature or constituents from the IU's prior discharge activity when the POTW was regularly in compliance with the POTW's NPDES permit requirements and, in the case of interference, applicable requirements for sewage sludge use or disposal.

Answer 32

A sample that is taken from a wastestream on a one-time basis with no regard to the flow of the wastestream. A single grab sample should be taken over a period not to exceed 15 minutes.

Answer 33

The point at which wastewater enters a wastewater treatment plant. The headworks may consist of bar screens, comminuters, a wet well, or pumps.

Answer 34

The introduction of pollutants into a POTW from any nondomestic source regulated under CWA section 307(b), (c), or (d).

Answer 35

A source of indirect discharge.

Answer 36

A discharge that, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources, both (1) inhibits or disrupts the POTW, its treatment processes or operations, or its sludge processes, use, or disposal; and (2) therefore is a cause of a violation of any requirement of the POTW's NPDES permit (including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation) or of the prevention of sewage sludge use or disposal in compliance with ... [applicable] statutory provisions and regulations or permits issued thereunder (or more stringent state or local regulations).

Answer 37

Specific discharge limits developed and enforced by POTWs upon industrial or commercial facilities (IUs) to implement the general and specific discharge prohibitions listed in 40 CFR 403.5(a)(1) and (b).

Answer 38

National pretreatment standard or pretreatment standard or standard [40 CFR 403.3(l)] Any regulation containing pollutant discharge limits promulgated by EPA in accordance with CWA section 307(b) and (c) that applies to IUs. This term includes prohibitive discharge limits established pursuant to 40 CFR 403.5.

Answer 39

Any building, structure, facility or installation from which there is or could be a discharge of pollutants, the construction of which began after the publication of proposed pretreatment standards under CWA section 307(c) that will be applicable to such source if such standards are thereafter promulgated in accordance with that section provided that any of the following are true:  The building, structure, facility or installation is constructed at a site at which no other discharge source is located.  The building, structure, facility, or installation totally replaces the process or production equipment that causes the discharge of pollutants at an existing source.  The production or wastewater generating processes of the building, structure, facility, or installation are substantially independent of an existing source at the same site. In determining whether these are substantially independent, factors such as the extent to which the new facility is integrated with the existing plant, and the extent to which the new facility is engaged in the same general type of activity as the existing source should be considered.  Construction on a site at which an existing source is located results in a modification rather than a new source if the construction does not create a new building, structure, facility, or installation meeting the criteria of paragraphs (m)(1)(ii), or (m)(1)(iii) of this section but otherwise alters, replaces, or adds to existing process or production equipment.  Construction of a new source, as defined under this paragraph, has commenced if the owner or operator has begun, or caused to begin as part of a continuous onsite construction program:  Any placement, assembly, or installation of facilities or equipment; or  Significant site preparation work including clearing, excavation, or removal of existing buildings, structures, or facilities that is necessary for the placement, assembly, or installation of new source facilities or equipment; or  Entered into a binding contractual obligation for the purchase of facilities or equipment that are intended to be used in its operation within a reasonable time. Options to purchase or contracts that can be terminated or modified without substantial loss, and contracts for feasibility, engineering, and design studies do not constitute a contractual obligation under this paragraph.

Answer 40

Any pollutant that is neither a toxic pollutant nor a conventional pollutant (e.g., manganese, ammonia).

Answer 41

Water used for cooling that does not come into direct contact with any raw material, intermediate product, waste product, or finished product. The only pollutant contributed from the discharge is heat.

Answer 42

An IU subject to categorical pretreatment standards under 40 CFR 403.6 and 40 CFR chapter I, subchapter N, that the POTW has determined is exempt from the definition of SIU on a finding that the IU never discharges more than 100 gpd of total categorical wastewater (excluding sanitary, noncontact cooling and boiler blowdown wastewater, unless specifically included in the pretreatment standard). The IU must also meet the following conditions:  The IU, before the POTW’s finding, has consistently complied with all applicable categorical pretreatment standards and requirements.  The IU annually submits the certification statement required in 40 CFR 403.12(q) together with any additional information necessary to support the certification statement.  The IU never discharges any untreated concentrated wastewater.

Answer 43

A discharge that exits the POTW into waters of the United States in quantities or concentrations that, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources, is a cause of a violation of any requirement of the POTW's NPDES permit (including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation).

Answer 44

A report on compliance status submitted by CIUs and significant non-CIUs to the POTW at least semiannually (once every 6 months). For middle-tier categorical industrial users, the POTW may reduce the requirement to report to no less frequently than once a year, unless required more frequently in the pretreatment standard or by the Approval Authority. A facility determined to be an NSCIU must annually submit a certification statement in addition to any other alternative report required by the POTW.

Answer 45

Any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance, including any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fixture, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding operation, landfill leachate collection system, vessel or other floating craft from which pollutants are or could be discharged.

Answer 46

Dredged spoil; solid waste; incinerator residue; filter backwash; sewage; garbage; sewage sludge; munitions; chemical wastes; biological materials; radioactive materials (except those regulated under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended [42 U.S.C. section 2011 et seq.]); heat; wrecked or discarded equipment; rock; sand; cellar dirt; and industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste discharged into water.

Answer 47

The reduction of the amount of pollutants, the elimination of pollutants, or the alteration of the nature of pollutant properties in wastewater before or in lieu of discharging, or otherwise introducing, such pollutants into a POTW.

Answer 48

Any substantive or procedural requirement related to pretreatment, other than a national pretreatment standard, imposed on an IU.

Answer 49

Categorical standards and requirements applicable to industrial sources that began construction before the publication of the proposed pretreatment standards for that industrial category (see individual standards at 40 CFR Parts 405–471) or on a date specifically provided in promulgation of the pretreatment standard.

Answer 50

Categorical standards and requirements applicable to industrial sources that began construction after the publication of the proposed pretreatment standards for that industrial category (see individual standards at 40 CFR Parts 405–471) or on a date specifically provided in promulgation of the pretreatment standard.

Answer 51

Any water that, during manufacturing or processing, comes into contact with or results from the production or use of any raw material, intermediate product, finished product, byproduct, or waste product.

Answer 52

Variance for an IU from the otherwise applicable categorical pretreatment standard that reflects the POTW’s removal of that pollutant.

Answer 53

A sample from a wastestream that is as nearly identical as possible in composition to that in the larger volume of wastewater being discharged and is typical of the discharge from the facility on a normal operating day.

Answer 54

Untreated or partially treated sewage overflows from a sanitary sewer collection system.

Answer 55

Sampling and analyses performed by a facility to measure compliance with a permit or other regulatory requirements.

Answer 56

IU violations that meet one or more of the following criteria:  Chronic violations of wastewater discharge limits, defined here as those in which 66 percent or more of all the measurements for each pollutant parameter taken during a 6-month period exceed (by any magnitude) a numeric pretreatment standard or requirement, including instantaneous limits, as defined by 40 CFR 403.3(l)  Technical Review Criteria (TRC) violations, defined here as those in which 33 percent or more of all the measurements for each pollutant parameter taken during a 6-month period equal or exceed the product of the numeric pretreatment standard or requirement including instantaneous limits, as defined by 40 CFR 403.3(l) multiplied by the applicable TRC (TRC = 1.4 for BOD, TSS, fats, oil, and grease and 1.2 for all other pollutants except pH)  Any other violation of a pretreatment standard or requirement as defined by 40 CFR 403.3(l) (daily maximum, long-term average, instantaneous limit, or narrative standard) that the POTW determines has caused, alone or in combination with other dischargers, interference or pass through (including endangering the health of POTW personnel or the general public)  Any discharge of a pollutant that has caused imminent endangerment to human health, welfare, or to the environment or has resulted in the POTW’s exercise of its emergency authority under paragraph (f)(1)(vi)(B) of 40 CFR 403.8 to halt or prevent such a discharge  Failure to meet, within 90 days after the schedule date, a compliance schedule milestone contained in a local control mechanism or enforcement order for starting construction, completing construction, or attaining final compliance  Failure to provide, within 45 days2 after the due date, required reports such as baseline monitoring reports, 90-day compliance reports, periodic self-monitoring reports, and reports on compliance with compliance schedules  Failure to accurately report noncompliance  Any other violation or group of violations, which can include a violation of best management practices, that the POTW determines will adversely affect the operation or implementation of the local pretreatment program.

Answer 57

Any discharge of a nonroutine, episodic nature, including an accidental spill or a noncustomary batch discharge that has a reasonable potential to cause interference or pass through, or in any other way violate the POTW’s regulations, local limits, or permit conditions.

Answer 58

Prohibitions that apply to each IU introducing pollutants into a POTW regardless of whether the IU is subject to other national pretreatment standards or any national, state, or local pretreatment requirements. The following pollutants must not be introduced into a POTW:  Pollutants that create a fire or explosion hazard in the POTW, including wastestreams with a closed cup flashpoint of less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or 60 degrees Celcius (°C) using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21  Pollutants that will cause corrosive structural damage to the POTW, but in no case discharges with pH lower than 5.0, unless the POTW is specifically designed to accommodate such discharges  Solid or viscous pollutants in amounts that will cause obstruction to the flow in the POTW resulting in interference  Any pollutant, including oxygen-demanding pollutants (BOD and the like) released in a discharge at a flow rate or concentration that will cause interference with the POTW  Heat in amounts that will inhibit biological activity in the POTW resulting in interference, but in no case heat in such quantities that the temperature at the POTW treatment plant exceeds 104 °F (40 °C) unless the Approval Authority, at the POTW’s request, approves alternative temperature limits  Petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin in amounts that will cause interference or pass through  Pollutants that result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes within the POTW in a quantity that could cause acute worker health and safety problems  Any trucked or hauled pollutants, except at discharge points designated by the POTW.

Answer 59

Rainwater, snowmelt, and surface runoff and drainage.

Answer 60

A sample consisting of a series of aliquots collected after the passage of a definite period, regardless of the volume or variability of the rate of flow during that period.

Answer 61

Pollutant listed by the EPA Administrator under CWA section 307(a). The list of the current 126 toxic pollutants can be found at http://water.epa.gov/scitech/methods/cwa/pollutants.cfm.

Answer 62

 Prevent the introduction of pollutants into a POTW that will interfere with the operation of the POTW, including interference with its use or disposal of municipal sludge  Prevent the introduction of pollutants into a POTW that will pass through the treatment works or otherwise be incompatible with such works  Improve opportunities to recycle and reclaim municipal and industrial wastewaters and sludges.

Answer 63

Interference: A discharge which, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources, both:  Inhibits or disrupts the POTW, its treatment processes or operations, or its sludge processes, use or disposal, and  Therefore is a cause of a violation of any requirement of the POTW’s NPDES permit (including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation) or of the prevention of sewage sludge use or disposal in compliance with the following statutory provisions and regulations or permits issued thereunder (or more stringent state or local regulations): CWA section 405; the Solid Waste Disposal Act (including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and state regulations contained in any state sludge management plan prepared pursuant to subtitle D of the Solid Waste Disposal Act); the Clean Air Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; and the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act. Pass Through: A discharge that exits the POTW into waters of the United States in quantities or concentrations which, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources, is a cause of a violation of any requirement of the POTW’s NPDES permit (including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation).

Answer 64

 An IU subject to federal categorical pretreatment standards  An IU that discharges an average of 25,000 gallons per day (gpd) or more of process wastewater to the POTW  An IU that contributes a process wastestream making up 5 percent or more of the average dry-weather hydraulic or organic capacity of the POTW treatment plant  An IU designated by the POTW as such because of its reasonable potential to adversely affect the POTW's operation or violate any pretreatment standard or requirement.

Answer 65

Identify and locate all possible IUs Identify character and volume of pollutants from IUs Notify IUs of applicable pretreatment standards Receive and analyze reports from IUs Randomly sample and analyze effluent from IUs Evaluate whether IUs need slug discharge control plans Investigate instances of noncompliance Comply with public participation requirements

Answer 66

 Discharges containing pollutants that create a fire or explosion hazard in the POTW, including wastestreams with a closed-cup flashpoint of less than 140 °F (60 °C) using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21  Discharges containing pollutants causing corrosive structural damage to the POTW, but in no case discharges with a pH lower than 5.0, unless the POTW is specifically designed to accommodate such discharges  Discharges containing pollutants in amounts causing obstruction to the flow in the POTW resulting in interference  Discharges of any pollutants released at a flow rate or concentration that will cause interference with the POTW  Discharges of heat in amounts that will inhibit biological activity in the POTW resulting in interference, but in no case heat in such quantities that the temperature at the POTW treatment plant exceeds 104 °F (40 °C) unless the Approval Authority, at the POTW’s request, approves alternative temperature limits  Discharges of petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin in amounts that will cause interference or pass through  Discharges that result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes within the POTW in a quantity that could cause acute worker health and safety problems  Discharges of trucked or hauled pollutants, except at discharge points designated by the POTW.