Being part of an industry that produces slurry water and wastewater can be difficult. With a lack of universal wastewater discharge standards for, it might be hard to determine which regulations you need to follow.
Within an industry that produces wastewater—whether it’s the concrete industry or you’re dealing with professional car wash wastewater—you have to be mindful of wastewater discharge regulations. Unfortunately, there isn’t a consistent industry standard across the board, so you might be confused. You need to follow regulations enforced on the local, county, state, and federal level. You also need to consider regulations presented by organizations like the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) and the United States EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Checking each of these regulations is crucial, because while your township might have certain rules, your county or state may have different or overarching regulations. Of course, you also need to pay attention to federal regulations too.
Calling your local township, county, or state might leave you with more questions than answers. Inconsistent standards leave many prone to confusion. So what are you supposed to do? Confusion isn’t a reason to decide to dump your wastewater wherever you feel like without treating it. Be proactive, not reactive. Stay ahead of the curve by staying caught up on your industry’s wastewater treatment and discharge trends. Taking care of your slurry problem rather than succumbing to fines for illegally dumping wastewater and slurry is your best bet.
Universal standards should be in place regarding wastewater discharge, but until they are, your best bet is to remain proactive and treat your water using effective dewatering equipment, such as a filter press.