Here at Full Circle Water, we talk a lot about wastewater regulations. Failing to follow proper water and wastewater regulations in your industry can subject you to major penalties, including wastewater fines and even jailtime. The impact of failing to follow regulations can be detrimental to the environment—especially the nearby ecosystems where wastewater is illegally dumped. Learn a little more about the importance of wastewater regulations in your industry, how wastewater is regulated, and how those regulations are enforced.

What is the Clean Water Act?

The Clean Water Act, or CWA, is a federal law that governs water pollution. It was established in 1972 and it is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which coordinates with state governments. It regulates pollution in U.S. waterways. It sets water quality standards, makes it illegal to pollute waterways without a permit in place, allows the EPA to enforce pollution controls, and addresses nonpoint source pollution. The Clean Water Act aims to keep our waterways clean and free of pollution. Poor water quality is a real threat not just to humans, but to vital ecosystems. That means that industrial wastewater, like cement wastewater, cannot just be dumped without being treated first.

How is Compliance Monitored?

The CWA relies on the state to enforce the law. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is a system that issues permits to both industrial facilities and municipalities allowing them to lawfully discharge certain amounts of pollutants into waterways. Other regulatory programs include the National and Local Pretreatment Standards, the Dredge or Fill Discharge Permit Program, the Sewage Sludge Use and Disposal Program, and Water Quality Management. Each program implements a variety of techniques to monitor compliance. This includes data collection, onsite visits, and report reviews. They do this to ensure regulations are being met.

Unpermitted discharges are subject to a number of consequences. There may be financial or legal sanctions, and the facility will be given an outline of the actions required to meet compliance with the CWA.

Simple Wastewater Solutions

All this talk of judicial actions and wastewater fines can sound scary, but it is easy to comply with the CWA and other wastewater regulations by simply investing in cement wastewater filtration. A cement wastewater machine, like a filter press or a clarifier, makes separating your liquids from your solids easy. Combined with equipment like a pH balancer, you will be able to easily meet wastewater regulations for dumping treated water.

Learn more about how to treat your industrial wastewater and avoid wastewater fines by checking out our blog.