Effluent guidelines
Encyclopedia
Effluent guidelines are U.S. national standards for wastewater discharges to surface waters and publicly owned treatment works (POTW) (also called municipal sewage treatment
plants). The United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) issues effluent guidelines for categories of industrial sources of water pollution
under Title III of the Clean Water Act
(CWA). The standards are technology-based, i.e. they are based on the performance of treatment and control technologies
(e.g., Best Available Technology
). Effluent guidelines are not based on risk or impacts of pollutants upon receiving waters.
Sewage treatment
Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
plants). The United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA) issues effluent guidelines for categories of industrial sources of water pollution
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
under Title III of the Clean Water Act
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Commonly abbreviated as the CWA, the act established the goals of eliminating releases of high amounts of toxic substances into water, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that...
(CWA). The standards are technology-based, i.e. they are based on the performance of treatment and control technologies
(e.g., Best Available Technology
Best Available Technology
Best available technology is a term applied with regulations on limiting pollutant discharges with regard to the abatement strategy. Similar terms are best available techniques , best practicable means or best practicable environmental option...
). Effluent guidelines are not based on risk or impacts of pollutants upon receiving waters.
See also
- Clean Water ActClean Water ActThe Clean Water Act is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Commonly abbreviated as the CWA, the act established the goals of eliminating releases of high amounts of toxic substances into water, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that...
- Industrial wastewater treatmentIndustrial wastewater treatmentIndustrial wastewater treatment covers the mechanisms and processes used to treat waters that have been contaminated in some way by anthropogenic industrial or commercial activities prior to its release into the environment or its re-use....
- New Source Performance StandardNew Source Performance StandardNew Source Performance Standards are pollution control standards issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency . The term is used in the Clean Air Act Extension of 1970 to refer to air pollution emission standards, and in the Clean Water Act referring to standards for discharges...