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The Pretreatment Program is an EPA-mandated regulatory program designed to protect the wastewater plant and Laramie River from harmful pollutants generated and disposed to the sewer system with wastewater. By law, Pretreatment Programs focus only on local industry, businesses and educational institutions.

What is Pretreatment?

Pretreatment refers to the treatment an industrial user of the city sewer system often must provide to its wastewater before it is discharged to the sewer system.

Pretreatment Program: Why Do We Need It?

The Clean Water Act limits the levels of pollutants that industries are allowed to discharge to the sewer system. The "General Pretreatment regulations" are part of the Clean Water Act and require municipalities to implement Pretreatment Programs in order to protect their wastewater treatment plants, biosolids and receiving water to which wastewater plants discharge treated effluent. Under the Clean Water Act, the City of Laramie is legally obligated to implement a Pretreatment Program to protect the treatment plant and to ensure proper treatment of our wastewater.

Pretreatment Program Focus:

• To prevent the introduction of pollutants into the wastewater treatment plant and collection system that could interfere with treatment operations.
• To prevent pass-through of untreated pollutants that could violate water quality standards in the Laramie River.
• To prevent contamination and allow the beneficial use of biosolids generated at the wastewater treatment plant.
• To prevent the discharge of pollutants that could violate any pretreatment standard or requirement.
• To protect the general health and safety of the wastewater treatment plant, employees, and the environment.

Commercial and Industry Requirements:

Any business that discharges wastewater to the city sewer that contains heavy metals, petroleum products, volatile organics, food-product grease or any other material that could affect the wastewater treatment plant is required to comply with the Pretreatment Program. Such businesses are termed "Industrial or Commercial Users" and must complete a Business Information Form and/or an Industrial Waste Survey upon request of the Pretreatment Coordinator. The form and survey provide information on business process operations and wastewater characteristics and is the basis for determining the business' status in the Pretreatment Program.

Discharge Permits:

1. The business is subject to Federal categorical standards.
2. The business discharges 25,000 gallons of wastewater per day.
3. The business contributes 5% or more of the average hydraulic or organic capacity of the wastewater plant.
4. The business' wastewater has the potential to significantly impact the collection system or wastewater plant or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement.

Pollution Prevention

Pollution Prevention (P2) is the reduction or elimination of pollution at the source of generation instead of at the end of a process. P2 avoids the generation of waste and harmful substances. It is any practice that stops pollution before it is created.

What is the significance of P2 to the Pretreatment Program?

Successful P2 makes compliance with environmental regulatory programs such as the Pretreatment Program easier and less costly. The Pretreatment Program regulates wastewater pollutants. P2 can help businesses avoid generating wastewater pollutants.

More information about the City of Laramie Pretreatment Program and Pollution Prevention can be obtained by contacting Oliver Chilson, Pretreatment Coordinator, City of Laramie, PO Box C, Laramie, Wyoming 82073. Telephone: 307.721.5204. email: ochilson@ci.laramie.wy.us.

It is the responsibility of all business to notify the City of Laramie Pretreatment Program; the State of Wyoming Hazardous Waste Division; and the Environmental Protection Agency Waste Management Division of any substance discharged that could be considered hazardous. The contact information for these entities is:

USEFUL RESOURCES

Below is a list of numbers and contacts to assist you with the Pretreatment Program
and Pollution Prevention

City of Laramie Pretreatment Program and Pollution Prevention
Oliver Chilson, Pretreatment Coordinator
307.721.5204

Wyoming DEQ Water Quality Division (Pretreatment Program)
Leah Krafft, Senior Environmental Analyst
307.777.7093

EPA Pretreatment Program
Curt McCormick, Pretreatment Coordinator
303.312.6377

Wyoming DEQ Pollution Prevention Program
Steve Roseberry, Pollution Prevention Coordinator
307.777.6105

EPA Pollution Prevention Program
Linda Walters, Pollution Prevention Coordinator
303.312.6385