Industrial Pretreatment Program

Our mission is to enhance water quality, reclaim valuable resources, and protect wastewater treatment staff and systems. We implement the National Pretreatment Program by:

  • Establishing local discharge limits and regulations
  • Equitably applying state and federal regulations across businesses
  • Proactively partnering with local businesses through permits and inspections
  • Collecting fees and surcharges to recover program costs

What is pretreatment?

Pretreatment is the reduction or elimination of pollutants in wastewater prior to discharge to the public sewers. Although physical, chemical or biological processes are the most common ways to reduce or eliminate pollutants, many businesses reduce pollutants through best management practices (BMPs). Pretreatment protects the City’s wastewater staff and equipment, ensures marketable biosolids and keeps harmful pollutants from entering local waterbodies.

  1. Dental offices
  2. Discharge approval
  3. Discharge limits
  4. Fats, oils and grease
  5. Resources

Dental program and amalgam separators

Amalgam separators are devices that capture mercury from some fillings and prevent mercury from entering the sewer. In July 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a regulation requiring existing and new dental offices to certify an amalgam separator is installed and regularly maintained. Explore the resources below or contact IPT for more information about installing or maintaining an amalgam separator.