The U.S. Congress created the national EPA-mandated Pretreatment program in 1972. This program protects the publicly owned wastewater treatment plants (POTWs), collection systems, and waterways from discharges of toxic and other pollutants from commercial businesses and industries. The EPA approved Metro Water Recovery’s own Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) on August 25, 1986.
POTWs are designed to treat domestic wastewater. POTWs cannot treat all industrial and commercial wastewaters. Many businesses and industries must pretreat wastewater before sending it to the sewer to protect the collection system components, the wastewater treatment process from passthrough and interference of pollutants, the effluent water quality and biosolids, and the operators.
Metro’s pretreatment regulations ensure the wastewater generated by businesses and industries in its service area meet the goals of the program. By discharging to the POTW, each commercial and industrial business agrees to comply with the Metro Water Recovery Rules and Regulations Governing the Operation Use and Services of the System including all individual permit, general permit, sector permit, and best management practice requirements specific to the business or industry.
Metro’s IPP also guides the Hauled Waste Program and the Dental Amalgam Control Program.
Pretreatment Regulations
Guidance
Compliance & Enforcement
Permit Compliance Schedule Progress Report (Word document)
Authorized Representative Delegation Form (Word document)
Facility Ownership Change Notification (Word document)
Wastewater Discharge Information Forms (WDIF) Survey
Special Discharge Request
Special Discharge Request Application (Word document)
Permit Applications
Discharging Industrial User Permit Application (Word Document)
Discharging Industrial User Permit Instructions (PDF)
Zero Discharge Permit Application (Word document)
Contacts
Industrial Pretreatment Program
Industrial.pretreatment@metrowaterrecovery.com
720-415-5676
Contact Us for Additional Information
Permitted Industrial User’s Primary Compliance & Enforcement Contact
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EPA Links
eCFR :: 40 CFR Part 403 — General Pretreatment Regulations for Existing and New Sources of Pollution
Pretreatment Standards and Requirements-Categorical Pretreatment Standards | US EPA
eCFR :: 40 CFR Part 136 — Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Links
Industrial Pretreatment Program Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Metro Industrial Pretreatment Program?
Wastewater treatment facilities, like Metro’s, are designed to treat residential wastewater. Commercial/Industrial discharges can upset or pass through the treatment plant and cause harm to the environment or workers. The Industrial Pretreatment Program works with industries to prevent or control harmful industrial wastewater discharges at the source.
Is my business regulated by Metro’s Industrial Pretreatment Program?
To see if your business falls within our service area, click on our interactive map linked here: Our Service Area – Metro Water Recovery
Metro is required by the US Environmental Protection Agency and its Board to have an inventory of all businesses that discharge to its treatment facilities. As a result, Metro’s pretreatment team conducts routine visual inspections and walkthroughs of facilities within our service area to determine compliance or noncompliance with applicable pretreatment requirements. Metro’s pretreatment team will ask your business to fill out a form with basic information for our records.
Please contact Metro by email at industrial.pretreatment@metrowaterrecovery.com or by telephone at 720-415-5676 if you have questions about your business.
Does Metro have the authority to enter and ask for information?
Yes, Metro has legal authority to enter all businesses within our service area, inspect, and request information. By connecting to Metro’s sewer system, you have agreed to comply with Metro’s Rules and Regulations Governing the Operation, Use, and Services of the System (Rules and Regulations). Per item 6.25 of the Rules and Regulations, Metro may enter, inspect, surveil, monitor, and request information from businesses.
Do I need to complete a Wastewater Discharge Information Form (WDIF)?
Yes, every non-domestic (e.g., commercial and industrial) user that connects to Metro’s sewer system must complete a WDIF. Metro uses the information provided on the WDIF to obtain key information to determine next steps in the process and/or if additional information is needed.
Do I need to apply for a Permit?
Please complete a Wastewater Discharge Information Form (WDIF) and submit the form to Metro. Metro will evaluate the information, request additional information as needed, and determine if you need to apply for a wastewater discharge permit.
Note that businesses that discharge hauled waste directly to Metro’s Robert W. Hite water recovery facility have separate requirements that are outlined here.
How does Metro determine whether I need a Permit?
You are required to obtain a permit from Metro if your business discharges or has the potential to discharge commercial or industrial pollutants to Metro and meets the definition of significant industrial user found at item 83 in Section 2 Definition of Terms in the Rules and Regulations. Please contact Metro by email at industrial.pretreatment@metrowaterrecovery.com or by telephone at 720-415-5676 if you have questions about permits for your business.
Are there different types of Permits or discharge authorizations?
Yes, Metro issues several types of permits and discharge authorizations. Permits include individual Wastewater Discharge Permits, Zero Discharge Permits, and Hauled Waste Permits. You can read more about the purpose of each permit and the application process in Section 6.22 of Metro’s Rules and Regulations.
Metro also allows commercial and industrial discharges through written authorizations and sector control program mechanisms.
Metro will determine which permit or written authorization may apply or be appropriate for the business’s discharge. Metro does not issue verbal discharge authorizations.
How do I apply for an industrial pretreatment permit?
After completing a Wastewater Discharge Information Form (WDIF), Metro will determine whether your company requires a permit or other written authorization. After reviewing, Metro will notify industrial users of any additional requirements in writing. Applications for a Wastewater Discharge Permit or a Zero Discharge Permit can be found on Metro’s pretreatment website.
To apply for a Hauled Waste Discharge permit, please visit our hauled waste page for information on the application process.
How do I protect Confidential Information?
Metro complies with all Federal and State requirements regarding Confidential Information and manages records – including those received from businesses that contain trade secrets, privileged material, or other confidential information – in accordance with the Colorado Open Records Act (“CORA”). When submitting documentation, business entities must ensure that information claimed as confidential is properly marked and substantiated in line with the CORA standard. Business entities may not withhold information if it is required for compliance with industrial pretreatment evaluations. Business entities are encouraged to work proactively with Metro to ensure an understanding of Metro’s confidentiality procedures and the information Metro may withhold from public inspection.
For additional information, please reference Section 6.27 of Metro’s Rules and Regulations.
What is a special discharge request and how do I request one?
On a limited basis, Metro may issue a discharge authorization for a one-time, limited duration discharge. Written authorization is required from Metro prior to discharging deleterious wastes to Metro. (See Section 6.13 of the Rules and Regulations for a description of deleterious wastes.) Wastes must not contain prohibited wastes defined in Section 6.14 of Metro’s Rules and Regulations. Special discharge requests are made using the Special Discharge Request Form. Approval of a special discharge request is at the sole discretion of Metro, and Metro’s decision will be provided in writing.
How do I report an accident or spill to Metro?
To prevent harm, report any type of accident, spill, or unusual observations (such as illegal dumping), to Metro as soon as possible. Please contact both the operations control room at (303) 286-3274 or (303) 286-3275 and the Industrial Pretreatment Division via telephone at (720) 415-5676 or by email at industrial.pretreatment@metrowaterrecovery.com.