Effluent guidelines

Regulated pollutants vary by industry category, with effluent limitations typically expressed as mass loadings or concentrations. The regulations cover pollutants for which there are approved analytical testing methods. EPA has published many methods in its regulations,EPA. "Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants." Code of Federal Regulations, {{CodeFedReg|40|136}} and has approved the use of other methods published by peer-reviewed sources, such as Standard Methods.{{cite book |editor1-last=Baird |editor1-first=Rodger B. |editor2-last=Clesceri |editor2-first=Leonore S. |editor3-last=Eaton |editor3-first=Andrew D. |display-editors=3 |editor4-last=Rice |editor4-first=Eugene W. |year=2017 |title=Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater |edition=23rd |url=http://www.standardmethods.org |url-access=subscription |location=Washington, DC |publisher=American Public Health Association |isbn=9780875532875}} Although the effluent limitations are based on the performance of control and treatment technologies (and not the impacts to receiving waters), the regulations do not require discharging facilities to use specific technologies. The facilities may choose any technologies to meet the numerical limitations.

In addition to numerical effluent limitations, some categories also include requirements for the use of industry-specific best management practices.For example, see regulations for the Steam Electric Power Generating Category ({{USCFR|40|423}}); the Pulp, Paper and Paperboard Category ({{USCFR|40|430}}) and the Ore Mining and Dressing Category ({{USCFR|40|440}}).

In the 1972 CWA Congress specified an initial list of categorical regulations that EPA was required to promulgate.CWA sec. 306(b)(1)(A) The 1977 CWA amendments provided a list of pollutant and pollutant groups to be considered by the agency in developing regulations.{{cite web |title=Toxic and Priority Pollutants Under the Clean Water Act |url=https://www.epa.gov/eg/toxic-and-priority-pollutants-under-clean-water-act |date=2021-07-10 |publisher=EPA}} EPA is also required to review and revise regulations as needed, and since 1972 it has promulgated ELGs for 59 industrial categories, with over 450 subcategories. Approximately 40,000 facilities that discharge directly to the nation's waters, 129,000 facilities that discharge to POTWs, and construction sites, are covered by the regulations. The regulations annually prohibit the discharge of 700 billion pounds of pollutants into U.S. surface waters.{{cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/eg/effluent-guidelines-plan |title=Effluent Guidelines Plan |author= |date=2023-01-20 |publisher=EPA}}

The effluent limitations for the Construction and Development category are narrative in format and do not specify numeric pollutant limits. The requirements consist of erosion controls and sediment controls, soil stabilization practices and pollution prevention practices (such as minimizing exposure of building materials, pesticides and other chemicals).EPA. "Construction and Development Point Source Category." Code of Federal Regulations, {{USCFR|40|450}}

In the early years of the program (1970s-1980s) the agency published analytical methods for a list of 126 "priority pollutants," consisting of various toxic pollutants. Subsequently the agency has issued methods and regulated pollutants beyond those in the initial priority list.{{cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/cwa-methods |title=Clean Water Act Analytical Methods |author= |date=2023-02-22 |publisher=EPA}}

Facilities that directly discharge to "waters of the United States" are required to obtain NPDES permits, and effluent guideline requirements are incorporated into these permits. Indirect dischargers (i.e. facilities discharging to POTWs) are subject to effluent guideline requirements called "Pretreatment Standards."{{cite web |title=Pretreatment Standards and Requirements-Categorical Pretreatment Standards |url=https://www.epa.gov/npdes/pretreatment-standards-and-requirements-categorical-pretreatment-standards |date=2022-10-03 |publisher=EPA}}

This table lists the 59 Effluent Guidelines categories published by EPA.

The EPA database supports searching of existing regulations by industry, pollutant, treatment technology or keyword.[https://owapps.epa.gov/elg/]

EPA periodically publishes a list of ongoing and new regulation projects, and a list of categories that it is considering for regulation, in its "Effluent Guidelines Program Plan." Program Plan 15, published in January 2023, announced several regulatory and research projects. According to the agency's "PFAS Strategic Roadmap", it is continuing to evaluate options to reduce discharges of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a variety of industrial sectors.{{cite web |title=PFAS Strategic Roadmap: EPA's Commitments to Action 2021-2024 |url=https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-strategic-roadmap-epas-commitments-action-2021-2024 |date=2023-04-24 |publisher=EPA}} In this regard EPA has decided that changes to the Landfills regulation (40 CFR part 445) are necessary, to address discharges of PFAS from landfill leachate.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-30 |title=Current Effluent Guidelines Program Plan |url=https://www.epa.gov/eg/current-effluent-guidelines-program-plan |publisher=EPA}}

EPA will conduct research on the Textile Mills category (40 CFR part 410) to learn more about its PFAS usage and discharge characteristics. The agency will study PFAS discharged to POTWs by various industries, including categories that have recently been examined. EPA intends to confirm the origins of PFAS wastewater and assist POTWs in determining whether source-level controls are necessary. The Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Category (40 CFR part 412) will also be investigated. The POTW influent study will include monitoring of the Electrical and Electronic Components Category (40 CFR part 469) for PFAS discharge data even though EPA is not currently seeking additional action for this category. Additionally, EPA will keep an eye on PFAS use and emissions from airports and the Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Category (40 CFR part 430).

• Industrial wastewater treatment
• New Source Performance Standard
• United States regulation of point source water pollution
• Water Quality Standards Program (Risk-based standards)

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.epa.gov/eg EPA - Effluent Guidelines Program]

{{United States environmental law |state=expanded}}

Category:Regulation in the United States

Category:Water pollution in the United States

Category:United States Environmental Protection Agency

Category:Water law in the United States