Industrial Pretreatment Program

INDUSTRIAL PRETREATMENT PROGRAM

Harford County Department of Public Works, Division of Water and Sewer has established a Pretreatment Program in accordance with guidelines established in the Code of Federal Regulations and delegated to the Maryland Department of the Environment. The Pretreatment Program is responsible for the protection of the wastewater collection and treatment systems from contamination, upset, fire or explosion hazard, pollutant pass-through and the protection of workers' health and safety in the system. This protection is accomplished by the documentation, evaluation, laboratory monitoring, inspection and or permit issuance to all applicable industrial and commercial users and liquid waste haulers who utilize the county's sewer system.

The initial contact for an industrial or commercial user to comply with the county's pretreatment program is the Industrial Discharge Survey Questionnaire. This single page document requests the user to provide basic information related to the location, intended use of, and projected water consumption for the facility in question. This submission is evaluated by the Pretreatment Section and, if no permit is indicated, the user is notified and the questionnaire is kept on file and may be reevaluated at a later date. If additional information is needed, an Industrial Discharge Survey is issued.
The Industrial Discharge Survey is a seventeen-page document which requires the submission of very specific information related to the facility's use, location, layout and function. This survey requires the submission of blue prints, plans, and laboratory data in support of the survey. All Industrial Discharge Surveys are followed up with an inspection to confirm the submission and evaluate and establish pretreatment requirements and monitoring locations.
A Permit Application is generally sent with an Industrial Discharge Survey to prevent delay in the processing of the relevant paperwork for the issuance of a permit. The permit application is a single page document which requires specific information related to the facility location, management structure, wastewater characteristics and flow rate, and is requesting county approval to commence discharge to the sewer system.
The Federal Government has established a category of industrial users designated as Significant Industrial Users (SIU) which are required to meet very specific criteria related to wastewater discharge volumes, pollutant concentrations, and reporting requirements. Due to the specific nature of these requirements and Federal requirements, Harford County must submit all SIU draft permits to the Maryland Department of the Environment for approval prior to issuance. The Federal Government has established a definition of Significant Industrial User as an industry who discharges greater than 25,000 gallons per day or is otherwise designated as a major contributor to a wastewater treatment plant, or a user who is subject to Federal Categorical Pretreatment Standards.
The Pretreatment Section receives and reviews all submissions related to the Pretreatment Program. Upon review of these documents, they are initialed and forwarded to the Chief of Operations for approval of recommendations and initiation of the permitting process. The Pretreatment Section drafts a request for the Treasury Department to invoice the applicant for all appropriate application and permit fees and drafts the proposed Wastewater Discharge Permit.

The draft permit is forwarded to the Chief of Operations and finally the Director of Public Works for signature prior to issuance. Should additional information or input be needed, the Pretreatment Section will receive that input and assistance from the Chief of Operations, Director of Public Works, the county's Water and Sewer Engineering Section, or the Law Department.

This entire process can be completed in as little as thirty days from the initial contact between Harford County and the industrial user. The permitting process is run concurrent with your county water and sewer connection application packet. For additional details or a survey form, please call Ed Williams, Pretreatment Inspector, at 410-273-5617.

Copies of Harford County's Pretreatment Code, Article VIII, Section 256.55 to 256.105 are available upon request at the above number.