Pretreatment Program

What Is A Pretreatment Program?
Federal law mandates pretreatment Programs. The Regional Water Quality Board mandates the Program as part of the SCRWA Plant's permit to operate and discharge. The Program's intent is to control pollutants discharged to a Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) from non-domestic sources. The Clean Water Act of 1972 sets forth the following objectives:

1. To prevent upset, interference¹ and pass-through² in the POTW. Specifically, the SCWRA Plant.
2. Provide protection with regard to the health and safety of the public and the environment.
3. Provide protection of the structure and integrity of the collection system and safety for the personnel working the system.
4. To prevent deterioration of the quality standards of the receiving waters; to prevent contamination of POTW sludge which could affect their disposal or future use.

¹Interference - A discharge by an Industrial User which inhibits or disrupts the treatment plant processes or operations.

²Pass-Through - The discharge of pollutants through the treatment plant which causes a violation of any requirement of the treatment plant's permit from the State regulatory agency (the Regional Water Quality Control Board).

What Does Pretreatment Mean?
Pretreatment is the reduction of the amount of pollutants, the elimination of pollutants, or the alteration of the nature of pollutants in wastewater to a less harmful state prior to discharge to the treatment plant.

Who Implements the Pretreatment Program?
The Chemical Control Division (CCD) of the City of Gilroy Community Development Department is responsible for the implementation of the Program.

How Is the Pretreatment Program Implemented?
The Pretreatment Program is implemented through the Industrial Waste Discharge permit issued to businesses. The program is implemented through three elements in the permit: prohibited discharge standards, national categorical standards, and local limits. Permit conditions are authorized by Chapter 19 of the Gilroy City Ordinance and Chapter 13 of the Morgan Hill City Ordinance.