Either as part of an approved pretreatment program or by
themselves, local limits are an
important step in protecting water quality. These limits apply to
wastewater discharged from commercial and industrial facilities,
that is all industrial
users
.
These limits are "local" because they are designed to protect a
site-specific collection system, wastewater treatment plant,
receiving water, and sludge.
How to Develop Local Limits
Follow these basic steps to develop technically based local
limits (TBLLs):
-
Determine pollutants of concern.
-
Collect and analyze wastewater data.
-
Calculate maximum allowable loadings to the wastewater treatment
plant.
-
Calculate maximum allowable industrial loadings.
-
Allocate the resulting TBLLs.
These Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance documents
show how to complete each step:
Getting Local Limits Approved
Approved pretreatment programs must submit local limits to the
TCEQ's Pretreatment
Program for approval. Our
Guide for TBLLs Submittal and Pretreatment Program Package
lists the items to submit local limits for approval.
The relevant rule for this approval process is Title 40 Code of
Federal Regulations (40 CFR) Section 403.18.
How to Apply Local Limits
Publicly owned
treatment works
(POTWs) have the authority to enforce approved local limits under
40 CFR Subsection
403.5(d).
These limits are to be enforced at the "end of pipe"—in other
words, where the commercial or industrial facility's wastewater
enters the POTW's collection system.
Contact us if
you have any questions.
