The sewer collection system receives wastewater from homes, area businesses and industrial facilities.
Every user has the potential to impact the sewer collection system or wastewater treatment plant by dumping, pouring or flushing chemicals, solvents, pesticides, or fats, oils and grease (FOG) down the drain.
The Water Authority Southside Water Reclamation Plant (SWRP) removes harmful organisms and other contaminants from the wastewater before discharging into the Rio Grande, the receiving stream. Managing wastes before they enter the sewer collection system protects the treatment process at the SWRP.
The Water Authority Industrial Pretreatment Program is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations (40 CFR 403) and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the SWRP.
The legal authority for the Industrial Pretreatment Program is the Water Authority Sewer Use and Wastewater Control Ordinance (SUO).
The program is required in order to :
- Protect the receiving water, the Rio Grande
- Protect the biosolids which are composted at the Soil Amendment Facility
- Protect the sewer collection system
- Protect SWRP workers including those who work on the collection system
- Prevent pass-through or interference with the wastewater treatment process
Violations of the SUO are handled according to the Enforcement Response Plan (ERP).
The Industrial Pretreatment Program has five (5) components:
Industrial Permits
Fats, Oils and Grease
Hauled Waste (Septage or Chemical Toilet)
Dental Clinics
Pollution Prevention
The Pretreatment Program submits an annual report to the EPA and Isleta Pueblo of the previous year’s activities. The report is due by September 30th and covers the fiscal year. Previous annual reports can be found below.
2015-2016 Annual Pretreatment Report
2014-2015 Annual Pretreatment Report
2013-2014 Annual Pretreatment Report
2012-2013 Annual Pretreatment Report
2011-2012 Annual Pretreatment Report
For more information, contact: pretreatment@abcwua.org or (505)289-3419.
As required by the EPA, the Water Authority is updated its Sewer Use Ordinance on January 29, 2014 with an effective date of July 1, 2014. The SUO:
- Sets requirements for sanitary sewer users
- Regulates the discharge of pollutants into the collection system
- Enables the Water Authority to achieve compliance with the EPA NPDES and SWRP effluent and sludge limits.
The Water Authority includes a FOG Policy as part of this update to work in conjunction with the SUO to reduce the rate of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) in the collection system and decrease FOG loading at the SWRP.
On June 2, 2014 a formal Pretreatment Program Modification Request was sent to EPA. It includes the Enforcement Response Plan, FOG Policy, SUO, TBLL Calculations, Response to Comments, and a Program Description. The request documents can be found here.