Water Quality/Pollution Control Plants
(POTW - Publicly Owned Treatment Works)

Your local POTW (Palo Alto Regional plant, Sunnyvale plant, San Jose/Santa Clara plant, or Gilroy/Morgan Hill plant) regulates all industrial discharges to the sanitary sewer system.

Hazardous wastes may not be discharged to the POTW. Wastewaters which meet, or are treated to meet, POTW limitations may be discharged with a permit. (Note: Treatment units may require an additional permit from DTSC.)

Regulations: Local Industrial Waste Discharge Regulations; 40 CFR, Part 403 (Federal Pretreatment Regulations); 40 CFR, Parts 405-471 (Federal Categorical Standards).

Summary of Requirements:

Individual POTW requirements differ greatly. Contact your local plant for specific information. Ask for the Industrial Waste or Source Control section.

• Discharge Permit - Required to discharge any industrial wastes. Limits typically set for metals, organics, pH, etc. Typically require inspections, recordkeeping, sampling, and monitoring.
• Zero-Discharge Facilities - Most plants require some type of certification that a facility does not discharge to the POTW (especially if a particular industry typically has wastewater discharges).
• Waste Minimization Plan - Most of the plants have waste minimization plan requirements. (Be sure to coordinate with your SB14 plans if it applies to your business)
  

Resources Which May Be Available From Your POTW:

• "Best Management Practices" or Waste Minimization Plan guidance documents
• Discharge requirements/Municipal ordinance
• Other educational materials

Also see Appendix A for more waste minimization resources.