NPDES Pretreatment Program

The pretreatment program is a component of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program. The program is designed to reduce the level of potentially toxic pollutants discharged by industry and other non-domestic wastewater sources into municipal sewer systems, and thereby, reduce the amount of pollutants released into the environment from these sources. Local municipalities with approved pretreatment programs may control sources of non-domestic discharges through permitting. Municipalities with approved programs are also responsible for conducting inspections, sampling, and enforcement.

The objectives of the pretreatment program are to:

• prevent the introduction of pollutants into wastewater facilities (WWFs) which will interfere with the operation of a WWF, including interference with its use or disposal of municipal sludge or the safety of the workers that operate the plant or maintain the collection system;
• prevent the introduction of pollutants into WWFs which will pass through the treatment works or otherwise be incompatible with such works; and
  improve opportunities to recycle and reclaim municipal and industrial wastewaters and sludges.

Tennessee’s Pretreatment Requirements are established in Chapter 0400-40-14.

Federal Pretreatment Regulations are established in 40 CFR 403. 

State of Tennessee Pretreatment Program Contact

Samantha O'Neil 615-961-4440 Samantha.Oneil@tn.gov