Pretreatment

The Federal and State Pretreatment Program gives regulatory authority for EPA, states, and municipal governments to control the discharge of industrial wastewater into municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) or Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs). The objectives of the Pretreatment Program are to prevent pass-through, interference, or other adverse impacts to the POTW, its workers or the environment; to promote the beneficial reuse of biosolids; and to assure that all categorical pretreatment standards are met. There are approximately 620 Significant Industrial Users (SIUs) who discharge industrial wastewater to more than 130 POTWs throughout the State of North Carolina.

Dental Amalgam Rule - 40 CFR Part 441

EPA promulgated 40 CFR Part 441 Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Dental Category, on June 14, 2017 with an effective date of July 14, 2017. The new rule regulates mercury discharged in wastewater from dental facilities to a Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) or municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). 

Existing sources are those dental dischargers in operation prior to July 14, 2017 and must submit to the Control Authority a one-time compliance report by October 12, 2020.  Any dental practice that begins operation on or after July 14, 2017 is a new source and must comply with the Rule.  Please see the Fact Sheet for further detail on requirements for equipment, best management practices and reporting and recording keeping and exemptions to the Rule.

For dental offices in locations with an approved pretreatment program the control authority is the POTW.  Check the list of municipal pretreatment contacts in NC to determine if there is an approved pretreatment program in your location.

Contact the listed pretreatment coordinator for instructions on how to submit compliance reports. Address, phone numbers and email addresses are provided. 

For dental offices in locations without an approved pretreatment program the State is the control authority.  Complete the One-Time Compliance Report for Dental Dischargers and mail to:

Sewer Use Ordinance (SUO) 

This Model SUO includes many revisions to address the 2011 revisions to NCAC 15A 02H .0900 - Local Pretreatment Programs.  

• Model Pretreatment SUO revised August 26, 2011
• NC SUO Checklist August 2011
• Summary of SUO Comments
• Example Attorney's Statement

State Pretreatment Regulations

 The Rules are final and effective as of April 1, 2011.

• Pretreatment Rules: 15A NCAC 2H .0900 effective 2011
• Copy of the Rule effective April 1, 2011, with changes underlined and explanation boxes for all changes from those first proposed back in August 2009 through those made in March 2011 to address concerns of the State Rules Review Commission (RRC).
• Final Hearing Officers Report - December 2010
• Fiscal Note - May 2010

Federal Regulations

• General pretreatment regulations: 40 CFR 403 (July 2012)
• Categorical Pretreatment Regulations: 40 CFRs 400-471
• EPA Dental Effluent Guidelines
• October 14, 2005, Streamlining of the Federal Pretreatment Pretreatment Regulations -
  See the Other Downloads Webpage for more information.