Permit Requirement Overview

• If your business process waste stream (NOT including sanitary waste streams, noncontact cooling water or boiler blowdown wastewater) is connected to the sewer system, you may need a pretreatment permit. If your business process discharges to a septic system or directly to waters of the state, you will not need a pretreatment permit (although dischargers to state waters will likely require an NPDES permit from DEP.)
• If your business qualifies as a Significant Industrial User you are required to be permitted. Significant Industrial Users are industries that meet at least one of the following criteria:
  • discharges an average of 25,000 gallons per day or more of process wastewater to the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) (excluding sanitary, noncontact cooling and boiler blowdown wastewater) or
  • contributes a process waste stream that makes up 5 percent or more of the average dry weather hydraulic or organic capacity of the POTW Treatment plant; or
  • is designated as such by the Control Authority (ECUA) on the basis that the Industrial User has a reasonable potential for adversely affecting the POTW's operation or for violating any Pretreatment Standard or requirement (in accordance with 40 CFR 403.8(f)(6)), or
  • is a Categorical Industrial User; Industrial Users subject to Categorical Pretreatment Standards under 40 CFR 403.6 and 40 CFR chapter I, subchapter N. See this list of industries subject to categorical pretreatment standards.

• Industries that are NOT Significant Industrial Users may require a permit if ECUA determines that the User’s discharge, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources may present the risk of pass-through or interference with the ECUA systems.
• If you are unsure whether your industry may need a permit, please fill out the Industrial User Questionnaire and email it to Pretreatment@ecua.fl.gov. ECUA Pretreatment will review the questionnaire and determine if any additional information is needed for a permit determination. See the contact information below if you have any questions about the process.
• Dental Offices are required to fill out and submit to ECUA Pretreatment a One-Time Compliance Report. See below for additional information on Dental Facilities.
• Breweries, Wineries and Distilleries should contact ECUA Pretreatment for evaluation for permitting.

Permit Documents and Information

Industrial User Questionnaire

Pretreatment Survey for Breweries and Wineries

Industrial User Discharge Permit Application

Renewal Application

Signatory Requirements

Sewer rates

Significant Non-Compliance description

As part of the Dental Effluent Guidelines established by the EPA on June 14, 2017, under Title 40 CFR, Part 441, the rule requires all dental facilities that handle or remove amalgam and discharge to the sanitary sewer, to install, operate and maintain one or more appropriately sized amalgam separators or similar devices that have a minimum 95% amalgam removal efficiency.

Within ECUA’s service area, dental dischargers meeting the applicability criteria in 40 CFR Part 441.10, must submit the required One-Time Compliance Report. Existing dental dischargers as defined in Part 441.20, should have achieved all pretreatment standards for existing sources (PSES) no later than July 14, 2020, as required in Part 441.30. New dental dischargers, including those whose first discharge occurs after July 14, 2017, must comply with the pretreatment standards for new sources (PSNS) in Part 441.40. Regulatory requirements for dental dischargers have been adopted into ECUA’s sewer use ordinance.

Pursuant to the above rule, required dental dischargers shall submit a One-Time Compliance Report to the ECUA and must keep the One-Time Compliance Report on file and make it available in the event of an inspection. Dental offices are also required to maintain files of amalgam removal device maintenance and disposal manifests for a period of three (3) years and make them available in the event of an inspection. A new office, or an office which moves to a new physical location or undergoes a transfer of ownership, must submit a new/revised One-Time Compliance Report within 90 days of discharging into the ECUA sanitary sewer.

Dental Facility Documents
Dental One-Time Compliance Report
Dental Amalgam Best Management Practices
EPA Dental Effluent Web page
ADA Dental Amalgam FAQs
EPA Dental Amalgam FAQs

• New Rule - Sewer Prohibition: EPA 40 CFR § 266.505 Prohibition of sewering hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. All healthcare facilities—including very small quantity generators operating under § 262.14 in lieu of this subpart—and reverse distributors are prohibited from discharging hazardous waste pharmaceuticals to a sewer system that passes through to a publicly-owned treatment works. Healthcare facilities and reverse distributors remain subject to the prohibitions in 40 CFR § 403.5(b)(1).

• The EPA has identified the following as potential healthcare facilities and/or reverse distributors, this list is not all inclusive.
  • Healthcare facility: Means any person that is lawfully authorized to:
    • Provide preventative, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, maintenance or palliative care, and counseling, service, assessment or procedure with respect to the physical or mental condition, or functional status, of a human or animal or that affects the structure or function of the human or animal body; or
    • Distribute, sell, or dispense pharmaceuticals. This definition includes, but is not limited to, wholesale distributors, third-party logistics providers that serve as forward distributors, military medical logistics facilities, hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, health clinics, physicians' offices, optical and dental providers, chiropractors, long-term care facilities, ambulance services, pharmacies, long-term care pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, retailers of pharmaceuticals, veterinary clinics, and veterinary hospitals. Healthcare facility does not include pharmaceutical manufacturers.
  • Pharmaceutical. Means any drug or dietary supplement for use by humans or other animals; any electronic nicotine delivery system (e.g., electronic cigarette or vaping pen); or any liquid nicotine (e-liquid) packaged for retail sale for use in electronic nicotine delivery systems (e.g., pre-filled cartridges or vials). This definition includes, but is not limited to, dietary supplements, as defined by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act; prescription drugs, as defined by Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 203.3(y); over-the-counter drugs; homeopathic drugs; compounded drugs; investigational new drugs; pharmaceuticals remaining in non-empty containers; personal protective equipment contaminated with pharmaceuticals; and clean-up material from spills of pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical does not include dental amalgam or sharps.

• What is considered hazardous pharmaceutical waste? – See the EPA’s Frequently asked questions for more information.

• EPA Rule - Title 40 CFR Part 266, Subpart P - Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals

The industrial user shall comply with the following limitations (Local Limits) which are referenced in Chapter 26 of the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority Code:

1. Specified pollutant limitations. No person shall discharge wastewater containing in excess of:

*The limits listed above are instantaneous maximum allowable discharge limits and apply at the point of connection to the ECUA collection system. Those limits may be superseded by more stringent limitations contained in an industrial discharge permit issued in accordance with subsection 26-3 B of ECUA code.

2. Any wastewater not having a pH between 5.5 and 12.0, or wastewater having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and/or personnel of the ECUA.

Any customer who discharges wastewater containing pollutants in concentrations which exceed those contained in normal domestic wastewater, shall be charged the following surcharges in addition to established wastewater service charges:

> Biochemical oxygen demand in excess of 250 mg/L, per pound……………………………………………. $0.25
or
> Chemical oxygen demand in excess of 583 mg/L, per pound……………………………………………….. $0.25

> Suspended solids in excess of 220 mg/L, per pound………………………………………………………….... $0.25

> Total Nitrogen in excess of 40 mg/L, per pound……………………………………………………………....... $1.72

> Total Phosphorus in excess of 8 mg/L, per pound…………………………………………………………….... $2.543