What legal authority does a local pretreatment program need to have?

A local pretreatment program requires the legal authority to deny permission for certain discharges from industrial users to ensure the protection of the municipal wastewater treatment system and the environment. This authority is critical because not all discharges from industries are safe or acceptable; some may contain harmful pollutants that could disrupt treatment processes or result in violations of regulatory standards.

The ability to deny discharges is essential for maintaining compliance with local, state, and federal regulations such as the Clean Water Act. It empowers the pretreatment program to manage the quality of effluent entering the wastewater treatment facility, thereby safeguarding public health and the ecosystem. By having this authority, the program can assess the characteristics of incoming wastewater and ensure that only substances that can be adequately treated are allowed to enter the system.