What types of categorical standards are utilized in the EPA pretreatment program?

The choice of concentration-based and production-based standards accurately reflects the types of categorical standards used in the EPA pretreatment program. Concentration-based standards refer to limits set on the amount of specific pollutants allowed to be discharged into wastewater treatment facilities. These standards are established to protect water quality by ensuring that the facility can adequately treat the wastewater and prevent harm to the environment.

Production-based standards, on the other hand, are related to the volume of wastewater generated by a specific manufacturing process and aim to control pollutants relative to that production level. This approach ensures that as production increases, the corresponding increase in wastewater discharges is managed effectively within regulatory limits.

These dual types of standards are pivotal in the pretreatment program, which facilitates the regulation of discharges from industrial users before the wastewater enters treatment facilities. This systematic approach helps safeguard public health and protects local water bodies from the adverse effects of industrial pollutants.