Beyond ERP

MA DEP chose industrial wastewater dischargers as a target group because of its size, potential risk to the environment, and the Department's need for recent environmental data. There are several thousand facilities that have potential discharges in un-sewered areas. An evaluation of Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes revealed six facility types: vehicle-related, manufacturing, contractors, medical/laboratories, general service, and agriculture. These facilities may be discharging industrial wastewater through floor drains and stormwater drains into septic systems or surface water without a permit, or have a variety of other water-related issues associated with their operations.

In the summer of 2005, staff from the MA DEP Boston Office and four DEP regions visited a randomly selected and statistically significant representative sample of over 200 facilities in non-sewered areas. Using a standard questionnaire the "inspectors" interviewed the facility manager and performed a "walk through," focusing on where industrial and sanitary wastewater was being discharged. An informational letter was left with the facility owner containing compliance assistance information including a referral to the MA Office of Technical Assistance.

The emphasis of the project is assessment first, with a few follow-up compliance inspections and enforcement for egregious violations. A significant outcome will be to determine the nature and extent of industrial wastewater discharges in environmentally sensitive areas of Massachusetts. The results of the assessment will determine program needs for regulatory changes, compliance assistance, and enforcement for industrial wastewater discharges in the future