FAQs • SACWSD • CivicEngage

Why is the SACWSD conducting an inspection of my facility?: The SACWSD Industrial Pretreatment Program is required to conduct periodic facility inspections of all non-residential facilities that are connected to the District sewer. The purpose of these inspections is to ensure that all Federal, State and local regulations are being followed and to ensure that the District’s WWTP will be able to efficiently, effectively and safely treat all wastewater flowing through the plant.

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Industrial Pretreatment

1. Where can I dispose of my unwanted medications in a safe and environmentally responsible manner?: The Colorado Medication Take-Back program has information on medication disposal locations. Find locations here

2. Why is it necessary for my facility to obtain a Wastewater Discharge Permit?: There are several possible reasons your facility has been required to obtain a WDP including: SIU or Categorical Discharge status, prior wastewater discharge violations or a history of violations at other facility locations. Please call the IPP Coordinator for specific information at 720-206-0466.

3. Why is the SACWSD conducting an inspection of my facility?: The SACWSD Industrial Pretreatment Program is required to conduct periodic facility inspections of all non-residential facilities that are connected to the District sewer. The purpose of these inspections is to ensure that all Federal, State and local regulations are being followed and to ensure that the District’s WWTP will be able to efficiently, effectively and safely treat all wastewater flowing through the plant.

4. Is my facility required by law to allow access to the SACWSD Inspector?: Yes, as an approved Industrial Pretreatment Program, SACWSD inspectors are granted legal access to District facilities under EPA 40CFR 403.8(f)v, which was adopted by the District’s Board of Directors 8/12/87.

5. Are the SACWSD IPP Inspectors required to make an appointment prior to inspecting my facility?: No. Although in some instances the SACWSD may make arrangements for follow-up questions from specific facility contacts in order to complete an inspection, unannounced inspections remain a vital and legal aspect of the IPP inspection program.

6. Why has the SACWSD required my facility to install a Sand/Oil or Grease Interceptor?: All restaurants in the District are required to install and maintain a properly sized, District-approved grease interceptor. Similarly, any facility involved in vehicle or equipment maintenance/repair, or containing any floor drains in a shop or production area are required to install and maintain a District-approved sand/oil interceptor. Interceptor sizing can be based on either facility square footage, or fixture units.All restaurants in the District are required to install and maintain a properly sized, District-approved grease interceptor. Similarly, any facility involved in vehicle or equipment maintenance/repair, or containing any floor drains in a shop or production area are required to install and maintain a District-approved sand/oil interceptor. Interceptor sizing can be based on either facility square footage, or fixture units IU Handbook, Interceptor specifications

7. Why does the SACWSD Inspector need to know my facility’s production rate?: The SACWSD uses a facility’s production rate in order to establish and monitor wastewater discharge, along with possible concentrations of pollutants that could enter the WWTP.

8. What are the steps the SACWSD may take if I deny the inspector access to my facility?: The SACWSD will make every attempt to work with its Industrial Users. However, if an inspector is denied access to a facility, he/she is now provided certain legal steps, up to and including a search warrant in order to enter the facility and conduct the inspection. Furthermore, the EPA is notified of all denials of entry throughout the District.

9. Who else (other than the SACWSD) is going to have access to the facility information I have provided the SACWSD during their inspection of my facility?: Only SACWSD IPP personnel and the Colorado and Federal EPA will have access to the facility information obtained during the inspection. If requested by the facility and deemed applicable, certain information may be treated as Confidential Business Information (CBI). However, any information involving any wastewater discharge to the District’s sewer system (including flow measurements and analytical results) will not be deemed CBI.

10. How often is the SACWSD required to inspect my facility?: If your facility operates under a Wastewater Discharge Permit (WDP), the SACWSD is required to inspect your facility at a minimum of once per calendar year. All other Industrial Users are generally inspected on a geographically determined revolving basis, which is approximately once every two years. However, a facility may be inspected much more frequently due to ongoing compliance issues, new construction/additions to the facility or any process changes.

11. Why did the SACWSD Inspector collect a water sample during the inspection of my facility?: The SACWSD is required to sample any facility that maintains a pretreatment device (grease or sand/oil interceptor) discharging to the District’s sanitary sewer. In addition, sampling may be required in response to any discharge or sewer problems in the area.

12. What parameters are the samples that were taken from my facility going to be analyzed for?: Samples obtained during routine facility inspections will generally be analyzed for the District’s Local Limits (please see Local Limits). The District’s Local Limits were established when the IP program was developed and are updated every 5 years. The Local Limits are arrived at through a study incorporating the total pollutants generated by all facilities in the District and the headworks loading at the District’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.

13. Does the SACWSD analyze the samples obtained from my facility at their own in-house laboratory?: No, the District sends all compliance samples to an accredited, third party laboratory. Samples are sent to the third party laboratory under an anonymous and confidential account number in order to safeguard against any possible analytical bias at the laboratory. Each facility also has the opportunity to request a split sample to send to their own third party laboratory.

14. Why is my facility required to pay the invoice for any sampling and analytical work that was completed for my facility by the SACWSD?: The District’s Rules and Regulations (Article IV) state that all Industrial Users subject to National Categorical Pretreatment Standards or Prohibitive Waste Standards shall pay all costs incurred by the District in operation and maintenance of the pretreatment program, including sampling and analytical costs.

15. How do I complete the Wastewater Questionnaire that has been required for my facility?: Please call the Industrial Pretreatment Department at 303-289-5769 with any questions regarding the completion of a Wastewater Questionnaire.

16. Whom do I contact if I observe someone dumping something down a manhole?: Please call the Industrial Pretreatment Department at 303-289-5769 immediately if you observe anyone dumping anything down a manhole.