Code of Massachusetts Regulations
314 CMR - DIVISION OF WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
Title 314 CMR 12.00 - Operation And Maintenance And Pretreatment Standards For Wastewater Treatment Works And Indirect Dischargers
Section 12.08 - Prohibitions and Standards for Discharge to POTWs
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1) General Prohibitions. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged to a POTW any substances, materials, or wastewaters that can: harm the sewers, wastewater treatment process, or equipment; have an adverse effect on the receiving waters; or otherwise endanger life, limb, public property, or constitute a nuisance. In determining the acceptability of these wastewaters, consideration shall be given to such factors as the quantities of such wastewaters in relation to flows and velocities in the sewers, construction of or materials comprising sewers, nature of the wastewater treatment process, capacity of the wastewater treatment process, degree of treatability of such wastewaters in the wastewater treatment plant, and other pertinent factors. Pollutants introduced into POTW's by a non domestic source shall not pass through the POTW or interfere with the operation or performance of the treatment works. These general prohibitions and the specific prohibitions in 314 CMR 12.08(2) apply to all non domestic sources introducing pollutants into a POTW whether or not the source is subject to other pretreatment standards or any other federal, state, or local pretreatment requirements.
(2) Specific Prohibitions. In addition, the following pollutants shall not be introduced into a POTW:
(3) Local Limits. Any indirect discharger shall comply with the local sewer use rules and regulations established pursuant to 314 CMR 12.03(5).
(4) Categorical Pretreatment Standards. In addition to the general and specific prohibitions and local limits established in 314 CMR 12.08(1) through (3), industrial users shall comply with applicable categorical pretreatment standards established in 40 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter N.
(5) State Imposed Standards. Where necessary to enforce the prohibitions in 314 CMR 12.08(1) and (2), the Department may establish on a case by case basis, specific limits on the discharge of wastewater from any user. Such limits may be established as a condition of an administrative order issued to the discharger pursuant to M.G.L. c. 21, § 44.
(6) Where more than one standard established by 314 CMR 12.08(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) is applicable to an indirect discharge to a POTW, the most stringent standard shall be applied.
(7) Any pretreatment facility which treats hazardous waste must also comply with the requirements of 310 CMR 30.000: Hazardous Waste.
(8) No person owning or maintaining a sewer system shall operate such system in a manner that causes, or allow additional sewer extensions or sewer connections to the system that would result in:
(9) No person owning, maintaining or using a sewer connection shall discharge or allow the discharge of wastewaters through such connection that results in a threat to the public health, safety, or the environment or a violation of 314 CMR 12.00.
(10) No person shall construct or allow the construction of sewer lines and associated appurtenances within a Zone I of a Public Water Supply Well or the Zone A of a Public Surface Water Supply, unless the construction is necessary to eliminate existing sources of pollution or to cross a tributary to the surface water. In cases where construction within Zones I or A are necessary, the construction of the sewer lines and associated appurtenances shall be designed using watertight construction methods.