The first step is to submit a short Wastewater Discharge Survey Form [DOC 132 KB] providing information on the business processes and related wastewater discharge. The Pretreatment Coordinator will review the survey form and notify the business or government agency if they need to submit a more detailed Wastewater Discharge Permit Application [DOC 240 KB].

Surveys and permit applications shall be mailed or delivered to the Pretreatment Coordinator at:

DC Water and Sewer Authority
Department of Wastewater Treatment, CMF 2nd Floor
5000 Overlook Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20032
Telephone: 202-787-4177

Survey forms may also be faxed to 202-787-4226 (with hard copy to follow in the mail).

DCWASA may issue one of the following two types of permits:

1. Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit - This type of permit is issued to significant industrial users with an average process flow of 25,000 gallons per day or more, users who contribute 5% or more of the total inflow or organic loading to Blue Plains, users with a potential to discharge significant concentrations of regulated pollutants, federally mandated categorical industries, or users who are determined to be in need of regulation.
2. Discharge Notification Letter - This type of permit is issued to minor industrial/ commercial businesses and government agencies that have less than 25,000 gallons per day of process flow and a small potential to cause an upset or pass-through event at Blue Plains.

Permitted facilities, identified as significant industrial users, are inspected and sampled on an annual basis, at a minimum, to help ensure compliance with local regulations. Those facilities with Discharge Notification Letters are typically inspected and sampled less frequently. Non-permitted facilities may also be inspected and sampled at any time by DCWASA and must still conform to the wastewater discharge regulations.

1. View/download the current discharge standards [PDF 259 KB] (i.e., maximum contaminant levels for metals, cyanide, and oil and grease) from the June 15, 2001 DC Register.
2. View/download the prohibited discharge standards [PDF 440 KB] from the DC Code 6-956.
3. The complete Washington, DC Code Sections 6-952 to 6-965 [PDF 1.1 MB].
4. View/download the pretreatment regulations [PDF 1.7 MB] (updates to the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Chapter 15 of Title 21) from the April 28, 2000 DC Register.
5. Information on SIC codes for completing survey forms and wastewater discharge permit applications.
6. Information on federally mandated categorical industries and standards.