When the discussion about publically owned treatment works (POTWs) located in Virginia and their acceptance criteria was on the site about 10 days ago, I contacted the Tidewater Regional Office of the Virginia Dept Env Quality in Virginia Beach.  This is the response:

“Sorry to be slow in getting back to you.  I have looked at the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Regulation.  This regulation mirrors the code of federal regulations.

The regulation restricts what can be discharge into wastewater collection systems collecting waste for treatment at a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) in a section called the General Pretreatment Regulations.  My initial thought about this part of the permit regulation was that it only applies to communities with pretreatment programs such as Hampton Roads.  But in reading a little more carefully, I am of the opinion that these regulations apply to any POTW whether it has a pretreatment program or not.

I have scanned a portion of this regulation and attached it. You may draw your own conclusions [note: not included; material was VAC 25-31-10, VPDES Permit Regulations, dated Jan 1, 08, available on line]

 

If you have follow-up questions, please feel free to contact [note: I believe it would be best to contact a Virginia Dept of Env Quality regional office – look on line]”

My point is there are shades of gray in interpreting standards, but most enforcement people would rather start a dialogue before a violation than an enforcement action after one.

Since this all got rather confidential, I answered everyone off the forum. But I was knocked out by the great answers and tips I got.  Thanks, many thanks, to everyone who helped me with this. 

Monona Rossol