Palm Beach County Pretreatment Program Water Testing

What is the Pretreatment Program?

The State of Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) began mandating pretreatment programs in 1997. The purpose of the program is to stop the introduction of pollutants, which can cause damage to equipment and interfere with the wastewater treatment process. The program is important in preventing harm to workers, the public, and the environment.
Pretreatment is a requirement placed on some commercial and industrial wastewater customers that treat wastewater before discharging it to the wastewater collection system. For example, grease traps, oil/water separators, chemical neutralization, and cyclone grit separators are a few methods of pretreatment.

 

What Businesses Are Required for Pretreatment Testing

  • Restaurants / Food Preparation Industries

  • Hotels

  • Hospitals

  • Funeral Homes

  • Metal Fabrication / Metal Shops

  • Transportation Cleaning Facilities

  • All Industrial Waste Producers

 

What Type of Water Testing is Required?

As part of the pretreatment program, participating facilities must test for:

  • Biological oxygen demand – 400 mg/L or less in concentration

  • Total Suspended Solids – 400 mg/L or less in concentration

  • Oil/Grease – 100 mg/L or less in concentration

A third-party water testing professional should be used for collecting water samples. It is also important to have a copy of the work/service order (showing date of service, address, services provided, signature, etc.) and a certified lab test report with an analysis indicating that results do not exceed the allowable limits.

What Happens if Parameters are Exceeded?

For oil/grease interceptors, grease traps, and oil/water separators, a letter will be sent stating what test(s) failed to remain below limits and by how much. There is a thirty (30) day period to take appropriate action. This includes:
  • Have your pretreatment device (grease trap) thoroughly cleaned.
  • Have an independent, certified laboratory obtain a sample from your pretreatment device and analyze it for the limits stated in the letter. The test results should be at or below the limits stated.
  • Forward the retest results to the Pretreatment Program Coordinator.
After thirty (30) days, a surcharge will be added to the utility bill. For industrial dischargers, this will be decided based on the permit issued by PBCWUD.