Survival with Proposed Effluent Limitation Guidelines – Wastewater Management in a More Restrictive Environment

The US EPA's draft update regulations for Steam Electric Power Generating Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELGs) were released on April 19, 2013. The proposed rule was published on June 7, 2013. The ELGs are nationally applicable, technology-based discharge requirements. Additionally, each state may regulate effluents from electric utilities more stringently than on the federal level. These ELGs are incorporated into NPDES discharge permits. The EPA first issued effluent guidelines for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category (i.e., the Steam Electric Effluent Guidelines) in 1974. There were revisions in 1977 and 1982. The ELGs are codified in 40 CFR Part 423 and address the following waste streams:Once-through cooling water;Cooling tower blowdown;Fly ash transport water;Bottom ash transport water;Metal cleaning wastes;Coal pile runoff; andLow-volume wastes sources.The Low-Volume category includes wastewaters from units such as wet scrubber air pollution control systems, ion exchange water treatment systems, water treatment evaporator blowdown, laboratory and sampling streams, boiler blowdown, floor drains, cooling tower basin cleaning wastes, and recirculating house service water systems. Sanitary and air conditioning wastes are not included [40 CFR 423.11(b)].