BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE ON PRETREATMENT: THE SANITATION DISTRICTS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY'S PERSPECTIVE

The paper traces the development of the pretreatment program from the local regulations in the 70's, the EPA Categorical regulations of the 80s, the initiatives for pollution prevention and Environmental Management Systems of the 90's to the ultimate goal of sustainability in the new millennium. The paper also notes a recent shift of focus of the pretreatment program from industrial to municipal source control, turning attention from the highly regulated and compliant industrial sector to the creation of alternative controls for the virtually unregulated residential community. Beginning efforts were made to regulate chloride, nitrogen compounds, perchlorates, MTBE and lindane from domestic sources. In addition, diversion of dry weather flow to the sewer to protect beach water quality has placed a new demand on the pretreatment program. Finally, the paper will highlight the effort of the Sanitation Districts in communicating with industry on regulation, pretreatment administration and volunteer initiatives in the past decade, leading the industries towards a sustainability future.