Pretreatment Program

Overview

The Pretreatment Program at Walworth County Metropolitan Sewerage District (WalCoMet) is a federally mandated program that gives publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) regulatory authority over commercial and industrial users of the municipal wastewater system.

Water reclamation facilities, like WalCoMet, are designed to treat domestic sewage from households and local businesses. Industrial and commercial facilities may produce toxic or unconventional waste that can interfere or pass through the water reclamation process. Interference or pass-through waste may contaminate treated water leaving the facility and could contain pollutants that may be harmful to people, aquatic plants, animals, or even make the water toxic.

In order to protect water and the water reclamation process, as well as comply with State and Federal Law, WalCoMet adopted a Pretreatment Ordianance and has operated a state-approved Pretreatment Program since 1996. This program allows WalCoMet to issue permits to a variety of industrial users.

Regulated Industries

Industries that must be included in the Pretreatment Program are:

If you are unsure if these requirements apply to your facility, please fill out the Industrial Waste Survey

Dental Facilities

WalCoMet began permitting general dentistry offices in 2020 due to the high mercury content of dental amalgam (50% mercury by weight). The best method to limit mercury, or any pollutant, from discharging into our waters is to prevent it from entering the wastewater stream. Dental amalgam is a substance that can easily be captured on-site and treated properly to prevent mercury from entering the environment.

If your facility uses dental amalgam and are unsure if you hold a permit, please contact us at thanson@walcomet.com or call us at (262) 728-4140.

Local Limits

Local limits are established to address the specific needs and concerns for WalCoMet, the sludge, and the receiving waters. As a result, WalCoMet periodically evaluates the facility's capabilities and establishes local limits to protect it from receiving wastes that pass through or interfere with operations. 

Current Local Limits

Pollutant

Daily Maximum Limit (mg/L)

Arsenic

0.14

Cadmium

0.14

Chlorides

4,082

Chromium

10.22

Copper

1.50

Cyanide

1.13

Lead

0.97

Mercury

0.04

Molybdenum

0.31

Nickel

1.56

Silver

1.66

TTOs

1.77

Zinc

2.02

Fats, Oils, Grease (FOG)

100

pH

Outside of range 5 - 9

Pretreatment Forms

Pretreatment forms are available here. Please submit completed forms via email to thanson@walcomet.com, mail, or fax to the address or number provided below.

Questions about Pretreatment?

 

Phone: (262) 728-4140

Email: thanson@walcomet.com