The discharge of heavy metals, toxic organics and variable strength conventional pollutants from industrial (and other nondomestic) sources can have negative impacts on the operation of publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). Such industrial discharges can result in an interference at POTWs, recently redefined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to mean '...causation of a POTW's noncompliance with its permit or inability to lawfully use or dispose of its sludge.' The EPA-funded study considers the sources of and contaminants causing interference, the impact on the POTW, and the mitigation techniques available for interference prevention. The results of the study indicate that interference effects can be minimized with an effective program that combines the following elements: technically sound and enforceable industrial waste permits for all significant discharges, comprehensive monitoring of industrial waste permits for all significant discharges, comprehensive monitoring of industrial discharges and POTW plant influent, the ability to track plant upsets to the source of the discharge, and in-plant operational control to mitigate the impact of industrial wastes on POTWs.

"S.A. Hannah, project officer." "September 1986." "Contract no. 68-03-1821." "Period covered: July 1985 - September 1986." Includes bibliographical references and index.