Industrial Wastewater Program

MassDEP regulates industrial wastewater to protect our water resources.

MassDEP regulates the discharge, treatment and storage of industrial wastewater to preserve and protect inland and coastal surface waters, groundwater, and sewer systems.

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes -

MassDEP's Industrial Wastewater regulations apply to businesses and facilities with the following Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes:

SIC Code	SIC Code
1000-1399 Metal Mining, Coal Mining, Oil & Gas Exploration	1474-1499 Chemical/Fertilizer Mining, Nonmetallic Minerals
2000-3999 Manufacturing	4231 Maintenance Facilities for Motor Freight Transport
4581 Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Service	4911-4939 Electric and Gas Production
4953 Refuse Systems	7216 Drycleaning (except rug cleaning)
7217 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning	7218 Industrial Laundries
7384 Photofinishing Laboratories	7532-7539 Automotive Repair Shops & Paint Shops
7549 Automotive Services	7819 Motion Picture Developing /Printing/Film Processing
8062-8069 Hospitals	8071 Medical Laboratories
8072 Dental Laboratories	8731 Commercial Physical & Biological Research

Industrial wastewater may not be discharged to conventional septic systems, innovative/alternative (I/A) systems or cesspools except if approved by MassDEP under 310 CMR 15.004(4). On-site discharges of industrial wastewater must be to industrial wastewater holding tanks and containers.

If a discharge of industrial wastewater to an on-site system is being discontinued, the owner must not only comply with MassDEP requirements for holding tank and containers, but also must notify the agency's Underground Injection Control Program of the closure

Regulations

Industrial Wastewater Regulations

Policies & Guidance

• Environmental Compliance for Laboratories
  Covers industrial wastewater, hazardous waste management and other requirements.
• Guidance: Documenting Compliance with Mercury Limits When Discharging Industrial Wastewater to Sewers
  What facilities must do to demonstrate compliance with the limit of one part per billion (1ppb) of mercury in wastewater. 

Permits & Forms

WP 56: Industrial Wastewater Holding Tank Compliance Certification
Owner/operators of holding tanks, mobile tanks and containers used for non-hazardous, non-sanitary wastewater need to file one-time certifications.

WP 91, 92: Permit for Industrial Sewer User
Specific industrial facilities that discharge wastewater to Publicly Owner Treatment Works (POTWs) need to obtain sewer connection permits

Dry Cleaners
Annual certification forms and instructions for dry-cleaning facilities.

Photo Processors
Annual certification forms and instructions for photo-processing facilities.