The pretreatment program is designed to keep the waste from commercial entities under control with regards to fats, oils and grease that flows down the drains.

Some major elements of the City's pretreatment program:

• Reviewing pretreatment designs
• Issuing permits
• Performing inspections
• Collecting samples
• Reviewing self-monitoring reports
• Enforcing regulations

Port Arthur businesses are required to install, operate and adequately maintain pretreatment devices and/or systems to remove pollutants that could otherwise damage or obstruct the wastewater collection system or interfere with the wastewater treatment process.

The main function of the Pretreatment program is to protect the wastewater treatment plants with consistent wastewater output tracking from Industrial Users.

An Industrial User is described as:

• Discharging 25,000 gallons per day or more of process wastewater, noncontact cooling water, or boiler blowdown
• Contributing 5% or more of the dry-weather hydraulic loading or capacity of the wastewater treatment plants
• Having reasonable potential to adversely affect the wastewater treatment plants

Two regulations govern pretreatment programs: 40 CFR, Parts 122 and 403.