Switch over to the technologic regulation of effluent discharges from municipal wastewater treatment facilities: ten years track record and recommendations after the adoption of the complete package of regulatory legal acts

Summary

On behalf of the participants in the process, a description of the concept of technological regulation of wastewater discharges from settlements, the development and adoption of legislative acts for the switch over to the new system is given. The paper dwells upon the adoption of the final regulatory legal act (Government Decree of September 2020 No. 1430), completing the development of a legislative framework designed to put an end on the use of fishery maximum permissible concentrations as wastewater discharge standards. Explanations are given on the relationship between the status of the provisions of the updated information and technical reference book ITS 10-2015 and the specified resolution in different applications. Recommendations are given for municipal wastewater treatment facilities and engineering companies on priority actions in the preparation and drawing up of applications for integrated environmental permits and design specifications and estimates according to the new regulations. Attention is drawn to the fact that switching over to a new regulation system requires assigning a category to a water body (performed by Rosvodresursy); otherwise the application of the process parameters established by the Government of the Russian Federation is impossible. The specific features of designing treatment facilities in the new regulation system are noted.

Keywords

treatment facilities , wastewater , best available techniques , legislation , discharge regulation , technological indicators , public sanitation systems of settlements , information and technical reference book ITS 10 , water body category

Reforming the system of wastewater discharge regulation –
an absolute necessity

Summary

The existing system of regulating wastewater discharges has a number of essential faults and requires revision. It is wise to compile the list of regulated pollutants on principle of ensuring the standard water quality of the water body at the monitoring section downstream of the discharge outlet. It is suggested to limit this list by excluding substances with the concentrations less than 0.3 MPC. The optimal alternative is differentiating microbiological parameters of the discharge by the type and ecological state of the receiving waters. Provision 6.1 of Appendix 1 «Methods of determining maximum permissible discharge of substances and microorganisms into water bodies for water users» declaring that discharging substances not included into the approved list is prohibited shall be excluded. The attempts to establish maximum stringent discharge standards according to the existing regulation system result in ineffective investing big financial means in advanced effluent treatment. By analogy with foreign countries it would be reasonable to introduce regulation on technological principle with due account for the ecological state of receiving waters. The recommended technological standards for municipal effluent discharges as applied to three categories of water bodies are presented: water courses with intensive water exchange; water reservoirs and low water courses; water courses exposed to eutrophication. Adoption and approval of the suggested technological standards are very important for the water and wastewater utilities.

Ключевые слова

wastewater , standard of allowable discharge , pollutants , technological rate setting , discharge regulation , technological effluent standards