Incinerated Sewage Sludge Ash in Facing Bricks

INTRODUCTION The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed a review of discharges from water treatment plants (WTPs). The purpose of this report is to summarize the data collected during this review (principally covered in Sections 2, 3, 9, 10, and 11) and to serve as a technical resource to permit writers (primarily covered in Sections 4 through 8 and Sections 12 and 13). EPA selected the drinking water treatment (DWT) industry for a rulemaking as part of its 2004 Biennial Effluent Limitations and Guidelines Program planning process. EPA is not at this time continuing its effluent guidelines rulemaking for the DWT industry. In the 2004 Plan, EPA announced that it would begin development of a regulation to control the pollutants discharged from medium and large DWT plants. See 69 FR 53720 (September 2, 2004). Based on a preliminary study and on public comments, EPA was interested in the potential volume of discharges associated with drinking water facilities. The preliminary data were not conclusive, and the Agency proceeded with additional study and analysis of treatability, including an industry survey. After considering extensive information about the industry, its treatment residuals, wastewater treatment options, and discharge characteristics, and after considering other priorities, EPA has suspended work on this rulemaking.