Publicly Owned Treatment Works in the United States

Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) in Environmental Law

The name for a wastewater treatment facility owned by a government agency and operated primarily for the benefit of the surrounding community POTWs may handle only domestic wastes or they may also process both domestic and industrial wastes.

Wastes contributed by industrial users must be pretreated [see pretreatment] before they go through the POTW system. In some communities, the government may add special equipment so that the pretreatment can be done at the POTW. Otherwise, the industrial user is required to treat its wastes so that they are compatible with the capabilities of the POTW and do not simply pass through the system untreated. The POTW may enter into agreements with industrial users, fine them for not treating their wastes, or use other methods of control. Because the industrial user could easily cause the POTW to violate its permit, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expects the governmental authority to do whatever is necessary to make its contributing industries comply with the law.

All discharges of pollutants to waters of the United States require a permit unless some other exemption applies. Publicly owned treatment works are not exempt. They must have a permit issued under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. They are limited to specified types and quantities of pollutants, are required to keep records and report, and must meet the technology requirements the EPA establishes. See also Clean Water Act.
Based on “Environment and the Law. A Dictionary”.