b'which are required under the Clean Water Act andIf a communitys wastewater treatment plant fails authorized through the National Pollutant Dischargeto comply with pollutant limits in its permit, that Elimination System (NPDES), guide operations andfacility can endanger human health and harm limit pollutants in the treated wastewater dischargedwater quality. Thus, permit violations can lead to to receiving lakes or streams. To protect water quality,penalties. Due to the potentially dire health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hasenvironmental implications, consequences to a historically tracked compliance with these permits.municipality that violates its NPDES permit can be However, the Idaho Department of Environmentalharsh. The Clean Water Act provides for penalties of Quality (DEQ) is taking over this role, issuing newup to $51,570 per violation per day. The best way for permits called Idaho Pollutant Discharge Eliminationwastewater municipalities to avoid this situation is System (IPDES) permits. Each wastewater treatmentto instead prioritize eorts to ensure that facilities facility is charged with monitoring the pollutantsare operated and maintained to meet permit limits. regulated by its permit and reporting results. SomeThis may require investment of additional money in of the pollutants that most often exceed pollutantequipment or upgrades. However, doing so serves the limits include ammonia, biochemical oxygen demanddual purpose of protecting human health and water (BOD), chlorine, coliform, E. coli, pH, phosphorus, andquality and avoiding inevitable litigation.3suspended solids. Permits may also contain limits on pollutants such as mercury, lead, copper and other toxic metals and chemicals.3ENDNOTES1. Wastewater. Idaho Department of Environmental4. Ambulkar, A. and Nathanson, J. "Wastewater Quality. Accessed 7/21/21 https://www.deq.idaho.gov/ treatment". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Feb. 2021, water-quality/wastewater/ Accessed 7/23/2021 https://www.britannica.com/2. Report Card for Idahos Infrastructure2018.technology/wastewater-treatmentAmerican Society of Civil Engineers. Accessed 7/9/215. Septic and Septage. Idaho Department of Environmental https://infrastructurereportcard.org/wp-content/ Quality. Accessed 7/23/21 https://www.deq.idaho.gov/uploads/2021/07/FullReport-Idaho.pdf water-quality/wastewater/septic-and-septage/3. Walkins, A. Fourth Annual Idaho Wastewater Treatment Plant Performance Evaluation. Idaho Conservation League. Published 2020. Accessed 7/9/21 https://www.idahoconservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ICL_WaterTreatmentReport-2020-Final-Web.pdf126 I D A H O I N F R A S T R U C T U R E G U I D E B O O K'