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- Biological Phosphorus Removal
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Wastewater Municipal and Industrial Specific Permit Applications
This page is intended for those seeking information on applications for municipal and industrial facility-specific WPDES wastewater permits. Information on applications for other types of discharges is available through the following links:
- WPDES Confined Animal Feeding Operations Permit Applications
- Request for Coverage under an Existing WPDES General Permit for Wastewater Discharges
- WPDES Stormwater Permit Applications
Specific permits are issued to facilities that generate wastewater from unique types of activities, discharges having complex mixtures of pollutants or those employing significant biological or physical/chemical treatment systems. General permits are used to cover groups of facilities that generate wastewater from relatively simple operations having similar types and amounts of pollutants. If you click on the above link for requesting coverage under a general permit and do not find a category that fits your wastewater type or if you do not meet eligibility requirements, chances are that you will need a specific permit.
Currently, the Department mails applications for reissuance about 12 to 18 months prior to permit expiration. Permittees must complete and return paper copies of the application to the Department no later than 180 days prior to expiration.
Applicants applying for new specific permits need to make application far enough in advance so the Department has time to process the application and issue the permit prior to the time discharge will commence. Maximum time deadlines for Department action on applications are specified in s. NR 200.10, Wisconsin Administrative Code. This maximum time period approximates 6 months after the agency receives a complete application. Contact the appropriate Department of Natural Resources WPDES Wastewater Permits Staff based on location of the proposed discharge or industry type for additional guidance and specific instructions for applying for new permits.
Industrial applicants should also know that plans for any treatment system that will be used to lower pollutant levels from raw wastewater streams require Department approval (up to 90 days) prior to construction. The time periods for Department action on plan submittals may, in some cases, run concurrently with the permit processing time. The same Department contacts can provide more specific advice on plan approval requirements.
The application for a given permittee consists of a number of sections that may differ from another facility's application, based on discharge type (surface water, land treatment, land application, stormwater). However, if the Department has incorrect or outdated information on your facility, the application may not contain the proper parts. The instructions that accompany the application should help you decide if you have the correct sections. If not, you may contact the DNR person who sent you the application or you may read the descriptions below and click on the appropriate links to download the missing application sections with item-by-item instructions. Sections are provided in a print-only PDF format.
If you are already familiar with the application section(s) you wish to download, a shorter listing of the WPDES Wastewater permit application parts is also available with links to the same PDF files described below.
The correct sections for your application may include the following:
Cover Letter Title Page General Information (Part I) Each permittee must complete and return Part I, sections A. and B.
Wastewater Characterization, Treatment & Disposal (Part II)
Section A. Description of Municipal/Industrial Activity
Each permittee must complete and return one of the following:
Section B. Specific Outfall Information Sections
Along with completing section A, and depending on the type of wastewater discharges that are present at the facility, each permittee must complete and return one or more of the Specific Outfall Information Sections:
Surface Water Outfall Information
This section must be completed and returned for each outfall that discharges wastewater directly to surface waters. If your facility has more than one such outfall, you should complete a copy for each outfall, identified with an outfall number. You may download one of the following sections:
Surface Water Outfall
Information - Municipal (PDF, 3 pgs., 32KB)
Surface Water Outfall Information - Industrial (PDF, 6 pgs., 43KB)
Effluent Monitoring Requirements (for surface water outfalls) - Municipal
This section consists of Tables A-1 (Effluent Monitoring Form), A-2 (Additional Monitoring Form) and A-3 (Discharge Monitoring Report [DMR] Information Form). These forms are coupled with the Surface Water Outfall Information section and must be completed and returned for each outfall that discharges wastewater directly to surface waters. If your facility has more than one such outfall, you should complete forms for each outfall, identified with an outfall number. Note that monitoring requirements are different for major municipal entities (actual flow equal to or greater than 1 million gallons per day) than for minor entities. A single set of instructions for these forms are separate.
Effluent Monitoring
Requirements - Municipal Major (w/o instructions) (PDF, 11 pgs., 445K)
Effluent
Monitoring Requirements - Municipal Minor (w/o instructions) (PDF, 4 pgs.,
171K)
Effluent
Monitoring Instructions - Municipal (PDF, 14 pgs., 87K)
Effluent Characterization Requirements (for Outfalls Discharging to Surface Waters) - Industrial
The required effluent characterization data for each industrial wastewater outfall to surface waters must be entered on Tables A-1 through A-5, B-1 through B-5 or C-1 through C-4. Complete and return a set of these forms coupled with a Surface Water Outfall Information Section for each outfall that discharges wastewater to surface waters. If your facility has more than one such outfall, you should complete a set of forms for each outfall, identified with an outfall number.
The instructions for these forms are contained in the following document:
Effluent Monitoring Instructions - Industrial (PDF, 22 pgs., 116K)
Tables A-1 through A-5 for Discharges Consisting Exclusively of Noncontact Cooling Water
For surface water discharges containing exclusively noncontact cooling water (during dry weather flows), you must complete and return Tables A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 and A-5 for each outfall. If your facility has more than one such outfall, you should complete this section for each outfall. If the noncontact cooling water outfall contains other process wastewaters it must be tested as specified below as a primary or secondary industry process wastewater. Noncontact cooling water is defined as water used for cooling which does not come in contact with any raw material, waste material, intermediate product or finished product. The noncontact cooling water must have been used in heat exchangers, air or refrigeration compressors, or other cooling system where contamination of the water is not expected. Note that condenser cooling water for Steam Electric Power facilities is considered to be a regulated process wastewater and it must be tested as specified in the C tables below as a primary industry process wastewater. Note that you must sample the discharge and test for all parameters listed in Table A-1 of this section.
Tables B-1 through B-5 for Secondary Industry Process Wastewater and Cooling Water
You must complete and return Tables B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4 and B-5 for each surface water outfall that discharges cooling water, boiler blowdown or process wastewater from a secondary industry. Cooling water means water which has been used primarily for cooling but which may be contaminated with process waste or airborne material. Barometric condenser cooling water, can cooling water and cooling tower blowdown are examples of cooling water that must be tested using Tables B1-5. Secondary industries, such as vegetable canning and dairy products, are industries not listed as primary industries in Table 4 of these instructions. Process wastewater means any water which, during manufacturing or processing, comes into direct contact with or results from the production or use of any raw material, intermediate product, or finished product, byproduct or waste product. Process wastewater is likely to contain, in solution or suspension, various components of such raw materials or products. If your facility has more than one such outfall, you should complete this section for each outfall. Note that you must sample the discharge and test for all parameters listed in Table B-1 of this section. Use the added chloride monitoring part if the facility is a dairy, creamery, meat processor, water utility with ion exchange water softening or any other industry expected to have high chloride levels due to salt (NaCl) or other high chloride product use.
Effluent Monitoring
Requirements - Industrial Secondary (w/o instructions) (PDF, 7 pgs.,
102K)
Effluent
Monitoring Requirements - Industrial w/ added chloride monitoring (w/o
instructions) (PDF, 1 pg., 25K)
Tables C-1 through C-4 for Primary Industry Process Wastewater
You must complete and return Tables C-1, C-2, C-3 and C-4 for each surface water outfall that discharges process wastewater from a primary industry. (Primary industries are listed in Table 4 of these instructions.) If your facility has more than one such outfall, you should complete this section for each outfall. Note that you must sample the discharge and test for all parameters listed in Table C-1 of this section. Use the added chloride monitoring part if the facility is a dairy, creamery, meat processor, water utility with ion exchange water softening or any other industry expected to have high chloride levels. Use the dioxin and furans monitoring part if the facility is a significant discharge from a pulp and paper mill.
Effluent Monitoring
Requirements - Industrial Primary (w/o instructions) (PDF, 14 pgs., 534K)
Effluent
Monitoring Requirements - Industrial w/ added chloride monitoring (w/o instructions) (PDF,
1 pg., 25K)
Effluent
Monitoring Requirements - Industrial with dioxins and furans monitoring (w/o
instructions) (PDF, 2 pgs., 32K)
Land Treatment System Discharge Information
This section must be completed and returned for each land treatment outfall at your facility. If your facility has more than one such outfall, you should complete a copy for each outfall, identified with an outfall number. The following are considered Land Treatment Discharges:Absorption Ponds (Seepage Cells) - These are treatment ponds that are designed to infiltrate wastewater into the unsaturated soil zone for treatment and disposal.
Overland Flow - These are land treatment systems in which the applied wastewater flows uniformly down grassy sloped terrain having very low permeability soils and is collected at the bottom of the slope for subsequent discharge.
Spray Irrigation - These are either fixed or traveling spray devices that distribute wastewater onto vegetated fields for treatment and disposal.These are not vehicle hauled wastes.A spray irrigation system is usually dedicated to a specific field and is usually served by a pipeline that transports the wastewater to be irrigated.
Ridge and Furrow - This type of treatment system relies on above ground disposal into a set of infiltration cells that may be dosed and rested as needed. Each cell is partitioned into several furrows by vegetated ridges.
Subsurface Soil Absorption - This type of treatment is designed as a series of underground perforated pipes that distribute wastewater for infiltration and soil treatment. A subsurface soil absorption system may be divided into cells that may be dosed and rested.
Land Treatment
- Municipal (PDF, 3 pgs., 31K)
Land Treatment - Industrial (PDF, 5 pgs., 37K)
Land Application Discharge, General Sludge/Biosolids Management Information - Municipal
You must complete this section if you land apply sludge. Sludge means the accumulated solids generated during biological, physical or chemical treatment, coagulation or sedimentation of water or wastewater. If you land apply more than one type of sludge (for example, liquid and cake), you should complete a copy for each, identified with an outfall number.Land Application - Municipal (PDF, 6 pgs., 39K)
Land Application Discharge Information - Industrial
You must complete and return this section if you land apply any of the waste types
listed below. These are usually vehicle hauled wastes.
Liquid Waste - Liquid wastes include silage leachate, whey, whey permeate and
filtrate, contact cooling water, cooling and boiler water containing water
treatment additives and wash water generated in industrial, commercial and
agricultural operations excluding certain fruit and vegetable washing
facilities.
By Product Solids - By-product solids are waste materials from animal
product or food processing industries including remains of butchered animals,
paunch manure, leaves, cuttings, peelings and fresh or actively fermenting
sweet corn silage.
Sludge Application - Sludge means the accumulated solids generated
during biological, physical or chemical treatment, coagulation or sedimentation
of water or wastewater.
If you land apply more than one type of waste, you should complete a copy for each, identified with an outfall number.
Land Application - Industrial (including by-product solids) (PDF, 6 pgs., 43K)
Groundwater Monitoring Information
You must complete and return this section if your current WPDES discharge permit requires groundwater monitoring.Groundwater Monitoring (PDF, 3 pgs., 28K)
Stormwater
You must complete this section if you are an industrial facility.Stormwater - Industries only (PDF, 2 pgs., 27K)
Additional Comments and Signature (Part III)
Each permittee must complete and return this part of the application.
Additional Comments and Signature Page (PDF, 2 pgs., 25K)
Supplemental Information Requests
One or more of the following supplemental information requests may be included in your application package if the Department feels it is appropriate for your facility. If a supplement you feel is appropriate for you facility is not included in the application package you may download it by clicking on the links below or you may contact the permit drafter or other contact identified in the cover letter that accompanied the application package.
Work Sheet for Estimating Maximum Design Flows for Municipal WWTPs
To complete the reissuance application, you must provide average, maximum day, maximum week and maximum month design flows for your facility. Where an approved facilities plan has evaluated these design flows, values from the facilities plan should be used. If design flows are not available from an approved facilities plan, the "Work Sheet for Estimating Maximum Design Flows for Municipal WWTPs" should be used. If you submitted this information as part of your last permit application and no significant treatment system changes have occurred, you need not re-calculate the flow values.Work Sheet for Estimating Maximum Design Flows for Municipal WWTPs (PDF, 3 pgs., 12K)
Chloride Variance Worksheet
You have been instructed to do monitoring for chloride at a frequency based on what the Department believes is the probability of exceeding a water quality based effluent limitation. If results of monitoring show effluent chloride levels above a daily maximum of 1514 mg/L, your reissued permit will likely contain a chloride effluent limitation. If you discharge to a low-dilution stream and results of monitoring show chloride levels above 395 mg/L, your reissued permit will likely contain a chloride effluent limitation. If you believe you may be unable to achieve these effluent chloride levels, you may want to apply for a chloride variance. To start that process, complete the chloride variance worksheet and submit it with your permit application.Chloride Variance Worksheet (PDF, 4 pgs., 20K)
Alternative Phosphorus Effluent Limitation Information Request
Industrial facilities that discharge more than 60 pounds of phosphorus to surface waters during any calendar month will receive a 1 mg/L effluent limitation for phosphorus unless an alternative limit is requested pursuant to s. NR 217.04 (2), Wis. Adm. Code. To request an alternative limit you must demonstrate that the 1 mg/L total phosphorus effluent standard is not appropriate and provide the necessary information for the Department to establish an alternative limit. The demonstration and alternative limit information must be submitted with each permit reissuance application, except if your current permit already contains an alternative limit and there have been no significant changes that have occurred since your current permit was issued. The "Alternative Phosphorus Effluent Limitation Information Request" provides guidance on completing the demonstration.
Alternative Phosphorus Effluent Limitation Information Request (PDF, 5 pgs., 30K)
Chapter NR 207 Water Quality Antidegradation Information Request
If you request an increase in any of your permit effluent limitations, you most likely will have to provide the information specified in the Water Quality Antidegradation Information Request. Contact the permit drafter identified in the cover letter that accompanied the permit reissuance package to verify whether or not you must submit this information. All requirements of Wisconsin Administrative Code, Chapter NR 207, Water Quality Antidegradation must be satisfied before the Department can reissue a permit containing an increased effluent limitation.
Chapter NR 207 Water Quality Antidegradation Information Request (PDF, 3 pgs., 13K)
Environmental Analysis Questionnaire
If you request an increase in any of your permit effluent limitations, the Department may have to prepare an Environmental Assessment pursuant to Wisconsin Administrative Code, Chapter NR 150, Environmental Analysis and Review Procedures for Department Actions before a permit containing the increased effluent limitation can be reissued. To expedite the preparation of the Environmental Assessment, the Department requests that you complete and submit the Environmental Analysis Questionnaire. Contact the permit drafter identified in the cover letter that accompanied the permit reissuance package if you are unsure whether or not an Environmental Assessment will be necessary.
Environmental Analysis Questionnaire (PDF, 5 pgs., 12K)
Chapter NR 103 Water Quality Standards for Wetlands Information Request
If you request an increase in any of your permit effluent limitations or you anticipate the volume of your discharge will increase over the term of the reissued permit and your wastewater discharge will potentially impact a wetland either directly or indirectly, you must submit the information specified by the Wetlands Information Request. Contact the permit drafter identified in the cover letter that accompanied the permit reissuance package if you are not sure whether a wetland will be impacted. All requirements of Wisconsin Administrative Code, Chapter NR 103, Water Quality Standards for Wetlands must be satisfied before the Department can reissue a permit containing an increased effluent limitation.
Chapter NR 103 Water Quality Standards for Wetlands Information Request (PDF, 2 pgs., 11K)
For more information, contact: Permits Process and Facilities Management Section.
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