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 ^VISION 
 
 WATER QUALITY STANDARDS DIGEST 
 A COMPILATION OF FEDERAL/ STATE STANDARDS ON 
 
 SECONDARY TREATMENT 
 REQUIREMENTS 
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 
 WASHINGTON, D.C. 
 

 
 
 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 This digest was compiled in order to provide general information to the 
 public as wfcll as to Federal, State, and local officials. It contains excerpts 
 from the individual Federal-State water quality standards relating to the level 
 of treatment required for municipal and industrial waste discharges to inter¬ 
 state waters. The water quality standards program is directed by the Environ¬ 
 mental Protection Agency, an independent regulatory agency which has responsi¬ 
 bility for approving State-adopted standards for interstate waters, evaluating 
 adherence to the standards, and overseeing enforcement of standards compliance. 
 
 Standards, the first nationwide strategy for water quality management, con¬ 
 tain four major elements: the use (recreation, drinking water, fish and wild¬ 
 life propagation, industrial, or agricultural) to be made for the interstate 
 water; criteria to protect those uses; implementation plans (for needed indus¬ 
 trial-municipal waste treatment improvements, among others) and enforcement plans 
 and an antidegradation statement to protect existing high quality waters. 
 
 Minimum water quality criteria, or numerical specifications of physical, 
 chemical, temperature, and biological levels, are stated in the National Tech¬ 
 nical Advisory Committee report to the Secretary of the Interior, Water Quality 
 Criteria , dated April 1, 1968, and published by the Government Printing Office, 
 Washington, D.C. Unavailability of the NTAC report before June 30, 1967--the 
 date set by the Water Quality Act of 1965 for formal adoption of State standards- 
 resulted in significant variations between the state-adopted and the NTAC min¬ 
 imum criteria. Some standards were adopted and approved before the NTAC report 
 became available. Also, the Water Quality Criteria report is subject to up¬ 
 dating in light of new scientific and technical information. 
 
 Most states require secondary treatment for municipal wastes or its indus¬ 
 trial equivalent. This is generally defined as 857o reduction in the 5-day bio¬ 
 chemical oxygen demand. Many times the applicable state definition is found in 
 state administrative documents, laws, regulations, etc. other than the water 
 quality standards. Most states also have an approved antidegradation statement 
 which generally requires the application of the highest and best degree of waste 
 treatment available under existing technology. 
 
 Since water quality standards are revised from time to time, following pro¬ 
 cedures set forth in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, individual entries 
 in this digest may be superseded. As these revisions are accomplished, this 
 digest will be updated and reissued. Because this publication is not intended 
 for use other than as a general information resource, for the latest information, 
 and for special purposes and applications, refer to the existing approved water 
 quality standards which can be obtained from the State water pollution control 
 agencies or EPA Washington, D.C. or regional offices. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ALABAMA 
 
 Domestic Requirement 
 
 SEWAGE : 
 
 1. All sewage discharged to waters of the state used as sources of 
 public water supply, used for the harvesting of oysters or customarily 
 used by the public for swimming and other whole body water-contact 
 activities shall receive a minimum of secondary treatment and, if 
 necessary, disinfection. 
 
 2. All sewage discharged to waters of the state used for purposes 
 other then as sources of public water supply, swimming and other 
 whole body water-contact activities shall receive a minimum of 
 secondary treatment except those discharges of sewage which, on 
 the effective date of these criteria, are receiving less than 
 secondary treatment under a valid permit from the Commission and 
 which discharge does not contravene water quality standards 
 adopted and promulgated by the Commission. Such discharges of 
 sewage as excluded herein shall receive a minimum of secondary 
 treatment at such time as plants existing at the time of exclusion 
 must be enlarged or become inadequate for any reason. 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 . . . "secondary treatment" of sewage means a process . . . capable 
 of removing virtually all floating and settleable solids, from 75 to 
 95 per cent of the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand and in excess of 
 75 per cent of suspended solid contained in untreated sewage. 
 
 Industrial Requirements 
 
 INDUSTRIAL WASTES : 
 
 1. All industrial wastes likely to contain bacteria harmful to humans 
 shall receive a minimum of secondary treatment or the equivalent 
 thereof and, if necessarv, disinfection before being discharged to 
 waters of the state used as sources of public water supply, used 
 for the harvesting of oysters or customarily used by the public 
 for swimming and other whole body water-contact spoarts. 
 
 2. All industrial wastes discharged to any waters of the state shall 
 receive a minimum of secondary treatment or the equivalent thereof 
 except those discharges of industrial waste which, on the effective 
 date of these criteria, are receiving less than secondary treatment 
 or the equivalent thereof under a valid permit from the Commission 
 and which discharges do not contravene water quality standards 
 adopted and promulgated by the Commission. Such discharges of 
 industrial wastes herein excluded shall receive a minimum of 
 secondary treatment or the equivalent thereof at such time as 
 plants existing at the time of exclusion must be enlarged or 
 become inadequate for any reason. 
 
 1 
 
nF.F IN IT ION : 
 
 "Secondary treatment" of industrial waste means a process . . . 
 capable of removing virtually all floating and ^ttleable solids 
 and reduction of 5-day biochemical oxygen and suspended solids 
 the maximum extent possible within limits of pratxcability and 
 technology but not less than 75 per cent. 
 
 For industrial waste in which biochemical oxygen demand and suspended 
 solids are not involved, objectionable constituents shall be 
 controlled, removed or reduced to the maximum degree attainable 
 within the limits of practicability and technology. 
 
 "equivalent of secondary treatment” means control and 
 restriction, generally through in-plant measures or storage and 
 regulation of discharge, of waste constituents ... to a deg 
 comparable to . . . applicable secondary treatment processes. 
 
 Z 
 
ALASKA 
 
 Requirement 
 
 Secondary treatment is required for all industrial and municipal 
 waste unless engineering studies approved by the Department of 
 Environmental Conservation, and where interstate waters are affec¬ 
 ted, concurred in by the Environmental Protection Agency, show that 
 the water quality standards can be met with primary treatment. 
 
 Primary treatment is the minimum acceptable treatment. Disinfection 
 will be required where necessary. 
 
 Definition : 
 
 The removal of dissolved and colloidal materials that in their 
 unaltered state, are not amenable to separation through the 
 application of mechanical means and/or gravitational forces. 
 
 Secondary treatment is generally accomplished through unit pro¬ 
 cesses such as bio-absorption, biological oxidation, wet combustion, 
 other chemical reactions, and absorption on surfaceactive media, 
 change of phase, or other processes ... of removal of colloidal and 
 dissolved solids .... Disinfection will be required where necessary. 
 
 3 
 
ARIZONA 
 
 Requirement 
 
 policy requires the maximum practical degree of treatment 
 for all waste sources under the jurisdiction of the Board. For 
 domestic wastes this shall be secondary treatment, its equivalent 
 or better, and effluent chlorination or disinfection where these 
 wastes contain pathogenic organisms .... Industrial wastes 
 containing dissolved or suspended organic material must receive 
 treatment resulting in an effluent comparable to domestic wastes 
 for discharge at that point. 
 
 For industrial wastes containing inorganic suspended solids, primar y 
 treatment, its equivalent or better, will be required. Other 
 methods and degree of treatment will be required, as appronnate, 
 to remove toxicants, nutrients, oily constituent and other polluting 
 materials from wastes before discharge. 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 No specific definition incorporated into the standards. 
 
 4 
 
ARKANSAS 
 
 REQUIREMENT 
 
 . . . treatment or control must be consistent with the state of the 
 art and best practicable industry standards, the minimum requirement 
 being secondary treatment or equivalent, giving due regard to the 
 quality and flow of the receiving waters; the present, future and 
 potential uses of such waters; economic feasibility; and other 
 relevant factors. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 The removal of practically all suspended solids and the reduction 
 of the biochemical oxygen demand by at least eighty-five (85) 
 per cent, and may include the in-plant control of industrial 
 wastes as prescribed by the Arkansas Pollution Control Commission. 
 
 5 
 
CALIFORNIA 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 Statewide policy does not specifically require "secondary treatment. 
 
 Establishment and enforcement of waste discharge requirements which 
 will result in the best practicable treatment or control of the 
 discharge necessary to assure that (a) a pollution or nuisance will 
 not occur and (b) the highest water quality consistent with maximum 
 benefit to the people of the state is mamt-amed. 
 
 6 
 
COLORADO 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 All wastes capable of treatment or control prior to discharge into 
 any waters of the state, shall receive secondary treatment with dis¬ 
 infection or its industrial waste equivalent, as determined by the 
 State Water Pollution Control Commission. Lesser degrees of treat¬ 
 ment or control may be permitted only where it can be demonstrated 
 that the standards applicable to the classified use of the water 
 can be a ttained. Greater degrees of treatment or control will 
 be required where it can be demonstrated that it is necessary to 
 comply with the standards applicable to the classified use of the 
 water. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 A method of treatment in which a minimum of 807, of the biochemical- 
 oxygen consuming material is removed. 
 
 7 
 
CONNECTICUT 
 
 REQUIREMENT 
 
 LTUll X 
 
 . ♦- Uatpr Resources Commission under 
 
 The actions of "session) will be aimed at eliminating 
 
 r^rw^fatigWafg^of Garment will be tested to main- 
 
 the water quality standards adopted. 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 No specitic definition 
 
 incorporated into the standards. 
 
 8 
 
DELAWARE 
 
 REQUIREMENT & DEFINITION ; 
 
 All new waste discharges shall receive a minimum of secondary treat¬ 
 ment (at least 85 per cent removal of 5-day biochemical oxygen 
 demand) or equivalent. All existing waste discharges which do 
 not receive secondary treatment or equivalent shall be upgraded 
 with some exceptions. These exceptions are recognized only when 
 all reasonable water uses and all the water quality criteria are 
 satisfied with less than secondary treatment. 
 
 9 
 
FLORIDA 
 
 REQUIREMENTS & DEFINITION : 
 
 Anv industrial wastes or other wastes shall be effectively treated 
 b/the latest modern technological advances as approved by the 
 
 regulatory agency. 
 
 All discharges from municipal and privately owned domestic waste plants 
 will comply with the Water Quality Standards of the State of Florida 
 with 90% treatment or better as expeditiously as possi , 
 later than January 1, 1973. 
 
 as%ol lows: ^That* which provide^an 1 effluent equivalen^t^that^produced 
 
 by the highest quality municipal waste treatment, but in no case 
 the efficiency be less than 10% organic removal. In sane cases, due 
 
 such^treatment S??cl2S « -SuiSSy as Possible, but not later 
 than January 1, 1973. 
 
 Sanitary sewage disposal treatment plants which discharge effluent^ 
 through ocean outfalls or disposal we addition 
 
 sursss&jss&fe “Vlw b ’ 5 " 
 
 department of air and water pollution control by January 3, 197 . 
 
 10 
 
GEORGIA 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 The basic requirement of all wastes under the rules of the State 
 Water Quality Control Board is secondary (biological) treat¬ 
 ment with disinfection where necessary for domestic sewage and 
 equivalent treatment for industrial waste. It will apply also to 
 all other discharges of inadequately treated wastes. 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 . . . secondary treatment refers to biological stabilization of 
 sewage to obtain 85 to 95 per cent BOD reduction. Industrial wastes 
 not amenable to conventional biological treatment methods must 
 receive treatment or control necessary to produce an effluent equal 
 or superior to that produced from a well-operated biological 
 (secondary) sewage treatment plant. 
 
 11 
 

 HAWAII 
 
 RE QUIREMENT : 
 
 - *£.V t 
 
 U b P e 8 found and capabilities of engineering and construction permit. 
 
 T . ill be a firm requirement on the discharge of all wastes iia,:0 
 It will be a firm req sald wastes receive the best 
 
 receiving waters of the S , it can be demonstrated 
 
 practicable treatment or control unless itcan^e provid e for 
 
 SSAX; "Frrn .S.2* ^ svstr 
 
 The following change was made 
 Discharge - Water" • • • • 
 
 in the table titled "Estimate of 
 
 (1) All 
 to 
 
 items . • • requiring 
 
 Secondary Treatment. 
 
 treatment have been changed 
 
 12 
 
IDAHO 
 
 REQUIREMENTS : 
 
 Secondary treatment with disinfection or the equivalent will be 
 required for ill new domestic waste discharges. Secondary treatment 
 or the equivalent will be required of all new industrial waste discharges. 
 
 It shall be the policy of the State Board of Health that, notwith¬ 
 standing the water quality standards contained herein, where a higher 
 standards can be achieved, the highest and best practicable treatment 
 and/or control of wastes, activities and flows shall be provided so as 
 to maintain dissolved oxygen at the highest desirable levels and overall 
 water quality as good as possible, and water temperatures, coliform 
 bacteria concentrations, dissolved chemical substances, toxic materials, 
 radioactivity, turbidities, color, odor and other deleterious factors at 
 the lowest desirable levels. Such policy to apply not only to existing 
 waste sources but to future waste sources as they may develop and for 
 such other interstate streams not listed herein. 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 (Not legally approved for interstate waters, but generally 
 applicable.) 
 
 ...85% removal of BOD with disinfection... 
 
 13 
 
ILLINOIS 
 
 REQUIREMENTS : 
 
 Es-A^v^-russs 
 
 accordance with effluent guidelines in paragraph 11. . . . Umpieme 
 and Enforcement Plan #10). 
 
 DEFINITIONS: 
 
 Wnndarv treatment provides for the removal of dissolved and 
 
 m&i-ssOTi. Mra-syr as r- 
 
 least 80%. . . . 
 
INDIANA 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 Municipalities with population over 2,000 with only primary 
 wastewater treatment plants (not now on notice for addition of 
 secondary) will be required to provide secondary treatment facil¬ 
 ities when additions or alterations are made to existing primary 
 plants or not later than the end of 1973, whichever occurs first. 
 Municipalities under 2,000 population required to install secondary 
 treatment facilities when existing primary facilities are altered 
 or added to, but not later than 1975. 
 
 All industries will be required to provide a degree of treatment 
 or control that is equivalent to that required of municipalities 
 on the same stretch of the stream. Except in rare instances this 
 will be the equivalent, at least, of secondary treatment. 
 
 Exceptions must be justified to the satisfaction of the Indiana 
 Stream Pollution Control Board and the Federal Water Pollution 
 Control Administration. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 All those municipalities which have or will be required to have, 
 secondary sewage treatment facilities must provide the following 
 removal of organic material in terms of BOD: trickling filter 
 plant - at least 80%, activated sludge plant - at least 90% 
 
 15 
 
IOWA 
 
 REQUIREMENT AND DEFINITION: 
 
 Treatment less than secondary will not be accepted on low flow streams 
 unless it can be shown that legitimate uses can be protected wit 
 a lesser degree of treatment. 
 
 All industries will be required to provide the same degree of 
 treatment or control that is required of municipalities on the same 
 reach of the stream. This degree of treatment will generally be 
 the equivalent of secondary treatment. * 
 
 Secondary treatment of all biodegradable wastes and an equivalent 
 high degree of treatment for all other wastes is required as the 
 minimum for all interstate waters. . . . 
 
 All municipal wastes discharged into the interstate waters of the 
 Mississippi River and the Missouri River shall «e»e a 
 of secondary treatment to achieve a ninety per cent (904) reducti 
 of BOD prior to discharge no later than December 31, 1973 ' 
 industrial wastes discharged into such interstate waters shall 
 receive equivalent treatment prior to discharge no later tha 
 
 December 31, 1973. 
 
 All municipalities on interior streams will generally need 
 secondary treatment . . • 
 
 * Table 11 also presents the best estimate of treatment 
 municipalities on interior streams will generally need 
 
 needs. All 
 secondary 
 
 treatment . . . . 
 
 16 
 
KANSAS 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 All municipal wastes discharged within the Neosho River Basin shall 
 receive a minimum of secondary treatment to achieve a minimum 
 of 85 per cent reduction of the five-day biochemical oxygen demand 
 by December 31, 1975. All industrial wastes discharged within the 
 Neosho River Basin will receive an equivalent treatment by December 
 31, 1975. 
 
 The same requirement applies to the following river basin: 
 
 Verdigris . . . Little Arkansas . . . Lower Arkansas . . . Upper 
 Arkansas . . . Walnut . . . Cimarron . . . Smoky Hill . . . Upper 
 Republican . . . Solomon . . . Lower Republican . . . Big Blue . . . 
 Missouri . . . Kansas . . . Marais des Cynges . . . Saline River 
 Basin (s). 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 That treatment necessary to achieve a minimum of 85 per cent 
 reduction of the five-day biochemical oxygen demand .... 
 
 17 
 
KENTUCKY 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 All municipalities will provide secondary waste treatment at the 
 earliest possible date and no later than December 31, 1975. 
 
 Any industry which produces waste having a predominate BOD charac¬ 
 teristic will provide treatment sufficient to reduce the BOD by 
 at least 85 per cent on a consistent year round basis. Higher levels 
 of treatment will be dictated in those instances necessary to 
 achieve the Water Quality Standards Stream Use Classification. 
 
 The facilities will be constructed as soon as practical, but in 
 no case later than December 31, 1975, and an Implementation Schedule 
 will be prepared as part of the Water Quality Standards. (Adopted 
 10/9/70 by Water Pollution Control Commission.) 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 Secondary waste treatment should be considered a minimum of 85 
 per cent removal of BOD on a year-round basis. In any determination 
 of "Secondary Treatment" cognizance will be given to regulation 
 of the Department of Interior issued on June 10, 1970. 
 
 18 
 
LOUISIANA 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 Domestic Waste : 
 
 Secondary treatment will be the minimum degree of treatment accepted. 
 Industrial Wastes : 
 
 The Louisiana Stream Control Commission prescribes that all such 
 
 r 
 
 wastes will receive the best practicable treatment, secondary 
 or its equivalent, at all times, not later than end of the calendar 
 year 1972. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 No specific definition incorporated into the standards. 
 
 19 
 
MAINE 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 well require secondary treatment or its equivalent as 
 minimum treatment for all fresh waters. In general, this policy 
 will also be applied to coastal waters except those cases where 
 it can be demonstrated that a lesser degree of treatment or control 
 will provide for water quality enhancement commensurate with pro¬ 
 posed present and future uses. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 Secondary treatment shall mean guch treatment that a minimum of 
 75 per cent removal of 5-day 20 C, BOD is obtained. In order to 
 obtain this percentage removal as an operational fact, treatment 
 facilities shall be designed to obtain a minimum of 85 per cent 
 BOD removal (5-day, 20°C). 
 
 20 
 
MARYLAND 
 
 REQUIREMENT & DEFINITION : 
 
 Maryland will require as minimum treatment that municipal sewage 
 receive secondary treatment, meaning a reduction of biochemical 
 oxygen demand (5-day, 20°C) of 85% minimum, and equivalent treat¬ 
 ment for industrial waste. 
 
 21 
 
MASSACHUSETTS 
 
 REQUIREMENT & DEFINITION : 
 
 All waste sources on fresh waters will be required to be treated 
 to the secondary level regardless of the stream classification 
 assigned (except when a higher degree of treatment is required to 
 meet the WQS). Secondary treatment will generally refer to biological 
 treatment as applicable and/or its industrial waste treatment equiv¬ 
 alent, all as determined by the Division of Water Pollution Control. 
 Secondary treatment efficiencies shall range from 80/ o to 95/o BOD 
 removal with correspondingly similar removals on other waste par¬ 
 ameters. On coastal and marine waters the degree of treatment 
 required will be that which will attain the particular classification 
 set on the area waters. 
 
 22 
 
MICHIGAN 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 Secondary treatment will be required as a minimum at all municipal 
 wastewater treatment plants to meet the adopted water quality 
 standards unless it can be demonstrated that a lesser degree of 
 treatment or control will provide for water quality enhancement 
 commensurate with proposed present and future water use. 
 
 . . . industrial waste effluent will be required to meet the 
 same effluent standards as municipal waste effluents. 
 
 Exception to the requirement for at least secondary treatment must 
 be justified to the satisfaction of the Michigan Water Resources 
 Commission and the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 No specific definition incorporated into the standards. 
 
 23 
 
MINNESOTA 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 It is herin established that the Minnesota Pollution Control 
 Agency will require secondary treatment or the equivalent as a 
 minimum for all municipal sewage and biodegradable industrial 
 or other wastes to meet the adopted water quality standards. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 Secondary treatment facilities are defined as works which will 
 provide effective sedimentation, biochemical oxidation, and dis¬ 
 infection, or the equivalent, including effluents conforming to 
 the following: 
 
 Substance or Characteristic Limitin g Concent ration or Range 
 
 5-day biochemical oxygen demand 25 milligrams per liter 
 
 Total coliform group organisms 1,000 MRN/100 ml 
 
 Total suspended solids 30 milligrams per liter 
 
 Oil 
 
 Turbidity 
 pH range 
 
 Trace 
 
 25 
 
 6.5 - 8.5 
 
 24 
 
MISSISSIPPI 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 Municipal wastes, industrial wastes, or other wastes shall receive 
 effective treatment or control (secondary or equivalent) in 
 accordance with the latest practical technological advances and 
 shall be approved by the Commission. A degree of treatment greater 
 than secondary will be required when necessary to protect legiti¬ 
 mate water uses. 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 85% reckrcticm of BOD and suspended solids. 
 
 25 
 
MISSOURI 
 
 REQUIREMENT; 
 
 the Missouri Water Pollution Board will require secondary 
 treatment of all municipal wastes and the equivalent of secondary 
 treatment of all industrial waste. 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 No specific definition incorporated into the standards 
 
 26 
 
MONTANA 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 Domestic: 
 
 --the minimum treatment required for domestic sewage shall be 
 secondary treatment or its equivalent with the understanding that 
 properly designed and operated sewage lagoons will meet this 
 requirement. 
 
 Industrial: 
 
 the minimum treatment required for industrial wastes shall be 
 secondary treatment or its equivalent. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 (It) may be defined as that process or group of processes capable 
 of removing virtually all floating and settleable solids, generally 
 from 80 to 95 per cent of the five-day biochemical oxygen demand, 
 and a similar level of removal of suspended solids in untreated waste. 
 The equivalent treatment (is) . . . maximum practicable removal of 
 solids, oils, grease, acids, alkalis, toxic materials, bacteria, 
 taste and odor-causing materials, color and any other objectionable 
 constituents ... of industrial waste. (Properly designed and 
 operated sewage lagoons are acceptable secondary treatment facilities 
 for domestic wastes.) 
 
 27 
 
NEBRASKA 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 All municipal wastes shall receive at least secondary treatment 
 plus such additional treatment as is required to maintain Water 
 Quality Criteria, as set forth in these standards. All other 
 wastes shall receive an equivalent degree of treatment or contro 
 consistent with waste characteristics, uses and quality of receiving 
 
 waters. 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 Secondary treatment ... a method of waste treatment beyond pri¬ 
 mary treatment where pollutants in solution or the colloidal state 
 are biologically or chemically removed. The minimum treatment re¬ 
 quired under this method is removal of at least 85% of the BOD 
 and suspended solids. 
 
 28 
 
NEVADA 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 "A minimum of secondary treatment or its industrial equivalent is 
 required for all municipal and industrial wastes." 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 No specific definition incorporated into the standards 
 
 29 
 
NEW HAMPSHIRE 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 . . . all communities in this State are required by law to install 
 secondary sewage treatment. This is a firm commitment by the New 
 Hampshire legislature. 
 
 Insofar as practicable, the initial objective of the control 
 program will be to obtain the installation of primary treatment 
 (with adequate disinfection where sewage discharges are involved) 
 for all discharges of sewage and industrial wastes. 
 
 The second objective will be to require the installation of secondai 
 treatment whenever such additional treatment is necessary to 
 protect the use assigned to the particular stream classification. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 (Secondary treatment defined as 80-85% removal of BOD.) 
 
 30 
 
NEW JERSEY 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 The minimum degree of wastewater treatment now being permitted in 
 the State of New Jersey is that commonly identified as secondary 
 treatment. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 In New Jersey this means treatment necessary to provide as an 
 absolute minimum 807, reduction of biochemical oxygen demand and a 
 maximum permissible biochemical oxygen demand concentration of 
 50 parts per million. In most areas in New Jersey, this standard 
 is raised to require biochemical oxygen demand reduction of 857, 
 and 907o with appropriate maximum permissible biochemical oxygen 
 demand concentrations. 
 
 31 
 
NEW MEXICO 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 All municipal treatment plants have secondary treatment in New 
 Mexico. All industrial wastes are to receive the equivalent of 
 secondary treatment or control by 1972. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 Commonly defined as that process or group of processes capable 
 of removing vertually all floating and setteable solids, generally 
 from 80-957, of the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand, and a similar 
 level of removal of suspended solids. 
 
 32 
 
NEW YORK 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 Outlets to water classified "A" shall be preceded by secondary treat¬ 
 ment and continuous chlorination. 
 
 Outlets into water classified "B" shall be preceded by secondary 
 treatment and seasonal chlorination from May 1 through October 1 of 
 each year. 
 
 Outlets to waters classified "C" shall be preceded by secondary 
 treatment. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 (Secondary Treatment) . . . shall mean a process or group of pro¬ 
 cesses removing or capable of removing virtually all (i.e., greater 
 than 957 0 ) floatable and settleable solids in a raw waste and accomplish 
 removals of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (5 day, 20°C.) and Suspended 
 Solids in the range of 757>-957o. 
 
 33 
 
NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 REQUIREMENT ; 
 
 In the interest of maintaining and enhancing water quality, 
 secondary treatment or equally effective treatment and control 
 shall be considered the minimum acceptable abatement action for 
 all significant sources of sewage, industrial waste or other 
 waste regardless of the assigned classification and aoplicable 
 water quality standards, unless it can be demonstrated that the 
 quality of the receiving waters will be maintained and enhanced 
 by a lesser degree of treatment or control. Advanced waste 
 treatment processes shall be required insofar as practicable 
 in instances where a higher degree of treatment is required to 
 maintain the assigned water quality standards. 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 No specific definition incorporated into the standards. 
 
 34 
 
NORTH DAKOTA 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 Secondary treatment or equivalent will be required for all 
 municipal and industrial wastes discharging directly to, or 
 which will adversely affect, all interstate streams. It is 
 noted that the listing of treatment needs on the enforcement 
 plan portion of the Standards lists "new plant", "expansion" 
 etc. It is the intention that these required facilities be 
 secondary treatment or equivalent. The dates of compliance 
 are as listed. If the water quality monitoring program data 
 provide evidence that any municipal or industrial treatment 
 plant presently not included under "treatment needs" nor is 
 discharging directly to interstate waters, is adversely 
 affecting the quality of interstate waters, such plant will 
 be required to provide secondary treatment or equivalent 
 treatment of its wastes by July 1, 1972. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 Standard waste stabilization lagoons, properly designed and 
 operated, are considered by this Department to be equivalent 
 to secondary treatment. 
 
 No specific definition incorporated into the standards. 
 
 35 
 
OHIO 
 
 REQUIREMENT:& DEFINITION: 
 
 (Different statements for different interstate waters are found in 
 the standards:) 
 
 (For) Ohio-Pennsylvania interstate waters of the Mahoning River, Pymatuning 
 and Yankee Creeks, and Little Beaver Creek: All sewage and organic 
 industrial wastes will be treated to reduce the oxygen-demanding 
 materials in the untreated waste waters by not less than seventy-five 
 per cent (75%) . . . 
 
 (For) Great Miami, Whitewater, and Wabash River Basins, Maumee, 
 
 Tiffin, St. Joseph, and St. Marys River Basins: All sewage will 
 be given secondary treatment (biochemical oxidation) . . . 
 
 All organic industrial wastes will be given secondary treatment and other 
 constituents will be adequately treated to meet the water quality 
 conditions and criteria . . . 
 
 (For) Interstate waters of the Ohio River between Ohio-West Virginia, and 
 Ohio-Kentucky and Aschtabula River, Conneaut Creek, and Turkey Creek, 
 including interstate waters of Ohio-Pennsylvania: All sewage ana 
 organic industrial wastes will be given secondary treatment (biochemical 
 oxidation) . . . 
 
 (For) Lake Erie: All sewage will be given secondary treatment 
 (biochemical oxidation) . . . 
 
 36 
 
OKLAHOMA 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 The following policy was adopted by the Oklahoma State Board 
 of Health: 
 
 . . . That all wastes discharged to the waters of the State 
 receive the equivalent of secondary treatment prior to being 
 discharged, and that action be taken by the State Department 
 of Health to secure the orderly achievement of this objective 
 for all wastes under its jurisdiction. The minimum degree of 
 treatment or control for industrial waste is defined as the 
 equivalent to municipal secondary treatment. 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 No specific definition incorporated into the standards. 
 
 37 
 
OREGON 
 
 REQUIREMENT & DEFINITION : 
 
 All sewage shall receive a minimum of secondary treatment 
 or equivalent (equal to at least 85% removal of 5-day 
 biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids) and shall 
 be effectively disinfected before being discharged into any 
 public waters of the state. 
 
 38 
 
PENNSYLVANIA 
 
 REQUIREMENT: 
 
 As a matter of common decency, all biodegradable wastes shall 
 be given a minimum of secondary treatment or its equivalent 
 for industrial wastes except as hereinafter specified. 
 
 An equivalent of secondary treatment is required for non- 
 biodegradable wastes. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 Secondary treatment is that treatment that will reduce the 
 organic waste load as measured by the biochemical oxygen 
 demand test by at least 85% during the period May 1 to October 31 
 and by at least 75% during the remainder of the year based on 
 a five consecutive day average of values; will remove practically 
 all of the suspended solids; willl provide satisfactory disposal 
 of sludge; and will reduce the quantities of oil, greases, acids, 
 alkalis, toxic, taste, and odor producing substances, color, 
 and other substances inimical to the public interest to levels 
 that will not pollute the receiving stream. 
 
 39 
 
RHODE ISLAND 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 Appropriate waste treatment shall be secondary treatment with 
 disinfection or the equivalent. Lesser degrees of treatment 
 will be permitted only where it can be demonstrated that 
 attainment of the specified water use class standards of quality 
 can be effectuated. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 Secondary treatment includes biological treatment employing either 
 some form of the activated sludge process, trickling filters, 
 or other means providing a removal of about ninety per cent 
 of the BOD and suspended solids. 
 
 40 
 
SOUTH CAROLINA 
 
 REQUIREMENT: 
 
 No wastes amenable to treatment or aontrol shall be discharged 
 into any State waters without treatment or control. All bio¬ 
 degradable waste, prior to discharge into any State waters, shall 
 receive a minimum of secondary treatment and all other wastes 
 an equivalent degree of treatment unless it can be demonstrated 
 that a lesser degree of treatment or control will provide for water 
 quality improvement consistent with present and anticipated future 
 water uses. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 (Secondary treatment means) 85% BOD removal. 
 
 41 
 
SOUTH DAKOTA 
 
 REQUIREMENT: 
 
 Adequate waste treatment of municipal and industrial wastes discharged 
 to interstate waters is secondary treatment or better. 
 
 DEFINITION : I 
 
 "The effluent quality requirement to be used for design purposes 
 for all communities and industries, unless a higher degree of treat¬ 
 ment will be required to meet the criteria adopted by the Committee, 
 is as follows: 
 
 a. The five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) shall not 
 exceed 30 mg/1 on a daily average and the biochemical 
 oxygen demand shall not exceed 60 mg/1 at any one time 
 
 b. Suspended solids concentrations shall not exceed 30 mg/1 
 based on a daily avgraqe and the suspended solids concentratior 
 shall not exceed 60 mg/1 at any one time." 
 
 ) 
 
 42 
 
TENNESSEE 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 The criteria and standards provide that all discharges of 
 sewage, industrial waste, and other wastes will receive the best 
 practicable treatment (secondary or the equivalent) or control 
 according to the policy and procedure of the Tennessee Stream 
 Pollution Control Board. A degree of treatment greater than 
 secondary when necessary to protect the water uses will be required 
 for selected sewage and waste discharges. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 Secondary treatment will provide from 75 to 90 percent 5-day 
 BOD removal and from 80 to 90 per cent suspended solids removal. 
 
 43 
 
TEXAS 
 
 REQUIREBBNT : 
 
 It is the policy of the State of Texas, acting through the 
 Texas Water Quality Board, to require primary and secondary 
 treatment and disinfection (except for oxidation pond effluents) 
 at all facilities serving the general public and which treat 
 domestic sanitary wastes. Treatment or control of industrial 
 wastes is equally as important as the treatment or control of 
 municipal (domestic) wastes. It is the policy of the Texas 
 Water Quality Board to require a comparably high standard of 
 treatment or control of industrial wastes being discharged to 
 the waters in the State. Therefore, anyone making a waste discharge 
 from any industrial, public or private project or development which 
 would constitute a new source of pollution to any of the waters 
 in the State will be required, as part of the initial project 
 desing, to provide the highest and best degree of waste treatment 
 available under existing technology consistent with the best 
 practice in the particular field affected under the conditions 
 applicable to the project or development. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 No specific definition incorporated into the standards. 
 
 44 
 
UTAH 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 The following standards of quality shall be applied to waste 
 discharge ... except that no waste of any kind shall be discharged 
 from controlled areas until subjected to at least secondary 
 treatment. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 No specific definition incorporated into the standards. 
 
 45 
 
VERMONT 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 Appropriate treatment shall be defined as secondary treatment 
 with disinfection or its industrial waste equivalent as 
 determined by the signatory state regulatory agency (Vermont 
 Department of Water Resources). Lesser degrees of treatment or 
 control will be Dermitted only where it can be demonstrated 
 that attainment of the specified water use class criteria of 
 quality can be effectuated. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 No specific definition incorporated into the standards. 
 
 46 
 
VIRGINIA 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 The State Water Control Board will require that, prior to discharge 
 to interstate waters, all bio-degradable wastes will receive a 
 minimum of secondary treatment; and other wastes will receive an 
 equivalent high degree of treatment unless it can be demonstrated 
 that a lesser degree of treatment or control will provide for 
 water quality enhancement commensurate with proposed present and 
 future water uses. 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 No specific definition incorporated into the standards. 
 
 47 
 
WASHINGTON 
 
 REQUIREMENT ; 
 
 Existing and new domestic waste dischargers shall provide adequate 
 secondary sewage treatment, disinfection and outfall facilities. 
 Existing and new commercial and industrial operations discharging 
 an organic waste shall connect to a municipal system when at all 
 possible. If connection is not feasible, adequate secondary treat¬ 
 ment and outfall shall be provided. 
 
 Existing and new commercial and industrial operations discharging 
 an inorganic waste shall connect to a municipal system if at all 
 possible. If connection is not feasible, coagulation and sedimentatior 
 chemical treatment, or other necessary treatment and adequate outfall 
 shall be provided. 
 
 Where existing and new commercial, industrial or domestic wastes 
 discharge to salt water, secondary treatment shall be required 
 unless, after a review of existing data or an engineering study, 
 it can be demonstrated that a lesser degree of treatment will provide 
 for protection of present and future water uses and the preservation 
 or enhancement of existing water quality. In no case, however, will 
 less than primary treatment together with disinfection and adequate 
 outfall be accepted. 
 
 DEFINITION ; 
 
 (not officially adopted for interstate waters, but in general use) 
 
 . . . the removal of settleable and floatable solids from the waste 
 flow and the application of additional waste treatment processes to 
 attain 857. removal of the BOD and 90% removal of suspended solids 
 with adequate disenfection of the effluent. 
 
 48 
 
WEST VIRGINIA 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 In adopting and promulgating Section 3.02 (Non-degradation statement) 
 and the other sections of these Regulations, it was and continues 
 to be the intent of this Board (State Water Resources Board) to devise 
 and promulgate criteria that, in order to be met, would require the 
 highest and best practicable means of waste treatment. This require¬ 
 ment is interpreted by the Board to necessitate as an absolute 
 minimum, secondary treatment of municipal wastes and the equivalent 
 of secondary treatment of all industrial wastes. 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 No specific definition incorporated into the standards. 
 
WISCONSIN 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 "Adequate treatment" in the Wisconsin Water Quality Standards 
 and the Implementation and Enforcement Plans report means 
 accomplishing secondary treatment for treatable biodegradable 
 water and an equivalent high degree of treatment of all other 
 wastes or better. 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 No specific definition incorporated into the standards. 
 
WYOMING 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 It is the policy of the Board that wastes amenable to treatment or 
 control will receive, prior to discharge into any interstate waters, 
 the best practical treatment or control unless it can be demonstrated 
 that a lesser degree of treatment or control will provide for water 
 quality commensurate with present and future water uses. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 None. 
 
 51 
 
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 
 
 REQUIREMENT & DEFINITION ; 
 
 ... it is the policy of the District of Columbia to improve 
 the quality of all its waters as reflected in the standards. 
 All industrial, public, and private sources of pollution will 
 be required to provide the degree of waste treatment necessary 
 to meet the water quality standards. 
 
 52 
 
GUAM 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 All sewage and all wastes prior to discharge will receive the 
 best practicable treatment or control unless it can be demonstrated 
 that a lesser degree of treatment or control will provide water quality 
 commensurate with the uses of the waters of the territory . . . 
 
 DEFINITION: 
 
 Best practicable treatment is defined herein as not less than that 
 degree of treatment for municipal or industrial wastes commonly 
 recognized in sanitary engineering practice as "secondary treatment" 
 or its industrial waste treatment equivalent or whatever other degree 
 of treatment or control is found necessary to provide the water 
 quality required to protect the classified uses of the receiving 
 water. 
 
 53 
 
PUERTO RICO 
 
 REQUIREMENT : 
 
 It is hereby prohibited to any person, to directly or indirectly 
 throw, discharge, pour, or dump and/or cause or allow to be thrown, 
 discharged, poured or dumped into the coastal waters of Puerto 
 Rico any kind of domestic or industrial wastes with less than 
 conventional secondary treatment or control or its equivalent, or 
 any other substances capable of polluting or creating a potential 
 threat of pollution in such a way that coastal waters be rendered 
 below the minimum standards of purity established in these Rules 
 and Regulations. 
 
 DEFINITION : 
 
 None. 
 
 54 
 
VIRGIN ISLANDS 
 
 REQUIEMENT : 
 
 (No secondary treatment requirement listed in the standards.) 
 
 None of the sewered cities with harbors in the Virgin Islands 
 now provide sewage treatment. Primary treatment with chlorination 
 of effluent before discharge through outfalls equipped with diffusers 
 to give a minimum of 300 to 1 dillution will be requifred to 
 protect water quality for marine life and recreational uses. 
 
 55