Celebrating National Water Quality Month
August 22, 2024
In celebration of National Water Quality Month, McFadden Engineering spotlights the work our team does to reduce pollution from industrial wastewater. Industrial wastewater is usually very strong and complex in nature and can contain visible pollutants or dissolved chemicals. Before wastewater re-enters the natural water cycle, treatment is required before discharge. Our engineers assist clients in developing treatment processed to reduce contaminants in wastewater. In addition, McFadden Engineering is experienced in helping clients navigate the environmental regulatory permitting process including direct discharge through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), reuse permits for sustainable projects, as well as other permit alternatives.
There are various ways to treat industrial wastewater as its properties are dependent on the industry source. Through the NPDES program, industrial facilities are authorized to discharge stormwater and/or wastewater into surface waters. McFadden Engineering specializes in analyzing existing treatment processes across industries and providing solutions that meet regulations for a more sustainable environment. Industries that have consulted our engineers include food and beverage, pulp and paper, wastewater acceptors, oil and gas/drilling and more. Each of these industries has an impact on the availability of clean water. In 2005, the EPA founded National Water Quality Month as a reminder of the importance of preserving our water resources. National Water Quality Month celebrates the commitment we must have to protect clean water for the health of people and the environment.
McFadden Engineering applies a customized process to each unique scenario including modeling and evaluation of the dischargers to develop permit limits, determining the appropriate treatment train to meet the permits limits and compliance with other regulations. The NPDES is the national regulation for industrial sources and the pretreatment program for significant indirect industrial sources, but permits are issued at the state level. If a facility releases pollutants from a point source into the waters of the United States, an NPDES permit is required. As such, McFadden’s team incorporates NPDES permit requirements into its process.
McFadden’s process begins with a system evaluation and compliance review, then moves into planning for optimization of the wastewater treatment system and facilities. From there, the engineers continue to work with clients by assessing how water might be reused in the facility.
The primary goal for McFadden Engineering when working with our industrial wastewater treatment clients is to streamline treatment processes to achieve full compliance. The goal of every treatment project that McFadden Engineering undertakes is to remove contaminants that might be released back into the water cycle from wastewater discharges. When the Clean Water Act passed in 1972, the U.S. government enacted regulations making it illegal to dispose of high amounts of toxic materials into bodies of water. The standard set by these regulations is highlighted during National Water Quality Month through the efforts of sustainable engineering.
National Water Quality Month is celebrated every August as a reminder of the challenges facing water resources and the solutions that can protect this resource such as those provided by McFadden’s team of engineers.