In 1972, Congress passed the Clean Water Act to restore & maintain the integrity of the nation's waters. To address indirect dischargesÓ from industries to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs), the EPA established the Nat. Pretreatment Program (NPP). The NPP requires industrial & commercial dischargers to treat or control pollutants in their wastewater prior to discharge to POTWs. This guidance manual (1) provides a reference for anyone interested in understanding the basics of pretreatment program requirements, & (2) provides a roadmap to additional & more detailed guidance materials for those trying to implement specific elements of the NPP.

Expanding water reuse-the use of treated wastewater for beneficial purposes including irrigation, industrial uses, and drinking water augmentation-could significantly increase the nation's total available water resources. Water Reuse presents a portfolio of treatment options available to mitigate water quality issues in reclaimed water along with new analysis suggesting that the risk of exposure to certain microbial and chemical contaminants from drinking reclaimed water does not appear to be any higher than the risk experienced in at least some current drinking water treatment systems, and may be orders of magnitude lower. This report recommends adjustments to the federal regulatory framework that could enhance public health protection for both planned and unplanned (or de facto) reuse and increase public confidence in water reuse.