Wasteload Management

Electronic Reporting Available

DEP has developed an electronic system for the submission of documents. It is called OnBase. DEP would like to encourage the use of the OnBase system for the submission of Wasteload Management (Chapter 94) Annual Reports. Instructions for using OnBase for electronic submittals of Chapter 94 reports are attached.

A Reporting form template and spreadsheet are available on the DEP website at: www.dep.pa.gov/Chapter94 The files can be downloaded, completed and saved to your computer.

The spreadsheet should be used for the preparation of the report. Tables and graphs from the spreadsheet may be copied and pasted into the report template. The report should be saved as a PDF file for uploading into OnBase.

In order to be considered to be a timely submission, complete and accurate reports are due no later than March 31.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Instructions for Electronic Submission of Wasteload Management Annual Reports

Wasteload Management is a planning process whereby the owner or operator of a wastewater treatment plant monitors both the volume and organic strength of the wastewater received by the treatment plant, and takes appropriate actions to prevent the treatment plant from receiving either too much flow or organic material for the plant to treat properly. Wasteload Management also applies to owners or operators of sewage pump stations, who monitor flows or the usage of pumps to ensure that the pumps are capable of conveying flows to the treatment plant.

All publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and sewer systems owned by or serving a municipality are covered by DEP's Wasteload Management Regulations in Chapter 94. The purpose of these regulations is to provide adequate conveyance and treatment for future needs, prevent sewage facilities from becoming overloaded, limit additional connections to overloaded facilities, correct overload conditions, and prevent introduction of industrial discharges into municipal sewer systems that will interfere with operations or pass through the plant. Ultimately, these regulations protect Pennsylvania's waters from inadequately treated wastewater discharges.

The regulations require that each municipality with a permit from DEP to treat wastewater ("permittees") submit an annual report by March 31 to the appropriate DEP regional office. The report must, in part, evaluate the existing and projected hydraulic and organic loads to a municipal wastewater treatment facility, and existing and projected hydraulic loads (flow) to sewage pumping stations, to determine whether such facilities should be upgraded.

DEP's Chapter 94 Municipal Wasteload Management Overview and Summary document (PDF) provides additional information on this program.

DEP has developed a Chapter 94 Spreadsheet (Excel) to facilitate consistency in determining existing and projected hydraulic and organic conditions at treatment plants. Following the input of hydraulic, organic and equivalent dwelling unit data, the spreadsheet produces hydraulic and organic load charts. DEP recommends that the spreadsheet and charts be attached to Chapter 94 reports for permittees with treatment plants to improve consistency and facilitate DEP review of the reports. The file is a macro-enabled Excel spreadsheet that is designed for Excel 2007 or later.

DEP also encourages permittees to use DEP's Chapter 94 report template to streamline reviews of Chapter 94 reports by DEP staff and facilitate consistency in the format of reports.

For additional information about municipal wasteload management and Chapter 94, contact the appropriate DEP regional office or the Bureau of Point and Non-Point Source Management at 717-787-8184.