Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Compliance Checklist

This comprehensive wastewater treatment plant operations compliance checklist ensures regulatory compliance with EPA, 40 CFR Part 122, 40 CFR Part 503, State Water Quality Agency. Daily operations inspection for municipal wastewater treatment plants covering influent screening, biological treatment, effluent quality, biosolids management, and NPDES permit compliance per 40 CFR Parts 122 and 503. Wastewater treatment failures can result in sanitary sewer overflows, receiving water impairment, and

  • Industry: Waste Management & Recycling
  • Frequency: Daily / Weekly
  • Estimated Time: 35 minutes
  • Role: Operations Manager / Environmental Compliance Officer
  • Total Items: 19
  • Compliance: EPA, 40 CFR Part 122, 40 CFR Part 503, State Water Quality Agency

Preliminary and Primary Treatment

Inspect influent and preliminary treatment operations.

  • Are bar screens and mechanical screens operational and cleaned per operations schedule?
  • Is grit removal system functioning and grit chambers being cleaned per schedule?
  • Are primary clarifiers operational with sludge blanket level within normal range?
  • Is influent flow meter calibrated and recording flow for daily and annual loading calculations?
  • Has any bypass of treatment unit processes occurred requiring NPDES permit notification?

Biological Treatment and Secondary Clarification

Verify biological process parameters.

  • Is dissolved oxygen in aeration basins within target range (typically 1.5-3.0 mg/L) for biological treatment?
  • Is MLSS (mixed liquor suspended solids) within target range for the process design?
  • Is solids retention time (SRT) managed within target range for nitrification if required by permit?
  • Are secondary clarifiers functioning without overflow, filamentous bulking, or rising sludge?
  • Is return activated sludge (RAS) rate adjusted to maintain inventory per operational parameters?

Effluent Quality and NPDES Compliance

Verify effluent per NPDES permit limits.

  • Is effluent sampling being conducted per NPDES permit frequency requirements (daily, weekly, monthly)?
  • Are CBOD and TSS effluent values meeting NPDES monthly average and weekly average permit limits?
  • Is disinfection (chlorination, UV) meeting permit fecal coliform limits?
  • Are nitrogen and phosphorus within permit limits if nutrient removal required?
  • Are Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR) filed monthly per NPDES permit requirements?

Biosolids Management

Verify biosolids per 40 CFR Part 503.

  • Does biosolids treatment meet Class A or Class B pathogen reduction requirements per 40 CFR 503.32?
  • Are vector attraction reduction requirements met per 40 CFR 503.33 before land application?
  • Are biosolids tested for 10 regulated metals per 40 CFR 503.13 at required frequency?
  • Are biosolids land application records (site, rate, volume, agronomic rate calculation) maintained per 40 CFR 503?

Related Waste Management Recycling Checklists

Why Use This Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Compliance Checklist?

This wastewater treatment plant operations compliance checklist helps waste management & recycling teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for operations manager / environmental compliance officer professionals, this checklist covers 19 critical inspection points across 4 sections. Recommended frequency: daily / weekly.

Ensures compliance with EPA, 40 CFR Part 122, 40 CFR Part 503, State Water Quality Agency. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Compliance Checklist cover?

This checklist covers 19 inspection items across 4 sections: Preliminary and Primary Treatment, Biological Treatment and Secondary Clarification, Effluent Quality and NPDES Compliance, Biosolids Management. It is designed for waste management & recycling operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed daily / weekly. Each completion takes approximately 35 minutes.

Who should use this Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Compliance Checklist?

This checklist is designed for Operations Manager / Environmental Compliance Officer professionals in the waste management & recycling industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.

Browse More Checklists