Businesses

There are a wide variety of businesses in the City of Idaho Falls. Each business contributes to the sewer flow in a different way. It is important for each business to be aware of their role in keeping our waterways clean and safe. Every discharge into the City of Idaho Falls Sewer System must follow general discharge standards.

We also encourage all businesses to have an Accidental Spill Prevention Plan (ASPP), for industrial and some major businesses this is required. This is a written plan that describes the equipment, manpower, procedures, and adequate countermeasures for preventing and controlling hazardous material spills from entering the city wastewater system.

City of Idaho Falls Local Limits

The following pollutant limits are established to protect against pass through and interference. Local Limits are evaluated to protect treatment works. No person shall discharge wastewater containing in excess of the following daily maximum allowable discharge limits:
Parameter Limit
pH 5.0 - 9.0
Arsenic (As)
0.04 milligrams per liter
Cadmium (Cd)
0.26 milligrams per liter
Chromium (Cr)
2.77 milligrams per liter
Copper (Cu)
1.93 milligrams per liter
Cyanide 1.04 milligrams per liter
Lead (Pb)
0.29 milligrams per liter
Mercury (Hg)
0.002 milligrams per liter
Nickel (Ni)
2.38 milligrams per liter
Oil and Grease*
100.0 milligrams per liter
Oil and Grease**
250.0 milligrams per liter
Silver (Ag)
0.43 milligrams per liter
Zinc (Zn)
0,90 milligrams per liter
* = petroleum or mineral oil products
** = animal and vegetable based

The limits apply at the point where the wastewater is discharged to the POTW (end of the pipe). All concentrations for metallic substances are for "total" metal unless indicated otherwise. The Superintendent may impose mass limitations in addition to (or in place of) the concentration-based limitations above. Where a user is subject to a categorical pre-treatment standard and a local limit for a given pollutant, the more stringent limit or applicable pre-treatment standard shall apply.