The Department of Watershed Management (DWM) recently reviewed the Industrial Wastewater Surcharges that are authorized under Section 154-27 of the Atlanta City Code (Code). These fees are charged to industries that discharge high-strength wastewater into the public sewers and are assessed to recover the cost incurred by DWM in handling these wastes.

Industrial surcharge fees ensure that dischargers of high strength wastewater pay their fair share of wastewater treatment costs. Often, the wastewater discharged from Industrial Users contains solids and organic matter at higher concentrations in comparison to concentrations found in residential wastewater. Wastewater is “normal strength” if it meets the wastewater quality standards established for typical residential use.

The review of the industrial wastewater surcharge fees concluded that the fees need to be adjusted to capture the current treatment cost associated with these wastes. The surcharge fees are assessed using a formula detailed in Section 154-278(b) of the Code. The formula utilizes cost factors for each pollutant to determine the load-based surcharge.

The updated Industrial Surcharge Fee will become effective July 1, 2021 and the updated fee structure is as follows:

• COD = $0.16 – above 500mg/l
• TSS = $0.17 – above 250 mg/I
• TKN = $0.70 – above 25 mg/I

For more information, please contact the Division of Industrial Pretreatment at 404-546-1150 and follow the voice prompts.