Publicly owned treatment works (POTW) that receive food
-
processing wastewater with
BOD
5
values greater than 250 to 300 mg/L typically will add an additional surcharge for
treatment. Any company is subject to fines by environmental enforcem
ent agency when
they discharge to a receiving water treatment works and exceeding their permitted BOD
5
discharge level. Due to increased enforcement of discharge regulations and escalating
POTW surcharges, many food
-
processing facilities are taking steps t
o either reduce, recycle
(or renovate), and/or treat their wastewaters before they discharge them.