Effluent Guidelines

  • Steam Electric Power Generating

    The EPA finalized a rule for wastewater discharge standards that apply to coal-fired power plants.

    Learn more about the rule

  • Meat and Poultry Products Category

    The EPA has proposed an amendment for wastewater discharge standards that apply to meat and poultry product facilities.

    Review the proposed rule

  • Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 16

    The EPA continues to focus on assessing opportunities to limit PFAS discharges from multiple industrial categories.

    View the planned actions and studies

Effluent Guidelines are national regulatory standards for wastewater discharged to surface waters and municipal sewage treatment plants. EPA issues these regulations for industrial categories, based on the performance of treatment and control technologies.

Industry Regulations & Studies

  • Federal Register notices
  • Support documents
  • Industry studies

Learn About Effluent Guidelines

  • Key terms and concepts
    • Development of Effluent Guidelines
    • Levels of control: BPT, BAT, BCT, NSPS, PSNS, PSES
    • Implementation
    • Industries/pollutants not specifically regulated by Effluent Guidelines

Planning & Implementation

Pollutants, Analytical Methods, Research

Pollutant discharges regulated by Effluent Guidelines must be measured with approved analytical methods.
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Last updated on April 23, 2025