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  2. Effluent Guidelines

Industrial Effluent Guidelines

Effluent Guidelines are national standards for industrial wastewater discharges to surface waters and publicly owned treatment works (municipal sewage treatment plants). The EPA issues Effluent Guidelines for categories of existing sources and new sources under Title III of the Clean Water Act. The standards are technology-based (i.e. they are based on the performance of treatment and control technologies) and are not based on risk or impacts upon receiving waters.

On this page:

  • Rulemakings
  • Industry Studies
  • Existing Regulations
  • Other Publications Related to Effluent Guidelines

Rulemakings

  • Landfills
  • Meat and Poultry Products
  • Metal Finishing
  • Organic Chemicals, Plastics, and Synthetic Fibers (OCPSF)

Industry Studies

  • Oil and Gas Extraction
  • Study of PFAS Influent to POTWs
  • Electrical and Electronic Components
  • Nutrient Removal and Secondary Technologies
  • Textile Mills

Existing Regulations

The table below lists the Effluent Guidelines promulgated by the EPA, organized by industry category.
 
  • For some of the regulations, the links in the 'Category Overview' column provide a summary of the regulation and available EPA publications for the category.
  • The links under '40 CFR' go directly to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). 'Initial' indicates the year of the first rulemaking for the category and 'Last' indicates the most recent substantive revision.
Category Overview40 CFRInitialLast
Airport Deicing
44920122012
Aluminum Forming46719831988
Asbestos Manufacturing42719741975
Battery Manufacturing46119841986
Canned and Preserved Fruits and Vegetable Processing40719741976
Canned and Preserved Seafood (Seafood Processing)40819741975
Carbon Black Manufacturing45819761978
Cement Manufacturing41119741974
Centralized Waste Treatment43720002003
Coal Mining43419752002
Coil Coating46519821983
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO)41219742008
Concentrated Aquatic Animal Production (Aquaculture)45120042004
Construction and Development45020092014
Copper Forming46819831986
Dairy Products Processing40519741974
Dental Office44120172017
Electrical and Electronic Components46919831983
Electroplating41319741983
Explosives Manufacturing45719761976
Ferroalloy Manufacturing42419741974
Fertilizer Manufacturing41819741975
Glass Manufacturing42619741975
Grain Mills40619741974
Gum and Wood Chemicals Manufacturing45419761976
Hospitals46019761976
Ink Formulating44719751975
Inorganic Chemicals Manufacturing41519821984
Iron and Steel Manufacturing42019742005
Landfills44520002000
Leather Tanning and Finishing42519821996
Meat and Poultry Products43219742004
Metal Finishing43319831986
Metal Molding and Casting (Foundries)46419851985
Metal Products and Machinery43820032003
Mineral Mining and Processing43619751979
Nonferrous Metals Forming and Metal Powders47119851989
Nonferrous Metals Manufacturing42119761990
Oil and Gas Extraction43519752016
Ore Mining and Dressing (Hard Rock Mining)44019751988
Organic Chemicals, Plastics, and Synthetic Fibers (OCPSF)41419871993
Paint Formulating44619751975
Paving and Roofing Materials (Tars and Asphalt)44319751975
Pesticide Chemicals45519781996
Petroleum Refining41919741982
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing43919762003
Phosphate Manufacturing42219741974
Photographic Processing45919761976
Plastics Molding and Forming46319841984
Porcelain Enameling46619821985
Pulp, Paper and Paperboard43019742002
Rubber Manufacturing42819741974
Soap and Detergent Manufacturing41719741975
Steam Electric Power Generating42319742024
Sugar Processing40919741979
Textile Mills41019741982
Timber Products Processing42919741981
Transportation Equipment Cleaning44220002000
Waste Combustors44420002000

Other Publications Related to Effluent Guidelines

  • Multi-Industry Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Study (2021)
  • Oil and Gas Extraction Wastewater Management - Onshore Facilities (2020)
  • Chlorine and Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Manufacturing (2012)
  • Carbon Disulfide Discharges from Cellulose Products Manufacturers (2011)
  • Drinking Water Treatment Residuals Management (2011)
  • Unused Pharmaceutical Disposal at Health Care Facilities (2009)
  • Tobacco Products Processing (2006)
  • Industrial Container and Drum Cleaning (2002)
  • Industrial Laundries (2000)
  • Urban Stormwater Best Management Practices (1999)

Effluent Guidelines

  • Effluent Guidelines Home
  • Industry Regulations & Studies
  • Learn about Effluent Guidelines
  • Effluent Guidelines Plan
    • Preliminary Plan #16 (2024)
    • Final Plan #15 (2023)
  • Implementation & Compliance
  • Effluent Guidelines Database
  • Industrial Wastewater Treatment Technology Database
Contact Us About Effluent Guidelines
Contact Us About Effluent Guidelines to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on July 24, 2025
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