Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit (PWTF GP) for Massachusetts & New Hampshire
2023 Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit (2023 PWTF GP)
The Final 2023 NPDES General Permit for Discharges from Potable Water Treatment Facilities in Massachusetts (MAG640000) and New Hampshire (NHG640000) was signed on July 24, 2023 and is effective on October 1, 2023. This permit replaces the previous PWTF GP that expired on March 31, 2022. The Final 2023 PWTF GP will expire on September 30, 2028, which is five (5) years from the effective date.
The PWTF GP provides coverage for potable water treatment facilities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire that discharge wastewater from one or more of the following treatment processes: Clarification, Coagulation, Media Filtration, Membrane filtration (not including reverse osmosis), and Disinfection. In general, facilities covered under this General Permit must discharge less than or equal to 1.0 million gallons per day (MGD).
The permit establishes permit eligibility conditions, notice of intent requirements, effluent limitations, standards, prohibitions, and best management practices. The eligibility requirements for coverage under the General Permit are discussed in Part 1 of the permit.
Permit Documents
- Final 2023 Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit (MAG640000 and NHG640000) (pdf)
- Appendix A - Freshwater Acute Toxicity Test Procedure and Protocol, February 2011 (pdf)
- Appendix B - Freshwater Chronic Toxicity Test Procedure and Protocol, April 2013 (pdf)
- Appendix C - Marine Acute Toxicity Test Procedure and Protocol, July 2012 (pdf)
- Appendix D - Marine Chronic Toxicity Test Procedure and Protocol, November 2013 (pdf)
- Appendix E - Endangered Species Act Guidance and Eligibility Criteria (pdf)
- Appendix F - National Historic Preservation Act Review Requirements (pdf)
- Appendix G - Notice of Intent (NOI) Instructions (pdf)
- Appendix H - Site Specific Effluent Limitations (pdf)
- Appendix I - Reasonable Potential Analysis (pdf)
- Appendix J - PFAS Analyte List (pdf)
- Appendix K - List of Eligible Facilities (pdf)
- Response to Comments (pdf)
- PFAS Monitoring Announcement Letter (February 20, 2024) (pdf)
Applying for Coverage
Permittees covered under the 2017 PWTF GP and seeking to maintain coverage under the renewed 2023 PWTF GP must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI), containing the information in Appendix G, to both EPA and the appropriate state agency by November 29, 2023 (within 60 days of the permit effective date). See the EPA and State contact information below. Note that any compliance schedule and/or dilution study requests must be submitted with the NOI. All NOI submissions shall be submitted electronically following the template in Appendix G or a similar format with the same information.
EPA and either MassDEP or NHDES will review the NOI. The facility will receive written notification from EPA stating whether permit coverage and authorization to discharge under the General Permit is approved. Until that time, the Permittee shall abide by the conditions of the expired permit that their discharge covered under.
EPA Contact
NOI Processing and Technical Questions: Nathan Chien - Chien.Nathan@epa.gov or (617) 918-1649
State Contacts
MassDEP: Xiaodan Ruan - xiaodan.ruan@mass.gov or (857) 256-4172
NHDES: Hayley Franz - hayley.franz@des.nh.gov or (603) 271-0671
Appeals
In accordance with 40 C.F.R. Part 23, the permit shall be considered issued for the purpose of judicial review on August 7, 2023 (two weeks from the date of signature on the General Permit). Under section 509(b) of the Clean Water Act, judicial review of this General Permit can be requested by filing a petition for review in a United States Court of Appeals by December 5, 2023 (which is 120 days after the start date for judicial review above).
Notices of Authorization
Final Notices of Authorization (i.e., Authorization Letters) are posted below based on Notices of Intent (NOI) that permittees have submitted to EPA. Please reach out to the EPA and/or State Contacts above if you have any questions regarding the authorization letters or NOI approval. NOIs associated with the Authorization Letters can be requested from EPA. Older Authorization Letters and NOIs are listed in the 2017 and 2009 Potable Water Treatment Facility General Permit (PWTF GP) NOI archive.
| Facility Name | City, State (Receiving Water) | Permit Number | Authorization(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield Water Treatment Facility | Westfield, MA (Jacks Brook) | MAG640001 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Gravelly Pond Water Treatment Facility | Hamilton, MA (Gravelly Pond) | MAG640003 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Walsh Avenue Water Treatment Plant | Auburn, MA (Dark Brook) | MAG640004 | 2023/12/18 (pdf) |
| Roaring Brook Treatment Facility | South Deerfield, MA (Roaring Brook) | MAG640005 | 2023/11/06 (pdf) |
| Robert J Walsh Water Treatment Plant | Peabody, MA (Lower Spring Pond) | MAG640006 | 2023/10/11 (pdf) |
| Westborough Purification Facility | Westborough, MA (Hocomonco Pond) | MAG640007 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Myers Avenue Water Treatment Plant | Abington, MA (Shumatuscacant River) | MAG640009 | 2023/12/18 (pdf) |
| Hannigan Water Treatment Plant | Rockland, MA (Ben Mann Brook) | MAG640010 | 2023/12/18 (pdf) |
| Root Reservoir Water Treatment Facility | Lenox, MA (Lenox Mountain Brook) | MAG640015 | 2023/10/16 (pdf) |
| Leominster Water Treatment Plant | Leominster, MA (Monoosnoc Brook) | MAG640016 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Phillips Road Pumping Station #3 | Lynnfield, MA (Beaverdam Brook) | MAG640017 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Newburyport Water Treatment Plant | Newburyport, MA (Merrimack River) | MAG640018 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Harold E. Willis Water Treatment Plant | Walpole, MA (Mine Brook) | MAG640019 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Edmund H. Sargent Water Treatment Plant | Wilmington, MA (Martins Brook) | MAG640020 | 2023/12/18 (pdf) |
| Rockport Water Treatment Plant | Rockport, MA (Cape Pond) | MAG640021 | 2023/10/02 (pdf) |
| Springfield Reservoir Water Treatment Plant | Ludlow, MA (Higher Brook) | MAG640022 | 2023/09/29 (pdf) |
| Butters Row Water Treatment Plant | Wilmington, MA (Maple Meadow Brook) | MAG640024 | 2023/11/08 (pdf) |
| Ipswich Water Treatment Facility | Ipswich, MA (Bull Brook) | MAG640025 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Winona Water Treatment Plant | Peabody, MA (Winona Pond) | MAG640028 | 2023/11/06 (pdf) |
| Brockton Water Filtration Plant | Pembroke, MA (Silver Lake) | MAG640029 | 2023/10/11 (pdf) |
| Merrimac Water Treatment Plant | Merrimac, MA (Lake Attitash) | MAG640030 | 2023/10/11 (pdf) |
| New Great Pond Water Treatment Facility | Weymouth, MA (Great Pond) | MAG640031 | 2023/12/22 (pdf) |
| Randolph-Holbrook Water Treatment Facility | Randolph, MA (Great Pond Reservoir) | MAG640032 | 2023/12/18 (pdf) |
| Rutland Water Treatment Facility | Rutland, MA (Muschopauge Pond) | MAG640033 | 2023/12/18 (pdf) |
| Northampton Water Treatment Plant | Northampton, MA (Mountain Street Reservoir) | MAG640034 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Winchester Water Treatment Plant | Winchester, MA (South Reservoir) | MAG640037 | 2023/10/11 (pdf) |
| City of Fitchburg Regional Water Filtration Facility | Westminster, MA (Wyman Pond) | MAG640039 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Walter J Sullivan Water Treatment Plant | Cambridge, MA (Fresh Pond Reservoir) | MAG640040 | 2023/01/09 (pdf) |
| Crystal Lake Water Treatment Facility | Gardner, MA (Crystal Lake Reservoir) | MAG640041 | 2023/12/18 (pdf) |
| Pond Street Water Treatment Plant | Hanover, MA (Old Pond Meadow) | MAG640043 | 2024/02/20 (pdf) Revision |
| Pond Street Water Treatment Plant | Hanover, MA (Old Pond Meadow) | MAG640043 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Falulah Water Filtration Facility | Fitchburg, MA (Falulah Brook) | MAG640044 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Ashburnham-Winchendon Water Treatment Plant | Ashburnham, MA (Upper Naukeag Lake) | MAG640045 | 2023/11/06 (pdf) |
| Harold P. Naughton Water Treatment Facility | Clinton, MA (Coachlace Pond) | MAG640047 | 2024/02/16 (pdf) Revision |
| Harold P. Naughton Water Treatment Facility | Clinton, MA (Coachlace Pond) | MAG640047 | 2023/12/13 (pdf) |
| Georgetown Water Department | Georgetown, MA (Parker River) | MAG640048 | 2023/10/02 (pdf) |
| Howe Street Regional Water Treatment Plant | Ashland, MA (Hopkinton Reservoir) | MAG640049 | 2023/10/02 (pdf) |
| Billerica Water Department Facility | Billerica, MA (unnamed tributary to the Concord River) | MAG640050 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Flint's Pond Water Treatment Plant | Lincoln, MA (Flint Pond) | MAG640051 | 2023/12/13 (pdf) |
| Worcester Water Filtration Plant | Worcester, MA (Holden Number 2 Reservoir) | MAG640052 | 2023/10/02 (pdf) |
| Sudbury Water District – Raymond Road Water Treatment Plant | Sudbury, MA (Landham Brook) | MAG640054 | 2023/10/16 (pdf) |
| Lowell Regional Water Utility Facility | Lowell, MA (Merrimack River) | MAG640055 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Well 8 Water Treatment Facility | Sudbury, MA (Hop Brook) | MAG640056 | 2023/10/16 (pdf) |
| East Chelmsford Water Treatment Plant | East Chelmsford, MA (Black Brook) | MAG640057 | 2023/10/02 (pdf) |
| Andover Water Treatment Plant | Andover, MA (Haggetts Pond) | MAG640058 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Arlington Ave Water Treatment Facility | Beverly, MA (Wenham Lake) | MAG640059 | 2024/10/09 (pdf) |
| Vernon C. Russell Water Treatment Plant | Middleton, MA (Ipswich River) | MAG640062 | 2023/12/13 (pdf) |
| Amesbury Water Treatment Facility | Amesbury, MA (Powwow River) | MAG640065 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Dighton Water Treatment Plant | North Dighton, MA (Segreganset River) | MAG640067 | 2023/12/18 (pdf) |
| Quittacas Water Treatment Plant | East Freetown, MA (Lake Quittacas Pond) | MAG640069 | 2023/10/02 (pdf) |
| Lily Pond Treatment Plant | Cohasset, MA (Lily Pond) | MAG640070 | 2023/11/06 (pdf) |
| Long Pond Reservoir Treatment Plant | Blandford, MA (Wheeler Brook) | MAG640071 | 2023/12/18 (pdf) |
| Southbridge Street Court Water Treatment Plant | Auburn, MA (Dark Brook) | MAG640072 | 2023/12/13 (pdf) |
| Great Sandy Bottom Pond Water Treatment Plant | Pembroke, MA (Great Sandy Bottom Pond) | MAG640074 | 2023/12/13 (pdf) |
| Baldwin Pond Water Treatment Facility | Wayland, MA (Baldwin Pond) | MAG640075 | 2024/02/16 (pdf) |
| North Chelmsford Water Treatment Facility | North Chelmsford, MA (Cold Spring Pond) | MAG640076 | 2023/12/13 (pdf) |
| Broadway Water Treatment Facility | Wakefield, MA (Crystal Lake) | MAG640077 | 2023/12/13 (pdf) |
| North Andover Water Treatment Plant | North Andover, MA (Lake Cochichewick) | MAG640078 | 2023/12/22 (pdf) |
| Raymond Reardon Water Treatment Plant | Lynn, MA (Breeds Pond) | MAG640079 | 2023/11/08 (pdf) |
| Arthur J. Bilodeau Water Treatment Plant | Weymouth, MA (Mill River) | MAG640080 | 2023/12/18 (pdf) |
| Fall River Water Treatment Facility | Fall River, MA (North Watuppa Pond) | MAG640081 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| Great Pond Water Treatment Plant | Braintree, MA (Lower Great Pond) | MAG640082 | 2023/12/13 (pdf) |
| Haverhill Water Treatment Plant | Haverhill, MA (Kenoza Lake) | MAG640084 | 2023/12/22 (pdf) |
| Scituate Well 18B Treatment Facility | Scituate, MA (Hatherly Pond) | MAG640086 | 2023/11/06 (pdf) |
| Gorham Water Filtration Plant | Gorham, NH (Moose Brook) | NHG640002 | 2023/10/04 (pdf) |
| Jackson Water Precinct Facility | Jackson, NH (Ellis River) | NHG640011 | 2023/12/01 (pdf) |
| City of Somersworth Drinking Water Treatment Plant | Somersworth, NH (Salmon Falls River) | NHG640014 | 2024/01/09 (pdf) |