The Industrial Waste Department (IWD) manages the Industrial Pretreatment Program, Industrial Stormwater Program and Hazardous Materials Program as an integral part of MSD’s vision of clean, safe waterways for a healthy and vibrant community. The Programs reduce the risk of an adverse impact to public health and the environment through proactive administration of local ordinances and local, state and federal regulations.
Industrial Waste Programs Department is responsible for:
Pretreatment
The Louisville Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) has an approved Pretreatment Program. The objectives of the Pretreatment Program are:
- Protect the Water Quality Treatment Centers and sewer collection system
- Protect the health and safety of POTW workers and general public
- Protect the waterways
- Prevent violations of permits
- Enhance biosolids reuse and water reclamation
The Industrial Pretreatment Program is subdivided into other programmatic areas:
Hazardous Materials
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, MSD was at the center of several serious hazardous material incidents that gained regional and national media attention. In 1985, the governments of both the City of Louisville and Jefferson County adopted an Ordinance requiring the submittal of a Hazardous Materials Use and Spill Prevention Control (HMPC) Plan by any business that manufactures, uses or stores hazardous materials in excess of designated quantities. This plan must state how a business will respond to spills or discharges of these materials. The Ordinance also directs the Metropolitan Sewer District to administer and enforce the program.
MSD is the administering agency for the Metro Louisville Hazardous Materials Ordinance (HMO) and the approval authority for Hazardous Material Spill Prevention and Control (HMPC) Plans mandated by this ordinance. This ordinance was created for the protection of public health and safety in Louisville Metro, through the prevention and control of hazardous materials incidents and releases and the timely reporting of releases.
Hazardous Materials Appeals and Overseers Board
Industrial Stormwater
MSD was issued a permit from the Kentucky Division of Water to discharge storm water to the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). MSD is tasked with maintaining the MS4 in the Louisville Metro area. One of the requirements of this permit was that MSD would develop and implement an industrial storm water program to control discharges of pollutants to the MS4. This program mandates identification and inspections of industrial facilities located in the MS4. MSD also provides 24 hour response personnel to investigate discharges or spills to the MS4.
Wastewater/Stormwater Discharge Regulations - WDR
The WDR enables MSD to comply with the administrative provisions of the Clean Water Act. The document provides MSD with a set of uniform requirements for discharges into the public sewer system and stormwater drainage system.
