Wastewater Compliance Evaluation

Coming spring 2023, a new way to report sanitary sewer overflows through an online portal. Training and more information to be released in late 2023.

Compliance evaluation for wastewater is responsible for receiving and logging bypass/overflow reports, administering the sewer ban program, and evaluating the compliance of wastewater treatment facilities with their NPDES permits, addressing instances of non-compliance, certification of wastewater facility operators and continuing education for operators.

• Sewer Bypass/Overflow Incident Report

For more information, contact the Office of Water Quality: (317) 605-6489.

Operator Assistance

The Operator Assistance Group within Wastewater Compliance provides operation and laboratory technical assistance to wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) operators and facilities. The objective of the 104-g-1 Technical Assistance Program is to assist small community wastewater treatment plants (less than 5.0 MGD) with NPDES compliance.

Our technical staff provides on-site, hands-on assistance in the proper operation of wastewater plants. Also, the technical staff provides management assistance and promotes the involvement of community elected officials in the operation of wastewater treatment plants. Please contact Aaron Deeter, adeeter@idem.in.gov or (317) 691-1915.

Laboratory Assistance

Laboratory technical assistance with NPDES approved test methods or other laboratory issues is available. Please contact Becky Ruark, bruark@idem.in.gov or (317) 691-1909. The DMRQA Laboratory Quality Assurance Program is administered by the Office of Water Quality Compliance Branch. All major dischargers must participate annually in a DMRQA study. Minor dischargers must participate on a three-year rotating schedule. Information is distributed by U.S. EPA each year in January or February.

The rotating schedule for minors is:

• 2023:
  • Municipal WWTPs
  • Municipal WTPs with an NPDES discharge
• 2024:
  • Semi-publics (such as schools, campgrounds, and mobile home parks)
  • State and federal facilities (including rest areas and state parks)
• 2025:
  • Industrial NPDES (including some water treatment plants (WTPs)) Permit holders
  • Industrial Pretreatment Permit holders.

• Indiana QA/QC Manual for Wastewater Laboratories [PDF]
  • Benchsheets:
    • Ammonia-N
      • Basic [PDF], Basic [DOC]
      • Recommended [PDF], Recommended [DOC]
    • Ammonia/Phosphorus TNT Method [PDF], Ammonia/Phosphorus TNT Method [DOC]
    • Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
      • BOD5 [PDF], BOD5 [DOC]
    • Chain of Custody and Preservation Record [PDF], Chain of Custody and Preservation Record [DOC]
    • Chlorine:
      • Monthly Total Residual Chlorine [PDF], Monthly Total Residual Chlorine [XLSX]
    • DO Meter
      • DO Meter Calibration and Flow Proportioning (Day) [PDF], DO Meter Calibration and Flow Proportioning (Day) [DOC]
      • DO Meter Calibration (Month) [PDF], DO Meter Calibration (Month) [DOC]
      • DO Data 3 Samples w/Avg [PDF], DO Data 3 Samples w/Avg [DOC]
    • E coli:
      • Colilert Method [PDF], Colilert Method [DOC]
      • Coliscan Method [PDF], Coliscan Method [DOC]
      • m-TEC Method [PDF], m-TEC Method [DOC]
    • Flow Proportioning:
      • Spreadsheet [XLS]
      • Worksheet [PDF], Worksheet [DOC]
    • Mixed Liquor Data [PDF], Mixed Liquor Data [DOC]
    • pH:
      • Meter Calibration [PDF], Meter Calibration [DOC]
      • Data [PDF], Data [DOC]
      • Monthly pH Data w/Cal [PDF], Monthly pH Data w/Cal [DOC]
    • Spectrophotometric Analysis [PDF], Spectrophotometric Analysis [DOC]
    • Temperatures:
      • Laboratory Temperatures Data [PDF], Laboratory Temperatures Data [DOC]
      • Meter Calibrations and Lab Temperatures Data [PDF], Meter Calibrations and Lab Temperatures Data [DOC]
    • Total Nitrogen:
      • Samples Preserved [PDF], Samples Preserved [DOCX]
      • Samples Not Preserved [PDF], Samples Not Preserved [DOCX]
    • Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
      • Total Suspended Solids [PDF], Total Suspended Solids [DOC]
• Instructions for the Precision Control Charts [DOC]
• Instructions for Submitting Reports [PDF]
• Precision Control Charts [XLS]
• Instructions for the Accuracy Control Charts [DOC]
• QC Standard Chart [XLS]
• Matrix Spike Chart [XLS]

NPDES Permit Program Reporting Forms

• Reporting Forms, Notices, and Instructions

Wastewater Certification

• Wastewater Certification and Continuing Education