Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 27, 2024

Title 40 - Protection of Environment last revised: Nov 25, 2024
§ 417.160 - Applicability; description of the manufacture of liquid detergents subcategory.

The provisions of this subpart are applicable to discharges resulting from all operations associated with the manufacture of liquid detergents, commencing with the blending of ingredients, to and including bottling or packaging finished products.

§ 417.161 - Specialized definitions.

For the purpose of this subpart:

(a) Except as provided below, the general definitions, abbreviations and methods of analysis set forth in 40 CFR part 401 shall apply to this subpart.

(b) The term anhydrous product shall mean the theoretical product that would result if all water were removed from the actual product.

(c) The term surfactant shall mean those methylene blue active substances amenable to measurement by the method described in “Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes,” 1971, Environmental Protection Agency, Analytical Quality Control Laboratory, page 131.

(d) The term normal liquid detergent operations shall mean all such operations except those defined as fast turnaround operation of automated fill lines.

(e) The term fast turnaround operation of automated fill lines shall mean an operation involving more than 8 changes of formulation in a 30 consecutive day period that are of such degree and type as to require thorough purging and washing of the fill line to maintain minimal product quality.

(f) The term BOD7 shall mean the biochemical oxygen demand as determined by incubation at 20 degrees C for a period of 7 days using an acclimated seed. Agitation employing a magnetic stirrer set at 200 to 500 rpm may be used.

[39 FR 13372, Apr. 12, 1974, as amended at 40 FR 27455, June 30, 1975]
§ 417.162 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available.

Except as provided in §§ 125.30 through 125.32, any existing point source subject to this subpart shall achieve the following effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available (BPT):

(a) For normal liquid detergent operations the following values pertain:

Effluent characteristic Effluent limitations
Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed—
Metric units (kilograms per 1,000 kg of anhydrous product)
BOD50.600.20
COD1.80.60
TSS0.015.005
Surfactants0.39.13
Oil and grease0.015.005
pH( 1)( 1)
English units (pounds per 1,000 lb of anhydrous product)
BOD50.600.20
COD1.80.60
TSS0.015.005
Surfactants0.39.13
Oil and grease0.015.005
pH( 1)( 1)

1 Within the range 6.0 to 9.0.

(b) For fast turnaround operation of automated fill lines, the following values pertain: the maximum for any one day when the number of turnarounds exceeds eight in any thirty consecutive day period shall be the sum of the appropriate values below and that from paragraph (a) of this section; and the average of daily values for thirty consecutive days shall be the values shown below multiplied by the number of turnarounds in excess of eight and prorated to thirty days plus the appropriate value from paragraph (a) of this section.

Effluent characteristic Effluent limitations
Metric units (kilograms per 1,000 kg of anhydrous product)
BOD50.05.
COD0.15.
TSS0.002.
Surfactants0.04.
Oil and grease0.002.
pHWithin the range 6.0 to 9.0.
English units (pounds per 1,000 lb of anhydrous product)
BOD50.05.
COD0.15.
TSS0.002.
Surfactants0.04.
Oil and grease0.002.
pHWithin the range 6.0 to 9.0.
[39 FR 13372, Apr. 12, 1974; 39 FR 17841, May 21, 1974, as amended at 60 FR 33955, June 29, 1995]
§ 417.163 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable.

The following limitations establish the quantity or quality of pollutants or pollutant properties, controlled by this section, which may be discharged by a point source subject to the provisions of this subpart after application of the best available technology economically achievable:

(a) For normal liquid detergent operations the following values pertain:

Effluent characteristic Effluent limitations
Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed—
Metric units (kilograms per 1,000 kg of anhydrous product)
BOD50.100.05
COD0.44.22
TSS0.01.005
Surfactants0.10.05
Oil and grease0.01.005
pH( 1)( 1)
English units (pounds per 1,000 lb of anhydrous product)
BOD50.100.05
COD0.44.22
TSS0.01.005
Surfactants0.10.005
Oil and grease0.01.005
pH( 1)( 1)

1 Within the range 6.0 to 9.0.

(b) For fast turnaround operation of automated fill lines, the following values pertain: The maximum for any one day when the number of turnarounds exceeds eight in any thirty consecutive day period shall be the sum of the appropriate value below and that from paragraph (a) of this section; and the average of daily values for thirty consecutive days shall be the value shown below multiplied by the number of turnarounds in excess of eight and prorated to thirty days plus the appropriate value from paragraph (a) of this section.

Effluent characteristic Effluent limitations
Metric units (kilograms per 1,000 kg of anhydrous product)
BOD50.02.
COD0.07.
TSS0.002.
Surfactants0.02.
Oil and grease0.002.
pHWithin the range 6.0 to 9.0.
English units (pounds per 1,000 lb of anhydrous product)
BOD50.02.
COD0.07.
TSS0.002.
Surfactants0.02.
Oil and grease0.002.
pHWithin the range 6.0 to 9.0.
§ 417.164 - [Reserved]
§ 417.165 - Standards of performance for new sources.

The following standards of performance establish the quantity or quality of pollutants or pollutant properties, controlled by this section, which may be discharged by a new source subject to the provisions of this subpart:

(a) For normal liquid detergent operations the following values pertain:

Effluent characteristic Effluent limitations
Maximum for any 1 day Average of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed—
Metric units (kilograms per 1,000 kg of anhydrous product)
BOD50.100.05
COD0.44.22
TSS0.01.005
Surfactants0.10.05
Oil and grease0.01.005
pH( 1)( 1)
English units (pounds per 1,000 lb of anhydrous product)
BOD50.100.05
COD0.44.22
TSS0.01.005
Surfactants0.10.05
Oil and grease0.01.005
pH( 1)( 1)

1 Within the range 6.0 to 9.0.

(b) For fast turnaround operation of automated fill lines, the following values pertain: The maximum for any one day when the number of turnarounds exceeds eight in any thirty consecutive day period shall be the sum of the appropriate value below and that from paragraph (a) of this section; and the average of daily values for thirty consecutive days shall be the value shown below multiplied by the number of turnarounds in excess of eight and prorated to thirty days plus the appropriate value from paragraph (a) of this section:

Effluent characteristic Effluent limitations
Metric units (kilograms per 1,000 kg of anhydrous product)
BOD50.02.
COD0.07.
TSS0.002.
Surfactants0.02.
Oil and grease0.002.
pHWithin the range 6.0 to 9.0.
English units (pounds per 1,000 lb of anhydrous product)
BOD50.02.
COD0.07.
TSS0.002.
Surfactants0.02.
Oil and grease0.002.
pHWithin the range 6.0 to 9.0.
§ 417.166 - Pretreatment standards for new sources.

Any new source subject to this subpart that introduces process wastewater pollutants into a publicly owned treatment works must comply with 40 CFR part 403. In addition, the following pretreatment standard establishes the quantity or quality of pollutants or pollutant properties, controlled by this section, which may be discharged to a publicly owned treatment works by a new source subject to the provisions of this subpart.

(a) There shall be no discharge of waste water streams in which both the COD/BOD7 ratio exceeds 10.0 and the COD exceeds 1.10 kg/kkg of anhydrous product.

(b) For waste streams having either a ratio of COD to BOD7 of 10.0 or less or having a COD content of 1.10 kg/kkg of anhydrous product or less the pretreatment standard shall be:

(1) For normal liquid detergent operations the following values pertain:

Pollutant or pollutant property Pretreatment standard
BOD5No limitation.
COD Do.
TSS Do.
Surfactants Do.
Oil and grease Do.
pH Do.

(2) For fast turnaround operation of automated fill lines, the following values pertain; the maximum for any one day when the number of turnarounds exceeds eight in any thirty consecutive day period shall be the sum of the appropriate value below and that from paragraph (b)(1) of this section; and the average of daily values for thirty consecutive days shall be the value shown below multiplied by the number of turnarounds in excess of eight and prorated to thirty days plus the appropriate value from paragraph (b)(1) of this section:

Pollutant or pollutant property Pretreatment standard
BOD5No limitation.
COD Do.
TSS Do.
Surfactants Do.
Oil and grease Do.
pH Do.
[40 FR 27455, June 30, 1975, as amended at 60 FR 33955, June 29, 1995]
authority: Secs. 301, 304 (b) and (c), 306 (b) and (c), and 307(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended, (the Act); 33 U.S.C. 1251,1311,1314,1316,86. 816
source: 39 FR 13372, Apr. 12, 1974, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 40 CFR 417.165