The following explains the permit categories and charges utilized by MWRA’s Toxic Reduction and Control Department when issuing Sewer Use Discharge Permits (SUDPs). The governing regulations for MWRA’s Sewer Use Discharge Permits can be found on the MWRA TRAC Main Page, the Incentive Program and Other Charges are found at 360 CMR 10.101-10.104. The permit and monitoring charges for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 are also listed below. MWRA’s fiscal year (FY) extends from July 1 through June 30.
Sewer Use Discharge Permit Categories
A Significant Industrial User (SIU) is an industrial discharger who:
- Is subject to a national categorical pretreatment standard;
- Discharges an average of 25,000 gallons per day or more of process wastewater to the MWRA sewerage system;
- Contributes a process wastestream that makes up more that 5% of the average dry weather hydraulic or organic capacity of MWRA’s treatment plant; or
- Has a reasonable potential for adversely affecting MWRA’s operation or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement.
Permit Category Descriptions
Permit Category | Description |
---|---|
1 | A sewer user whose process results in a Discharge containing one or more substances in a concentration or quantity requiring Pretreatment to meet the requirements of 360 CMR 10.021 through 10.025 and who does not have a Group, General, or Combined Permit for the discharge. |
2 | A sewer user whose process results in a Discharge containing one or more substances regulated by 360 CMR 10.021 through 10.025 at a concentration and quantity not requiring Pretreatment to meet the requirements of 360 CMR 10.021 through 10.025 and who does not have a Group, General, or Combined Permit for the Discharge. |
3 | A sewer user whose process results in a Discharge not containing a substance regulated by 360 CMR 10.021 through 10.025 and who does not have a Group, General, or Combined Permit for the Discharge. |
4 | An SIU without an Industrial Waste Discharge to the Authority Sewerage System or any tributary thereto. |
6 | A Person with a Septage Discharge Permit. |
10 | A Person with a General Permit for Low Flow and Low Pollutant. |
12 | A Person with a Temporary Construction Site Dewatering Permit, even if the Discharge might also meet the definition of another category. |
G1 | A Person with a Group Permit for Photo Processing and Printing Operations. |
G2 | A Person with a Group Permit for Food Processing. |
C1 | A Person with a Combined General Permit for Low Flow and Low Pollutant and Group Permit. |
D1 | A Person with a Group Permit for Dental Discharges. |
Monitoring Charge
A monitoring charge is assessed if your MWRA permit, as of June 30, required you to monitor your discharge and report the result to MWRA. There is no monitoring charge for group or combined permits. For more information on how monitoring scores are determined, see 360 CMR 10.102(3).
Multiple Sampling Locations
There is an additional charge for facilities with more than three sample locations. For each three additional sample locations (e.g. 4-6, 7-9), the monitoring charge is increased for SIUs by rates shown in the table below and for non-SIUs by the standard monitoring charge for that category.
Late/Non-report
There is an additional monitoring charge for submitting a monitoring report more than 45 days late, not at all, or without required data.
Permit and Monitoring Charges by Category
Permit Category | Charge Components | Charge Amounts FY 2025 | Charge Amounts FY 2026 | Charge Amounts FY 2027 | Charge Amounts FY 2028 | Charge Amounts FY 2029 & Beyond |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 SIU | Permitting | $3,088 | $3,181 | $3,276 | $3,374 | $3,476 |
Monitoring Low Score Med Score High Score | $3,578 $7,152 $10,722 | $3,686 $7,367 $11,375 | $3,796 $7,588 $11,375 | $3,910 $7,816 $11,717 | $4,027 $8,050 $12,068 | |
More than 3 Sample Locations | $3,578 | $3,686 | $3,796 | $3,910 | $4,027 | |
1 non-SIU | Permitting | $2,037 | $2,098 | $2,161 | $2,226 | $2,293 |
Monitoring | $1,172 | $1,207 | $1,244 | $1,281 | $1,319 | |
More than 3 Sample Locations | $1,172 | $1,207 | $1,244 | $1,281 | $1,319 | |
2 SIU | Permitting | $1,988 | $2,048 | $2,109 | $2,172 | $2,238 |
Monitoring Low Score Med Score High Score | $3,578 $7,152 $10,722 | $3,686 $7,367 $11,375 | $3,796 $7,588 $11,375 | $3,910 $7,816 $11,717 | $4,027 $8,050 $12,068 | |
More than 3 Sample Locations | $3,578 | $3,686 | $3,796 | $3,910 | $4,027 | |
2 non-SIU | Permitting | $1,691 | $1,742 | $1,794 | $1,848 | $1,903 |
Monitoring | $1,172 | $1,038 | $1,070 | $1,104 | $1,138 | |
More than 3 Sample Locations | $1,172 | $1,038 | $1,070 | $1,104 | $1,138 | |
3 SIU | Permitting | $1,691 | $1,742 | $1,794 | $1,848 | $1,903 |
Monitoring Low Score Med Score High Score | $3,578 $7,152 $10,722 | $3,686 $7,367 $11,375 | $3,796 $7,588 $11,375 | $3,910 $7,816 $11,717 | $4,027 $8,050 $12,068 | |
More than 3 Sample Locations | $3,578 | $3,686 | $3,796 | $3,910 | $4,027 | |
3 non-SIU | Permitting | $1,277 | $1,315 | $1,355 | $1,395 | $1,437 |
Monitoring | $884 | $910 | $938 | $966 | $995 | |
More than 3 Sample Locations | $884 | $910 | $938 | $966 | $995 | |
4 SIU | Permitting | $1,154 | $1,189 | $1,224 | $1,261 | $1,299 |
6 | Permitting | $1,154 | $1,189 | $1,224 | $1,261 | $1,299 |
10 | Permitting | $115 | $118 | $122 | $126 | $129 |
12 | Permitting | $4,472 | $4,606 | $4,744 | $4,887 | $5,033 |
Monitoring | $3,578 | $3, 686 | $3,796 | $3,910 | $4,027 | |
More than 3 Sample Locations | $3,578 | $3, 686 | $3,796 | $3,910 | $4,027 | |
G1 | Permitting | $268 | $276 | $284 | $293 | $302 |
Notice Of Intent | $106 | $109 | $112 | $116 | $119 | |
G2 | Permitting | $228 | $235 | $242 | $249 | $257 |
Notice Of Intent | $106 | $109 | $112 | $116 | $119 | |
C1 | Permitting | $328 | $337 | $348 | $358 | $369 |
D1 | Permitting | $228 | $235 | $242 | $249 | $257 |
Notice Of Intent | $106 | $109 | $112 | $116 | $119 | |
ALL | Late/ No Discharge Report | $198 | $204 | $210 | $216 | $223 |