Decision No. 1597-N of the Government of the Republic of Armenia on establishing requirements for the preliminary treatment of industrial wastewater.

This Decision establishes requirements for the preliminary treatment of industrial wastewater prior to its discharge into centralized sewerage systems. It stipulates that industrial wastewater may be discharged where the system has sufficient capacity and where the composition and characteristics of the wastewater comply with applicable discharge requirements. In cases of non-compliance, operators shall carry out preliminary treatment in local treatment facilities at their own expense prior to discharge, and discharge shall be prohibited where the system lacks sufficient capacity. It further provides that industrial wastewater may contain pollutants characteristic of production processes and that its discharge is subject to limitations.
The Decision regulates the design and operation of local treatment facilities and provides that the mixing of wastewater from different production entities is permitted only after control inspection points. Where technically feasible and agreed in writing, wastewater from multiple entities may be treated in a common facility prior to discharge. Requirements are set for wastewater containing high concentrations of pollutants or substances capable of causing chemical reactions, including homogenization prior to discharge. It also contains provisions concerning wastewater containing explosive substances, radioactive wastewater, and wastewater composed of mineral substances, as well as provisions on permissible discharge limits and compliance with rules governing the use of centralized sewerage systems.