Public Health Protocols (wastewater quality protocols and sewage treatment rules), 2010.

These Regulations on public health protocols concerning wastewater and sewage treatment detail, among other things, the duties of wastewater producers and operators in ensuring proper wastewater purification before discharge: (i) Wastewater Producers' Obligations: Primarily responsible for purifying their wastewater, whether by operating their treatment plant or discharging to a central one. Even when using a central plant, they remain accountable for meeting purification standards and must prevent discharge if their wastewater quality would impede the plant's purification ability. They are also required to supervise the operation of any treatment plant to which they discharge. (ii) Operators' Obligations: To ensure the efficient and reliable purification of wastewater, meeting specific quality standards based on the effluent's intended use (e.g., agricultural irrigation, discharge into streams). They are mandated to use the best available treatment techniques, including filtration and disinfection. Operators cannot discharge effluent if it could harm the environment, water sources, or public health. They must also control salt levels in the treated water. Operators may be exempt from liability for certain effluent quality deviations if they can prove untreatability with the best available techniques and that they took all possible measures to prevent the problematic wastewater from entering the plant. (iii) Wastewater Suppliers' Obligations: To take all reasonable measures to prevent the deterioration of wastewater quality in their possession and must not cause or allow any deviation from the values set out in these Regulations.
An Exceptions Committee has been formed, comprising the Environmental Commissioner, Health Commissioner, and Director of the Water Authority. It has the authority to implement stricter wastewater quality standards, add monitoring parameters, or extend orders if there's a risk to public health, water sources, soil, or crops, even if current values are met. Orders concerning agricultural irrigation wastewater require consultation with the Director General of Agriculture. The committee can also adjust wastewater monitoring frequencies based on requests or environmental/public health concerns. However, reducing monitoring for agricultural irrigation wastewater requires the Director General of Agriculture's consent.
Article 9 sets forth strict conditions for wastewater disposal by producers and operators, supplementing existing regulations, requiring permits for: (i) Agricultural irrigation: requiring permits for both the user and operator under relevant public health and water law, along with a legal water allocation for the user. (ii) Discharge into a stream: requiring a permit order under the Water Law. (iii) Any other economic purpose: requiring a permit from a health officer for the user (with compliance to its conditions), and a legal water allocation under the Water Law for both the operator and user. The Regulations also mandate a Wastewater Monitoring and Control Program for water quality and public safety. Wastewater producers must submit plans for monitoring discharge quality and supply water composition, approved by environmental officers. Operators must sample and monitor wastewater at Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) outlets, adhering to specified frequencies and parameters based on effluent use, with large plants requiring continuous monitoring devices. All testing must be conducted by certified laboratories and regularly verified. Wastewater operators and producers must submit monthly and annual reports on treatment results and operational data, including action plans for any deviations.