The Industrial Pretreatment Program, also called IPP, is a program to reduce the volume of pollutants discharged into the sewer system that have the potential to cause harm to the collection system, the treatment plant, or the facility employees. The program is designed to eliminate any discharges that the water pollution control facility cannot treat and, therefore, have the potential to cause harm to Narragansett Bay.
The City established the IPP per ordinance, Chapter 13.10, in accordance with the USEPA Clean Water Act with approval by RIDEM.
The IPP program issues Wastewater Discharge Permits to businesses that discharge large volumes of wastewater or any substance other than domestic sewerage. Businesses in Newport and Middletown discharge to the Newport Wastewater Treatment Facility and are, therefore, subject to the conditions of the Newport Sewer Use Ordinance.
All businesses must meet the local discharge limits. Dilution is not allowed as a means of meeting the discharge limits. Please review daily Discharge Maximum Limits.
The IPP typically regulates businesses, including restaurants, cafeterias, supermarkets, vehicle and boat maintenance facilities, dry cleaners, laundries, medical facilities, laboratories, medical centers, photo developers, and food and beverage production operations.
All eating establishments must install automatic grease recovery devices (GRDs) and have a current Grease and Solids Interceptor Permit. GRDs prevent sewer blockages caused by grease by removing fats and grease from the wastewater before it is discharged.
Commercial kitchens, including those in restaurants, cafeterias, and supermarkets, must discharge their three-bay sinks, pre-rinse stations, and pot sinks through an electrical/mechanical grease recovery device. In-ground interceptors are allowed. Passive grease traps are not allowed. Please review the Standards for Grease Removal Systems document.
The IPP must approve the specifications for all GRDs, in-ground interceptors, and installation plans before the equipment is installed. Please review the Grease & Solids Permits Checklist.
For a Grease and Solids Interceptor Application, please get in touch with the IPP at (401) 845-2000. The Plumbing and Drainage Institutes website, shows some examples of GRDs that the IPP program has approved.
Rendering services are required to dispose of grease extracted by the GRDs properly. Restaurant owners must maintain a Grease Trap Cleaning Log and must show this log to an IPP inspector upon request.
Businesses subject to the conditions of the IPP, other than eating establishments, must complete an Industrial Waste Questionnaire as part of their application for a Wastewater Discharge Permit. Please contact the IPP at (401) 845-2000 for a copy of the questionnaire.
In many instances, businesses are required to submit the results of periodic self-monitoring testing and to install pretreatment equipment as a condition of their Wastewater Discharge Permit. All businesses regulated by the IPP are subject to inspections.