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Lake County public works presents EPA-driven updates to water, sewer and pretreatment ordinances; vote planned next meeting
Summary
Public Works presented proposed amendments to Lake County water, sewer and pretreatment ordinances to comply with U.S. EPA pretreatment program requirements. Staff said EPA has reviewed draft sewer and pretreatment language; the formal pretreatment program requires a 30‑day public notice and EPA authorization. Committee discussed staffing needs for monitoring and enforcement.
Lake County Public Works staff presented proposed updates to county water, sewer and pretreatment ordinances on April 1 that they said are driven by U.S. EPA requirements to establish a formal pretreatment program.
Director Austin McFarland said the county revised language in chapters covering water use, sewer use and pretreatment to align with current practices and with IEPA and U.S. EPA rules. Engineering supervisor Britney Sloan walked the committee through key changes: clearer definitions for sewer service pipes, allowance for low‑pressure sewer systems where gravity is impractical, pretreatment requirements for certain industrial and commercial users (including automotive service/repair and some dental practices), and a formal local‑limits framework tied to each wastewater treatment facility.
McFarland told members the draft sewer and pretreatment ordinances were reviewed by U.S. EPA and that the county provided a 30‑day public notice; staff said they received no negative public comments during that notice period. If committee members approve the language at the next meeting, the county will return the ordinances to EPA for final review and formal authorization of a pretreatment program that would authorize the county as the control authority to monitor dischargers.
Members asked about staffing and enforcement: several committee members urged the county to fund additional pretreatment coordinators and laboratory resources to handle monitoring and investigations for heavy metals, PFAS and other industrial contaminants. McFarland said the county has placed a pretreatment coordinator in the budget and will proceed incrementally, coordinating the coordinator with the lab supervisor and operations manager while monitoring whether additional positions will be needed.
The item was presented for discussion; staff said the committee will consider formal approval at the next meeting.
