What is Agricultural Industrial Process Water?
“Agricultural industrial process water” refers to food processing wastewater that does not have a sewage component. This includes wastewater from the processing of potato, fruit, vegetables, or grain. The wastewater must be adequately and reliably treated so that it is suitable for other agricultural use. The permit to apply agricultural industrial process water is the state waste discharge permit issued by Ecology under the Water Pollution Control Act, Chapter 90.48 RCW. The permit governs the location, rate, water quality, and purpose of use. Because it does not have a sewage component and may have wastewater characteristics that differ from municipal wastewater, agricultural industrial process water may have treatment and permit requirements that are different from those contained in the state Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards. If there are significant concerns for public health, then Ecology consults with the Department of Health before issuing a permit. The permittee has the e
