Description
Inspect industrial and commercial facilities for compliance with industrial wastewater pretreatment, hazardous waste, and stormwater regulations; investigate illegal discharges; collect and analyze samples; and enforce permit requirements to protect treatment plants (POTWs), public health, and the environment.
- • Determine the nature of industrial waste and pretreatment violations, issue notices of violation, and support enforcement actions and hearings.
- • Examine discharge permits, generator registrations, manifests, and monitoring records for regulatory compliance.
- • Prepare, organize, and maintain inspection files, sampling logs, and chain-of-custody documentation.
- • Interview facility personnel to document processes, chemicals, and alleged violations.
- • Prepare inspection reports with findings, photos, sampling results, and enforcement documentation.
- • Track corrective actions, verify return to compliance, and review follow-up submittals.
- • Investigate complaints of illegal discharges, illicit connections, spills, and improper waste disposal.
- • Inspect pretreatment systems (e.g., neutralization, oil-water separators, DAF, filtration) for proper operation and compliance.
- • Inform and train facility staff on discharge limits, BMPs, and corrective measures.
- • Select sampling locations and methods; collect wastewater, sludge, and stormwater samples with proper preservation and custody.
- • Verify proper labeling, storage, accumulation, and disposal of hazardous and universal wastes per RCRA and local rules.
- • Stay current with CWA pretreatment, RCRA, SPCC, and stormwater regulations and guidance.
- • Prioritize inspections and coordinate compliance activities with POTWs, state, and federal agencies.
- • Observe and record field data such as pH, temperature, flow, conductivity, and gas meter readings.
- • Follow safety procedures, including PPE, confined space entry, lockout/tagout, and HAZWOPER practices.
- • Check container and tank labels, SDSs, and signage for accuracy and compliance.
- • Communicate risks of industrial discharges to treatment operations, worker safety, and receiving waters.
- • Implement elements of industrial pretreatment programs, including permitting, monitoring, and enforcement.
- • Perform field screening and basic laboratory analyses; coordinate advanced testing with certified labs.
- • Review and evaluate industrial user permit applications, slug control plans, and spill prevention plans.
- • Calculate surcharges, discharge volumes, and waste strength parameters; recommend limits and sampling frequencies.
- • Develop or audit spill/slug control, SPCC, and hazardous waste practices; recommend corrective actions.
- • Maintain, calibrate, and repair sampling and monitoring equipment and safety gear.
- • Research treatment and disposal alternatives for industrial waste streams and related costs.
- • Respond to inquiries on permits, surcharges, and capacity fees or refer to appropriate staff.
- • Compile data to support sewer service charge and capacity fee calculations.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
