What to know
- Protects public health and infrastructure: Regulates over 16,000 industrial users to prevent toxic chemicals from damaging sewer pipelines, water reclamation plants, recycled water, and biosolids
- Connects businesses with sustainable solutions through the LA Industry initiative and Green Chemistry principles.
- Maintains a 98% fee collection rate while offering convenient 24/7 online payment options with no processing fees.
- Oversees federal pretreatment compliance (40 CFR 403.12) using tailored Self-Monitoring Reports (SMRs) for industrial sample points.
Program Overview
LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) administers an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved pretreatment program governed by the City's Industrial Waste Control Ordinance under Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 64.30. Managed by the Industrial Waste Management Division (IWMD), the program regulates, monitors, and controls wastewater discharges from more than 16,000 commercial and industrial facilities across the City of Los Angeles.
While standard household sewage is easily treated at municipal water reclamation plants, industrial discharges often contain chemical pollutants that endanger public safety, corrode sewer lines, or contaminate recycled water and nutrient-rich biosolids. Controlling contaminants at the source keeps local water systems safe and reliable for Angeleno neighborhoods.
LA Industry initiative
To balance environmental protection with economic growth, LASAN created the LA Industry initiative. This collaborative program builds partnerships between internal technical teams, local business owners, and industry leaders to foster a commercial environment where businesses can thrive while meeting regulatory requirements.
Using our Green Chemistry Guide, built on 12 sustainable engineering principles, LA Industry helps businesses transition toward a circular economy. By promoting life-cycle thinking, hazardous material reduction, and clean chemical design, commercial partners reduce operating expenses while preserving air and water quality across the Los Angeles region.
Billing and cost recovery
Under LAMC Section 64.30.D, the City assesses Industrial Waste Fees to ensure fair, equitable cost recovery for monitoring and regulatory services. The IWMD Revenue and Billing section maintains a 98% fee collection rate through transparent rate administration, Quality Surcharge Fee oversight for high-strength organic waste, septage hauler billing, and payment plan assistance managed alongside the Office of Finance.
Commercial users can manage and pay their industrial waste bills securely online 24 hours a day. Paying online eliminates late fees, incurs zero processing charges, and provides instant digital confirmation.
Self-Monitoring Compliance
To verify that industrial discharges meet safety thresholds, federal pretreatment regulations (40 CFR 403.12) require industrial users to perform self-monitoring and submit their findings to LASAN. IWMD generates customized Self-Monitoring Report (SMR) forms for every authorized discharge sampling point.
Facilities complete these SMR forms with accurate flow measurements, laboratory analysis, production output, and required compliance certifications—including Total Toxic Organics (TTO), cyanide, or zero-discharge verifications—and submit them to IWMD at their required permit intervals.