Does Your Facility Need an Industrial Wastewater Permit in Oklahoma?
By Mark Frazier, Vice President/National Regulatory Affairs (Tulsa)
Mark Frazier holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Oklahoma State University (Stillwater) and has over 20 years of experience in the Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Compliance field as a Certified Regulatory Compliance Specialist.
Whether your facility needs an Industrial Wastewater Permit in Oklahoma depends on how you handle your waste - whether you discharge it to a local sewer, a body of water, or by and onto the land.
- Discharge to a Public Sewer, aka Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW)
If your facility is connected to a municipal sewer system, you may need a permit from either the local city or the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
- Significant Industrial Users (SIU):
Your facility, generally speaking, must be permitted if it discharges more than 25,000 gallons per day, or if your flow is >5% of the municipal plant's total loading.
- Pollutant Content:
A permit is required if your facility’s waste contains pollutants (like heavy metals or toxic organics) that could interfere with, or pass through, the treatment plant.
- Local Authority
If your facility’s city of record (e.g., Oklahoma City, Tulsa, or Broken Arrow) has anapproved Pretreatment Program, that city will issue your facility’s permit. Otherwise, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) will handle the permitting process.
- Direct Discharge or Disposal
A permit from the DEQ Industrial Permitting Section is mandatory if your facility performs any of the following:
- Surface Discharges: Releasing wastewater directly into Oklahoma's rivers, lakes, or streams.
- Surface Impoundments: Use of lagoons or ponds to store or treat industrial wastewater.
- Land Application: Applying wastewater or sludge to the ground for disposal or beneficial reuse.
- Underground Storage: Disposing of industrial wastewater in underground tanks.
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Specialized General Permits
Oklahoma offers "General Permits" for specific industries with standardized requirements. Common sectors include:
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Concrete Batch Plants (Mobile or stationary facilities).
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Vehicle Wash Facilities.
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Medical Marijuana growing facilities.
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Rock, Sand, and Gravel quarries.
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Petroleum Underground Storage Tank cleanups.
Next Steps
To confirm your requirements, you can use ODEQ’s nFORM Portal to view specific application forms or contact the DEQ Water Quality Division directly for a formal jurisdictional determination. Calling Vanguard, of course, is another outlet for assisting with the permitting process, if needed.