# Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1147 of 10 August 2018 establishing best available techniques (BAT) conclusions for waste treatment, under Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2018) 5070) (Text with EEA relevance), Division 1.5: Emissions to water Extent: E+W+S+N.I. BAT 19. In order to optimise water consumption, to reduce the volume of waste water generated and to prevent or, where that is not practicable, to reduce emissions to soil and water, BAT is to use an appropriate combination of the techniques given below. Technique Description Applicability a. Water management Water consumption is optimised by using measures which may include: water-saving plans (e.g. establishment of water efficiency objectives, flow diagrams and water mass balances); optimising the use of washing water (e.g. dry cleaning instead of hosing down, using trigger control on all washing equipment); reducing the use of water for vacuum generation (e.g. use of liquid ring pumps with high boiling point liquids). Generally applicable. b. Water recirculation Water streams are recirculated within the plant, if necessary after treatment. The degree of recirculation is limited by the water balance of the plant, the content of impurities (e.g. odorous compounds) and/or the characteristics of the water streams (e.g. nutrient content). Generally applicable. c. Impermeable surface Depending on the risks posed by the waste in terms of soil and/or water contamination, the surface of the whole waste treatment area (e.g. waste reception, handling, storage, treatment and dispatch areas) is made impermeable to the liquids concerned. Generally applicable. d. Techniques to reduce the likelihood and impact of overflows and failures from tanks and vessels Depending on the risks posed by the liquids contained in tanks and vessels in terms of soil and/or water contamination, this includes techniques such as: overflow detectors; overflow pipes that are directed to a contained drainage system (i.e. the relevant secondary containment or another vessel); tanks for liquids that are located in a suitable secondary containment; the volume is normally sized to accommodate the loss of containment of the largest tank within the secondary containment; isolation of tanks, vessels and secondary containment (e.g. closing of valves). Generally applicable. e. Roofing of waste storage and treatment areas Depending on the risks posed by the waste in terms of soil and/or water contamination, waste is stored and treated in covered areas to prevent contact with rainwater and thus minimise the volume of contaminated run-off water. Applicability may be constrained when high volumes of waste are stored or treated (e.g. mechanical treatment in shredders of metal waste). f. Segregation of water streams Each water stream (e.g. surface run-off water, process water) is collected and treated separately, based on the pollutant content and on the combination of treatment techniques. In particular, uncontaminated waste water streams are segregated from waste water streams that require treatment. Generally applicable to new plants. Generally applicable to existing plants within the constraints associated with the layout of the water collection system. g. Adequate drainage infrastructure The waste treatment area is connected to drainage infrastructure. Rainwater falling on the treatment and storage areas is collected in the drainage infrastructure along with washing water, occasional spillages, etc. and, depending on the pollutant content, recirculated or sent for further treatment. Generally applicable to new plants. Generally applicable to existing plants within the constraints associated with the layout of the water drainage system. h. Design and maintenance provisions to allow detection and repair of leaks Regular monitoring for potential leakages is risk-based, and, when necessary, equipment is repaired. The use of underground components is minimised. When underground components are used, and depending on the risks posed by the waste contained in those components in terms of soil and/or water contamination, secondary containment of underground components is put in place. The use of above-ground components is generally applicable to new plants. It may be limited however by the risk of freezing. The installation of secondary containment may be limited in the case of existing plants. i. Appropriate buffer storage capacity Appropriate buffer storage capacity is provided for waste water generated during other than normal operating conditions using a risk-based approach (e.g. taking into account the nature of the pollutants, the effects of downstream waste water treatment, and the receiving environment). The discharge of waste water from this buffer storage is only possible after appropriate measures are taken (e.g. monitor, treat, reuse). Generally applicable to new plants. For existing plants, applicability may be limited by space availability and by the layout of the water collection system. BAT 20. In order to reduce emissions to water, BAT is to treat waste water using an appropriate combination of the techniques given below. The descriptions of the techniques are given in Section 6.3. Technique Typical pollutants targeted Applicability Preliminary and primary treatment, e.g. a. Equalisation All pollutants Generally applicable. b. Neutralisation Acids, alkalis c. Physical separation, e.g. screens, sieves, grit separators, grease separators, oil-water separation or primary settlement tanks Gross solids, suspended solids, oil/grease Physico-chemical treatment, e.g. d. Adsorption Adsorbable dissolved non-biodegradable or inhibitory pollutants, e.g. hydrocarbons, mercury, AOX Generally applicable. e. Distillation/rectification Dissolved non-biodegradable or inhibitory pollutants that can be distilled, e.g. some solvents f. Precipitation Precipitable dissolved non-biodegradable or inhibitory pollutants, e.g. metals, phosphorus g. Chemical oxidation Oxidisable dissolved non-biodegradable or inhibitory pollutants, e.g. nitrite, cyanide h. Chemical reduction Reducible dissolved non-biodegradable or inhibitory pollutants, e.g. hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) i. Evaporation Soluble contaminants j. Ion exchange Ionic dissolved non-biodegradable or inhibitory pollutants, e.g. metals k. Stripping Purgeable pollutants, e.g. hydrogen sulphide (H2S), ammonia (NH3), some adsorbable organically bound halogens (AOX), hydrocarbons Biological treatment, e.g. l. Activated sludge process Biodegradable organic compounds Generally applicable. m. Membrane bioreactor Nitrogen removal n. Nitrification/denitrification when the treatment includes a biological treatment Total nitrogen, ammonia Nitrification may not be applicable in the case of high chloride concentrations (e.g. above 10 g/l) and when the reduction of the chloride concentration prior to nitrification would not be justified by the environmental benefits. Nitrification is not applicable when the temperature of the waste water is low (e.g. below 12 °C). Solids removal, e.g. o. Coagulation and flocculation Suspended solids and particulate-bound metals Generally applicable. p. Sedimentation q. Filtration (e.g. sand filtration, microfiltration, ultrafiltration) r. Flotation Table 6.1 BAT-associated emission levels (BAT-AELs) for direct discharges to a receiving water body The averaging periods are defined in the General considerations. Either the BAT-AEL for COD or the BAT-AEL for TOC applies. TOC monitoring is the preferred option because it does not rely on the use of very toxic compounds. The upper end of the range may not apply: when the abatement efficiency is ≥ 95 % as a rolling yearly average and the waste input shows the following characteristics: TOC > 2 g/l (or COD > 6 g/l) as a daily average and a high proportion of refractory organic compounds (i.e. which are difficult to biodegrade); or in the case of high chloride concentrations (e.g. above 5 g/l in the waste input). The BAT-AEL may not apply to plants treating drilling muds/cuttings. The BAT-AEL may not apply when the temperature of the waste water is low (e.g. below 12 °C). The BAT-AEL may not apply in the case of high chloride concentrations (e.g. above 10 g/l in the waste input). The BAT-AEL only applies when biological treatment of waste water is used. The BAT-AELs only apply when the substance concerned is identified as relevant in the waste water inventory mentioned in BAT 3. The upper end of the range is 0,3 mg/l for mechanical treatment in shredders of metal waste. The upper end of the range is 2 mg/l for mechanical treatment in shredders of metal waste. Substance/Parameter BAT-AEL Waste treatment process to which the BAT-AEL applies Total organic carbon (TOC) 10-60 mg/l All waste treatments except treatment of water-based liquid waste 10-100 mg/l Treatment of water-based liquid waste Chemical oxygen demand (COD) 30-180 mg/l All waste treatments except treatment of water-based liquid waste 30-300 mg/l Treatment of water-based liquid waste Total suspended solids (TSS) 5-60 mg/l All waste treatments Hydrocarbon oil index (HOI) 0,5-10 mg/l Mechanical treatment in shredders of metal waste Treatment of WEEE containing VFCs and/or VHCs Re-refining of waste oil Physico-chemical treatment of waste with calorific value Water washing of excavated contaminated soil Treatment of water-based liquid waste Total nitrogen (Total N) 1-25 mg/l Biological treatment of waste Re-refining of waste oil 10-60 mg/l Treatment of water-based liquid waste Total phosphorus (Total P) 0,3-2 mg/l Biological treatment of waste 1-3 mg/l Treatment of water-based liquid waste Phenol index 0,05-0,2 mg/l Re-refining of waste oil Physico-chemical treatment of waste with calorific value 0,05-0,3 mg/l Treatment of water-based liquid waste Free cyanide (CN-) 0,02-0,1 mg/l Treatment of water-based liquid waste Adsorbable organically bound halogens (AOX) 0,2-1 mg/l Treatment of water-based liquid waste Metals and metalloids Arsenic (expressed as As) 0,01-0,05 mg/l Mechanical treatment in shredders of metal waste Treatment of WEEE containing VFCs and/or VHCs Mechanical biological treatment of waste Re-refining of waste oil Physico-chemical treatment of waste with calorific value Physico-chemical treatment of solid and/or pasty waste Regeneration of spent solvents Water washing of excavated contaminated soil Cadmium (expressed as Cd) 0,01-0,05 mg/l Chromium (expressed as Cr) 0,01-0,15 mg/l Copper (expressed as Cu) 0,05-0,5 mg/l Lead (expressed as Pb) 0,05-0,1 mg/l Nickel (expressed as Ni) 0,05-0,5 mg/l Mercury (expressed as Hg) 0,5-5 μg/l Zinc (expressed as Zn) 0,1-1 mg/l Arsenic (expressed as As) 0,01-0,1 mg/l Treatment of water-based liquid waste Cadmium (expressed as Cd) 0,01-0,1 mg/l Chromium (expressed as Cr) 0,01-0,3 mg/l Hexavalent chromium (expressed as Cr(VI)) 0,01-0,1 mg/l Copper (expressed as Cu) 0,05-0,5 mg/l Lead (expressed as Pb) 0,05-0,3 mg/l Nickel (expressed as Ni) 0,05-1 mg/l Mercury (expressed as Hg) 1-10 μg/l Zinc (expressed as Zn) 0,1-2 mg/l The associated monitoring is given in BAT 7. Table 6.2 BAT-associated emission levels (BAT-AELs) for indirect discharges to a receiving water body The averaging periods are defined in the General considerations. The BAT-AELs may not apply if the downstream waste water treatment plant abates the pollutants concerned, provided this does not lead to a higher level of pollution in the environment. The BAT-AELs only apply when the substance concerned is identified as relevant in the waste water inventory mentioned in BAT 3. The upper end of the range is 0,3 mg/l for mechanical treatment in shredders of metal waste. The upper end of the range is 2 mg/l for mechanical treatment in shredders of metal waste. Substance/Parameter BAT-AEL Waste treatment process to which the BAT-AEL applies Hydrocarbon oil index (HOI) 0,5-10 mg/l Mechanical treatment in shredders of metal waste Treatment of WEEE containing VFCs and/or VHCs Re-refining of waste oil Physico-chemical treatment of waste with calorific value Water washing of excavated contaminated soil Treatment of water-based liquid waste Free cyanide (CN-) 0,02-0,1 mg/l Treatment of water-based liquid waste Adsorbable organically bound halogens (AOX) 0,2-1 mg/l Treatment of water-based liquid waste Metals and metalloids Arsenic (expressed as As) 0,01-0,05 mg/l Mechanical treatment in shredders of metal waste Treatment of WEEE containing VFCs and/or VHCs Mechanical biological treatment of waste Re-refining of waste oil Physico-chemical treatment of waste with calorific value Physico-chemical treatment of solid and/or pasty waste Regeneration of spent solvents Water washing of excavated contaminated soil Cadmium (expressed as Cd) 0,01-0,05 mg/l Chromium (expressed as Cr) 0,01-0,15 mg/l Copper (expressed as Cu) 0,05-0,5 mg/l Lead (expressed as Pb) 0,05-0,1 mg/l Nickel (expressed as Ni) 0,05-0,5 mg/l Mercury (expressed as Hg) 0,5-5 μg/l Zinc (expressed as Zn) 0,1-1 mg/l Arsenic (expressed as As) 0,01-0,1 mg/l Treatment of water-based liquid waste Cadmium (expressed as Cd) 0,01-0,1 mg/l Chromium (expressed as Cr) 0,01-0,3 mg/l Hexavalent chromium (expressed as Cr(VI)) 0,01-0,1 mg/l Copper (expressed as Cu) 0,05-0,5 mg/l Lead (expressed as Pb) 0,05-0,3 mg/l Nickel (expressed as Ni) 0,05-1 mg/l Mercury (expressed as Hg) 1-10 μg/l Zinc (expressed as Zn) 0,1-2 mg/l The associated monitoring is given in BAT 7. --- Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2018/1147/annex/division/1/division/1.5 (the official version) Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2018-1147/annex/division-1/division-1.5 Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.