Permits for Businesses

The City of Palo Alto issues permits and conducts inspections of businesses in the Regional Water Quality Control Plant's service area. Your business plays an important role in reducing pollution in the San Francisco Bay. Wastewater treatment systems are not designed to remove some pollutants, and these can flow into the Bay. The Watershed Protection group works with various businesses, including restaurants, vehicle service facilities, dentists, and industrial facilities, to control the discharge of harmful substances like oils, chemicals, and metals. The City also issues permits for recycled water usage.

Business owners and employees need to ensure that their actions do not harm water quality by obtaining required permits and following best practices for pollution prevention.

Permit Type	Description
Industrial Waste Discharge	For significant discharge of industrial wastewater to the sanitary sewer
Vehicle Service Facility Industrial Waste Discharge	For vehicle service facilities that discharge specific fluids to the sanitary sewer
Exceptional Waste Discharge	For temporary discharges to the sanitary sewer
Hauled Liquid Waste Discharge	For septic haulers to discharge their trucks at the treatment plant
Root Control Chemical Treatment Discharge	For applicators of root control chemical treatments to the sanitary sewer
Recycled Water Use	For obtaining recycled water at the treatment plant truck fill station