INDIRECT DISCHARGE

Any biological entity or process, or community whose characteristics show the presence of specific environmental conditions or pollutants. Indirect dischargers can be commercial or industrial facilities whose wastes enter local sewers. Due to being significant industrial users, hospitals engage in indirect discharging very frequently, especially larger healthcare facilities in smaller communities. These facilities are required to follow strict regulatory laws by local sewage authorities that provide them a permit. These permits prohibit these indirect discharge facilities from releasing any of the following into sewage systems:

• Hazardous materials (explosive or fire)
• Suspended or dissolved solids
• Corrosive pollutants
• Toxic vapors, gases, etc
• Oil and grease