WATER POLLUTION RULES, 2019

WATER POLLUTION (FEES) REGULATIONS, 2019

INSTRUCTIONAL BOOKLET FOR FORM A2

PERMIT APPLICATION FORM

EMA-QMS-WAT-02J-FORM/05-2023/2.0
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT, CHAPTER 35:05

FORM A2 PACKAGE

Table of Contents

Section A: General Instructions

Section B: Instructions for Completing Form A2
Appendix I: Site Map
Appendix II: Water Balance
Appendix III: Codes of Treatment Processes

DISCLAIMER: This document is intended for guidance only and does not bind the Environmental
Management Authority. The legal basis and requirements for a Water Pollution Permit are
articulated in the Water Pollution Rules, 2019 and the Water Pollution (Fees) Regulations, 2019.

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SECTION A: GENERAL INFORMATION

What is a Water Pollution Permit?

It is a legally binding agreement between a permittee and the Environmental Management
Authority (EMA), which allows a registered facility to discharge specified water pollutants into the
environment under certain conditions, with the intention of attaining compliance with the Water
Pollution Rules, 2019, within a specified period of time.

What is the benefit?

To improve the water quality of Trinidad and Tobago by controlling the quantity, conditions and
concentrations of water pollutants that a permittee may release into the environment. Thereby
achieving the objective of safeguarding ambient water quality and protecting public health from
the adverse effects of water pollution.

Who needs to apply for a Permit?

Anyone who releases water pollutants as listed in First Schedule of the Water Pollution Rules,
2019 into a receiving environment, must apply for a permit.

Is there a fee associated with the Permit?

Yes. However, the amount to be paid for the application is related to the size of the facility being
permitted. The criteria for determining the size of the facility have been set by the Water Pollution
(Fees) Regulations, 2019 (WPFR, 2019) and is based on effluent volume discharge (m3/day).
Please consult the Schedule in the WPFR, 2019 to determine the fee associated with the
application for a permit.

Please note that the onus is on the permittee to inform the EMA, in writing, of any modification to
a facility, in accordance with Rule 15 of the WPR, 2019.

Table 1: Facility Categorisation as defined by the WPFR, 2019

Facility Type Effluent Discharge Initial Renewal

Volume (m3/day) application fee application fee
TT$ TT$
micro-/mini <10 14,000 5,800
small 10-100 15,000 5,900
medium 100-500 18,000 6,400
large >500 20,000 6,600

There are annual fees associated with a permit. Please refer to the WPFR, 2019 for other fee
charges.

Fees are payable at First Citizens Bank Limited to Account number 1183848. Please ensure the
bank teller includes the name of the facility and ‘WPP’ on the receipt. The original receipt
must be submitted along with the completed application form. A copy of the receipt should be
retained for your records.

Where can an application form be obtained?

The application form, which is in a fillable PDF format, can be downloaded at www.ema.co.tt.

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Who must sign the application form?

The Principal Executive Officer where the application is with respect to a company and in other
instances by the person owning or operating the facility in respect of which the permit is being
sought.

Where should the application form be submitted?

One (1) soft copy (in PDF format) of the completed form and all attachments must be submitted
via email along with the original payment receipt to the EMA to WaterUnitAdmin@ema.co.tt

Information on the Water Pollution Rules can be accessed at www.ema.co.tt or at the EMA’s
Head Office. The Water Unit of the EMA can also be contacted at 226-4(EMA) 4362 extensions
4102, 4133, 4143 or 2315.

What happens when the application is received?

The application is reviewed for completeness. Any omitted or further information that may be
required to complete the application will be communicated to the permittee in writing via email
within 20 working days of receipt of the application.

How long will it take to review my application?

The Authority within 30 working days of receipt of a completed application will grant or refuse to
grant with or without conditions, a permit to the permittee. Where the permittee submits further
information the Authority shall grant or refuse to grant a permit within 30 working days of receipt
of the information.

Will site visits be conducted?

Yes. Site visits will be conducted to verify the information submitted, as well as, assess
operational processes, at the permittee’s facility site and its relationship to the environment.

How long is the permit valid for?

The permit is valid for a period up to five (5) years from the date of issue.

What will a permit contain?

The permit will include the authorized effluent discharge points, the water pollutants permitted to
be released, the quantity, conditions and concentrations of the water pollutants that the permittee
may release, reduction targets as determined by the EMA, monitoring frequency and duration,
and any other term or condition that the EMA may specify.

Does the public have access to information on permits?

Yes. All application forms and attachments submitted to the Authority, except those which are
deemed to be confidential, are accessible to the public through the National Register. If any
specific information submitted is considered to be a trade secret, confidential business
information, or, if disclosed would be contrary to the public interest, a Confidentiality Claim Form
(Form I) and the prescribed fee should be submitted along with Form A1 to request that the
information be omitted from the Register. The information will be withheld until the Authority
makes a determination. If the claim is upheld, the information will be permanently withheld from
the Register.

Is there an appeal process for the permit?

Appeals can be made to the Environmental Commission, regarding final decisions of the
Authority.

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SECTION B: LINE BY LINE INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING FORM A2

All permittees must complete the application form and submit one (1) soft copy.
Please TYPE OR PRINT in the spaces provided. DO NOT USE PENCIL.
DO NOT LEAVE BLANK SPACES. If an item does not apply to you please insert N/A

Cover Page
Provide the name of the parent facility and the name, official position and contact details
of the Principal Executive Officer of the facility. Ensure that the declaration is read carefully
before signing and dating the form.

SECTION I: APPLICANT AND FACILITY DESCRIPTION

Item 1 – Application Type

Indicate the type of application you are making by placing a tick in the appropriate box.
For permit renewal, give the permit number.

Item 2 – Name of Facility Site

Enter the official or legal name of the facility, which is the subject of the application, as it
appears on the company’s Registration Certificate or Certificate of Incorporation or any
other supporting legal documents. Do not use any informal name(s), abbreviations or
acronyms by which the facility is known.

Item 3 – Process Description

Self-explanatory

Item 4 – Facility Type

Self-explanatory

Item 5 – Number of Employees at the Facility Site

Self-explanatory

Item 6 – Facility Location

Give the address or location of the facility identified in item 3a of this form. If the street
name is unknown, provide the most accurate information known. Universal Transverse
Mercator (UTM) Eastings and Northings can be obtained from the Topographic maps or
from Global Positioning Systems (GPS) units, Google Earth or any other proven,
accurate & reliable method

Item 7 – Age of the Facility

Enter the date the facility started operations. Where the facility has changed ownership,
use the original date on which the current process(es) began operating. For companies
with integrated facilities on the same location, use the date the first facility was
commissioned.

Item 8 –Facility Contact

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Provide the contact information of an individual who will be available to liaise with the EMA
regarding this application.
Item 9 – Facility Ownership
Self-explanatory

Item 10 – Property/Facility Ownership

Self-explanatory

Item 11 – Property Ownership

Self-explanatory

Item 12 – Adjoining Property Owners

Enter the name and address of adjoining property owners

Item 13 – Corporate Data

Self-explanatory

Item 14 – Permits/Certificates/Licences/Approvals
List all applicable permits, certificates, licences and approvals granted that are currently
in effect Attach copies of permits/certificates/licences/approvals not issued by the
Authority. Clearly label all attachments.

Item 15 – Pollution Prevention and Control

Self-explanatory

SECTION IIA CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATION

CHARACTERISTICS

Item 1.
Give the maximum number of each type of animal in open confinement or housed under
roof (either partially or totally) which are held at the facility for a total of 45 days or more in
any 12 month period. Use the following categories of animals: Slaughter cattle; Feeder
cattle; Dairy cattle (milked or dry); Pigs; Horses; Sheep; Lambs; Turkeys; Laying hens;
Broilers and Ducks.

Item 2.
Give only the area used for the animal confinement or feeding facility. Do not include any
area used for growing or operating feed.

Item 3.
If Item 3 is checked ‘Yes’, supply information under 3(a) and 3(b) to the best of your
knowledge.

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SECTION IIB AQUATIC ANIMAL PRODUCTION FACILITY CHARACTERISTICS

Self-explanatory

SECTION III: SITE MAP, INTAKE AND DISCHARGE DESCRIPTION

Item 1 –Site Map

Each permittee is also expected to develop a site map, drawn to an appropriate scale and
using, where possible, UTM coordinates for zone 20N referencing WGS 1984 geodetic
datum, which clearly outlines the following:
• buildings and other permanent structures;
• paved areas and roadways;
• receiving environments, as categorized by the Second Schedule WPR;
• bodies (e.g., rivers, lakes, streams, bays, estuaries) that are located on or about the
property which receive or may receive stormwater from the site;
• all surface (including to gravel pit ponds) and stormwater discharge locations;
• location of each pit latrine, soak away system, septic system or sewer segment, where
domestic sewage or process waste water generated by the facility enters storm sewers
that discharge to receiving environments, as categorized by the Second Schedule of the
WPR;
• outline of each drainage area within the facility boundaries and a depiction of flow
direction (e.g., arrow head) of stormwater in each drainage area;
• outline of each drainage area within the facility boundaries and a depiction of flow
direction (e.g., arrow head) of stormwater in each drainage area;
• location of existing stormwater structural control measures (e.g., containment, berms,
detention/retention basins, grassed swales, oil/water separators);
• areas of existing and potential soil erosion;
• processes that generate dusts and particles;
• locations where source materials are likely to be exposed to stormwater, and the
following activities and/or areas, at a minimum;
• storage areas, palleted materials, outdoor handling, treatment or disposal areas, loading
and/or unloading areas, manufacturing and/or processing areas, waste storage areas,
vehicle/equipment maintenance and washout areas, vehicle/equipment fuelling and
loading areas, hazardous waste treatment, storage or disposal areas, areas of spills
and/or leaks of source materials, access routes, underground storage and on-site lab or
testing facilities;
• roofs or other surfaces exposed to air emissions from process area; and
• location and areas of undisturbed natural areas, or completely claimed areas (there is
no machinery at these sites), disturbed sites which have been cleared for mining, areas
for processing, storage and where mining takes place; must also be clearly identified in
the site map.

An example of an acceptable site map is shown in Appendix I to these instructions. Note:

Appendix I is provided for purposes of illustration only, and does not represent any real
facility).

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Item 2 – Intake Location

You must provide UTM coordinates of each of your intake points and the name of the
source water.

Item 3 – Discharge Location

You must provide UTM coordinates of each of your discharge points and the name of
the receiving water.

Item 4A – Flows, Sources of Pollution and Treatment Technologies

The line/water balance drawing should show the general route taken by water through
your facility from intake to discharge. Show all operations that produce or contribute
wastewater, including process and production areas, sanitary flows, cooling water and
storm water runoff. The water balance should show average flows. Figures should be in
m3/day. Show all significant losses of water to products, atmosphere, seepage and
discharge. You should use actual measurements whenever available; otherwise use your
best estimate (indicate where estimates were used and how they were determined). An
example of an acceptable water balance is shown in Appendix II to these instructions.
Note: Appendix II is provided for purposes of illustration only, and does not represent any
real facility).

Item 4B – Description of Discharges

List all sources of wastewater leading to each numbered discharge point. Operations
contributing wastewater to each discharge may be described in general terms (e.g.
process condensate, cooling water, boiler blowdown, storm water, etc.). The volume of
effluent (in m3/day) that each operation contributes to the discharge should be provided.

Each treatment process applied to the wastewater before it is discharged should be listed
in order. You should select the proper code from Appendix III to these instructions to fill
in column 3ii for each treatment process. Insert ‘XX’ into column 3ii if no code corresponds
to each treatment process you list. Describe the ultimate disposal of any solid or liquid
wastes not discharged. A schematic of the wastewater treatment process and all treatment
processes should accompany this item where applicable.

Item 5 – Discharge Characteristics

This item must be completed by all permittees for all discharges or outfalls leaving the
facility including process wastewater, sanitary wastewater, non-contact cooling water,
storm water, etc. Permittees are required to report recent analytical data (i.e not more than
two (2) years old) for any of the parameters/substances listed in the discharges/outfalls. If
no historical data is available then a daily value should be obtained. A Daily Value is an
average value representing measurements from an outfall/discharge over normal
operating conditions. For example a facility operating over an 8 hour production cycle, a
daily value would constitute an average of 4 grab samples taken once every two hours.

Item 6 – Toxic Chemicals/Products

List any of toxic chemicals/products that you believe to be present and explain why you
believe them to be present. No analysis is required but if you have analytical data, you
must report it. Base your determination on your knowledge of your raw materials,
maintenance chemicals, intermediate and final products, and any previous analyses
known to you of your effluent or similar effluent

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Item 7a- Laboratory Analysis Information

List the specifics concerning analyses done by laboratory or consulting firm. Indicate by
Yes/No which parameters they have certification for and name the certifying body.

Item 7b- In House Laboratory

If your facility has an in house laboratory, indicate which parameters it is capable of
testing. Indicate by Yes/No which parameters they have certification for and name the
certifying body.
Item 8 – Data Records
Provide a detailed description of the following information records:

Sampling records: These show that the proper sampling protocol was performed in the
field. At a minimum, this documentation should include the names of the persons
conducting the sampling activity, sample number, sampling dates and times, sample
collection points, maps and diagrams, equipment/method used, climatic conditions, and
unusual observations.

Chain-of-custody records: Documents the progression of samples as they travel from the
original sampling location to the laboratory and finally to their disposal area.

QC sample records: These records document the generation of QC samples, such as

field, trip, and equipment rinsate blanks and duplicate samples. They also include
documentation on sample integrity and preservation and include calibration and standards
traceability documentation capable of providing a reproducible reference point. Quality
control sample records should contain information on the frequency, conditions, level of
standards, and instrument calibration history.

General field procedures: These record the procedures used in the field to collect data
and outline areas of difficulty in gathering specimens, thus documenting potential sources
of uncertainty.

Sample Data: These records contain the times that samples were analyzed to verify that
they met the holding times prescribed in the analytical methods. Included should be the
overall number of samples, sample location information, any deviations from the standard
operating procedures (SOPs), time of day, and date.

Sample Management Records: Document sample receipt, handling and storage, and
scheduling of analyses. The records verify that the chain-of-custody and proper
preservation were maintained, reflect any anomalies in the samples (such as receipt of
damaged samples), note proper login of samples into the laboratory, and address
procedures used to ensure that holding time requirements were met.

Project-specific information from the QA/QC checks such as blanks (field, reagent, rinsate,
and method), spikes (matrix, matrix spike replicate, analysis matrix spike, and surrogate
spike), calibration check samples (zero check, span check, and mid-range check),
replicates, splits, and so on should be included in these reports to facilitate data quality
analysis.

Data Handling Records: These records document protocols used in data reduction,
verification, and validation. Data reduction addresses data transformation operations such

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as converting raw data into reportable quantities and units, use of significant figures,
recording of extreme values, blank corrections, etc. Data verification ensures the accuracy
of data transcription and calculations, if necessary, by checking a set of computer
calculations manually. Data validation ensures that QC criteria have been met.

Competency of Personnel / Testing Laboratory: Provide certificates that demonstrate that

the person(s) or laboratory possesses the skills, qualifications and experience to conduct
the required sampling analysis and reporting.

Item 9 – Confidentiality Claim

Self-explanatory

Item 10 – List of Attachments

Self-explanatory

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APPENDIX I: SITE MAP

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APPENDIX II: WATER BALANCE

38m3 TANK 7.5m3
3 STORAGE Fire Fighting
(30.5 m3) Reservoir 100m3
100m3

CANTEEN Sump STORM

WATER RUN
25762m3 OFF
Processing 200m3 200m3 400m3
and
3
26362m Incorporation
500m3
300m3 DISCHARGE 1
Tank Catchment
INDUSTRIAL Washing and MAIN DRAIN
Settlement 500m3
WASA USE Cleaning Pit
(
WATER STORM
(27000m3) 480m33
100m WATER RUN 100m3
OFF DISCHARGE
Laboratory
2 TANK
480m3
DRAIN
SEWERAGE
500m3 DOMESTIC WASA
USE 1510m 3
TREATMENT
SPILLS DRINKING FACILITY
20m3 WATER
10m3
STORM
DISCHARGE
WATER Eye wash FROM
1500m3 3
WAREHOUSE STORM
WATER
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 APPENDIX III: Codes for Treatment Processes

PHYSICAL TREATMENT PROCESSES

1-A ---------- Ammonia Stripping 1-M -------- Grit Removal
1-B ---------- Dialysis 1-N -------- Microstraining
1-C ---------- Diatomaceous Earth Filtration 1-O -------- Mixing
1-D -----------Distillation 1-P --------- Moving Bed Filters
1-E ----------- Electrodialysis 1-Q -------- Multimedia Filtration
1-F ----------- Evaporation 1-R -------- Rapid Sand Filtration
1-G ---------- Flocculation 1-S -------- Reverse Osmosis
1-H ---------- Flotation (Hyperfiltration)
1-I ----------- Foam Fractionation 1-T -------- Screening
1-J ---------- Freezing 1-U -------- Sedimentation (Settling)
1-K --------- Gas-Phase Separation 1-V -------- Slow Sand Filtration
1-L --------- Grinding 1-W ------- Solvent Extraction
1-X -------- Sorption
CHEMICAL TREATMENT PROCESSES
2-A ---------- Carbon Adsorption 2-G -------- Disinfection (Ozone)
2-B ---------- Chemical Oxidation 2-H -------- Disinfection (Other)
2-C ---------- Chemical Precipitation 2-I --------- Electrochemical Treatment
2-D -----------Coagulation 2-J --------- Ion Exchannge
2-E ----------- Dechlorination 2-K -------- Neutralization
2-F ----------- Disinfection (Chlorine) 2-L -------- Reduction
BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT PROCESSES
3-A ---------- Activated Sludge 3-E -------- Pre-aeration
3-B ---------- Aerated Lagoons 3-F -------- Spray Irrigation/Land
3-C ---------- Anaerobic Treatment Application
3-D -----------Nitrification-Denitrification 3-G -------- Stabilisation Ponds
3-H --------- Trickling Filtration
OTHER PROCESSES
4-A ---------- Discharge to Surface Water 4-C-------- Reuse/Recycle of Treated
4-B ---------- Marine Discharge through Effluent
Outfall 4-D-------- Underground Injection
SLUDGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL PROCESSES
5-A ---------- Aerobic Digestion 5-M -------- Heat Drying
5-B ---------- Anaerobic Digestion 5-N -------- Heat Treatment
5-C ---------- Belt Filtration 5-O -------- Incineration
5-D -----------Centrifugation 5-P --------- Land Application
5-E ----------- Chemical Conditioning 5-Q -------- Landfill
5-F ----------- Chlorine Treatment 5-R -------- Pressure Filtration
5-G ---------- Composting 5-S -------- Pyrolysis
5-H ---------- Drying Beds 5-T -------- Sludge Lagoons
5-I ----------- Eluriation 5-U -------- Vacuum Filtration
5-J ---------- Flotation Thickening 5-V -------- Vibration
5-K --------- Freezing 5-W ------- Wet Oxidation
5-L --------- Gravity Thickening

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