Bucket: regassist   Key: v2/targeted-fetch/water/us/tdf_308133de2ee134be2be3889baba0d8d7/content.md
Source: https://www.epa.gov/eg/electroplating-effluent-guidelines

Dot gov Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. HTTPS Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (Lock A locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Electroplating Effluent Guidelines

Photo of electroplating operations The EPA promulgated the Electroplating regulation (40 CFR Part 413Exit EPA’s website) in 1974 and amended it in 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1983. The regulation applies to certain facilities that discharge their wastes to POTWs. The requirements are incorporated into permits or other control mechanisms for indirect dischargers (refer to Pretreatment Program). On this page: * What is Electroplating? * Current Rulemaking for Chrome Finishing Facilities * Existing Rule - Facilities Covered * Regulated Pollutants * Guidance and Related Documents * Regulatory History * Additional Information

What is Electroplating?

Electroplating applies a surface coating (typically by electrodeposition) to provide corrosion protection, wear or erosion resistance, anti-frictional characteristics or for decorative purposes. The electroplating of common metals includes the processes in which a ferrous or nonferrous basis material is electroplated with copper, nickel, chromium, zinc, tin, lead, cadmium, iron, aluminum or combinations thereof. Precious metals electroplating includes the processes in which a ferrous or non-ferrous basis material is plated with gold, silver, palladium, platinum, rhodium, or combinations thereof.

Current Rulemaking for Chrome Finishing Facilities

Following announcement in the Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (September 2021), the EPA is conducting a rulemaking to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) discharges from a subset of facilities in the Metal Finishing and Electroplating point source categories. Based on information and data collected during the Multi-Industry PFAS Study, the EPA determined PFAS are used by some metal finishing and electroplating facilities to control hexavalent chromium emissions, a known human carcinogen and inhalation hazard. The EPA determined facilities performing certain chromium operations, hereafter referred to as “chrome finishing facilities,” including chromium plating, chromium anodizing, chromic acid etching, and chromate conversion coating operations, are the predominant sources of PFAS discharges by the Metal Finishing and Electroplating point source categories. All supporting materials for the rulemaking can be found at the EPA's docket at regulations.govExit EPA’s website. The Docket Number is EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0869.

Existing Rule - Facilities Covered

The regulation applies to processes that apply metallic coatings on surfaces by electrodeposition, and that were in operation before July 15, 1983, at facilities that discharge their wastes to POTWs. This includes both independent (job) platers and captive operations associated with product fabrication and assembly. Diagram of Effluent Guidelines regulation coverage for metals industries Metals coverage under Effluent Guidelines
- Click to enlarge Note: Processes that began operating on or after that date, at indirect dischargersindirect dischargersA facility that discharges pollutants to a publicly owned treatment works (municipal sewage treatment plant)., are subject to the Metal Finishing category, 40 CFR Part 433Exit EPA’s website. All direct dischargingdirect dischargingA point source that discharges pollutants to waters of the United States, such as streams, lakes, or oceans. electroplaters are also covered by the Metal Finishing category. The plants covered by the Electroplating regulations are found throughout the United States but are concentrated in heavily industrialized areas. The pretreatment standards apply to facilities in seven subcategories: * Common Metals (Subpart AExit EPA’s website) * Precious Metals (Subpart BExit EPA’s website) * Anodizing (Subpart DExit EPA’s website) * Coatings (Subpart EExit EPA’s website) * Chemical Etching and Milling (Subpart FExit EPA’s website) * Electroless Plating (Subpart GExit EPA’s website) * Printed Circuit Board (Subpart HExit EPA’s website)

The electroplating of specialty metals (Subpart C) is a currently reserved subcategory.

Regulated pollutants

The standards have specific numerical limitations for each subcategory, and are imposed on pollutants which may interfere with, pass through, or otherwise be incompatible with POTWs. For plants with a daily flow of 38,000 liters (10,000 gallons) per day or more, the pretreatment standards specifically limit indirect discharges of cyanide and the following metals: lead, cadmium, copper, nickel, chromium, zinc, and silver. Additionally, these regulations limit "total metal discharge," which is defined as the sum of the individual concentrations of copper, nickel, chromium and zinc. For plants with a daily process wastewater flow of less than 38,000 liters (10,000 gallons), these standards limit only lead, cadmium, and cyanide.

Regulatory History

1983 Amendment

Revised PSES * Documents, including: * Final Rule: Metal Finishing and Electroplating Categories (July 15, 1983) * Proposed Rule: Metal Finishing and Electroplating Categories (August 31, 1982)

1981 Amendment

Revised PSES * Documents, including: * Final Rule (January 28, 1981) * Proposed Rule (July 3, 1980)

1979 Amendment

Revised PSES * Documents, including: * Final Rule (September 7, 1979) * Development Document
Industry description, wastewater characterization, treatment technologies, regulatory compliance cost estimates and pollutant loadings for the final rule * Suspension of PSES (May 4, 1979) * Proposed Rule (February 14, 1978)

1977 Amendment

Established PSES requirements * Documents, including: * Interim Final Rule (July 12, 1977) * Proposed Rule (April 24, 1975) * Proposed Rule (March 28, 1974)

1976 Suspension

1975 Amendment ("Phase II")

Revised BPT for Subpart A; established BPT for Subparts B, D, E, F * Interim Final Rule (April 24, 1974)

1974 Initial Rulemaking ("Phase I")

Established BPT, BAT, NSPS and PSNS requirements for Subpart A * Final Rule (March 28, 1974) * Proposed Rule (October 5, 1973)

Additional Information

For additional information regarding the current rulemaking to regulate the discharge of PFAS from chrome finishing facilities only , please contact Phillip Flanders (flanders.phillip@epa.gov) or 202-566-8323. For all other questions about the Electroplating Effluent Guidelines, please contact Ahmar Siddiqui (siddiqui.ahmar@epa.gov) or 202-566-1044.

Effluent Guidelines

Open Sidenav Menu Close Sidenav Menu Contact Us About Effluent Guidelines Contact Us About Effluent Guidelines to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem. Last updated on March 17, 2026 Welcome! Please share your feedback on how we can make www.epa.gov work better for you. A red asterisk (*) indicates a required field.

Success

Thank you. Your feedback has been received.

Error

alert message Required Questions - page 1 of 2 question_55203_answer_01 How would you rate your experience on www.epa.gov today? *

0 Stars 1 Star 2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars 5 Stars Please explain the reason for your rating. * 400 characters allowed Would you like to take two more minutes to answer more questions to help us improve our services? Yes, keep going → No, only submit these responses Optional questions - page 2 of 2 How would you describe yourself? Business Government employee Scientist Student Other Enter other text Please tell us why you visited www.epa.gov today. 400 characters allowed Did you visit www.epa.gov to accomplish a specific task? If yes, please explain why you were able or unable to accomplish your task. 400 characters allowed How can we make www.epa.gov a more helpful website? 400 characters allowed Submit [POTWs]: publicly owned treatment works [PSES]: Pretreatment Standards for Existing Sources []: required