Ohio EPA Rejects Streamlined Permitting for Data Center Wastewater
The Ohio EPA has decided against a proposed plan to create a standardized, streamlined wastewater permitting framework for data centers. Future projects will continue to undergo individual, site-specific permit reviews.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency recently dropped a proposal that would have allowed data centers to operate under a standardized wastewater permitting framework. The decision followed significant pushback from environmental groups, including the Alliance for the Great Lakes, who raised concerns about the potential impact of varying cooling system discharges on local water bodies.
Currently, most data centers in Ohio discharge their wastewater into municipal treatment systems rather than directly into surface waters. Only one facility in the state holds an NPDES permit for direct discharge, highlighting the rarity of the practice.
By maintaining the current individual permit review process, the Ohio EPA ensures that each facility's discharge characteristics are evaluated based on site-specific conditions. This approach prioritizes environmental protection over administrative simplification for the rapidly expanding data center industry.
Hawaii Wastewater Branch Updates Intended Use Plan for 2027
The Hawaii Department of Health's Wastewater Branch has released its Intended Use Plan for the 2027 State Fiscal Year. The plan outlines the allocation of Clean Water State Revolving Fund resources for upcoming wastewater infrastructure projects.
Source: Hawaii Department of Health
EPA Rescinds 2022 PFAS Guidance for Permitting
In August 2026, the U.S. EPA rescinded a 2022 nonbinding guidance document that had provided state permitting authorities with standard language for addressing PFAS in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. This action was described as part of a broader, systematic review of agency guidance documents.
Source: Waste Dive
EPA Rescinds 2022 Guidance on PFAS Wastewater Monitoring
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rescinded a 2022 guidance document that provided states with standard language for monitoring PFAS in wastewater. This action is part of a broader review of agency guidance as the EPA prepares to propose new Effluent Limitation Guidelines.
Source: Waste Dive
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