Section NR 261.12 - Discharge standards(1) BEST PRACTICABLE TECHNOLOGY (BPT). (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and subch. IV of ch. NR 220, any existing point source subject to this subchapter shall, no later than July 1, 1977, achieve the following effluent limitations attainable by applying the best practicable control technology currently available: Table 1
BPT Effluent Limitations (mg/l)
Pollutant or pollutant property1 | 1 day max. | monthly avg. |
Cadmium (Cd) | 0.69 | 0.26 |
Chromium (Cr) | 2.77 | 1.71 |
Copper (Cu) | 3.38 | 2.07 |
Lead (Pb) | 0.69 | 0.43 |
Nickel (Ni) | 3.98 | 2.38 |
Silver (Ag) | 0.43 | 0.24 |
Zinc (Zn) | 2.61 | 1.48 |
Cyanide (CN) | 1.20 | 0.65 |
Total Toxic Organics (TTO) | 2.13 | -- |
Oil & Grease | 52 | 26 |
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) | 60 | 31 |
pH | 6.0 - 9.5 | 6.0 - 9.5 |
(b) For facilities with cyanide treatment, and upon approval of the department, an amenable cyanide limit (Cyanide, A) of 0.86 milligrams per liter (1 day max.) and 0.32 milligrams per liter (monthly avg.) may apply in place of the total cyanide limit specified in Table 1.(c) No discharger subject to the provisions of this subsection may augment the use of process wastewater or otherwise dilute the wastewater as a partial or total substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with this standard.(2) BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY (BAT). (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and subch. IV of ch. NR 220, any existing point source subject to this subchapter shall, no later than July 1, 1984, achieve the following effluent limitations attainable by applying the best available technology economically achievable: Table 2
BAT Effluent Limitations (mg/l)
Pollutant or | 1 day max. | monthly avg. |
pollutant property1 |
Cadmium (Cd) | 0.69 | 0.26 |
Chromium (Cr) | 2.77 | 1.71 |
Copper (Cu) | 3.38 | 2.07 |
Lead (Pb) | 0.69 | 0.43 |
Nickel (Ni) | 3.98 | 2.38 |
Silver (Ag) | 0.43 | 0.24 |
Zinc (Zn) | 2.61 | 1.48 |
Cyanide (CN) | 1.20 | 0.65 |
Total Toxic Organics (TTO) | 2.13 | ---- |
(b) For facilities with cyanide treatment, and upon approval of the department, an amenable cyanide limit (Cyanide, A) of 0.86 milligrams per liter (1 day max.) and 0.32 milligrams per liter (monthly avg.) may apply in place of the total cyanide limit specified in Table 2.(c) No discharger subject to the provisions of this subsection may augment the use of process wastewater or otherwise dilute the wastewater as a partial or total substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with this standard.(3) NEW SOURCE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS (NSPS). (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and subch. IV of ch. NR 220, any new source subject to this subchapter shall, at the commencement of discharge, achieve the following performance standards: Table 3
NSPS (mg/l)
Pollutant or | 1 day max. | monthly avg. |
pollutant property1 |
Cadmium (Cd) | 0.11 | 0.07 |
Chromium (Cr) | 2.77 | 1.71 |
Copper (Cu) | 3.38 | 2.07 |
Lead (Pb) | 0.69 | 0.43 |
Nickel (Ni) | 3.98 | 2.38 |
Silver (Ag) | 0.43 | 0.24 |
Zinc (Zn) | 2.61 | 1.48 |
Cyanide (CN) | 1.20 | 0.65 |
Total Toxic Organics (TTO) | 2.13 | -- |
Oil & Grease | 52 | 26 |
Total Suspended Solids | 60 | 31 |
(TSS) |
pH | 6.0 - 9.5 | 6.0 - 9.5 |
(b) For facilities with cyanide treatment, and upon approval of the department, an amenable cyanide limit (Cyanide, A) of 0.86 milligrams per liter (1 day max.) and 0.32 milligrams per liter (monthly avg.) may apply in place of the total cyanide limit specified in Table 3.(c) No discharger subject to the provisions of this subsection may augment the use of process wastewater or otherwise dilute the wastewater as a partial or total substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with this standard.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 261.12
Cr. Register, October, 1986, No. 370, eff. 11-1-86.Amended by, Cr. Register, correction in (1) (a), (2) (a), (3) (a) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register April 2018 No. 748, eff.5/1/2018