Who this article is for: Authority users.
Overview
In SwiftComply, an outfall is a generic reference point on an Industrial User's facility. It can represent a sampling location, a compliance monitoring point, a discharge connection, or any other point of interest that your program needs to track. Each outfall can have its own discharge limits and sample report configurations. Outfalls are the level where limits and sampling requirements are defined.
Where Outfalls Live
Outfalls are associated with Industrial Users. To find outfalls:
Navigate to Industrial Users in the left sidebar.
Select an IU to open its detail page.
View the Outfalls section on the Overview tab.
Click an outfall name to open its detail page.
Outfall Detail Page
When you open an outfall, the detail page displays the following sections:
Outfall summary information — Name, ID, Description, Effluent Type, Pipe Diameter, Latitude, Longitude, Equipment, and Notes.
Discharge Limits — All limits assigned to this outfall.
Sample Report Configurations — SRCs assigned to this outfall for scheduling and tracking sample submissions.
Attachments — Files attached to this outfall.
Adding an Outfall
In the Outfalls section of the IU Overview tab, click New Outfall.
Fill in the required and optional fields listed below.
Click Save to create the outfall.
Required Fields
Field | Description |
ID | A unique identifier for the outfall. |
Optional Fields
Field | Description |
Description | Additional details about the outfall. |
Effluent Type | Select: "End of Process" or "End of Pipe". |
Pipe Diameter (inches) | Numeric — the diameter of the discharge pipe. |
Latitude | Numeric — geographic coordinate. |
Longitude | Numeric — geographic coordinate. |
Equipment | Describe pretreatment equipment at this outfall. |
Notes | Any additional notes. |
💡 Tip: Use the Latitude and Longitude fields to record the exact location of the discharge point. This can be useful for field inspections and mapping.
Editing an Outfall
Open the outfall detail page by clicking the outfall name from the IU page.
Click the pencil (edit) icon to enter edit mode.
Update the fields as needed and click Save.
Deleting an Outfall
From the outfall detail page, click the trash (delete) icon.
Confirm the deletion by typing the outfall name.
Deletion is permanent.
⚠️ Warning: Deleting an outfall also removes all associated limits and sample report configurations. Make sure any important data has been exported or archived before deleting.
Managing Outfall Status
To change an outfall's status, edit the outfall from its detail page and toggle between Active and Inactive.
Status | Description |
Active | The outfall is in use and available for new SRCs and limits. |
Inactive | The outfall is no longer in use or has been shut down. |
What Happens When an Outfall Is Set to Inactive
The outfall is no longer available for new SRCs or limits.
Existing active SRCs may be affected.
Historical data is preserved.
What Happens When the Parent IU Is Inactivated
All outfalls under the IU are automatically set to Inactive.
When the IU is reactivated, outfalls must be reactivated manually.
Effluent Types
Type | Description |
End of Process | The discharge point at the end of an industrial process, before any treatment. |
End of Pipe | The final discharge point after all treatment. |
FAQ
Q: Can an IU have multiple outfalls?
A: Yes. An IU can have as many outfalls as needed, each representing a different reference point — sampling locations, compliance monitoring points, discharge connections, or any other point of interest.
Q: What fields are required to create an outfall?
A: Only the ID is required. All other fields are optional.
Q: Can I change the outfall ID after creation?
A: Yes. Click the edit icon on the outfall detail page to modify the ID field.
Q: Can I move an outfall to a different IU?
A: No. Outfalls are permanently associated with their parent IU. To associate monitoring with a different IU, create a new outfall on that IU.
Q: What is the Equipment field for?
A: Use it to document pretreatment equipment installed at this outfall, such as grease traps, interceptors, or treatment systems.
Q: What happens to limits and SRCs when an outfall is inactivated?
A: Limits and SRCs associated with the outfall may be affected. Historical data and submitted reports are preserved.