Wastewater exceedances are measured by the number of times a Sunoco facility exceeds the limits contained in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits or the pre-treatment standards for discharges to public treatment facilities (POTWs).

Sunoco almost matched its best-ever performance in the area of wastewater permit exceedances (14 accomplished in 2006). Highlights of the 2008 performance were: 

• A 29.2% decrease from 2007
• Eight facilities had strong performance in 2008
• Bayport and La Porte plants have gone multiple years without a wastewater exceedance (7 years and 4 years, respectively)
• Toledo Refinery, Tulsa Refinery, and Haverhill Plant also completed the year without a wastewater exceedance
• The Philadelphia Refinery improved 60.0%

The 2009 goal represents a 17.7% improvement over 2008.