Water Treatment Plant General Discharge Permit

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Water Treatment Plant General Discharge Permit

• Kelli D. Buscher, P.E.
• SD DENR

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Clean Water Act Background

• 1972 - Clean Water Act established the National
  Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
  Program

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Clean Water Act Background

• All Point Sources
• discharging pollutants
• into waters of the US
• must obtain a discharge permit

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Clean Water Act Background

• A discharge permit is required to use public
  resources for waste disposal and limits the
  amount of pollutants that may be discharged
• The discharge of pollutants to waters is a
  privilege, not a right

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Clean Water Act Background

• All waters of the state have water quality
  standards
• A water quality standard defines the water
  quality goal of a water body by designating the
  beneficial use or uses of the water body and by
  setting criteria necessary to protect those uses

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Beneficial Uses

• (1) Domestic Water Supply Waters
• (2) Coldwater Permanent Fish Life Propagation
• (3) Coldwater Marginal Fish Life Propagation
• (4) Warmwater Permanent Fish Life Propagation
• (5) Warmwater Semipermanent Fish Life
  Propagation
• (6) Warmwater Marginal Fish Life Propagation

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Beneficial Uses

• (7) Immersion Recreation Waters
• (8) Limited Contact Recreation Waters
• (9) Fish and Wildlife Propagation, Recreation,
  and Stock Watering Waters
• (10) Irrigation waters and
• (11) Commerce and Industry Waters.

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What Needs to be Covered?

• Treatment system overflows
• Filter Backwash and Settling Basins
• Disinfection and Flushing of Water Lines
• Storage system disinfection and overflows
• Water line breaks
• Other WTP Discharges that fit the limits and
  management practices

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Why a General Permit?

• Ensure all discharges from water treatment
  systems are covered
• Establish uniform criteria for discharges from
  these activities
• Reduce the administrative time for permit
  authorization

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What is NOT Covered?

• If the discharge contains radioactive components
• If the discharge is to a lake or POTW
• If the discharge is a significant contributor of
  pollution
• If the discharge presents a health hazard
• If the discharge is not in compliance

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What is NOT Covered?

• If EPA develops federal limits for water
  treatment plant discharges
• If a water quality management plan containing
  requirements applicable to the discharges is
  approved
• If conditions or standards have changed so that
  the discharge no longer qualifies for the general
  permit.

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Prohibitions

• No discharge of sanitary wastewater
• No direct discharge of solids and/or sludges
• No discharge of floating solids or visible foam
• No discharge of toxic pollutants in toxic amounts
  
• SDDENR must be notified in advance of all
  chemicals used
• Prevent or minimize stream scouring or bank
  erosion caused by the discharge

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Limits

• pH
• 6.5-9.0 for most discharges
• 6.5-8.8 for coldwater marginal fisheries
• 6.6-8.6 for coldwater permanent fisheries

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Limits

• Total Suspended Solids
• 90 mg/L for most
• 30 mg/L for coldwater permanent fisheries
• Total Dissolved Solids
• 2,500 mg/L for most
• 1,000 mg/L for domestic water supplies

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Limits

• Conductivity
• 2,500 µmhos/cm
• Chlorinated water
• 0.05 mg/L Total Residual Chlorine
• Chloraminated water
• 0.05 mg/L Total Residual Chlorine
• 1.0 mg/L Ammonia

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Outfalls

• DW1
• Raw or partially treated water from the treatment
  system
• Lime softening ponds
• Filter backwash
• Overflows from treatment units
• Raw water

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Outfalls

• DW2
• Completely treated water from treatment, storage,
  or distribution
• Storage system overflows
• Water line breaks
• Hydrant flushing
• Hydrostatic testing
• Disinfection of new lines

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Monitoring Requirements

• Outfall DW1
• Flow
• Duration of Discharge
• pH
• Temperature
• Total Fluoride
• Sulfates

• TSS
• TDS
• TRC (if chlorinating)
• Ammonia (if chloraminating)
• Conductivity
• Alkalinity

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Monitoring Requirements

• Outfall DW2
• Total Flow
• Duration of Discharge
• pH

• TSS
• TRC (if chlorinating)
• Ammonia (if chloraminating)

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Best Management Practices

• Permit requires the development of a BMP plan
• Describe what will be done to reduce pollution
  from temporary discharges such as overflows and
  line flushing

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Representative Outfalls

• Representative outfalls cover activities at
  similar sites
• Sampling would only have to be performed at
  selected outfalls
• Provide documentation showing that the discharges
  from these activities will be similar in quality
  and nature

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Are all water systems required to get coverage
  under the discharge permit?
• Do all water systems need coverage under both
  outfalls?
• How is the state going to handle chlorine for
  discharges into road ditches?
• What if we can not get a sample during a
  discharge?

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Frequently Asked Questions

• The permit requires that no chemicals be added
  without DENR notification. How will that work?
• Can we use chemicals for dechlorination?
• Why would I want coverage under this permit
  instead of the temporary one?
• What are the next steps?

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For more information

• Kelli Buscher
• kelli.buscher_at_state.sd.us
• 605.773.3351
• Anthony Mueske
• anthony.mueske_at_state.sd.us
• 605.773.3351
• http//www.state.sd.us/denr/DES/Surfacewater/WTP.h
  tm

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