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Bacteria Rulemaking. Inclusion of Bacteria Limits in TPDES Permits. EPA Objections. EPA review 303d list for bacteria February 2007 –July 2008 Approximately 100 draft permits not approved. EPA Interim Agreement. 303d list Bacteria TMDL Over 5 MGD >100 cfu/100 ml
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Bacteria Rulemaking Inclusion of Bacteria Limits in TPDES Permits
EPA Objections • EPA review • 303d list for bacteria • February 2007 –July 2008 • Approximately 100 draft permits not approved
EPA Interim Agreement • 303d list • Bacteria TMDL • Over 5 MGD • >100 cfu/100 ml • New & amended permits • Oyster water • Effluent limits
EPA Long Term Agreement • Propose rule by July 1, 2009 • Adopt rule by Dec 31, 2009 • Requires limits upon permit issuance • Objections to any permit without bacteria limits after Jan 1, 2010
Rule Timeline • Proposal – May 20, 2009 • Comment Period • Jun 5 – Jul 5, 2009 • Adoption – Oct 28, 2009 • Effective – Nov 19, 2009
Implementation • Next permit action • New • Renewal • Amendment • EPA agreement allows no compliance schedule • Recommend starting evaluations now
Bacteria Permit Limits • Notification language in all permits • E. coli for fresh water • Enterococcus for salt water • Limits effective at issuance • No compliance schedule • Possible exceptions for small facilities
E. coli Permit Limits • Fresh Water • Numerical limit in rule • OR • Refer to WQ Standards • WQ Standards changing • 126 cfu current • 206 cfu proposed
Enterococcus Permit Limits • Salt water discharges • WQ Standards not changing • Numeric limit = 35 cfu
Large Domestic Facilities • Interim Sampling Schedule • >50 MGD – 5/week • 20-50 MGD – 3/week • 5-20 MGD – 1/week • <5 –no monitoring
Monitoring Frequencies • Based on permitted flow • Ultraviolet vs chlorine • Increased frequency: • application screening • 303d segment • sensitive water body
Continued Need for Chlorine Testing • Retain • 4.0 mg maximum • 0.1 mg dechlor • Regular check between bacteria samples • Delay in bacteria results
Chlorine Contact Chambers • Recommend evaluating now • If undersized or short-circuiting • Violating current regulations • No compliance schedule
Sample Holding Times • Standard Methods 9221 & 9222 • Holding time – 6 hours • Travel time issues • SWQM in-stream variance
Laboratory Issues • In-house testing without certification • Contract lab must be NELAC certified • Proximity to plant • Increased workload
Pond Systems • 21-day retention time • Recommend evaluating • Capacities • Sample Locations • Wildlife impacts (birds, etc) • Compliance schedule for new construction
Wet Weather Issues • Affects a limited number of facilities • Blending • Other options for stand-alone facilities that can’t meet limits
Industrial Facilities • Bacteria limits for domestic outfalls • Commingled domestic and process outfalls • Internal outfalls vs external outfalls • Monitoring frequency
Discussion Topics • Questions • Suggestions • Solutions
Contact Us • Kent Trede • ktrede@tceq.state.tx.us • 512.239.1747 • Sherry Smith • shesmith@tceq.state.tx.us • 512.239.0571 • Chris Linendoll • clinendo@tceq.state.tx.us • 512.239.4515
Possible Limit Scenarios • EPA national criteria = WQ Stds contact criterion • A % of EPA/WQS criteria -- safety factor • Primary contact criteria from WQS at permit issuance • Individual receiving stream criterion
Freshwater E. coli 126 cfu/100 mls Saltwater Enterococci 35 cfu/100 mls Current WQ Stds
Freshwater E. coli 206 cfu/100 ml Saltwater Enterococci 35 cfu/100 ml Proposed WQ Standards
Current Standard E coli 394 cfu/100 ml Enterococci: 89 cfu/100 ml Proposed Standard E coli 399 cfu/100 ml Enterococci 104 cfu/100 ml Daily Maximum Limit
Alternate Daily Max Method Daily max = Daily avg x (3.11/1.47) = Daily avg x 2.12 SIP established ratio (pg 57)