Bacteria Rulemaking

Bacteria Rulemakin

gInclusion 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

21-day retention time Recommend evaluating

Capacities Sample Locations Wildlife impacts (birds, etc)

Compliance schedule for new construction

Pond Systems

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

Fecal vs Residual ChlorineMinor municipal facilities

(114 data points)

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

0 5 10 15 20

residual chlorine (mg/L)

Feca

l col

iform

(log

of #

/100

ml)

Fecal Coliform(log)

Single samplemaximum log(2.6)Geometricmean log (2.3)

E. coli vs Residual ChlorineMinor municipal facilities

(114 data points)

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

44.5

5

0 5 10 15 20

residual chlorine (mg/L)

E. c

oli (

log

of #

/100

ml)

E. coli log

Single samplemaximum log (2.6)

Geometric mean log(2.1)

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

Current WQ Stds

Freshwater E. coli 126 cfu/100 mls Saltwater

Enterococci 35 cfu/100 mls

Proposed WQ Standards Freshwater E. coli 206 cfu/100 ml

Saltwater Enterococci 35 cfu/100 ml

Daily Maximum Limit

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

Alternate Daily Max Method

Daily max = Daily avg x (3.11/1.47) = Daily avg x 2.12

SIP established ratio (pg 57)

Thanks for coming!