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Community Planning Institute Water Resources Management Water Resource Module Training

Community Planning Institute Water Resources Management Water Resource Module Training. PRESENTED BY: BRENNAN JONES, P.E. Brennan Jones Engineering Associates, LLC January 24, 2012. Wastewater. Introduction. Presentation Topics. Laws and Regulations Local Ordinances

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Community Planning Institute Water Resources Management Water Resource Module Training

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  1. Community Planning InstituteWater Resources ManagementWater Resource Module Training PRESENTED BY: BRENNAN JONES, P.E. Brennan Jones Engineering Associates, LLC January 24, 2012 Wastewater

  2. Introduction

  3. Presentation Topics • Laws and Regulations • Local Ordinances • Wastewater Collection and Treatment • Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) • Coastal GA Regional Water Plan - Best Management Practices • Implementation Recommendations

  4. Definitions / Terms • US EPA or EPA – Unites States Environmental Protection Agency • GA EPD – Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division • TMDL – Total Maximum Daily Load • NPDES – National Pollution Discharge Elimination System • POTW – Publicly Owned Treatment Works • LAS – Land Application System • Water Reclamation & Urban Reuse • OWTS – Onsite Wastewater Treatment System • SWIS – Soil-based or Subsurface Wastewater Infiltration System

  5. Laws & Regulations Federal Regulations Clean Water Act – (33 U.S.C. 125 ) CWA protects the nation’s water and prohibits pollution of its waters CWA includes: • NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems • Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge • Disposal of Septage is covered in the federal under “Part 503”

  6. Laws & Regulations, Cont’d. Georgia Laws Georgia Water Quality Control Act (§ O.C.G.A. 12-5-20) Rules and Regulations for Water Quality Control GA DNR EPD (Georgia Law Chapter 391-3-6) • Administered by GA EPD • Includes NPDES Permitting and LAS Permitting Municipal, Industrial, & Private Wastewater Treatment Systems

  7. Laws & Regulations, Cont’d. Georgia Laws, Cont’d. GA EPD General Permit for Large Community Systems • On-site Systems >= 10,000 gpd <= 150,000 gpd • General Land Application System Permit – (General Permit No. GAG278000) Georgia Rules of Department of Human Resources (DHR) • Septic Systems < 10,000 gpd • Regulated by County Health Department

  8. Local Ordinances Sewer Use Ordinances and / or Utility Use Ordinances • Regulated by Local City or County Government • Controls connection to public sewer • May require connection in the event of septic tank failure • Wastewater strength and acceptable types of wastewater • Requires Pre-treatment of wastewater exceeding limits(e.g. Industrial wastewater, etc.)

  9. Wastewater Collection & Treatment Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) • NPDES discharge permits • LAS no-discharge permit • Water Reclamation and Urban Reuse • Conventional Wastewater Collection System • Gravity Sewers, Pump Stations, Force Mains Industrial / Private WW TreatmentFacilities

  10. WW Collection & Treatment Cont’d. Low Pressure Sewer Systems • Grinder pumps at each connection with pressurized force mains • STEP (Septic Tank Effluent Pump) Private Wastewater Systems • e.g. at small communities like a mobile home parks Large Community Systems • can by publicly-owned, serve more than on property with design flow of up to 150,000 gpd Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) • serving one property less than 10,000 gpd

  11. Regulatory Permits GA EPD permits (required for: municipal, industrial or private wastewater treatment facilities) • NPDES discharges • LAS facilities • Water Reclamation and Urban Reuse • Large Community Systems (OWTS 10,000 gpd – 150,000 gpd) Health Department permits • Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) (10,000 gpd max.)

  12. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) • Provide a safe and effective means to treat and dispose of wastewater • Uses preliminary treatment and soil absorption for final treatment and disposal of wastewater Preliminary treatment typically uses a Septic Tank (anaerobic treatment) Aerobic Treatment Units (ATU) (provides higher level of ww treatment) • ATU’s needed where additional level of treatment is needed due limiting conditions e.g. soil conditions, rock, high groundwater, etc.

  13. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems

  14. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) • Proper sizing is based on soil types and peak wastewater use estimates • Distribution system uses soil absorption for final treatment of wastewater (aerobic and anaerobic treatment, and water disposal) • Utilizes Soil-based Infiltration System (SWIS) for final disposal of wastewater • GA Rules of DHR has on-site wastewater disposal system sizing criteria • EPA Guidance Manual– Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual, 2002 (EPA/625/R-00/008)

  15. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Issues with OWTS • Septic systems (subsurface drainfields and tanks) require maintenance and have a service life • Drainfield lines can plug due to solids from septic tank • Poor soils, high groundwater conditions etc. can lead to failures • Drainfield failure can lead to nitrate accumulation in groundwater • Septic Tank/Drainfield failure has been linked to fecal coliform in surface waters

  16. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems OWTS Cont’d. Record Keeping by Regulatory Agency • County Health Department – Typically in paper form • Need for OWTS Database Management / Maintenance Responsibility • By Private property owner – Typically unregulated • Septic System Maintenance may be Required by Local Ordinance

  17. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems OWTS Cont’d. Importance of Preventative Maintenance of OWTS • Clean out Septic Tanks before solids exceed tank storage capacity • Drainfield Inspection Why? • Prevents excessive solids from being released to drainfields • Extends the life of the drainfields How Often? • Recommended Frequency (about every 5 years) based on DHR Guidance Documents

  18. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems

  19. Coastal GA Regional Water Plan Best Management Practices (BMPs) Create database of OWTS locations and areas served by OWTS • Use GIS to associated database to area Septic System Maintenance Education Programs US EPA TWIST • The Wastewater Information System Tool(TWIST) USEPA/NSCEP P.O. Box 42419M Cincinnati, Ohio Fax: (301) 604-3408 Email: nscep@bps-lmit.com http://cfpub.epa.gov/owm/septic/septic.cfm?page_id=220

  20. Implementation Recommendations Each Local Government should: • Adopt the Model On-site Disposal System (OSDS) Maintenance Ordinance (Complete this by June 2012) • Begin the process of creating a database of onsite wastewater treatment systems and create a GIS database with the data • Identify areas that are served with OWTS and review surface water quality in these areas. • Review and Modernize Sewer Use Ordinance (Utilities Ordinance) • Require Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems to connect to public sewer when available and/or when the OWTS fails.

  21. Model On-site Disposal System (OSDS) Maintenance Ordinance

  22. Questions

  23. Contact Information Brennan D. Jones, P.E. Brennan Jones Engineering Associates, LLC Phone (770) 688-5148 Email: brennanjones@comcast.net

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