Delaware Administrative Code
Title 7 - Natural Resources and Environmental Control
5000 - Division of Watershed Stewardship
7400 - Watershed Assessment Section
7406 - TMDLs for Nutrients for the Nanticoke River And Broad Creek
Section 7406-2.0 - Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Regulation for the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek, Delaware

Article 1. Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR), or equivalent, processes shall be employed in three large municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek Sub-basin. These three facilities include Seaford Sewage Treatment Plant, Bridgeville Sewage Treatment Plant, and Laurel Sewage Treatment Plant. This shall result in reducing nitrogen load from these three facilities from the current permitted load of 199 kilograms per day (439 pounds per day) to 100 kilograms per day (221 pounds per day). Reduction of phosphorous loads from these three facilities will be from the current permitted load of 33 kilograms per day (73 pounds per day) to 25 kilograms per day (55 pounds per day).

Article 2 . For the remaining wastewater treatment plants in the watershed, discharge of nitrogen and phosphorous loads shall be capped at their current permitted loads. These loads are 568 kilograms per day (1252 pounds per day) of nitrogen and 1.0 kilograms per day (2.2 pounds per day) of phosphorous.

Article 3. The nonpoint source nitrogen load to the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek shall be reduced by 30 percent (from the 1992 base-line). This shall result in reduction of nitrogen loads during a normal rainfall year from 2274 kilograms per day (5013 pounds per day) to 1723 kilograms per day (3799 pounds per day).

Article 4. The nonpoint source phosphorus load to the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek shall be reduced by 50 percent (from the 1992 base-line). This shall result in reduction of phosphorous loads during a normal rainfall year from 54 kilograms per day (119 pounds per day) to 36 kilograms per day (79 pounds per day).

Article 5. Based upon hydrodynamic and water quality model runs and assuming implementation of reductions identified by Articles 1 through 4, DNREC has determined that, with an adequate margin of safety, water quality standards will be met in the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek.

Article 6. Implementation of this TMDL Regulation shall be achieved through development and implementation of a Pollution Control Strategy. The Strategy will be developed by DNREC in concert with the Department's ongoing Whole basin management Program and the affected public.