South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-9 - Water Pollution Control Permits
Subchapter 61-9.505 - LAND APPLICATION PERMITS AND STATE PERMITS
Part C - LAND APPLICATION PERMIT AND STATE PERMIT CONDITIONS
Section 61-9.505.C.42 - Additional conditions applicable to specified categories of Land Application permits and State permits

(1) Spray field slopes shall not exceed 10 percent unless approved by the Department. The Department may require that slopes be less than 10% based on site conditions.

(2) Effluent distribution systems shall be designed so that the distribution pattern maximizes uniform application. The Department may require the permittee to modify existing land application site(s) distribution systems based on site conditions (e.g., potential for ponding, runoff, or discharges to open ditches).

(3) Soil borings may be required by the Department to depict the lithologic and hydrogeologic characteristics of the subsurface. The requirements of R.61-67 would apply.

(4)

(5) The design application frequency for effluent irrigation shall not exceed a spray to rest ratio suitable for the soil conditions. A spray to rest ratio of 1:20 shall be used unless an alternative rate is approved by the Department. The application frequency for other activities (such as sludge or septage application) would be determined on a site specific basis.

(6) The application site shall be divided into designed spray areas to meet this spray to rest ratio and a continuous application period per defined spray area shall be designed not to exceed 1.2 hours per day, or up to 8 consecutive hours per week (only under those limited conditions when excessive rainfall on the application sites requires application in one day). If the design application rate on a daily basis is exceeded, the Department may require the permittee to provide additional spray application area or alternative disposal methods may be required (e.g. expanding storage capacity for effluent at the facility). Alternative application periods (such as golf course irrigation) may be approved by the Department.

(7) For permitted spray disposal areas which already receive irrigation (e.g. stormwater, potable water or well water), the effluent application rates may be modified by the Department to correspond to the depth to the measured high water table or to the seasonal high water table, whichever is more shallow.

(8) The new or expanding spray field shall be at least 200 feet from surface waters of the State, occupied buildings and potable water wells unless otherwise approved by the Department. The new or expanding spray field shall be at least 100 feet from the property boundary except for golf courses where it shall be at least 75 feet. The Department may require modification to existing permitted spray fields to control the application areas by the addition or expansion of a buffer zone. The applicant may request the buffer zone for specific spray areas be eliminated for sites where the adjacent property owner agree to the elimination of the buffer in writing. The Department may approve an elimination of the buffer zone based on the information provided by the applicant.

(9) A dike or berm around the perimeter of the spray field may be required in specific areas determined by the Department as necessary to prevent potential surface runoff from entering or leaving the spray site. The Department may consider alternate methods of runoff controls that may be proposed by the applicant.

(10) A system for monitoring the quality of groundwater shall also be established for the proposed spray site (for those systems requiring groundwater monitoring). The location of all the monitor wells shall be approved by the Department. The applicant shall provide at least one monitoring well up-gradient of the spray area and at least two groundwater monitoring wells down-gradient. For larger spray fields, more than three groundwater monitoring wells may be required. For land application on golf courses with secondary effluent limits, nine monitor wells shall be provided for 18 fairways (or one groundwater well per two fairways for differing course sizes). The Department may reduce the number of groundwater monitoring wells required based on site conditions (e.g. a significant number of existing groundwater monitoring wells in a small area with multiple golf courses, or existing groundwater monitoring data).

(11) Groundwater samples for new application sites (for those systems requiring groundwater monitoring) shall be analyzed for the following parameters. Background groundwater sampling data may be required for new sites prior to the use of the site using similar parameters. For existing or expanding sites the Department may eliminate any parameter based on actual site information, wastewater characteristics or the groundwater data from consistent wastewater plant operations. Groundwater sampling may be required for existing sites (with no current groundwater monitoring wells), or expanding sites prior to the permitting of the expansion, to determine actual groundwater conditions.

(12) Additional parameters may be required in the initial background groundwater analysis and subsequent monitoring thereafter, but such needs will be assessed on an individual project basis. Any pollutant required for monitoring under effluent guidelines ( 40 CFR Part 136; Subchapter N ( 40 CFR Parts 400 through 402 and 404 through 471)) may be required (in a permit) to be monitored in groundwater.

(13) The Department may require the applicant provide a nutrient balance which may include, but not be limited to, nutrient uptake of the proposed groundcover, crop or silviculture, design application rates, size and soil conditions present, and the total nutrient loading to the application site. The Department may adjust the application rates to each site based on the nutrient balance.

(1) New or expansions.

(2) All other rapid infiltration facilities.

(1) New or expansions.

(2) All other facilities.

(1) New or expanding.

(2) All other tile field facilities.

(1) A groundwater monitoring program may be required by the Department for existing systems to determine if there is a need to evaluate the groundwater conditions at the site to assure compliance with State Water Quality Standards R.61-68. If a deleterious impact to the groundwaters of the State from the permitted use or disposal practices is documented, through groundwater monitoring levels exceeding the standards set forth in R.61-68 or a significant adverse trend occurs, then it will be the obligation of the permittee as directed by the Department to conduct an investigation to determine the vertical and horizontal extent of groundwater impact. The Department may require remediation of the groundwater to within acceptable levels for groundwater as set forth in R.61-68.

(2) A program for monitoring the quality of groundwater may be established for domestic systems (having contributions from industrial facilities), for applicable industrial wastewater systems and other systems, if required by the Department. The Department may consider influent characteristics in this determination.

(1) Spray irrigation or land application of sewage sludge shall be in accordance with R.61-9.503. Spray irrigation or land application of Industrial sludge shall be in accordance with R.61-9.504.

(2) If total suspended solids concentration of the treated wastewater solids or sludge is less than 2000 mg/l the Department may require the facility to comply with the additional requirements for land application of wastewater (R.61-9.505.42(b)(b)).

(1) Provided the level of treatment meets the requirement outlined in section505.45(i)(i), there would not be specific buffer area requirements.

(2) A groundwater monitoring program may be required by the Department for existing or new systems to determine if there is a need to evaluate the background groundwater conditions at the site to assure compliance with State Water Quality Standards R.61-68.

(3) Piping shall be clearly marked to identify reclaimed water lines and the Department may establish specific guidelines for use of reclaimed water systems.

(4) Reclaimed wastewater systems may be required to provide covered storage systems (or other alternative methods) to maintain effluent quality prior to distribution.