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.45 - Calculating Land Application permit and State permit conditions

Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 61-9.505.C.45

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024

(a) Outfalls and discharge points. Permit effluent limitations, standards and prohibitions shall be established for each outfall or discharge point of the permitted facility, except as otherwise provided under section505.44(k)(k) (BMPs, where limitations are infeasible) and paragraph (i) of this section (limitations on internal waste streams).

(b) Production-based limitations. Permit effluent limitations, standards, or prohibitions shall be calculated based on design flow, number of units or other methods established by the Department.

(c) Metals. All permit effluent limitations, standards, or prohibitions for a metal shall be expressed in terms of "total recoverable metal" or "total metals" as defined in 40 CFR Part 136, 40 CFR Part 503, or R.61-9.503 unless:

(1) An applicable effluent standard or limitation has been promulgated under the CWA or under R.61-68 which specifies the limitation for the metal in the dissolved or valent or total form; or

(2) In establishing permit limitations on a case-by-case basis under R.61-9.125.3, it is necessary to express the limitation on the metal in the dissolved or valent or total form to carry out the provisions of the CWA; or

(3) All approved analytical methods for the metal inherently measure only its dissolved form (e.g., hexavalent chromium).

(d) Continuous discharges. For continuous discharges, all permit effluent limitations, standards, and prohibitions, including those necessary to achieve water quality standards, may be stated as:

(1) Maximum daily and average monthly discharge limitations for all dischargers other than publicly owned treatment works and private facilities; and

(2) Average weekly and average monthly discharge limitations for POTWs and private facilities.

(e) Non-continuous discharges. Discharges which are not continuous, as defined in section122.2, may be particularly described and limited, considering the following factors, as appropriate:

(1) Frequency (for example, a batch discharge shall not occur more than once every 3 weeks);

(2) Total mass (for example, not to exceed 100 kilograms of zinc and 200 kilograms of chromium per batch discharge);

(3) Maximum rate of discharge of pollutants during the discharge (for example, not to exceed 2 kilograms of zinc per minute); and

(4) Prohibition or limitation of specified pollutants by mass, concentration, or other appropriate measure (for example, shall not contain at any time more than 0.1 mg/l zinc nor more than 250 grams ( 1/4 kilogram) of zinc in any discharge).

(f) Mass limitations.

(1) All pollutants limited in permits may have limitations, standards, or prohibitions expressed in terms of mass except:

(i) For pH, temperature, radiation, or other pollutants which cannot appropriately be expressed in mass:

(ii) When applicable standards and limitations are expressed in terms of other units of measurement; or

(iii) If in establishing permit limitations on a case-by-case basis under R.61-9.125.3, limitations expressed in terms of mass are infeasible because the mass of the pollutant discharged cannot be related to a measure of operation (for example, discharges of TSS from certain mining operations), and permit conditions ensure that dilution will not be used as a substitute for treatment.

(2) Pollutants limited in terms of mass additionally may be limited in terms of other units of measurement, and the permit shall require the permittee to comply with both limitations.

(g) Limits for nutrients (e.g., nitrate) may be required based on the information provided by the applicant including but not be limited to, an analysis of the nutrient uptake of the proposed groundcover, crop or silviculture, design application rates, size and soil conditions present, and the total nutrient loading to the site.

(h) Internal waste streams. When permit effluent limitations or standards imposed at the point of discharge are impractical or infeasible, effluent limitations or standards for discharges of pollutants may be imposed on internal waste streams before mixing with other waste streams or cooling water streams. In those instances, the monitoring required by section505.44(i)(i) shall also be applied to the internal waste streams.

(i) Minimum treatment requirement.

(1) Purpose. This section provides information on the minimum level of effluent quality for specific categories of Land Application permits or State permits.

(2) Definitions. Terms used are defined as follows:

(i) "7-day average." The arithmetic mean of pollutant parameter values of samples collected in a period of 7 consecutive days.

(ii) "30-day average." The arithmetic mean of pollutant parameter values of samples collected in a period of 30 consecutive days.

(iii) "BOD5" The five day measure of the pollutant parameter biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).

(iv) "CBOD5". The five day measure of the pollutant parameter carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD5).

(v) "Effluent concentrations consistently achievable through proper operation and maintenance." For a given pollutant parameter, the 95th percentile value for the 30-day average effluent quality achieved by a treatment works in a period of at least two years, excluding values attributable to upsets, bypasses, operational errors, or other unusual conditions.

(vi) "Facilities eligible for treatment equivalent to secondary treatment." Treatment works shall be eligible for consideration for effluent limitations described for treatment equivalent to secondary treatment, if:

(A) The effluent BOD5 and TSS concentrations consistently achievable through proper operation and maintenance exceed the minimum level of the effluent quality set forth in section505.45(i)(3)(i)(i)(3)(i) and section505.45(i)(3)(ii)(i)(3)(ii).

(B) A trickling filter or waste stabilization pond including aerated lagoon is used as the principal process, and

(vii) "mg/l." Milligrams per liter.

(viii) "Percent removal." A percentage expression of the removal efficiency across a treatment plant for a given pollutant parameter, as determined from the 30-day average values of the raw wastewater influent pollutant concentrations to the facility and the 30-day average values of the effluent pollutant concentrations for a given time period.

(ix) "Significant biological treatment." The use of an aerobic or anaerobic biological treatment process in a treatment works to consistently achieve a 30-day average of at least 65 percent removal of BOD5.

(x) "Reclaimed wastewater systems." A method of advanced wastewater treatment designed to produce an effluent of such a high quality to be suitable for irrigation in areas with public contact such as yard irrigation and public open spaces.

(xi) "TSS." The pollutant parameter total suspended solids.

(3) The following paragraphs describe the minimum level of effluent quality attainable by secondary treatment for municipal and/or domestic wastewater in terms of the parameters BOD5 and TSS.

(i) BOD5. For all facilities except reclaimed wastewater systems, septic tanks, trickling filters and waste stabilization ponds.

(A) The 30-day average shall not exceed 30 mg/l.

(B) The 7-day average shall not exceed 45 mg/l.

(C) At the option of the Department, in lieu of the parameter BOD5 and the levels of the effluent quality specified in paragraphs (3)(i)(A) and (3)(i)(B), the parameter CBOD5 may be substituted with the following levels of the CBOD5 effluent quality provided:

(I) The 30-day average shall not exceed 25 mg/l.

(II) The 7-day average shall not exceed 40 mg/l.

(ii) TSS. For all facilities except reclaimed wastewater systems, septic tanks, trickling filters and waste stabilization ponds.

(A) The 30-day average shall not exceed 30 mg/l.

(B) The 7-day average shall not exceed 45 mg/l.

(iii) Waste stabilization ponds.

(A) The Department may adjust the minimum level of effluent quality set forth for municipal and/or domestic wastewater treatment works subject to this part to conform to the suspended solids concentrations achievable with waste stabilization ponds, provided that:

(I) Waste stabilization ponds, including aerated lagoon systems, are the principal process used for secondary treatment;

(II)

(1) The term "TSS concentrations achievable with waste stabilization ponds" means a TSS value, determined by the Department, which is equal to the effluent concentration achieved 90 percent of the time within the State.

(2) Allowable limits:

(i) The 30-day average shall not exceed 90 mg/l.

(ii) The 7-day average shall not exceed 135 mg/l.

(4) Treatment equivalent to secondary treatment. This section describes the minimum level of effluent quality required for facilities eligible for treatment equivalent to secondary treatment.

(i) BOD5. For trickling filters and waste stabilization ponds.

(A) The 30-day average shall not exceed 45 mg/l.

(B) The 7-day average shall not exceed 65 mg/l.

(ii) TSS For trickling filters.

(A) The 30-day average shall not exceed 45 mg/l.

(B) The 7-day average shall not exceed 65 mg/l.

(iii) CBOD5 limitations: For trickling filters and waste stabilization ponds.

(A) Where data are available to establish CBOD5 limitations for a treatment works subject to this section, the Department may substitute the parameter CBOD5 for the parameter BOD5 on a case-by-case basis provided that the levels of CBOD5 effluent quality are not less stringent than the following:

(1) The 30-day average shall not exceed 40 mg/l.

(2) The 7-day average shall not exceed 60 mg/l.

(B) Where data are available, the parameter CBOD5 may be used for effluent quality limitations established under this section. Where concurrent BOD effluent data are available, they must be submitted with the CBOD data as a part of the approval process.

(5) Chemical oxygen demand (COD) or total organic carbon (TOC) may be substituted with Departmental approval for BOD5 under section505.45(i)(3)(i)(3) and section505.45(i)(4)(i)(4), when a long-term BOD:COD or BOD:TOC correlation has been demonstrated.

(6) For reclaimed water systems, with application in areas with a high potential for contact (e.g. residential irrigation systems, multifamily irrigation systems, commercial irrigation systems in common residential areas, public parks, and open spaces).

(i) BOD5 shall not exceed 5 mg/l monthly average and 7.50 mg/l weekly average.

(ii) Total Suspended Solids (TSS) shall not exceed 5 mg/l monthly average and 7.50 mg/l weekly average.

(iii) Turbidity limits may be established in terms of Turbidity Units, or other means similar to the protection of Drinking Water.

(iv) Total Residual Chlorine (TRC) in the effluent shall be maintained in a manner that a detectable residual chlorine level is maintained in the distribution system and the fecal coliform limits are met. The Department may establish specific total residual chlorine limits for reclaimed water systems based on the site conditions and the distribution system design.

(v) Additional parameters may be required based on the permit application but such needs will be assessed on an individual basis. Any pollutant present in the wastewater may be required to be monitored (in a permit) in the effluent or groundwater.

(7) For tile field systems with Land Application or State Permits.

(i) The technical design standards for Individual Waste Disposal Systems R.61-56, may be utilized by the Department for these facilities.

(ii) The Department may require monitoring and reporting and/or specific limitations for any pollutant present in the wastewater. These requirements may be assessed on an individual project basis.

(8) For dischargers other than POTWs and domestic wastewater. Adequate treatment shall be determined by the Department on an individual project basis.

(9) Fecal coliform limitations.

(i) Land application systems. For all POTW and for those other systems including in the influent a significant amount of, or having a significant effect from, domestic sewage, at least as stringent as 200/100 ml monthly average and 400/100 ml daily maximum, or the bacteriological standard from the nearest surface water body as defined in R.61-68 (if this surface water is classified with a more restrictive standard), except where it can be shown that neither storm water nor wastewater will run off the disposal site to a waterway and that the isolation of the disposal site will eliminate exposure of persons to pathogens. A significant amount or effect is related to the effluent having a reasonable potential to violate the above-stated bacteriological requirement. For all other discharges, the Department may use the previously identified limits, or establish other fecal coliform limitations to reflect the specific discharge and site conditions. Domestic sewage is defined at R.61-9.503.9.

(ii) Tile field and rapid infiltration. No limits, unless specifically required by the Department.

(iii) Reclaimed wastewater. Coliform limitations (for those activities covered under the reclaimed water description) similar to the standards in State Primary Regulations (R.61-58) shall be met in the effluent and the distribution system. Other uses of reclaimed water (e.g., golf course irrigation) would be covered under land application systems or for surface water discharges covered under R.61-9.122.

(iv) Overland Flow. Effluent limits for discharge to surface waters of 2 00/100 ml monthly average and 4 00/100 ml daily maximum, or fecal coliform standard for the surface water body as defined in R.61-68.

(10) Nitrate monitoring or limitations (as N).

(i) Land application systems. Monitor and Report effluent Nitrate (as N) concentrations. Monitor and Report Nitrate (as N) concentrations for sludge and septage application. No limits, unless specifically required by the Department. The Department may eliminate this requirement for wastes with minimal, or no nitrate loading (such as water plant sludges).

(ii) Tile field and rapid infiltration. No limits, unless specifically required by the Department.

(iii) Reclaimed wastewater. Monitor and Report effluent Nitrate (as N) concentrations. No limits, unless specifically required by the Department.

(iv) Overland Flow. Monitor and Report effluent Nitrate (as N) concentrations. No limits, unless specifically required by the Department. The Department may eliminate this requirement for wastes with minimal, or no nitrate loading.

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