(1) Scope.
(a) T.C.A. §
69-3-108(e)
requires applicants for a new or expanded wastewater discharge to surface
waters to consider alternatives to discharge, including land application and
beneficial reuse of treated wastewater. This rule governs non-potable reuse of
reclaimed wastewater, which may be authorized in a stand-alone SOP, an
amendment to an existing SOP, or in an NPDES permit. Non-potable reuse is a
conservation activity that replaces the use of more highly treated water,
especially potable drinking water, with wastewater treated to a lesser, but
sufficient, degree for safe and efficacious reuse. Reclaimed wastewater reused
for irrigation shall not be applied in excess of the evaporation rate plus the
uptake rate of vegetation in the immediate distribution area to ensure there is
no unpermitted discharge. Reclaimed wastewater reused as flushing water in
residential neighborhoods shall be provided in distribution systems separate
from those for potable water and returned to the appropriate wastewater
collection system.
(b) The
following activities do not constitute reuse of reclaimed wastewater within the
scope of this rule:
1. Land application that
uses the soil as a means of additional treatment of the wastewater produced by
a treatment system authorized pursuant to this chapter;
2. Reclamation and reuse of harvested
rainwater or stormwater;
3.
Reclaimed wastewater produced and utilized on-site by the same treatment system
(e.g., wastewater treatment plant-water system);
4. Industrial effluent created prior to final
treatment and used for water re-circulation for step-washing or other
processes, or reuse systems located on the same property as the industrial
facility;
5. Potable reuse of
reclaimed wastewater;
6. The reuse
of reclaimed wastewater to fill residential or public swimming pools, hot tubs,
wading pools, or splash pads;
7.
The reuse of reclaimed wastewater for food preparation or incorporation as an
ingredient in food or beverages for human consumption;
8. The resale or delivery of reclaimed
wastewater to another entity without initial prior approval from the
Commissioner by modification of the NPDES permit or SOP authorizing reclaimed
water sales, and the subsequent contracting with other endusers without
execution of the approved permit;
9. Reuse in impoundments with restricted
access or with unrestricted access, environmental reuse, and groundwater
recharge for non-potable reuse. Impoundments intended for temporary storage of
reclaimed water as part of the delivery system are not subject to regulation
under this rule; and
10.
Agricultural reuse for food crops or for processed food crops and non-food
crops.
(c) Excess
utilization of reclaimed wastewater resulting in ponding, a nuisance to
adjacent properties, or discharge to waters of the state is
prohibited.
(2)
Application and Review.
(a) Engineering
Reports, Plans and Specifications.
An applicant seeking authorization for the new or expanded
reuse of reclaimed wastewater shall comply with the requirements of Chapter
0400-40-02 for submission and fee requirements. The permittee shall generate
standard specifications, submit proposed standard specifications to the
Commissioner for approval, and use the approved standard specifications to
design and construct its reclaimed wastewater distribution system. In addition,
the following minimum design requirements apply:
1. Any pipe conveying reclaimed wastewater
for reuse must be clearly distinguished from potable water distribution
systems, wastewater collection systems, and stormwater conveyance systems. The
use of magenta, "purple pipe," or similar painting scheme of fittings, valves,
hydrants, and other appurtenances is an acceptable method, but other methods
may be used if approved by the Commissioner. It is the responsibility of the
utility delivering reclaimed water to ensure affected persons are aware of the
system distinctions.
2. Reclaimed
and potable water systems should be located at least 10 feet horizontally, or
at least 18 inches vertically, apart from each other if practicable.
However, if reclaimed wastewater and potable water systems
are located within 10 feet horizontally and 18 inches vertically of each other,
the non-potable reclaimed wastewater system shall be treated as if it were
conveying wastewater that does not meet the treatment requirements of
subparagraph (3)(c) of this rule.
(b) Reclaimed Wastewater Management Plan.
An applicant seeking authorization for the new or expanded
reuse of reclaimed wastewater shall submit a Reclaimed Wastewater Management
Plan (RWMP) with its permit application. An applicant for renewal of a permit
for reuse of reclaimed wastewater shall submit an updated RWMP if there is a
material change in end user requirements from the prior submission. Material
changes include changes to water quality, delivery pressure, or delivery
location, and whenever the end user becomes a purveyor of reclaimed wastewater.
At a minimum, the RWMP shall address:
1. The proposed treatment for reclaimed
wastewater and the proposed treatment for wastewater to be treated under an
NPDES permit or land application permit;
2. Storage and distribution of the reclaimed
wastewater for reuse;
3. Schematic
process flow diagrams and map of service areas;
4. Processes for approval of system
expansion;
5. Procedures to meter
reclaimed wastewater for reuse delivered to each end user;
6. Procedures for monitoring and reporting
end user compliance;
7. Components
of an education program for end users to contribute to the safe use of the
system as well as program requirements to meet cross-connection and backflow
prevention requirements;
8.
Contingency plan for the disposition of treated wastewater in the event that
reuse opportunities are not available at some point in the future;
and
9. Standard specifications and
plans for the reclaimed wastewater distribution system.
(c) End User Service Agreements.
The application shall include the proposed form of end user
service agreements between the provider of reclaimed wastewater for reuse and
the end user for each metered recipient. The end user service agreement shall
establish:
1. End user control over
rates of delivery of reclaimed wastewater for reuse, including the minimum and
maximum delivery rates and any applicable conditions for determining such
rates;
2. Standards of water
quality for the reclaimed wastewater to be delivered to the end user, including
the monitoring location and the frequency of sampling and analysis;
3. Acknowledgment by the end user of its
responsibilities with respect to the appropriate and legal use of the reclaimed
wastewater;
4. Service agreement
termination provisions; and
5. If
an end user becomes a provider of reclaimed water to a follow-on end user, the
first end user must follow all provisions of this rule as a purveyor of
reclaimed water, including but not limited to obtaining an SOP, submission of
the RWMP, and issuing follow-on end user service agreements between the end
user and the customer.
(d) Demonstrated Availability of Alternatives
to Reuse.
1. Only demonstrated, consistent,
year-round reuse demands can be counted toward wasteload commitments to reduce
the amount of wastewater subject to discharge or land application permits. Only
those reuse demands satisfying the reclaimed water purveyor's requirements and
under its ownership, or subject to a long-term contract that equals or exceeds
the permit term, may be considered as meeting wasteload commitments. The
Commissioner may require documentation of five years of demonstrated year-round
irrigation to demonstrate consistent reuse demands.
2. New or expanded reuse of reclaimed
wastewater will not be permitted unless the applicant demonstrates that
sufficient alternatives are available in case the permitted reuse activity
becomes unavailable during the permit term. Wasteload commitments based on
reuse shall not exceed 25% of the total wasteload commitments, unless a
contingency plan has been approved by the Commissioner to adequately address
wastewater disposal needs in case the reuse option is not available in the
future. Such alternative plans include, but are not limited to, land
application permitted by a SOP and/or an NPDES-permitted discharge to surface
waters. Conservation measures may be used on a temporary basis until an
alternative can be implemented.
(3) Special Conditions for Reuse of Reclaimed
Wastewater.
(a) The reclaimed wastewater for
reuse must be fit for use by the end user, as defined by the end user service
agreement.
(b) The permittee shall
implement the Commissioner-approved RWMP. If there are any material changes in
end user requirements during the permit term, the permittee shall update the
RWMP and submit it to the Division for review. Upon approval, the permittee
shall implement the updated RWMP.
(c) Notwithstanding any less stringent
provisions established in the end user service agreement, the permittee shall
comply with the following minimum standards and monitoring frequency:
|
Unrestricted Urban
Reuse |
Restricted Urban Reuse |
|
Parameter |
Daily Limit |
Monitoring Frequency See Note
1 |
Daily Limit |
Monitoring Frequency See Note
1 |
|
pH |
6.0-9.0 |
Weekly
See Note 2 |
6.0-9.0 |
Weekly
See Note 2 |
|
CBOD5 or NH3-N |
10 mg/L CBOD5 or 5 mg/L NH3-N |
Weekly
See Note 2 |
30 mg/L CBOD5 or 10 mg/L NH3-N |
Weekly
See Note 2 |
|
NTU or TSS |
5 NTU or 5 mg/L TSS |
Continuous Daily See Note 2 |
30 mg/L TSS |
Weekly
See Note 2 |
|
E. coli |
23 cfu/100 mL |
See Note 3 |
200 cfu/100 mL |
See Note 3 |
|
Chlorine residual |
Minimum of 1 mg/L |
See Note 3 |
Minimum of 1 mg/L |
See Note 3 |
Note 1: The monitoring frequency may be increased due to
special circumstances in the NPDES permit or SOP, as agreed upon in the end
user service agreement, or as agreed by the reclaimed wastewater
provider.
Note 2: pH, CBOD5/NH3-N, NTU/TSS values shall be measured at
the effluent sampling point of the pump station into the reclaimed water
distribution system or as otherwise indicated in the SOP or NPDES
permit.
Note 3: Chlorine residual limits apply only upon failure to
comply with E. coli limits more than 10% of the time for the previous month
after there is a demonstration that the system can meet the delivery standards.
The minimum chlorine residual and E. coli shall be measured at the point of
release from the reclamation system (i.e., the delivery meter) to ensure it is
maintained within the distribution system. Chlorine and E. coli minimum
frequency of measurement is based on weekly applications the previous month, as
follows:
|
Weekly application
volume |
Required measurement
frequency |
|
</=100,000 gal per week |
Once per week when activated |
|
>/=100,000 gal per week |
Twice per week when activated |
|
>/=1,000,000 gal per week |
Daily when activated |
(d)
Monitoring and Reporting.
1. Monthly
Operating Reports.
The permittee shall submit electronic monthly operating
reports no later than the fifteenth day of the following month,
including:
(i) Results for all
parameters per subparagraph (3)(c) of this rule;
(ii) The volume of reclaimed wastewater
delivered to each end user, including the overall total volume of reclaimed
wastewater reused by the permittee; and
(iii) Any discharges or releases of reclaimed
wastewater from the transmission system including date, location, estimated
volume, and response actions.
2. The permittee shall report to the Division
of Water Resources whenever it becomes aware of an end user in violation of the
end user agreement.
