COMPLIANCE INFO_PRE 2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

California Regional Water Quality Control Board Central Valley Region (@ . Robert Schneider, Chair Cray Davis Winston It. llickox Go'rnmr Scerciaryfor Sacramento Main Office Environmental Internet Address: http://w .swrcb.ca.gov/mgcb5 Protection 3443 Routicr Road, Suite A, Sacramento, California 95827-3003 FEB 11 2003 Phone (9 16) 255-3000 • FAX (916) 255-3015 February 10, 2003 Mr. David Lieb Marley Cooling Technologies 150 North Sinclair Ave. Stockton, CA 95215 ENVIRONMENT HE__i H PERMIT/SERVICES CERTIFIED MAIL #70000520002425714935 NOTICE OF VIOLATION, NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE.ELIMINATIONSYSTEM PERMIT NO. C40081787, ORDER NO. 93-221, MARLEY COOLING TOWER COMPANY, SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY Based on our site inspection and review of available data, the Marley Cooling Tower Company (MCTC) has violated specific provisions and limitations in its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Order No. 93-221 by causing a fish kill in the Stockton Diverting Canal. This fish kill was a result of a discharge of high pH water from the onsite groundwater treatment system. Background Information On the night of September 16"717`11, 2002 there was a discharge of high pH treated groundwater effluent from the groundwater treatment system at the MCTC site. This high pH discharge in tum raised the pH in the Stockton Diverting Canal, where the treated groundwater is discharged, causing a significant fish kill in the canal. Although no follow-up sampling in the Canal was conducted by MCTC to determine the length of the waterway affected, at least 6,600 feet downstream of the outfall was involved, with the fish kill being probably absolute in that stretch of the waterway, according to DFG staff. According to Department of Fish and Game (DFG) estimates, approximately 1,000 dead fish were noted in the canal, and the total number estimated to be killed was upwards of 4,000 to 5,000. The affected fish included black bass, catfish, carp, suckers, bluegill, and assorted smaller sunfish -type fish. Tadpoles and crayfish were also killed. Although the spill occurred sometime during late September 16th or early September 17a', the spill was not reported to our office by MCTC, as required by the NPDES permit, until the early evening of September 19th. The spill was caused by a pH meter malfunction on a meter that controlled the pH adjustment pump. This false pH signal in tum caused the caustic pH adjustment pump to continuously operate despite the fact that the actual pH level was not low. Moreover, because the meter signal was "frozen" and sending a false "low pH" signal, it did not activate the system shutdown feature as it was designed to do. This resulted in a discharge of approximately 2160 gallons (estimated maximum amount) of 50% by weight sodium hydroxide into the canal. The attached Inspection Report California Environmental Protection Agency Za Recycled Paper The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our Web -site at http://w .swrcb.ca.gov/mgcb5