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ORDERNO. 5-00-119. 2- <br /> INFORMATION SHEET <br /> GENERAL ORDER FOR DISCHARGE, <br /> TO SURFACE WATERS <br /> OF GROUND WATER FROM CLEANUP OF <br /> PETROLEUM FUEL POLLUTION <br /> ATTACHMENT C <br /> Salinity,Total Dissolved Solids,and Electrical Conductivity <br /> Salinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity.(EC) are measures of dissolved <br /> salts in water. Salinity is a measure of the mass fraction of salts (measured in parts per <br /> thousand),whereas TDS is a measure of the concentration of salts (measured in ma/1). Since the <br /> electrical conductivity(EC) of water generally changes proportionately to changes in dissolved <br /> salt concentrations;EC is a convenient surrogate measure for TDS. <br /> Receiving water bodies m.the Central Valley can contain significant seasonal, and wet weather <br /> related fluctuations in EC levels due to urban runoff and agricultural drainage. <br /> Federal regulations, 40 CFR Part 122,44 (d)(1)(i),require that NPDES permit effluent limitations <br /> must control all pollutants which are or may be discharged ata level which will cause or have the <br /> reasonable potential to cause or contribute to an in-stream excursion above.any State water quality <br /> standard,including any narrative criteria for water quality. Beneficial uses,together with their <br /> corresponding water quality objectives, can.be defined.p.er federal regulations as water quality <br /> standards. For municipal and domestic supply beneficial uses,federal and state promulgated <br /> maximum contaminant levels (MCL's) are appropriate minirnum water quality objectives. <br /> Furthermore,Delta waterways and portions of the San Joaquin River have been identified as Water <br /> Quality limited Segments, and are listed on the California CWA Section 303(d)List for elevated <br /> dissolved solids concentrations and elevated EC. The Basin Plan objectives set.receiving water <br /> objectives at 700 umhos/cm and 1000 umhos/cm for winter and summer periods,respectively. <br /> The CA Department of Health Services has established a Secondary maximum contaminant level <br /> (MCL) for EC ranging from 900 to 1,600 µmhos/cm. Due to the ephemeral nature of some of <br /> the Central Valley's receiving waters, and associated lack of receiving water assimilative <br /> capacity in other Delta waters,most proposed discharges have the reasonable potential to exceed, <br /> and cause the waters of the State to exceed,the lower limit of the DHS Secondary MCL water <br /> quality objective,potentially impacting the impacting -UN beneficial use. Additionally, elevated <br /> dissolved solids may.contribute to a failure of acute or chronic toxicity testing, and associated <br /> Basin Plan narrative toxicity criteria. <br /> Effluent Limits Development <br /> Effluent limits and receiving water limits have been established as follows: <br /> a. Effluent 30-Day Median Concentrations for TPH,Benzene,Toluene, Ethylbenzene, <br /> Xylene, and MTBE are established as `non-detectable',that is,less than the detection <br /> concentrations for specified, commonly available treatment and analytical technology. <br />