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Order Nb. R5-2009-0097 - 7 - <br /> Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for <br /> Small Food Processors and Small Wineries <br /> Within the Central Valley Region ' <br /> c. No more.than 100,000 gallons of wastewater-may be applied to land .per year at <br /> most facilities, although some small wineries that crush less than 80 tons of grapes <br /> per year will.generate slightly more wastewater, all of which can be discharged on <br /> site. Order No. R5-2003-0106 included the.same limitations. One hundred thousand <br /> gallons per year is equivalent to 3.7 acre-inches, which is far-less water than is <br /> required by even the most drought-tolerant landscape materials. The stringent limits <br /> on the Volume of waste that can be'discharged should result only in localized. <br /> degradation., Additionally; the.majority of`dischargers.that land apply.wastewater <br /> under this .Order will require significant'additio.nai fresh water to sustain the crops.or .. <br /> landscape materials grown in the land application area. Based on best professional <br /> judgment, this supplemental irrigation water.will dilute any remaining wastewater <br /> salinity to the,point where it is insignificant_ compared to the salinity added by fresh <br /> irrigation water from other sources. <br /> d. Wineries may discharge all residual solids on site. For all other facilities, the amount <br /> of residual solids applied to land per year'cannot exceed the.amount associated with <br /> generation of 100,000 gallons of wastewater per year. For.instanee, if a covered <br /> discharger,generates 500,000 gallons.of wastewater and in so doing generates <br /> residgdl solids, only 20 percent of the residual solids (100,000 divided by 500;000) <br /> can be' applied to-land' The remainder of the residual solids,.as well as the excess <br /> 400000 gallons of wastewater, must be dispose at an-off-site permitted waste <br /> facility. <br /> e. Wastewater and residual solids that,are applied to land-Oust-be applied to crops or <br /> landscaped areas at agronomic rates for water and nutrients. This Will ensure that . <br /> there is not excessive leaching,which could carry pollutartts,.to shallow groundwater. <br /> It will also ensure that degradable organic matter.is transformed within the <br /> unsaturated zone in a way that:benefits the soil structure and does not promote <br /> migration of organic mater to the shallow groundwater. Nutrients such as nitrogen, <br /> phosphorus, and potassium will be utilized by the plants. <br /> f. This Order also includes operational restrictions ao prevent discharges of wastewater <br /> or contaminated storm water runoff to.surface waters:.. Residual solids that are <br /> readily-decomposable are subject to additional operational restrictions for the same <br /> reason. <br /> 32. The economic. prosperity of Central Valley communities benefits the.people of the State. <br /> Dischargers that will be regulated.under this-Order are primarily very small wineries <br /> located in rural areas that do not have public sewer-service. Small wineries.and other <br /> sm.all'food processing businesses have`become an important part of the local economy <br /> in several Central Valley Region counties because they employ people who work in the <br /> -growing areas, processing facilities, ah.d local tasting rooms and sales offices. In some <br /> areas, re proliferation m <br /> of sall Wner <br /> iieshas created a strong tou'rco <br /> is =based-economy---- --------- <br /> that supports many other people who live and work in the area. <br /> Prior to adoption of the previous waiver, most small food processors and wineries' <br /> discharged all of their wastewater to septic systems regulated by their county <br /> environmental health department. The level of treatment and control provided by septic <br />