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WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS ORDER NO.R5-2002-0225 4 ALPINE PACKING COMPANY,INC. WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM,SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY 21. During the winter months,wastewater is applied to the cropland above agronomic rates, which may result in degradation of groundwater quality. During the summer months, supplemental irrigation water is required to maintain the crops. Application of wastewater to the land treatment unit will occur year round, including the wet season. 22. According to Process Design Manual, Land Treatment of Municipal Wastewater,published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency(US EPA Publication No. 62511-81-013), storage must be provided when climatic conditions halt operations or require reduced loading rates. Because the water balance is inadequate, the Discharger must evaluate the storage capacity of the wastewater ponds. 23. As shown on Attachment B, stormwater is discharged to a stormwater control ditch that is pumped to the land treatment unit when climatic conditions allow. Tailwater or stormwater that runs off the land treatment unit is discharged to a tailwater collection ditch which discharges to the stormwater control ditch. Because stormwater is mixed with industrial wastewater, disposal of the water to surface water drainage courses is not acceptable. The Discharger is required to evaluate whether it can fully contain its stormwater/wastewater mixture. 24. The average TDS concentration from January 2001 to August 2002 in the wastewater applied to land is 1,280 mg/l. Excessive application of TDS can result in the accumulation of salts in the soil column and subsequent migration to the underlying groundwater. The Discharger must continue to monitor groundwater quality at the land treatment unit and the wastewater storage ponds. If groundwater monitoring shows that this discharge results in an increased TDS level in the groundwater, then the Discharger will be required to modify the discharge such that there is no impact. GROUNDWATER CONDITIONS 25. Four groundwater monitoring wells were installed in November 2001 as part of preparation of the RWD. The wells were sampled on 29 November 2001, 23 April 2002, and 8 July 2002. Wells MW-1 and MW-4 were dry(MW-4 was bailed dry and never recovered) during the 8 July 2002 sample event. The well locations are shown on Attachment B. Groundwater exists approximately 40-50 feet below ground surface and the gradient was to the southwest during the November and April sample events. The groundwater gradient could not be established during the July sample event. Well MW-4 is upgradient of the Discharger's land treatment units and wastewater storage ponds. Wells MW-1 and MW-2 are downgradient of land treatment unit. Well MW-3 is located near, but cross-gradient to the wastewater storage ponds. The groundwater quality is summarized in the table below. Elec. Cond. TDS Na Cl NO3 as N TKN Well Date (grnhoslcm) (mgLI LmS/l) Lmgj Lmg 1 (mgLI) MW-1 11/29/01 396 980 150 210 <0.5 0.6 MW-1 4/23102 1,200 828 73.2 55 15.3 <0.5 MW-1 718102 Well was dry. MW-2 11/29/01 451 880 72 150 <0.5 0.3 MW-2 4123102 1,300 794 43.3 125 18.2 <0.5