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First ground water is predicted at 45 to 68 feet below ground surface for this Site; <br /> consequently, significant nitrate reduction would be anticipated as the septic effluent <br /> percolates downward. <br /> Sources of Nitrate <br /> Dairies, orchards that require fertilization in sandy soils, and septic systems have been <br /> found to be the most significant sources of nitrate in ground water. <br /> Percolating Recharge Waters <br /> One of the most determinant factors in the Hantzsche and Finnemore equation is the <br /> rate of recharge from percolating waters, which mix with the downward-percolating <br /> effluent generated by on-site septic systems. In the original Hantzsche and Finnemore <br /> paper, only "average recharge rate of rainfall" was considered. For the Chico area, <br /> Hantzsche and Finnemore present an average rainfall of 22.5 inches per year and an <br /> estimated recharge of 16.8 inches per year. <br /> Based on San Joaquin County Environmental Health Department policy (personal <br /> communication, March 18, 2019), the recharge input for the Hantzsche and Finnemore <br /> equation should be derived from average monthly precipitation of rainfall and <br /> evapotranspiration rates for the area; the data should be obtained from the California <br /> Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS). Recharge is calculated by first <br /> determining whether the average monthly precipitation exceeds average monthly <br /> potential evapotranspiration. If so, then the difference is the percolating recharge water <br /> into the aquifer. Runoff and stream infiltration drainage are not factored into the <br /> calculation. This approach likely under-estimates recharge to the aquifer and, <br /> consequently, over-estimates nitrate loading. <br /> For the project Site, the local percolation and evapotranspiration rates are presented in <br /> Plate 15. The closest CIMIS station to the Site is Staten Island (station 242). Data for <br /> the Staten Island station were available for the past three years; based on the <br /> calculation shown, the estimated rate of recharge from percolating waters for the Staten <br /> Island station is determined to be 12.60 inches (Plate 14). A statistical error of 49% is <br /> associated with this value. <br /> The nitrate concentration of the recharge waters was estimated to be 1 mg/L-N <br /> (Hantzsche and Finnemore). <br /> Quantity and Quality of Domestic Wastewater <br /> Tom Alexander, owner of California Concentrate, indicated that the facility will employ <br /> seven office workers, five days per week, year-round. In addition, 12 <br /> warehouse/processing employees will be on-site from 8:00 to 5:00, five days per week, <br /> for nine months. The other three months, 30 employees (distributed across three shifts) <br /> LOGE 1912 Page 11 <br />