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California Regional Water Quality control Board - Central Valley Region .� Robert Schneider,Chair . Gray Davis Winston H.Hickoz Secretaryfor Sacramento Main Office Governor Environmental Internet Address: http://�.s�cb.ca.gov/mqcb5 Californiaa9582 ,��r� r,�D Protection 3443 Roulier Road,Suite A,Sacramento,Cfomia 95827-3003 IOwl V Phone(916)255-3000•FAX(916)255-3015 15 September 2003 SEP 16 2003 ENVIRONMENT HEALTH PERMIT/SERVICES Kevin D. Sterling, Compliance Manager The Wine Group P.O.Box 897 Ripon, CA 95366-0897 NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND REQUEST FOR TECHNICAL REPORT,THE WINE GROUP, SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY The discharge of wastewater at The Wine Group is regulated by Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) Order No. 95-097. Regional Board staff have recently reviewed the groundwater monitoring data and related site information submitted by The Wine Group and have determined that the wastewater disposal system appears to have degraded the underlying groundwater. Degradation of the underlying groundwater is a violation of WDRs Order No. 95-097,which states, "The discharge, in combination with other sources, shall not cause underlying groundwater to contain waste constituents in concentrations statistically greater than receiving water limits, or background water quality. " The groundwater monitoring data indicate that concentrations of dissolved solids often associated with winery wastewater are elevated in the two groundwater monitoring wells downgradient of the wastewater disposal areas (MW-1 and MW-3), as compared to concentrations in the background- monitoring well (MW-2). The average electrical conductivity,total dissolved solids, sodium, magnesium, chloride, and sulfide concentrations in monitoring well MW-3, immediately downgradient of the former waste disposal ponds, range from three to fifteen times as high as in the background well. The average concentrations of those same constituents in monitoring well MW-1, which is downgradient of only a small portion of the current disposal area, range from two to five times as high as in the background well. The data also indicate that nitrate as nitrogen concentrations in MW-3 are approximately eight times background concentration and five times higher than drinking water standards. As a result of the above review, The Wine Group is hereby required to prepare and submit a Groundwater Degradation Evaluation Report that describes the source of the contaminants in the groundwater and confirms whether or not The Wine Group's discharge of winery waste is degrading the groundwater. This evaluation shall be completed under the supervision of a California Registered Engineer or Registered Geologist. If the existing data is insufficient to complete the required evaluation, then the technical report shall also contain a proposal and timeline for the installation of additional monitoring wells and/or additional measures to provide the necessary data and complete the required evaluation. California Environmental Protection Agency ¢d 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 httpl/www.swreb.ca.gov/mgcb5