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ITEM: 16 <br /> SUBJECT: City of Escalon, Escalon Wastewater Treatment Plant <br /> BOARD ACTION: Consideration of a Cease and Desist Order <br /> BACKGROUND: The City of Escalon's wastewater treatment plant treats domestic <br /> wastewater, as well as industrial wastewater generated seasonally by two <br /> vegetable processors: Escalon Premier Brand and Eckert Cold Storage. <br /> The industrial discharge has overloaded the treatment capacity, resulting <br /> in nuisance odors and numerous odor complaints. Odor complaints were <br /> received in October 1996, November 1997, and September 1999. In <br /> 2000, the Discharger increased the aeration capacity of the industrial <br /> treatment ponds. However, odor complaints were subsequently received <br /> in July and August 2000, August 2001, June and July 2002, and July and <br /> August 2003. <br /> In July 2003, staff of the San Joaquin Valley Air Quality Management <br /> District (SJVAQMD) received 56 odor complaints regarding the City of <br /> Escalon's wastewater treatment plant over a 9-day period. The <br /> SJVAQMD issued five violations for odor generation. During that same <br /> period, Regional Board staff received numerous telephone calls and five <br /> written complaints regarding the odor generated by the Discharger's <br /> wastewater plant. The complainants report that odor conditions have <br /> been present for years, generally from mid-July through September. <br /> The Discharger was issued Notices of Violation (NOVs) for the <br /> objectionable odors in August 2000, September 2002, and July 2003. All <br /> the NOVs informed the City of its responsibility to control the odors as <br /> required by the WDRs. <br /> ISSUES: The proposed Cease and Desist Order would require the City to, among <br /> other items, complete a technical study to determine the organic load and <br /> pH ranges of industrial wastewater that the City can treat without causing <br /> nuisance odors. This technical report is due in December 2003, and all <br /> improvements must be made prior to the 2004 processing season. <br /> Mgmt. Review <br /> Legal Review n <br /> 415 September 2003 Board Meeting <br /> Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board <br /> 3443 Routier Road, Suite A <br /> Sacramento, CA 95827 <br />