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WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS ORDER NO. 7 CITY OF LATHROP AND METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY CROSSROADS TREATMENT PLANT NO. 1,SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY 38. Some degradation of groundwater by some of the typical waste constituents released with discharge from a municipal wastewater utility after effective source control, treatment, and control is consistent with maximum benefit to the people of California. The technology, energy,water recycling, and waste management advantages of municipal utility service far exceed any benefits derived from a community otherwise reliant on numerous concentrated individual wastewater systems, and the impact on water quality will be substantially less. Degradation of groundwater by constituents (e.g., toxic chemicals) other than those specified in the groundwater limitations in this Order, and by constituents that can be effectively removed by conventional treatment (e.g., total coliform bacteria) is prohibited. When allowed, the degree of degradation permitted depends upon many factors (i.e., background water quality,the waste constituent, the beneficial uses and most stringent water quality objective, source control measures, waste constituent treatability). 39. Economic prosperity of local communities and associated industry is of maximum benefit to the people of California, and therefore sufficient reason exists to accommodate growth and groundwater degradation around the wastewater treatment plant,provided that the terms of the Basin Plan are met. 40. These waste discharge requirements do not allow degradation of groundwater beneath the land application areas. The Discharger is required to monitor the groundwater under the land application areas and if the monitoring data indicate that the discharge of waste to the land application areas is causing groundwater to contain waste constituents in concentrations statistically greater than background water quality, then the Discharger may be required to submit a report to indicate how such degradation will comply with Resolution 68-16. Upon review of such report, the Board may revise this Order, including the groundwater limitations Treatment and Control Practices 41. The wastewater treatment plant provides treatment and control of the discharge that incorporates: a. Technology for secondary treatment of municipal wastewater; b. Recycling of wastewater on cropped properties; c. An industrial discharge ordinance; d. An operation and maintenance (0&M) manual; and e. Staffing to assure proper operation and maintenance. 42. The facility treats wastewater to secondary standards and will install lined treatment and storage ponds. Because of the shallow water table, there is minimal potential for constituent attenuation in the vadose zone. In addition, the potential impacts on groundwater and the appropriate level of degradation that complies with Resolution 68-16 have not been fully evaluated. Therefore, the Discharger's current effort may not constitute BPTC as intended in Resolution 68-16, and this Order establishes a schedule for tasks to evaluate BPTC for each conveyance, treatment, storage, and disposal component of the facility and to further characterize groundwater for selected constituents. Completion of these tasks, and implementation of the approved strategies developed from that work, will ensure that BPTC and the highest water quality consistent with the maximum benefit to the people of the State will be achieved.