SU0005832 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Order No. R5-2009-0097 7 Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Small Food Processors and Small Wineries Within the Central Valley Region c. No more than 100,000 gallons of wastewater may be applied to land per year at most facilities, although some small wineries that crush less than 80 tons of grapes per year will generate slightly more wastewater, all of which can be discharged on site. Order No. R5-2003-0106 included the same limitations. One hundred thousand gallons per year is equivalent to 3.7 acre-inches, which is far less water than is required by even the most drought-tolerant landscape materials. The stringent limits on the volume of waste that can be discharged should result only in localized degradation. Additionally, the majority of dischargers that land apply wastewater under this Order will require significant additional fresh water to sustain the crops or landscape materials grown in the land application area. Based on best professional judgment, this supplemental irrigation water will dilute any remaining wastewater salinity to the point where it is insignificant compared to the salinity added by fresh irrigation water from other sources. d. Wineries may discharge all residual solids on site. For all other facilities, the amount of residual solids applied to land per year cannot exceed the amount associated with generation of 100,000 gallons of wastewater per year. For instance, if a covered discharger generates 500,000 gallons of wastewater and in so doing generates residual solids, only 20 percent of the residual solids (100,000 divided by 500,000) can be applied to land. The remainder of the residual solids, as well as the excess 400,000 gallons of wastewater, must be disposed of at an off-site permitted waste facility. e. Wastewater and residual solids that are applied to land must be applied to crops or landscaped areas at agronomic rates for water and nutrients. This will ensure that there is not excessive leaching, which could carry pollutants to shallow groundwater. It will also ensure that degradable organic matter is transformed within the unsaturated zone in a way that benefits the soil structure and does not promote migration of organic mater to the shallow groundwater. Nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium will be utilized by the plants. f. This Order also includes operational restrictions to prevent discharges of wastewater or contaminated storm water runoff to surface waters. Residual solids that are readily decomposable are subject to additional operational restrictions for the same reason. 32. The economic prosperity of Central Valley communities benefits the people of the State. Dischargers that will be regulated under this Order are primarily very small wineries located in rural areas that do not have public sewer service. Small wineries and other small food processing businesses have become an important part of the local economy in several Central Valley Region counties because they employ people who work in the growing areas, processing facilities, and local tasting rooms and sales offices. In some areas, the proliferation of small wineries has created a strong tourism-based economy that supports many other people who live and work in the area. Prior to adoption of the previous waiver, most small food processors and wineries discharged all of their wastewater to septic systems regulated by their county environmental health department. The level of treatment and control provided by septic