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California ReconaQuality il Water lit ontrol Board A:....r b Q y -"ALI Fi Central Valley Region Robert Schneider,Chair NN,inston H.Flickox Gray Davis Secretaryfor Sacramento Main OfficeU3 JUL Z9 PR 6 Governor Environmental Internet Address: http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwgcb5 Protection 3443 Routier Road,Suite A,Sacramento,California 95827-3003 Phone(916)255-3000•FAx(916)255-3015 25 July 2003 VIA FACSIMILE Mike Garello City of Escalon 1854 Main Street/P.O. Box 248 Escalon, CA 95320-0248 NOTICE OF VIOLATION, CITY OF ESCALON WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, ESCALON, SAN JOA QUIN COUNTY On 21 and 23 July 2003, Regional Board staff received odor complaints about the City of Escalon's wastewater treatment plant. These complaints were confirmed in a telephone conversation with you on 24 July 2003. As in prior years, the odors appear to be due to the discharge of tomato and/or pepper processing wastewater. Generation of objectionable odors is a violation of the City's Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) Order No. 5-00-142. Discharge Specification B.6 of the WDRs states: Objectionable odors originating from this facility shall not be perceivable beyond the limits of the wastewater treatment facility. On 24 July 2003, you stated that the dissolved oxygen concentrations in wastewater ponds were measured to be at least 1.0 mg/L at approximately 3:00 pm the previous day. However, according to the complainants, the odor is the strongest during the evening through early morning hours. In an effort to ascertain the source of the odors and determine whether the City has sufficient aerators at the wastewater treatment plant, the City shall immediately begin collecting dissolved oxygen readings in the morning at 7:00 am. Measurements shall be collected on a daily basis, including weekends, and reported via facsimile every Monday morning until further notice. In addition, on 29 July 2003, the City shall submit an Odor Control Plan that evaluates the source of the odor and identifies specific activities that will be implemented to control the odors. The odor issue has been a recurring problem at the City's treatment plant. Since adoption of WDRs Order No. 5-00-142 in June 2000, odor complaints were logged in July 2000, August 2000, August 2001, June 2002, July 2002, August 2002, and July 2003. The City is urged to resolve the odor problem as soon as possible; failure to correct the situation will lead to staff recommending that the Board take further enforcement actions against the City. California Environmental Protection Agency Cr�11 Recycled Paper `b� 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 http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwgcb5