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CENTRAL VALLEY%GIONAL WATER QUALIT*ONTROL BOARD <br /> INSPECTION REPORT <br /> 21 January 1988 <br /> DISCHARGER: Simpson Paper Mill <br /> LOCATION_ & COUNTY: Ripon, San Joaquin County <br /> CONTACT(S) : Dennis Abrahamson, Technical Director <br /> INSPECTION DATE: 7 January 1988 <br /> INSPECTED BY: Robert L. Niblack <br /> ACCOMPANIED BY: Dennis Abrahamson <br /> Before inspecting this facility, Dennis Abrahamson and I discussed <br /> the upcoming revision of Waste Discharge Requirements for this <br /> facility. I said I was concerned about the increase of total <br /> dissolved solids (TDS) in the discharge which will occur when the <br /> cogeneration plant is put on line at this facility. Since we have <br /> very little data available as to existing TDS levels I asked that <br /> samples be taken and analyzed for the next two months. Abrahamson <br /> agreed to take samples of supply water, and effluent to the <br /> clarifier daily while the plant is operating for the next two <br /> months. Samples for each five day period will be composited , and <br /> analyzed for TDS. The results will be forwarded to the Regional <br /> Board .in one report. <br /> I also informed Abrahamson that ground water monitoring will be <br /> required at the site in order to determine where the water <br /> discharged to the disposal fields is going (an average of 1 mgd is <br /> disposed through percolation) , and to what degree the discharge <br /> affects ground water quality. <br /> OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS <br /> At the time of this inspection, the paper mill had not been in <br /> operation for two weeks due to a holiday break. Normally the plant <br /> operates for ten days followed by a four day break. <br /> Milky white water discharged from the paper making process <br /> completely filled the number one and two ponds. In addition, a <br /> recently constructed sludge basin was filled with water which had <br /> bypassed the clarifier, which is not operating at this time. The <br /> ponds had a slight odor noticeable only as I walked along the berms <br /> around the ponds. The white color of the ponds was due to titanium <br /> dioxide, according to Abrahamson. Titanium dioxide is used in the <br /> paper-making process to whiten and opacify paper. Sax's Dangerous <br /> Properties of Industrial Materials states that titanium compounds <br /> are physiologically inert. <br /> Water had topped the berm at one point along the boundary of the <br />