SITE INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE

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ORDER NO.R5-2002-0148 16 - INFORMATION SHEET MUSCO FAMILY OLIVE COMPANY AND THE STUDLEY COMPANY WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND LAND DISPOSAL FACILITY SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY have damaged sprinkler heads, leading to discharges to the surface water drainage course. It is staff's understanding that the cows have been removed from the land application areas. In addition, the RWD describes a number of problems with grazing animals on the sprayfields, including increased runoff and soil compaction. Those statements are consistent with recommendations contained in the 31 January 2001 "Effects of Wastewater Application of the Health of Crops"report prepared by HDR Engineering which recommended, "Because of the high clay content of the surface soils and the high moisture levels generally found in these soils, animal grazing on spray fields is not recommended due to compaction concerns." The RWD states"It may be prudent to phase out grazing on the sprayfields." Finally, the Discharger needs to use its entire 200 acres of land in order to meet the BOD and nitrogen loading rates. The Discharger will have to address these management issues in the Operation and Management Plan required by WDRs Provision G.2.e. Discharge Prohibition A.12 This prohibition prohibits industrial wastewater from being applied above the septic system leach lines or seepage pits. Application of wastewater over a leach line/seepage pit can result in wastewater infiltrating the leach lines and traveling to the seepage pits where it can be transported vertically to lower zones with little or no treatment. Discharge Specification B.I The monthly average flow limitation of 800,000 gpd applies to wastewater flowing from the facility into the 1-million gallon storage pond. Because the stormwater which falls onto the facility is commingled with wastewater and is also pumped into the 1-million gallon storage pond, the flow limitation includes this stormwater. In a wet winter, the Discharger may need to reduce its processing activities to meet the flow limit. The flow limit is based on staff's understanding that all wastewater enters the 1-million gallon storage pond before it is pumped to either land or the 84-million gallon pond. If the Discharger changes its piping system (i.e., so that some wastewater is pumped directly to the 84-million gallon pond), then it will need to install new flow meters to meet compliance with the limitation. The flow limitation does not apply to wastewater which is pumped from the storage pond onto the land application area. The Discharger is free to apply as much wastewater as necessary to the land application areas, as long as it complies with all other aspects of this Order. The flow limitation also does not apply to tailwater returned to the 84-million gallon pond, or to stormwater from the land application area which is directed to the 84-million gallon pond. Discharge Specification B.3 This specification limits discharge of wastewater or other waste constituent to storage ponds, storage areas, or land application areas at concentrations that can cause a violation of the Groundwater Limitations. The Groundwater Limitations states the discharge shall not cause underlying groundwater to contain waste constituents in concentrations statistically greater then background water quality. Discharge Specifications B.4 through B.6 These specifications are required to address nuisance odor conditions that have been documented at the facility. The Discharger proposed the Specifications found in B.5.