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Information Sheet IS-6 <br /> Reissued Waste Discharge Requirements General Order R5-2013-0122 <br /> Existing Milk Cow Dairies <br /> habitat, and shellfish harvesting). Both Basin Plans contain a Table that lists the surface water <br /> bodies and the beneficial uses. Where water bodies are not specifically listed, the Basin Plans <br /> designate beneficial uses based on the waters to which they are tributary. <br /> The beneficial uses are protected in the Dairy General Order by, among other requirements, a <br /> prohibition on the direct or indirect discharge of waste and/or storm water from the production <br /> area to surface waters, a prohibition on the discharge of wastewater to surface waters from <br /> cropland, a prohibition on any discharge of storm water to surface water from the land <br /> application areas unless the land application area has been managed consistent with a certified <br /> Nutrient Management Plan, and a prohibition on the discharge of waste from existing milk cow <br /> dairies to surface waters that causes or contributes to an exceedance of any applicable water <br /> quality objective or any applicable state or federal water quality criterion. <br /> Ground waters: Chapter II of the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basin Plan states: <br /> "Unless otherwise designated by the Regional Water Board, all groundwaters in the Region are <br /> considered as suitable or potentially suitable, at a minimum, for municipal and domestic water <br /> supply, agricultural supply, industrial service supply, and industrial process supply." <br /> Chapter 11 of the Tulare Lake Basin Plan designates the beneficial uses of groundwater to <br /> include municipal and domestic supply, agricultural supply, industrial service supply, industrial <br /> process supply, water contact recreation, and wildlife habitat. The Tulare Lake Basin Plan <br /> includes a Table that lists the designated beneficial uses of groundwater within the Basin. <br /> These beneficial uses are protected in this Order by, among other requirements, the <br /> specification that the discharge of waste at an existing milk cow dairy shall not cause a violation <br /> of water quality objectives or cause pollution or nuisance. Degradation of groundwater is <br /> allowed provided it is in accordance with this Dairy General Order. <br /> Water Quality Objectives <br /> Pursuant to Water Code section 13263(a), WDRs must implement the Basin Plans, and the <br /> Board must consider the beneficial uses of water, the water quality objectives reasonably <br /> required to protect those beneficial uses, other waste discharges, and the need to prevent <br /> nuisance conditions. Water quality objectives are the limits or levels of water quality constituents <br /> or characteristics that are established for the reasonable protection of beneficial uses of water <br /> or the prevention of nuisance within a specific area. (Wat. Code, § 13050(h).) Water quality <br /> objectives apply to all waters within a surface water or groundwater resource for which <br /> beneficial uses have been designated. Water quality objectives are listed separately for surface <br /> water and groundwater in Chapter III of the Basin Plans and are either numeric or narrative. The <br /> water quality objectives are implemented in WDRs consistent with the Basin Plans' Policy for <br /> Application of Water Quality Objectives, which specifies that the Central Valley Water Board <br /> "will, on a case-by-case basis, adopt numerical limitations in orders which will implement the <br /> narrative objectives." To derive numeric limits from narrative water quality objectives, the Board <br /> considers relevant numerical criteria and guidelines developed and/or published by other <br /> agencies and organizations. <br />