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Information Sheet IS-7 Reissued Waste Discharge Requirements General Order R5-2013-0122 Existing Milk Cow Dairies The primary waste constituents of concern (COC's) due to discharges of waste from dairies with respect to surface waters are: nitrogen in its various forms (ammonia and un-ionized ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen), phosphorus, potassium, salts (as measured by total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity), total suspended solids, and pathogens. In addition, dairy operators typically use chemicals such as cleaning products to disinfect their milking equipment, footbaths to maintain the health of their herd, and pesticides in the production area and land application areas. Some portion of some of these chemicals may be commingled with process wastewater before it is stored in the retention pond. The COC's due to discharges of waste from dairies with respect to groundwater are: nitrogen in its various forms (ammonia and un-ionized ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen), salts, and general minerals (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, carbonate, sulfate, and chloride). The discharge of waste from dairies must not cause surface water or groundwater to exceed the applicable water quality objectives for those constituents. If compliance cannot be immediately achieved, the Board may set a compliance time schedule for the discharger to achieve compliance with the water quality objectives. Under the Basin Plans, this time schedule must be "as short as practicable." Water Quality Obiectives and Federal Criteria for Surface Water' Water quality objectives that apply to surface water include, but are not limited to, (1) numeric objectives, including the bacteria objective, the chemical constituents objective (includes listed chemicals and state drinking water standards, i.e., maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) promulgated in Cal. Code Regs., tit. 22, §§ 64431 and 64444 and are applicable through the Basin Plans to waters designated as municipal and domestic supply), dissolved oxygen objectives, pH objectives, and the salinity objectives; and (2) narrative objectives, including the biostimulatory substances objective, the chemical constituents objective, and the toxicity objective. The Basin Plans also contain numeric water quality objectives that apply to specifically identified water bodies, including for example, electrical conductivity objectives for the Delta. Federal water quality criteria that apply to surface water are contained in federal regulations referred to as the California Toxics Rule and the National Toxics Rule. (See 40 C.F.R. §§ 131.36 and 131.38.) ' The Dairy General Order prohibits the direct or indirect discharge of waste and/or storm water from the production area to surface waters, the discharge of wastewater to surface waters from cropland, and the discharge of storm water to surface water from the land application areas where manure or process wastewater has been applied unless the land application area has been managed consistent with a certified Nutrient Management Plan.