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Information Sheet IS-21 Reissued Waste Discharge Requirements General Order R5-2013-0122 Existing Milk Cow Dairies representative groundwater monitoring of natural background water quality and the water quality downgradient of the waste management units (production area, corrals, and land application areas). Monitoring and Reporting Program R5-2013-0122 (MRP) requires dairy operators to sample domestic and irrigation supply wells on their property, and to either monitor first-encountered groundwater at their facility or participate in an approved representative groundwater monitoring program. The purpose of requiring monitoring of water supply wells includes identifying the quality and trends of water being used at the dairy and the amount of nutrients contained in irrigation water so it can be accounted for in the development of the required nutrient management plan. The purpose of requiring monitoring of first-encountered groundwater is to evaluate current management practices in order to determine whether such practices are protective of groundwater quality at the most vulnerable point. Groundwater monitoring at existing dairies is necessary to: determine background groundwater quality, determine existing groundwater conditions near retention ponds, production areas, and land application areas, determine whether improved management practices need to be implemented, and confirm that any improved management practices will have the desired result on groundwater quality. This Order requires the Discharger to report any noncompliance that endangers human health or the environment or any noncompliance with the Prohibitions contained in the Order within 24 hours of becoming aware of its occurrence. The Dairy General Order also requires the Discharger to submit annual monitoring reports which contain the analytical results of laboratory data, including all laboratory analyses (including Chain of Custody forms and laboratory QA/QC results)for surface and groundwater monitoring. Additionally, an annual assessment of groundwater monitoring is required. The assessment must include an evaluation of the groundwater monitoring program's adequacy to assess compliance with the Order, including whether the data provided are representative of conditions upgradient and downgradient of the wastewater management area, production area, and land application area of the dairy facility. Similar to the individual groundwater monitoring program, the representative groundwater monitoring program is required to submit annual monitoring reports and an evaluation of data collected to date and an assessment of whether participating dairies are implementing management practices that minimize degradation of high quality groundwaters and are protective of beneficial uses. The Central Valley Water Board recognizes that monitoring the effectiveness of the dairies' waste management practices and their effect on groundwater is needed to verify that water quality is adequately protected and the intent of the anti-degradation policy is met. Accordingly, the Dairy Order, in conjunction with the MRP, requires additional groundwater monitoring that must be conducted on an individual dairy basis or through Representative Monitoring Programs (RMPs). Under the terms of the Dairy Order and MRP, all dairies subject to the terms of the Dairy Order must either conduct their own groundwater monitoring or actively participate in a RMP. Currently, most dairies subject to the Dairy Order (more than 98 percent) are members of an RMP.