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BACWA Bulletin - January 2018

Table of Contents

Meetings

  • Permits, 1/9
  • Laboratory Comm., 1/10
  • Recycled Water Comm., 1/16
  • Biosolids Comm., 1/18
  • BACWA Annual Members Meeting, 1/19
  • Pretreatment Comm., 1/29
  • Visit the Calendar for details.

Register for BACWA's Annual Members Meeting

The BACWA Annual Member’s Meeting will be held January 19, 2018, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm at the Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. The Program for the meeting is now posted, and features a review of priorities for 2018 from key air and water quality regulators, presentations on the Nutrient Management Strategy, and hot topics from BACWA's committees. There will also be an update by the consultant team on the Nutrient Optimization Studies. Please register before January 12, 2018

BACWA and Regional Water Board agree on Scope of Work for Chlorine Residual Basin Plan Amendment

The Basin Plan chlorine residual effluent limit is 0.0 mg/L. Chlorine residual is the most frequent parameter for violations for Region 2 POTWs. Because there are 24 hourly reporting events each day, the “opportunities” for violations are enormous, but the actual violation rate is very small (~0.001%). Agencies are overdosing their effluent with sodium bisulfite, to prevent chlorine violations, a practice which is estimated to cost more than $1 million Regionally each year. The Regional Water Board has agreed to work with BACWA to develop a Basin Plan amendment that will change how chlorine residual is permitted, and decrease sodium bisulfite dosing. BACWA has contracted with EOA to provide support for this effort.  The Scope of Work will consider the compliance impacts of adopting EPA Ambient Water Quality Criteria for chlorine and developing Water Quality Based Effluent Limits for each discharger, and of establishing a Minimum Level for online continuous monitoring systems. If this approach is successful, agencies would have limits that are above 0.0 mg/L, and would be given a one-hour average compliance period rather than an instantaneous maxiumum.

BACWA comments on dichlobenil registration

BACWA provided comments to EPA on the reregistration of dichlobenil, a root control agent. BACWA requested that  EPA use its existing Exposure and Fate Assessment Screening Tool down-the-drain model to evaluate dichlobenil discharges associated with sewer root control so as to better inform mitigation measure development. BACWA also requested that the labels for all dichlobenil products designed for wastewater collection system applications require notification to downstream POTWs prior to applications. When notified, action can be taken to avoid potentially harmful exposures to POTW workers who regularly enter collection systems not owned or managed by the downstream POTW, and to protect POTW effluent quality. BACWA's comment letters to EPA on pesticides are developed in conjunction with a subcommittee of BAPPG, which is made up of BACWA members who ensure the letters' content is consistent with BACWA's positions on regulatory issues.

BACWA comments on dichlobenil registration

BACWA provided comments to EPA on the reregistration of dichlobenil, a root control agent. BACWA requested that  EPA use its existing Exposure and Fate Assessment Screening Tool down-the-drain model to evaluate dichlobenil discharges associated with sewer root control so as to better inform mitigation measure development. BACWA also requested that the labels for all dichlobenil products designed for wastewater collection system applications require notification to downstream POTWs prior to applications. When notified, action can be taken to avoid potentially harmful exposures to POTW workers who regularly enter collection systems not owned or managed by the downstream POTW, and to protect POTW effluent quality. BACWA's comment letters to EPA on pesticides are developed in conjunction with a subcommittee of BAPPG, which is made up of BACWA members who ensure the letters' content is consistent with BACWA's positions on regulatory issues.

CalOSHA considers reducing hydrogen sulfide limits for occupational exposure

CalOSHA is considering a reduction in occupational hydrogen sulfide exposure limits, from 10 ppm to one ppm for the 8-hour exposure limit, and from 15 ppm to 10 ppm for the fifteen minute average exposure limit. The CalOSHA Health Effects Advisory Committee (HEAC) is completing their review justifying the proposed changes.The HEAC has already reviewed the epidemiological data extensively.  However, their review must also consider the economic and technological feasibility of any proposed standards. Since they had not received input from industry, on December 8, BACWA joined with other industry associations to submit a comment letter reexamining the scientific basis of the standards. The HEAC met on December 12, and based in part on the industry comment letter, are reevaluating how they will use the epidemiological data. Their next meeting date is set tentatively for March 6. If  new exposure limits are formally proposed by the CalOSHA Standards Board, there will be a public hearing, which will open a 45 day comment period. 

CWEA to host nutrient removal workshops in Berkeley and Los Angeles

CWEA will host two workshops with a focus on side-stream nutrient removal technologies currently in use and the next generation now rolling out. They will cover the latest research in side stream nutrient removal, lessons learned from agencies implementing nutrient removal, and new technology options entering the market. The workshop will be held in Los Angeles on February 8, and in Berkeley on February 15.  

BACWA to provide NPDES Compliance Letter by mid-January

Each year, BACWA provides a letter to the Regional Water Board outlining its activities on members' NPDES requirements that are most efficiently fulfilled as a group. The purpose of this letter is to report on behalf of BACWA members that those requirements are being met, including permit provisions related to: (A) Receiving Water Quality Monitoring, (B) Total Maximum Daily Load and Site Specific-Objective Support, (C) Mercury and PCBs Watershed Permit Support, and (D) Copper Action Plan. The letter also provides a list of agencies that have paid their dues to the Regional Monitoring Program, and that have opted into and paid their fees for the Alternate Monitoring Plan. The letter covering the 2017 calendar year will be distributed to member agencies for inclusion by reference in their Annual Reports by mid-January.

What's new in BACWA's Committees


AIR Committee

The November AIR committee meeting was held at SFPUC and was followed by a tour of their "living machine" for recycling water at their 525 Golden Gate Ave. building. Over the next several months, the committee will be working with BAAQMD staff to better understand the details of how agencies can comply with Rule 11-18. The next meeting (and tour) is scheduled for March 21, 2018 and will be hosted by San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility. See previous AIR meeting materials.
 

Asset Management Infoshare

The Asset Management InfoShare Group met on 11/15 for a presentation on facility condition assessments by Derek Wurst of Black & Veatch. The next Group meeting will be held 2/21.


BAPPG

The December meeting featured presentations from the City of Mountain View and the City of East Palo Alto on mobile home discharges., which will include a presentation about mobile dischargers. There was also a presentation about CCCSD's mobile washer permitting program. The committee plans to host a four-hour social marketing training session in April. View notes from previous meetings.


Biosolids Committee

The committee held a joint meeting with the CASA Regulatory Workgroup, on December 14 at the Boy Scout Council Facility in San Leandro.


Collections Systems Committee

At the November meeting, the committee hosted a presentation from a firm offering sewer lateral warranty plans. The committee also discussed SFEP's Sewer Lateral Ordinance Report.  For more information, see previous Collections Systems Committee Reports.
 

Laboratory Committee

The December meeting continued the ongoing discussions about the ELAP update and compliance with the TNI standards. Committee members also discussed recent audit experiences. Committee members should note that CWEA will be hosting the second of a 6 session series on  “Steps to Implementing the TNI 2016 Standard” on February 22.
 

Permits Committee

The committee held a joint meeting with the CASA Regulatory Workgroup, on December 14 at the Boy Scout Council Facility in San Leandro. The discussion focused on Statewide initiatives such as the Toxicity Plan and Biostimulatory Substances Policy. At the January meeting, the committee will discuss EPA's plans to issue a new nutrient questionnaire. For more information about committee activities, please see previous Permits Committee Reports.
 

Pretreatment Committee

The committee held two trainings on Dental Amalgam programs. Representatives from two amalgam separator manufacturers, Solmetex and Metasys (PureLife), participated. Each gave a presentation on the units they manufacture and discussed their experiences working with dentists with respect to both the sale the units and also with maintaining the units. The Pretreatment Committee will hold its next meeting on January 29. Amelia Whitson with USEPA Region 9 is confirmed to attend. 
 

Operations and Maintenance Infoshare Group

The September meeting was held at Oro Loma Sanitary District on September 13, and incorporated a tour of the facility's peracetic acid disinfection full-scale test. See the presentation from the tour.
 

Recycled Water Committee

The November meeting included a discussion about the next steps in the Recycled Water Policy Amendment. At the January meeting, the committee will solicit input on suggestions for a Regional Study of recycled water planning, to support the next Nutrient Watershed Permit. For more information about committee activities, please see Recycled Water Committee meeting notes.

Upcoming Events


BACWA Annual Members meeting, January 19, 2018, Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Dr., Oakland CA.

CWEA nutrient removal workshop, February 15, 2018, HS Lordships, 199 Seawall Drive, Berkeley, CA.

The first steps to implementing the TNI 2016 Standard – Session 2, Feb 22, 2018, Adobe Room – Mitchell Park Community Center, 3700 Middlefield Rd. Palo Alto, CA.
 

BACWA External Representation

Collaboration with outside groups and initiatives is an important facet of BACWA's mission. Below is a list of BACWA's representatives to these  technical, regulatory, and management groups:
Copyright © 2018 BACWA Bay Area Clean Water Agencies, All rights reserved.


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