5 CCR 1002-62
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT REGULATION NO. 62 REGULATIONS FOR EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS 5 CCR 1002-62 [Editor’s Notes follow the text of the rules at the end of this CCR Document.] _________________________________________________________________________
62.1 AUTHORITY
The Water Quality Control Commission (“Commission”) is directed by section 25-8-205, C.R.S., to promulgate control regulations to describe prohibitions, standards, concentrations, and effluent limitations on the extent of specifically identified pollutants that any person may discharge into any specific class of state waters.
Materials incorporated by reference are available for public inspection during normal business hours, or copies may be obtained at a reasonable cost, from the Administrator, Water Quality Control Commission, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, Colorado 80222. All material incorporated by reference may be examined at any state publications depository library. Copies of incorporated materials are also available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 8 Technical Library located at 1595 Wynkoop Street (16th Street Mall and Wynkoop) Denver, Colorado 80202-1129. Unless expressly stated otherwise, materials incorporated by reference are those editions in existence as of the date this regulation is promulgated or revised by the Commission, and references do not include later amendments to or editions of the incorporated.
62.2 APPLICABILITY
The provisions of this regulation apply where the limitations and/or other conditions required hereunder are incorporated into a permit issued pursuant to Commission Regulation No. 61 (Colorado Discharge Permit System Regulations), 5 CCR 1002-61, except that this regulation does not apply to permits for stormwater discharges.
62.3 DEFINITIONS
See the Colorado Water Quality Control Act and the Commission’s codified regulations for additional definitions.
(1) “STATE WATERS” - means any and all surface or subsurface waters which are contained in or flow in or through this state, but does not include waters in sewage systems, waters in treatment works of disposal systems, waters in potable water distribution systems, and all water withdrawn for use until use and treatment have been completed.
62.4 REGULATIONS
(1) The effluent limitations for identified pollutants shall be applied in permits in accordance with the following requirements.
(2) At such time as effluent limitation guidelines are promulgated by the Commission for any industry pursuant to section 25-8-205(2)(d), C.R.S., such industry shall be subject to those guidelines and shall not be subject to effluent limitations set forth below in paragraph 62.5. If the Commission has not so promulgated effluent limitation guidelines for any particular industry, but that industry is subject to numeric effluent limitation guidelines promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA” ) pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, the effluent from these industries shall be subject to the corresponding numeric effluent limitations in the applicable EPA guidelines and shall not be subject to the effluent limitations of paragraph
(3) The effluent limitations set forth below, or promulgated according to subparagraph (2) above, are also subject to being superseded when it is found that stricter limitations are required in order to ensure that water quality standards are maintained.
62.5 SPECIFIC LIMITATIONS FOR THE DISCHARGE OF POLLUTANTS
The following numeric limits shall apply where the Water Quality Control Division (“Division”) identifies the pollutant as one that may, without treatment, be present in the discharge at a level approaching the relevant limit. Except as required under federal law, where the Division determines that a numeric limit is infeasible, the Division shall require implementation of best management practices as a condition of the permit as necessary to control or abate the discharge of pollutants to state waters. In no case will a discharge be held to be in compliance with any of the limitations set forth below where the discharge is diluted with other waters, unless such compliance would exist without such dilution.
(1) Numeric Limitations PARAMETER PARAMETER PARAMETER PARAMETER LIMITATIONS LIMITATIONS LIMITATIONS Instantaneous 7-Day Average 1 30-Day Average 2 Maximum 3
5 This limitation shall not apply to discharges to irrigation ditches or to ground water 6 A numeric effluent limit will be assigned in permits for discharges to surface waters, however, monitoring for a “visual sheen” will generally be required. Where a visual sheen is detected, the discharger will be required to collect a grab sample and have it analyzed for oil and grease. Monitoring for oil and grease may be required where there is a reasonable potential that oil and grease will be present in the effluent at concentrations at or above 10 mg/l. These numeric limits and sampling requirements have been set with the inherent variability of the analytical procedures taken into consideration.
(2) In addition to the above effluent limitations, the arithmetic mean of the values for effluent samples for CBOD5, BOD5 and TSS collected in a period of 30 consecutive days shall not exceed 15 percent of the arithmetic mean of the values for influent samples collected at approximately the same time during the same period (85 percent removal).
(3) The numeric limitations for TSS in section 62.5(1)(b), above, may be adjusted for waste stabilization ponds which treat domestic waste provided that (1) the waste stabilization ponds are the principal process used for secondary treatment; and (2) the facility is designed to achieve the solids removal possible with best waste stabilization pond technology. Best waste stabilization pond technology is defined as that design criteria for ponds currently in effect as adopted by the Commission or the Division. Since these criteria will be upgraded periodically, any permittee not in conformance with the approved design criteria will be given an opportunity to establish a reasonable implementation schedule given due consideration to design, construction, and financial capability of the permittee. The adjusted limitations shall be as described below: Treatment Type 7-Day Average 1 30-Day Average 2 Non-aerated Waste Stabilization Ponds 160 mg/l 105 mg/l Aerated Waste Stabilization Ponds 110 mg/l 75 mg/l 1 7-Day Average: The arithmetic mean of all samples taken in a 7-day period. 2 30-Day Average: The arithmetic mean of all samples taken in a 30-day period. In addition, where adjusted TSS limitations are given, the 85 percent removal requirement for TSS shall be waived.
(4) The numeric limits for pH for domestic wastewater treatment facilities may be adjusted to values outside of the limits in section 62.5(1)(e), above, subject to limitations necessary to protect applicable water quality standards, where inorganic chemicals are not added to the waste stream as part of the treatment process and where industrial contributions do not cause the pH to be less than 6.0 s.u. or greater than 9.0 s.u.
(5) Sampling of discharges, for the purpose of the effluent limitations for pollutants set forth in section 62.4(1) above, shall be made prior to any admixture of the discharge with state waters. All new discharges, except for on-site wastewater treatment systems with Division approval, shall be constructed so that a sample of the effluent can be obtained at a point after the final treatment process and before discharge to state waters.
(6) Normally the numeric limits for BOD5 will be applied, however, they may be replaced with the numeric limits for CBOD5 in section 62.5(1)(c) at the request of the permittee.
(7) The permittee must be able to show proof at the request of the Division of the accuracy of any flow-measuring device used in obtaining data submitted in the discharge monitoring report. The flow-measuring device must indicate values within ten percent of the actual flow being measured.
(8) If wastewater is returned to the source from which it was obtained, the numeric limitations specified in section 62.5(1) above, may be in addition to the measured values of the same parameter(s) in the incoming water except where an exceedance of a water quality standard would take place.
(9) Any person subject to the numeric limits for BOD5 , or CBOD5 shall have the option of establishing, to the continuing satisfaction of the Division, a relationship between BOD5 or CBOD5 and COD (chemical oxygen demand), TOC (total organic carbon), or TOD (total oxygen demand) with respect to such effluent, and the COD, TOC, or TOD values so established shall be substituted for the BOD5 , or CBOD5 , values required under section 62.5(1), above.
62.6 Reserved.
62.7 Reserved.
62.8 Reserved.
62.9 STATEMENT OF BASIS AND PURPOSE
A written statement of the basis and purpose of these amendments to the effluent limitation regulations justifying these amendments, has been prepared and adopted by the Commission. The written statement is hereby incorporated in these regulations by reference, in accord with C.R.S. 1973, 24-4-103, as amended.
62.10 STATEMENT OF BASIS, SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE
This Statement of Basis, Specific Statutory Authority and Purpose is adopted in compliance with Section 24-4-103: 25-8-202(1)(c) and (2); and 25-8-205, C.R.S.
The amendments allow substitution of the CBOD5 test for the BOD5 test contained in Section 10.1.3(1)(1) of the regulation. The Federal requirements for secondary treatment have been revised to permit the substitution. The BOD5 pollutant parameter and its associated testing procedure have been widely used to determine the operating efficiency and effluent quality of wastewater treatment facilities. The oxygen demand for the BOD5 parameter is primarily exerted through the bacterial oxidation of carbonaceous organic matter which results in a carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand or CBOD. However, an additional nitrogenous oxygen demand (NOD) may also be exerted through the action of nitrifying bacteria that oxidize ammonia nitrogen to nitrate in the two stage process known as nitrification. Secondary treatment requirements are based on controlling the oxygen demand due to the carbonaceous component of the organic material in the effluent because secondary treatment facilities can effectively remove carbonaceous organic material but may not consistently remove nitrogenous materials. Problems have arisen with the use of the BOD5 test in many municipal secondary facilities. When sufficient numbers of nitrifying bacteria are present in the test sample they can exert a significant NOD in the BOD5 test that would not be exerted in the absence of nitrifying bacteria. Since many of the factors conductive to improving secondary bacteria, the BOD5 test can erroneously indicate poorer effluent quality when, in fact, effluent quality and plan performance have actually improved. As a result of this, some facilities must be operated in a mode that inhibits the growth of nitrifying bacteria to improve BOD5 test results and show compliance with secondary treatment requirements. These procedures usually result in poorer effluent quality, although BOD5 test results indicate the opposite and may result in greater sludge production and higher operation and maintenance costs. A nitrification inhibited BOD5 test or CBOD5 test allows the oxygen demand due to decomposition of carbonaceous organic matter to expressed but eliminates any extraneous measurement of NOD. A statistical analysis of effluent samples from well operated treatment plants indicated a CBOD5 of 25 mg/l which corresponds to a BOD5 of 30 mg/l. Therefore, the use of the CBOD5 test and the corresponding 25 mg/l limit based on a 30-day BOD5 average is not expected to allow an additional oxygen demand on receiving waters and no negative water quality impacts are anticipated. FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT Since the substitution of CBOD5 for BOD5 will give a more accurate indication of true effluent quality in many instances, a positive indication of true effluent quality in many instances, a positive economic impact may be gained by municipal dischargers. As BOD5 may falsely indicate poorer-than-actual quality, thereby forcing more intensive treatment and/or the potential for fines as a result of permit violations, this substitute methodology may result in lessened treatment expenses and/or decreased risk of permit violation.
As these regulations result in no potential impact upon beneficial uses and as costs may be saved, the Water Quality Control Commission finds this final agency action to be economically reasonable.
62.11 STATEMENT OF BASIS, SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY, AND PURPOSE:
The provisions of 24-4-103; 25-8-202(1)(c) and (2); and 25-8-205, C.R.S. provide the specific statutory authority for consideration of the regulatory amendments proposed by this Notice. The proposed amendments will change the definition of 7-day average and 30-day average contained in Section 10.1.4 of the regulation. Under current regulation three samples are required to establish a 7-day average or a 20-day average.
At this time, approximately 200 permit for smaller facilities require sampling less frequently (once/month or once/quarter) than the existing regulation requires. This was allowed in order to minimize sampling costs for smaller permittees.
In considering the proposed changes the Division examined the impact they would have on the affected permittees. Due to their inherent stability, effluent quality from lagoon facilities is fairly consistent. Therefore, one sample per month should give an accurate indication of effluent quality from lagoons and the change in the regulation will have little or no impact on the permittee. Small mechanical facilities, however, can exhibit large changes in process stability over a month. The proposed changes in the regulation could have a negative effect on mechanical facilities if the sampling requirements in their permits were to remain at the current level. In order to rectify this permits were to remain at their current level. In order to rectify this situation, permits for all small mechanical plants would be amended to include a sampling frequency of three times per 30 days. These changes would be reasonable as proper operation of mechanical facilities require frequent sampling for process adjustment. Compliance monitoring done by the Division would be consistent with the sampling frequency in the permit of the affected facilities. In this way the results of the sampling series would be representative of the effluent quality from the facility during a 30-day period. FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT:
The change in the definitions for 30-day and 7-day average in 10.1.4 of the State Effluent Regulations will reduce State sampling costs for lagoon facilities and will increase sampling costs for permittees operating small mechanical plants. However, the increased sampling is consistent with that necessary for the proper operation of a mechanical plant treatment facility. Therefore, the Water Quality Control Commission finds this final agency action to be economically reasonable.
62.12 Statement of Basis, Specific Statutory Authority and Purpose:
The provisions of 24-4-103; 25-8-202(1)(c) and (2); and 25-8-205, C.R.S. provide the specific statutory authority for consideration of the regulatory amendments proposed by this Notice. The proposed amendments are being made in order to: (1) restructure the format of the regulation so that it is consistent with that of other regulations, and (2) make the regulation consistent with the Federal Secondary Treatment Regulation (40 CFR 133.100-133.105). The regulation, in its previous form, was not consistent with accepted for other Water Quality Control Commission regulations. This made it difficult to cite certain portions of the regulations in permits and other related documents. Under the amended regulation similar requirements, such as effluent limitations and sampling requirements, have been grouped together. Also the numeric order of the regulation has been adjusted such that it follows a logical progression. Actual deletions from the regulation, as well as major portions which are being moved, are denoted by slash marks. New portions of the regulations as well as those portions of the old regulation which have been moved, are denoted by capital letters. The changes being made pursuant to the Federal Secondary Treatment Regulations are summarized below:
1. A provision has been added for a variance from the 85 percent removal requirement. The variance would only be granted where the permittee has; (1) quantified the amount of excessive infiltration/inflow (I/I) which is tributary to its collection system, (2) performed an analysis of the cost effectiveness of removing the excessive I/I versus treating it, and (3) eliminated any excessive I/I where it is shown to be cost effective to do so.
2. The two million gallon a day ceiling for allowing the adjusted total suspended solids limitations has been removed.
62.13 STATEMENT OF BASIS, SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY, AND PURPOSE; 1994
The provisions of 24-4-103; 25-8-202(1)(c) and (2); and 25-8-205, C.R.S. provide the specific statutory authority for consideration of the regulatory amendments proposed by this Notice. The Commission also adopted in compliance with 24-4-103(4), C.R.S., the following statement of basis and purpose. BASIS AND PURPOSE:
A. Overview In considering whether to adopt the changes proposed in this proceeding, the Commission considered the applicability of section 25-8-202(8)(a) of the Colorado Water Quality Control Act. This section, adopted in 1989, establishes requirements that must be met when the Commission adopts “rules more stringent than corresponding enforceable federal requirements.” Although the existing Regulations for Effluent Limitations are more restrictive than federal secondary treatment requirements, these regulations were initially adopted in 1975. Section 25-8-206, C.R.S. explicitly validates all Commission regulations adopted prior to July 1, 1981.
Because the changes adopted in this proceeding operate only to make the existing effluent limitations requirements more lenient, the Commission does not believe that the requirements of section 25-8- 202(8)(a) apply to the current actions. However, the Commission also believes that there is sound scientific and technical evidence in the record that the revised statewide effluent limitations are necessary to protect the public health, beneficial use of water, and the environment of the state. These provisions establish technology-based requirements to establish a minimum level of wastewater quality to be met by dischargers throughout the state. The existing requirements, which are being marginally relaxed in this proceeding have been in place for nearly twenty years. During this time, compliance with these requirements has not proved to be a major technological or economic problem for dischargers.
B. Residual Chlorine The applicability of the residual chlorine limitation has been modified so that it does not apply to discharges to irrigation ditches. This change has been made in response to a concern, raised by a permittee, that the 0.5 mg/l limit may require additional expenditures to dechlorinate the effluent in order to meet the limit. They also expressed a concern that compliance with the limit could potentially cause higher levels of fecal coliform in irrigation ditches.
C. Oil and Grease Footnote 5 to the oil and grease effluent limitation has been revised. The previous “no visible sheen” provision in this footnote has been eliminated. Clarifying language has been added to provide that monitoring for a “visible sheen” generally will be required as a screening test, to determine when it may be necessary to analysis a grab sample for oil and grease.
D. Other Revisions The format of the regulation has been modified to be consistent with that of other Commission regulations. The word “average” has been deleted from the last sentence of section 10.1.3, subsection 2, in recognition of the fact that the limits for total residual chlorine and oil and grease are instantaneous maximum limits. One outdated provision has been deleted from section 10.1.4. Also, the citations in section 10.1.5, subsection 1, have been updated to reflect current documents and/or agency addresses. The Commission incorporated by reference in these rules documents that describe analytical and sampling methods to be used by the discharger. The documents are published by nationally recognized associations or organizations. A third document, prepared by the EPA, and proposed for incorporation by reference, was excluded in the final rule upon advice by the Attorney General's Office, because of potential conflicts with the Administrative Procedure Act. The Commission added a new paragraph 10.1.1 to indicate that the documents incorporated by reference in these rules are not to include later amendments to those documents, and that copies of incorporated documents may be obtained from the Commission. This paragraph was added to comply with the requirements of ' 24-4-103(12.5).
62.14 STATEMENT OF BASIS, SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY, AND PURPOSE; 1995
The provisions of 24-4-103; 25-8-202(1)(c) and (2); and 25-8-205, C.R.S. provide the specific statutory authority for consideration of the regulatory amendments proposed by this Notice. The Commission also adopted in compliance with 24-4-103(4), C.R.S., the following statement of basis and purpose. BASIS AND PURPOSE:
The Commission added a new subsection 10.1.4(4) to the regulation. This change to the regulation is based on language found in the Secondary Treatment Regulations at 40 CFR Part 133.102. Adoption of this provision will allow the Division to consider a variance from the current pH limits of 6.0 - 9.0 s.u. in cases where inorganic chemicals are not added to the waste stream as part of the treatment process and where industrial contributions do not cause the pH to be less than 6.0 s.u. or greater than 9.0 s.u.. A variance for a discharges to waters classified for aquatic life would only be granted in situations where the instream pH would remain within the 6.5 - 9.0 s.u. water quality standard. This provision will principally be applied to lagoon type treatment systems which, due to the effects of naturally occuring algae, often experience pH values of greater than 9.0 s.u..
62.15 STATEMENT OF BASIS, SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY, AND PURPOSE; 1996
The provisions of 24-4-103; 25-8-202(1)(c) and (2); and 25-8-205, C.R.S. provide the specific statutory authority for consideration of the regulatory amendment adopted by the Commission. The Commission also adopted in compliance with 24-4-103(4), C.R.S., the following statement of basis and purpose. BASIS AND PURPOSE:
The Commission added a new sentence to section 10.1.1 to comply with the incorporation by reference provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, section 24-4-103 (12.5)(c).
62.16 STATEMENT OF BASIS, SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE; JULY, 1997
62.17 STATEMENT OF BASIS, SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE; NOVEMBER,
62.18 STATEMENT OF BASIS, SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE; JANUARY,
The Commission added a new applicability section (62.2) to clarify the Commission’s intent, consistent with past Division practice, that the effluent limitations and other conditions of Regulation #62 are to be incorporated into discharge permits issued pursuant to Regulation #61 and that they are not self- implementing.
The Commission revised the language in section 62.3(1) to clarify that the applicable limit must be met prior to discharge to state waters. This is particularly important for discharges to ground water in order to ensure that the technology-based treatment requirement has been met and will typically require that compliance with the limits be demonstrated prior to application to the land. The Commission also revised the wording of this section and the remainder of the regulation to delete “wastewater” and, generally, replace that term with “pollutant(s)” in order to be consistent with the language of the Colorado Water Quality Control Act.
The Commission deleted the allowance in section 62.3(2) (renumbered to 62.4(2)) for a compliance schedule to meet the identified limits as:
1. The federal secondary treatment regulation requires compliance with the limits for five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and total suspended solids (TSS) for publicly owned treatment works (POTWs);
2. The applicable limits have been applied to each existing discharge; and 3. It is reasonable to expect any new discharge to implement the level of technology necessary to attain the limits for pollutants identified in the regulation that may be present in their discharge. The Commission modified the newly-numbered section 62.5 (previously 62.4) to provide that the numeric limits in that section will only be applied when the Division determines that a pollutant is “of concern” for that particular discharge. The Commission also modified section 62.4 to add flexibility for the Division to require implementation of best management practices (BMPs) in lieu of numeric limitations where it finds the application of numeric limits to be infeasible. The Commission expects that this provision would be particularly applicable to situations where the activities will discharge such minor amounts of pollutants that an in-stream water quality standard will not be exceeded or where sampling of the discharge, such as for water line breaks and ISDS (onsite) systems, is infeasible. This language was based on a similar provision in Regulation #61 at 61.8(3)(r) and the Commission finds it appropriate to provide the same level of flexibility to the Division in imposing the technology-based requirements of this regulation to sources not subject to federal secondary treatment requirements. Finally, the Commission moved former section 62.5(2) to section 62.4 as it is directly relevant to the limits identified in the following section 62.4(1).
The Commission modified footnote 6 (now footnote 5) of section 62.4(1) to expand the exemption from the limit for total residual chlorine to discharges to ground water. Similar to the basis for the exemption for discharges to irrigation ditches, this is appropriate as there is no aquatic life use assigned to ground water. The Commission deleted the section regarding the setting of limitations for fecal coliform as limits for bacteriological indicator organisms (E. coli at present) are established in accordance with section 61.3 of the discharge permit regulations and section 31.14 of the basic standards. The Commission modified section 61.4(5) to provide that onsite treatment systems are not required to collect samples of their effluent as it is generally impractical to collect samples from the bottom of a leach field. This condition will work in tandem with the modifications to section 62.4 allowing for the implementation of BMPs in lieu of requiring numeric limits. The Commission deleted section 62.5(1) (Technical Data), as Regulation #61 (61.8(4)(j)) requires monitoring of discharges in accordance with EPA approved methods rather than the methods identified in this section. As was previously noted, section 62.5(2) was moved to section 62.4. The Commission also found that the “Technical Data” heading for section 62.5 does not accurately describe the remaining items in that section and deleted the heading and added the remaining items to section 62.4. PARTIES TO THE RULEMAKING HEARING 1. City of Colorado Springs and Colorado Springs Utilities 2. City and County of Denver
62.19 STATEMENT OF BASIS, SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY, AND PURPOSE; JUNE 11,
The Commission revised section 62.4(2) to address situations where a particular industry sector is subject to the numeric limitations in Regulation 62, and EPA subsequently promulgates an effluent limitation guideline (“ELG”) that does not include numeric effluent limitations (but rather practice-based effluent limits) for one or more of the applicable parameters. These revisions provide that where the federal ELG sets forth numeric limits for parameters that are also included in Regulation 62, the sector must adhere to the numeric limit specified in the ELG. Where, however, the federal ELG does not specify a numeric limitation for a certain parameter and Regulation 62 does, the regulation allows flexibility for the numeric limitation in Regulation 62 to remain applicable to that sector. The Commission also revised section 62.5(2) to make a clearer distinction between CBOD5, BOD5, and TSS removal requirements for domestic sources and industrial sources. For industrial sources, the Commission found it appropriate to grant the Division discretion to substitute, in certain cases, lower percent removal requirements or mass loading limits for the 85 percent removal requirements found in that subsection. The Commission also gave the Division discretion to exempt certain industrial sources from the further removal requirements of that subsection where the Division determines that the numeric limitations for CBOD5, BOD5, and TSS are sufficient.
The Commission also took this opportunity to make minor stylistic edits to the Regulation, such as deleting unnecessary wording in section 62.4(3), changing the term “municipality” to “permittee” in section 62.5(3) to include industrial dischargers, and abbreviating references to the Water Quality Control Commission and Division.
62.20 STATEMENT OF BASIS, SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY, AND PURPOSE; MARCH 9,
seq. The Commission also modified section 62.5(5) to clarify the original intent, as noted in section 62.18, to provide that onsite treatment systems consisting of a septic tank and soil treatment area are typically not required to collect samples of their effluent for BOD and TSS where the soil treatment is designed to meet secondary treatment standards, as it is generally impractical to collect samples from the underside of a soil treatment area.
_________________________________________________________________________ Editor’s Notes History Entire rule eff. 03/30/2008.
Entire rule eff. 07/30/2012.
Rules 62.5(5), 62.20 eff. 06/14/2020.