HomeMy WebLinkAboutOCSD 03-09OCSD RESOLUTION NO. 03-09
OCWD RESOLUTION NO. 03-4-54
JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ORANGE COUNTY
WATER DISTRICT AND THE ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
WHEREAS, Orange County Water District (OCWD) and Orange County Sanitation District
(OCSD) plan to jointly build and operate the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWR System)
to provide a reliable high quality supply of water for groundwater recharge; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Health Services held a public hearing on February 4, 2003 to
consider the project and receive public comments; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Health Services must make a finding that the GWR System will
not degrade the quality of the water in the receiving aquifers for domestic use; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Health Services will recommend to the Regional Water Quality
Control Board conditions for approval of the project to assure that water quality and public health
are protected; and
WHEREAS, the Regional Water Quality Control Board is not specifically obligated under State
statute to include all of the Department of Health Services recommended conditions in the permit
issued for the project; and
WHEREAS, comments made by concerned citizens at the public hearing emphasized the
importance of having the GWR System comply with all Department of Health Services conditions
to assure that it is safe.
NOW, THEREFORE, OCWD and OCSD hereby jointly resolve to comply with all conditions
recommended by the Hearing Officer of the State of California Department of Health Services for
the GWR System, including source control, treatment and monitoring to assure that the water
produced is at all times safe, wholesome and potable.
ADOPTED THIS 23rd day of April, 2003
ORANGE COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
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ADOPTED THIS 23rd day of April, 2003
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
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SUMMARY OF PUBLIC HEARING
In the Matter of:
Orange County Water District
Groundwater Replenishment System
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On February 4, 2003, the California Department of Health Services (OHS) and
California Department of Water Resources (DWR) held a joint public hearing in
Fountain Valley, California, to consider the proposed Groundwater Replenishment
System (GWR System), which is a seawater intrusion barrier and water supply
project jointly sponsored by the Orange County Water District (OCWD) and Orange
County Sanitation District (OCSD).
A list of public hearing attendees is included in Attachment A.
The hearing panel included:
Hearing Officer
Cindy Forbes, P.E., Chief of the Southern California Branch, Drinking Water Field
Operations, State of California Department of Health Services
OCWD and OCSD staff made a presentation on the proposed project. Describing
the background of and need for the project, they noted that planning for the GWR
System began in the mid-1990's and discussed the project's local and regional
benefits. The GWR System will produce recycled water to recharge the Orange
County Groundwater Basin via injection and surface spreading. They described
details of the project components, which include the advanced water treatment
facilities, seawater intrusion barrier, and transmission pipeline to the spreading
basins. The OCSD source control program was reviewed along with plans to expand
the program to include drinking water compounds of concern. Water quality data
based on OCWD's full-scale demonstration project were presented. Both OCWD
and OCSD pledged their commitment to source control and extensive monitoring to
assure the highest water quality for this new water supply.
The presentation was followed by statements from 15 members of the audience.
While the majority of the commenters favored the project, some voiced concerns
about water quality, source control, unknown or future compounds of concern, and
coordination between regulatory agencies.
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FINDINGS OF FACT
1 . Section 13540 of the California Water Code requires that recycled water may
only be injected into an aquifer that is used as a source of domestic water supply
if the OHS finds that the recharge will not degrade the quality of water in the
receiving aquifer as a source of water supply for domestic purposes.
2. OCWD is a public agency formed by a Special Act of the California Legislature
in 1933 for the purpose of managing the supply and protecting the quality of the
Orange County Groundwater Basin (the Basin). OCWO has operated Water
Factory 21 (WF-21) and the Talbert Gap Seawater Intrusion Barrier (Talbert Gap
Barrier) since 1975. WF-21 is an advanced water treatment plant that produces
highly treated wastewater that meets the OHS requirements for injection into the
Talbert Gap Barrier to prevent the inflow of seawater into the groundwater basin,
which is used as a source of domestic water supply. WF-21 is located at 10500
Ellis Avenue, Fountain Valley, California, 92708. Talbert Gap Barrier consists of
pipelines and injection wells, primarily located along Ellis Avenue in Fountain
Valley and Huntington Beach, California. OCWO operates WF-21 and Talbert
Gap Barrier under California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana
Region (SARWQCB) Order No. 91-121, as amended by Order Nos. 93-28 and
93-74. In Anaheim and Orange, California, OCWO manages and operates
approximately 1, 100 acres of groundwater recharge facilities in and adjacent to
the Santa Ana River and Santiago Creek. OCWO also owns and operates the
Green Acres Project (GAP), which is a conventional tertiary treatment plant and
recycled water distribution system. Located at the same site as WF-21, the GAP
treatment facilities have supplied about 7 mgd of tertiary filtered and disinfected
recycled water for landscape irrigation and industrial uses in Fountain Valley,
Costa Mesa. Santa Ana, and Huntington Beach since 1990.
3. OCSD is a public agency formed in 1946 under the County Sanitation Act of
1923 as a single purpose entity, providing wastewater collection, treatment, and
disposal for north and central Orange County. Since 1954, OCSO has operated
Reclamation Plant No. 1, a wastewater treatment facility. Reclamation Plant No.
1 provides wastewater that has been treated to secondary effluent standards to
OCWD's WF-21 and GAP as source water. Reclamation Plant No. 1 is located
at 10844 Ellis Avenue, Fountain Valley, California, 92708, adjacent to WF-21.
OCSO operates a collection system, two wastewater treatment plants, two
discharge outfalls to the ocean, and two emergency weir outlets to the Santa
Ana River under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPOES)
permit issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NPDES Permit No.
CA0110604, and SARWQCB Order No. 98-5, as amended in July 2002 by
SARWQCB Order No. RS-2002-0055.
4. OCWD and OCSD plan to construct and operate the Groundwater
Replenishment System (GWR System). OCWO is the lead agency for the
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proposed project. The GWR System will replace and augment the existing
recycled water supply by providing a more reliable and higher quality source of
water to protect the Basin from further degradation due to seawater intrusion
and to provide additional water for recharge, irrigation, and industrial uses. The
GWR System will treat wastewater to meet drinking water standards and other
limits imposed on recycled water intended for groundwater recharge and indirect
potable reuse. The GWR System will also provide peak wastewater flow
disposal relief and postpone the need for OCSD to construct a new ocean outfall
by diverting treated wastewater flows that would otherwise be discharged to the
Pacific Ocean.
The GWR System will consist of three major components: (1) advanced water
treatment facilities (AWTF) and pumping stations; (2) expansion of an existing
seawater intrusion barrier; and (3) a major pipeline connecting the treatment
facilities to existing recharge basins. The AWTF will replace WF-21 and be
located at the same site at the southeast corner of the intersection of Ellis
Avenue and Ward Street in Fountain Valley, California. The Talbert Gap Barrier
will be expanded towards the west along Ellis Avenue in Huntington Beach and
towards the southeast along Ward Street and the westerly side of the Santa
Ana River to Adams Avenue in Fountain Valley. The GWR Pipeline will be
installed along the westerly levee of the Santa Ana River from the AWTF in
Fountain Valley to existing spreading basins in the Anaheim Forebay area,
traversing the Cities of Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Orange and Anaheim.
Kraemer Basin in Anaheim will be the primary spreading basin receiving
recycled water. The adjacent Miller Basin will be used on a standby basis when
Kraemer Basin is periodically taken out of service for cleaning.
Implementation of the GWR System will be phased. Phase 1 will produce up to
78,400 acre-feet per year (afy) (or 70 million gallons per day (mgd)) of recycled
water. Future phases are possible to expand the capacity of the GWR System.
Approximately half of the recycled water will be injected at the Talbert Gap
Barrier and the remainder will be spread at the Kraemer/Miller Recharge Basins.
A minor amount of th~ GWR System product water may occasionally be used or
supplement the GAP for irrigation and industrial uses.
The treatment technology used for the proposed project will consist of:
• Source Control: OCSD maintains a comprehensive industrial pretreatment
and source control program approved by the SARWQCB for control of
waste discharges from point sources into the wastewater collection system.
• Secondary Treatment: Wastewater will be treated at OCSD's Reclamation
Plant No. 1, which features preliminary, advanced primary, and secondary
treatment processes. The existing rated capacity of Plant No. 1 is 108
mgd. Preliminary treatment consists of barscreens and grit removal.
Primary treatment consists of coagulant addition and sedimentation.
Following primary clarification, the primary effluent flow stream is split and
oxidized using two secondary treatment processes, activated sludge and
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trickling filters. The existing capacity of the activated sludge system is 80
mgd. The balance of the flow is treated using trickling filters. Secondary
clarifiers at the activated sludge system and trickling filters produce fully
oxidized and clarified secondary effluent. Secondary effluent will be the
source water supplied to the GWR System AWTF.
• Fine Screening: Secondary treated wastewater from OCSD's Reclamation
Plant No. 1 will be strained, or passed through rotating band fine-mesh
screens, and chloraminated prior to microfiltration. Screenings will be
dewatered and returned to OCSD for disposal.
• Microfiltration: Screened secondary effluent will flow via gravity to 26 in-
basin microfiltration (MF) cells containing submerged racks of hollow fiber
membranes with a maximum pore size of 0.2 micron. This MF system has
been accepted by OHS as an approved alternative to media filtration. By
means of a vacuum, filtrate pumps will draw water through the MF
membranes via a piping manifold and discharge the filtrate to the MF break
tank. The nominal rated filtrate production capacity of the MF system will
be 86 mgd. The MF cells will be periodically backwashed to clean the
membranes. The waste backwash will be returned to OCSD for treatment.
• Reverse osmosis: Stored MF filtrate will be pumped from the MF break
tank to the reverse osmosis (RO) system. Upstream of the RO process,
the flow will be pretreated by adding sulfuric acid for pH control and
threshold inhibitor to prevent precipitation of sparingly soluble salts, and by
10-micron cartridge filtration. Each of the 15 RO trains will have a capacity
of 5 mgd and will consist of a high pressure feed pump and 150 pressure
vessels arranged in three stages in a 78:48:24 array. The RO system will
use thin film composite polyamide membranes. Designed for an 85
percent recovery rate, the nominal permeate production capacity of the RO
system will be 70 mgd. Permeate from the RO system will be discharged
to the advanced oxidation and ultraviolet light treatment/disinfection
processes. Concentrated brine from the RO system will be returned to
OCSD for disposal.
• Advanced oxidation I disinfection: The advanced oxidation process (AOP)
will consist of two steps: hydrogen peroxide will be added to the RO
permeate upstream of the ultraviolet (UV) light treatment. UV irradiation
will be used for disinfection and reduction of light-sensitive contaminants.
Hydrogen peroxide exposed to UV irradiation produces hydroxyl radicals
that result in advanced oxidation to destroy UV-resistant contaminants,
such as N-nitrosodimethylamine (NOMA). The UV system will conform to
the requirements delineated in the "Ultraviolet Disinfection Guidelines for
Drinking Water and Water Reuse" (December 2000) published by the
National Water Research Institute (NWRI). The AOP system is designed
to disinfect RO permeate and reduce NOMA levels to a concentration
below 1 O parts per trillion (ppt). The hydrogen peroxide dosage will be
optimized during development of the operations, maintenance and
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monitoring plan. The closed, in-vessel type UV system will feature low-
pressure high-output lamps with the reactors arranged in eight duty trains,
plus one standby/peak flow train. The total nominal capacity of the duty
trains is 70 mgd. The nominal capacity of the standby/peak flow train is 30
mgd. The duty and standby UV trains are separated by valves to allow the
system to produce recycled water at the same time as peak or emergency
flows are discharged to the Santa Ana River. In the event that more than
30 mgd of peak/emergency flow needs to be discharged to the river, then
recycled water production will be stopped, the separation valves will be
opened, and all UV trains will discharge up to 100 mgd filtered, disinfected
effluent to the Santa Ana River.
• Decarbonation: Under normal recycled water production, following UV
treatment, part of the water will pass through decarbonators to release
excess carbon dioxide. Approximately 40 to 60 mgd of the flow will pass
through five decarbonation towers, and 10 to 30 mgd will bypass this
process to produce the targeted level of carbon dioxide.
• Lime stabilization: Lime will be added to the final product water to adjust
the pH and reduce the potential for minerals to be leached from the cement
lining used in the transmission pipelines.
The proposed project complies with Section 60320 of Article 5.1, entitled
"Groundwater Recharge". of the California Code of Regulations Title 22,
Division 4, Chapter 3, entitled "Water Recycling Criteria". OHS considers the
above treatment processes to be the best available advanced wastewater and
recycled water treatment technology at this time.
5. During construction of GWR System, WF-21 will remain in operation in an
interim mode to supply Talbert Gap Barrier. Improvements will be made to
modify the existing WF-21 treatment processes. The modified facilities will be
known as Interim WF-21 and will be similar to the GWR System AWTF. The
existing WF-21 produces up to 5 mgd of recycled water using lime clarification,
recarbonation, mixed media filtration, RO, and advanced oxidation/disinfection
(hydrogen peroxide and UV treatment). Portions of the existing WF-21 facilities
will be replaced or modified in order to maintain recycled water production during
construction of the GWR System. The existing lime clarification, recarbonation,
and filtration processes will be replaced with an initial MF system to provide
pretreatment for the RO process. In addition, the existing cellulose acetate RO
membranes will be changed to new thin film composite polyamide RO
membranes. A new UV unit will be installed for demonstration and certification
testing. During this testing period, the existing UV system will continue to
operate. The new UV system will not be placed in operation until approval has
been obtained from OHS. The capacity of the modified or Interim WF-21 will be
5 mgd. Later, when construction of GWR System nears completion, Interim WF-
21 will be taken out of service, and portions of its MF, RO, and UV components
will be relocated to the GWR System AWTF.
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6. In 2000 and 2002 respectively, NOMA and 1,4-dioxane from the existing WF-21
operation were found in domestic wells in the vicinity of the Talbert Gap Barrier
at concentrations above the OHS Action Levels. To reduce the concentrations of
these compounds, additional source control measures were taken by OCSD,
and AOP treatment, consisting of hydrogen peroxide addition and UV irradiation,
was added to the existing WF-21 treatment train.
7. An effective source control program is currently provided by OCSD to minimize
the risk that wastewater treated at Reclamation Plant No. 1 will be contaminated
with toxic chemicals to protect the treatment facilities and the marine
environment. The scope and purpose of this OCSD source control program
need to be expanded to include not only contaminants that may be detrimental
to the facilities or environment, but also to include contaminants specified by
OHS that may be harmful to human health and drinking water supplies. The
GWR System source water will not include flows from the Santa Ana River
Interceptor, which contains inland brines and industrial wastes. OCWD, through
a comprehensive monitoring program, will be able to ensure that the recycled
water produced at the GWR System AWTF for recharge into the groundwater
basin via injection at the Talbert Gap Barrier and spreading at Anaheim Forebay
is not contaminated with toxic chemicals of industrial origin that are of concern to
OHS in drinking water sources.
8. To ensure that the GWR System AWTF and Interim WF-21 meet the
performance criteria and produce recycled water that meets all requirements
specified in the SARWQCB permit, an operating plan needs to be developed for
the first year and should be updated periodically to take into account the
experiences learned from the prior years of operation. Proper operation needs
to be defined and cover critical parameters in each treatment process.
9. To ensure that any pathogenic microorganisms that may be present in the
recycled water are effectively inactivated or removed, a retention time in the
Talbert Gap Barrier area of at least 12 months for the recycled water in the
groundwater basin before the water is extracted for drinking purposes and a
minimum horizontal separation of 2,000 feet between the Talbert Gap Barrier
injection wells and all drinking water wells is needed. A retention time in the
Anaheim Forebay area of at least 6 months for the recycled water in the
groundwater basin before the water is extracted for drinking purposes and a
minimum of 500 feet between the Kraemer/Miller Recharge Basins and all
drinking water wells is needed.
10. OCWD has operated Talbert Gap Barrier since 1975 by injecting recycled water
produced by WF-21 to prevent seawater intrusion into the Orange County
Groundwater Basin. Domestic water from City of Fountain Valley and colored
water from deep aquifer wells have also been injected into the Talbert Gap
Barrier. The amount of recycled water injected has historically ranged between
about 900 and 8,000 acre-feet per year. The majority of injected water flows
inland to replenish the Basin aquifers, which are a source of municipal water
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supplies. The failure to maintain an effective seawater intrusion barrier would
cause serious water quality degradation in drinking water aquifers in Orange
County and the potential loss of this water resource.
11. The Orange County Groundwater Basin consists of multiple aquifers that extend
over 2,000 feet deep and form a complex series of interconnected sand and
gravel deposits. Near the ground surface are shallow aquifers: Talbert, Alpha,
Beta, Lambda and Upper Rho Aquifers. The majority of the Basin production is
from the principal aquifer system: Lower Rho and Main Aquifers. Deeper
aquifers exist below the principal aquifer system; however, these zones contain
colored water and currently yield limited production. The Newport-Inglewood
Fault Zone forms the southwestern boundary between the Basin and ocean of
all but the shallowest aquifers in the Basin. The areas where the shallow
aquifers are adjacent to the ocean are known as gaps and are susceptible to
seawater intrusion. The Basin is impacted by many variables including factors
that are some distance from the proposed project. Some of these include
drought, pumping patterns and volumes, new and existing extraction projects,
and amounts of recharge.
12. The Talbert Gap Barrier consists of 26 existing injection wells, plus two new
injection wells currently under construction. Of these 28 injection wells, 24 wells
inject into shallow aquifers, 3 wells inject into the Main Aquifer, and 1 well injects
into both the shallow and Main aquifers.
13. The GWR System will add 8 new injection wells that will inject into the shallow
and Main aquifers. Four of these new wells at the west end of Talbert Gap
Barrier will inject into the Alpha, Beta, Lambda, and Main Aquifers. The other
four new wells at the east end of the barrier will inject into the Talbert and
Lambda Aquifers.
14. At the Talbert Gap Barrier, OCWD proposes a phased approach to injection of
100 percent recycled water. Initially, a blend of up to a maximum of 75 percent
recycled water and 25 percent water of non-wastewater origin will be injected at
the barrier. Diluents will be potable water for GWR System and a blend of
potable and deep aquifer (colored) water for Interim WF-21. After the GWR
System demonstrates compliance with OHS criteria for recycled water quality
and groundwater quality at this initial level for at least one year after the blended
recharge water has reached at least one monitoring well, the proposed plan
would increase the recycled water contribution up to 100 percent, upon OHS
approval. These percentages will be calculated based on the running-monthly-
average recycled water contribution for the preceding period up to 60 months.
15. Potable water for injection into Talbert Gap Barrier will be supplied via a new
pipeline (Southeast Barrier Pipeline) connecting the Metropolitan Water District
of Southern California (MWO) OC44 turnout to the barrier pipeline along Ellis
Avenue using a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device. During
the initial 75:25 blend phase for GWR System, the Southeast Barrier Pipeline
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will deliver potable water to the barrier. The new easterly injection wells, which
are located adjacent to the Southeast Barrier Pipeline, will receive potable water
and the balance will be distributed to the other injection wells for the blend.
When injection of 100 percent recycled water is approved, the OC44 connection
will be severed, and this pipeline will be used to deliver recycled water to the
new easterly injection wells.
16. During operation of Interim WF-21, between 3 and 8 mgd of potable water for
injection into Talbert Barrier will be supplied via the MWD OC44 connection as
described above, plus between 2 and 5 mgd of potable water via the existing
City of Fountain Valley service connection. The Fountain Valley supply is
introduced into the existing WF-21 blending reservoir via an air gap. In addition
to these diluents, up to 8 mgd of deep aquifer (colored) water will be introduced
into the existing WF-21 blending reservoir. From the reservoir, the existing WF-
21 pump station will discharge a blend of recycled water, potable water, and
deep aquifer water to Talbert Gap Barrier.
17. Interim WF-21 will discharge recycled water to the Talbert Gap Barrier. Interim
WF-21 will not discharge recycled water to the Anaheim Forebay spreading
basins.
18. When GWR System becomes operational, OCWD proposes to recharge via
spreading a blend of up to a maximum of 75 percent recycled water and 25
percent diluent water at the Anaheim Forebay. Recycled water will be
recharged primarily at Kraemer Basin and occasionally at Miller Basin. Diluents
will include water of non-wastewater origin, such as captured Santa Ana River
storm flows and imported water purchased from MWD that will be recharged at
nearby OCWD spreading basins. These percentages will be calculated based
on the running-monthly-average recycled water contribution for the preceding
period up to 60 months.
19. The closest active domestic well to the Talbert Gap Barrier is Mesa
Consolidated Water District's Well No. MCWD-5. Well MCWD-5 is located
approximately 3, 100 feet from the Talbert Gap Barrier. The retention time prior
to extracting water of recycled water origin at this well is estimated at 24 months.
20. The closest active domestic well to Kraemer Basin is the City of Anaheim's Well
No. A-43. Well No. A-43 is located approximately 1 ,800 feet from Kraemer
Basin and 1,300 feet from Miller Basin. The closest active domestic well to
Miller Basin is the City of Anaheim's Well No. A-44. Well No. A-44 is located
approximately 2,000 feet from Kraemer Basin and 900 feet from Miller Basin.
21. Groundwater tracer studies were conducted for OCWD by Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory in the area including and downgradient from Kraemer/Miller
Basins. These tracer studies demonstrated that water percolated at
Kraemer/Miller Basins travels towards the west/southwest away from Anaheim
Lake. This confirmed that the closest domestic water production wells, A-27, A-
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28, A-42, A-43, and A-44, which are located near Anaheim Lake, are upgradient
from Kraemer/Miller Basins and therefore, would not be impacted by the GWR
System. Wells A-27, A-28, A-42, A-43, and A-44 are owned and operated by
the City of Anaheim and are replenished from different, upgradient basins.
22. Based on the groundwater tracer studies conducted by Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory, recycled water recharged at Kraemer/Miller Basins will flow
towards the west/southwest, towards existing active domestic production wells
SCWC-PLJ2 and A-26, owned and operated by Southern California Water
Company (SCWC) and the City of Anaheim, respectively. Domestic water well
SCWC-PLJ2 is located approximately 5,300 feet from Kraemer Basin. Domestic
water well A-26 is located approximately 7 ,800 feet from Kraemer Basin, the
closer of the two recharge basins. The estimated retention times for recharge
water from Kraemer Basin are 6 months to well SCWC-PLJ2 and 8 months to
well A-26. Because the arrival time to well SCWC-PLJ2 is roughly equivalent to
the six-month minimum travel time requirement, well SCWC-PLJ2 will be taken
out of production and replaced outside of the buffer zone prior to the time that
the recycled water spread at Kraemer/Miller Basin reaches well SCWC-PLJ2.
As a result, well A-26 will be the closest active domestic water supply well to the
proposed Kraemer/Miller Basin recharge operation.
23. It is important that new drinking water wells are constructed outside the area
required to achieve 12 months of retention time and a minimum of 2,000
horizontal feet separation from the injection operation at Talbert Gap Barrier for
inactivation of microorganisms. OCWD will adopt a resolution that effectively
prevents the use of groundwater for drinking water purposes within this OHS
buffer zone to avoid the construction of new domestic water wells within this
area of injection wells. The resolution will be invoked and in place prior to the
start of injection of recycled water from the GWR System. In addition, OCWD
will request that the Orange County Well Standards Advisory Board establish
criteria to prevent construction of drinking water wells in the buffer area. This
Board advises permitting agencies, Orange County Health Care Agency and the
City of Fountain Valley, on well permitting criteria and will recommend that any
new drinking water wells be located at least 2,000 feet from the nearest injection
well and that the recycled water have a retention time of at least 12 months
underground prior to withdrawal near the Talbert Gap Barrier.
24. It is important that new drinking water wells are constructed outside the area
required to achieve 6 months of retention time and a minimum of 500 horizontal
feet separation downgradient from the spreading operation at Kraemer/Miller
Basins for inactivation of microorganisms. OCWD will adopt a resolution that
effectively prevents the use of groundwater for drinking water purposes within
this OHS buffer zone to avoid the construction of new domestic water wells
within this area of spreading basins. The resolution will be invoked and in place
prior to the start of recharge of recycled water from the GWR System. In
addition, OCWD will request that the Orange County Well Standards Advisory
Board establish criteria to prevent construction of drinking water wells in the
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buffer area. This Board advises the permitting agencies, Orange County Health
Care Agency and the City of Anaheim, on well permitting criteria and will
recommend that any new drinking water wells be located at least 500 feet from
the spreading basins and that the recycled water have a retention time of at
least 6 months underground prior to withdrawal near Kraemer/Miller Basins.
25. Three new multi-depth monitoring wells, M-45 through M-47, will be constructed
in Fountain Valley between the Talbert Gap Barrier injection wells and the
nearest domestic water supply wells. Wells M-46 and M-47 will be installed near
the Santa Ana River approximately three to four months travel time and one-half
the distance (about 700 and 1,500 feet from the barrier), respectively, to the
nearest domestic water supply well, MCWD-5. Wells M-46 and M-47 will sample
the Lambda/Omicron, Upper Rho, Lower Rho, and Main Aquifers. Because
several groundwater flow paths exist between the barrier injection wells and
inland domestic water supply wells, well M-45 will be installed approximately
one-half the distance (about 2,800 feet from the barrier) between the barrier and
the Newport Beach production wells (NB-TAMS, NB-TAMD, NB-DOLS, and NB-
DOLD), which lie about a mile north of the barrier. Well M-45 will sample the
Alpha, Beta, Lambda/Omicron and Main Aquifers. Existing multi-zone
monitoring wells, M-10 and M-11, are located in this flow path between the
Newport Beach wells and the barrier, approximately three months travel time
from the barrier. Besides these three new monitoring wells, 16 other monitoring
wells exist within 2,000 feet of the Talbert Gap Barrier.
26. One new multi-depth monitoring well, AMD-12, will be constructed west of
Kraemer/Miller Basins along the groundwater flow path toward domestic water
supply well A-26. AMD-12 will monitor water quality in multiple zones of the
Main Aquifer. AMD-12 will be installed in Anaheim, approximately 2,600 feet
west of Kraemer/Miller Basins, which is about one-third the distance (about three
months travel time) between Kraemer/Miller Basins and well A-26. In addition to
this new monitoring well, four existing monitoring wells, AM-7, AM-8, AMD-10,
and OCWD-KB 1 are located west of Kraemer/Miller Basins along the flow path
towards well A-26. Well AM-7 is located at about one-quarter the distance
(about two months travel time) between Kraemer/Miller Basins and well A-26
and will monitor water quality in the shallow zone of the Main Aquifer. Well AM-
8 is located at approximately one-half the distance (about four months travel
time) between Kraemer/Miller Basins and well A-26 and will monitor water
quality in the shallow zone of the Main Aquifer. Wells AMD-10 and OCWD-KB 1
are located immediately west of Kraemer/Miller Basin. Tracer studies have
indicated the travel time to the shallowest zone at AMD-10 is about one month
and to well OCWD-KB-1 is less than one month. After well SCWC-PLJ2 is taken
out of service, it will be used for monitoring purposes, as it is located about
three-quarters of the distance (about six months travel time) between
Kraemer/Miller Basins and well A-26.
27. Operations, maintenance, and monitoring plans (OMM Plans) for Interim WF-21
and GWR System will be submitted for review and approval by the OHS and
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SARWQCB. The OMM Plans will describe operating, maintenance, and
monitoring procedures for normal, start-up, peak flow, upset, off-spec, and
emergency conditions. The OMM Plans will address source control concerns,
water quality issues, and include a contingency plan and an emergency
response plan.
28. OCWD has operated a 0.43 mgd capacity demonstration project since January
1997 that utilizes the same treatment processes, MF and RO, as those
proposed for the GWR System and Interim WF-21. In addition, OCWD has
conducted pilot AOP (hydrogen peroxide and UV) studies at the demonstration
project. The water quality produced by the demonstration project is
representative of that anticipated from the GWR System and Interim WF-21.
Water quality data from the demonstration project indicate that GWR System
and Interim WF-21 water will meet all requirements of the California Drinking
Water Primary and Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Data
from the demonstration project also have indicated that selected
pharmaceutically active compounds and other toxic contaminants not included in
the drinking water standards are removed or reduced to low levels in the product
water.
29. During short-term peak storm flow events, start-up, and emergency conditions,
GWR System will treat and discharge up to 100 mgd under two operating
scenarios: (1) continued production of recycled water with excess flows
discharged to the Santa Ana River (SAR); and (2) all flow discharged to the
SAR. Under the first scenario, the AWTF will continue to produce up to 70 mgd
of recycled water for recharge via injection and spreading using the full MF, RO,
and AOP treatment train. Excess flows (up to 30 mgd) will be chloraminated,
treated using MF and a separate UV train (bypassing RO), and then
dechlorinated and discharged via a dedicated pipeline to the SAR near the
AWTF site. Under the second scenario, no recycled water will be produced and
the entire flow stream (up to 100 mgd) will be chloraminated, treated using MF
and UV (bypassing RO), and then dechlorinated and discharged via a dedicated
pipeline to the SAR near the AWTF site. All discharges to the SAR will comply
with the SARWQCB Basin Plan. The expected duration of a peak flow event is
8 to 12 hours. It is anticipated that peak storm flow events may occur less than
once per year (0.6 times per year) based on flow projections for 2020.
30. An independent advisory panel has reviewed the planning and design of the
GWR System. ·On-going periodic meetings of this panel, which is named the
Technical Review Committee, are planned to review design criteria, reliability,
water quality, and operational issues. Members of the technical Review
Committee include distinguished members of the academic community (George
Tchobanoglous, water and wastewater treatment and water recycling specialist
and registered engineer from University of California, Davis; Karl Linden, UV
disinfection specialist from Duke University; and Edward Wei, toxicologist from
University of California, Berkeley); a hydrogeologist (Dennis Williams,
Geoscience); a water reuse and wastewater treatment specialist (Margie Nellor,
11
County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County); a water resources expert
(Ron Linsky, National Water Research Institute); and regulators participating on
an ex-officio basis (Rick Sakaji, State Department of Health Services; and Hope
Smythe, Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Region). The
Technical Review Committee will provide scientific peer review to guide the
project during final design, construction, and startup.
12
•.
CONDITIONS
Based on the above FINDINGS OF FACT, which are made pursuant to the
information provided by Orange County Water District (OCWD) and Orange County
Sanitation District (OCSD) in the Engineering Report on the Groundwater
Replenishment System (GWR System) dated September 2000, Addenda Nos. 1
through 4 to the Engineering Report on the GWR System dated August 2001,
subsequent submittals in the form of letters and technical memoranda, and the
presentations by OCWD and OCSD and comments made by members of the public
at the Public Hearing held by the California Department of Health Services, Drinking
Water Field Operations Branch, on February 4, 2003, in Fountain Valley, California,
the California Department of Health Services (OHS) FINDS that the proposed
operation of the GWR System and Interim Water Factory 21 (Interim WF-21) will not
degrade the quality of the water in the receiving aquifers as a source of domestic
water supply PROVIDED THAT ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE
MET:
1. The total volume of recycled water recharged by injection and surface spreading
shall not exceed 70 million gallons per day (mgd) based on a monthly average
(up to 78,400 acre-feet per year (afy)).
2. Treatment of recycled water intended for groundwater recharge shall consist of
advanced primary sedimentation and secondary treatment, followed by
microfiltration (MF), reverse osmosis (RO), advanced oxidation process (AOP),
including hydrogen peroxide addition and ultraviolet (UV) light treatment and
disinfection, with decarbonation and/or lime stabilization as needed for pH
adjustment. Major modifications to the treatment train as described in the
Engineering Report and associated Addenda, technical memoranda and
correspondence shall be subject to review by the OHS and the Santa Ana
Regional Water Quality Control Board (SARWQCB).
3. Recycled water for recharge via injection and spreading shall, at all times, be
adequately oxidized, filtered, subject to organics removal by RO and AOP using
UV and hydrogen peroxide addition, and disinfected. There shall be no
bypassing of any treatment process, except for decarbonation and lime
treatment, which provide pH adjustment as required for stabilization in Condition
2. During peak storm flow events, start-up or emergency conditions, effluent
that is not recycled shall be adequately oxidized, filtered, and disinfected for
discharge to the Santa Ana River.
4. The wastewater collection system of the OCSD shall be operated under a
comprehensive industrial pretreatment and pollutant source control program for
the control of discharge of toxic wastes from point sources, which is approved by
the SARWQCB. If OHS identifies any contaminants that may pose a risk of
contamination to a drinking water supply, it may designate those contaminants
13
for inclusion in the pretreatment and source control program requirements for
OCSD Reclamation Plant No. 1 to minimize the possibility that the influent
wastewater to Reclamation Plant No. 1 and the secondary treated wastewater
that is source water to the GWR System and Interim WF-21 will be contaminated
with such toxic chemicals. The GWR System source water shall not include
flows from the Santa Ana River Interceptor. Quarterly composite and/or grab
samples shall be taken of the OCSO Reclamation Plant No. 1 ·secondary effluent
and the GWR System and Interim WF-21 recycled water prior to recharge via
injection and spreading and analyzed for contaminants designated by OHS. If
any recycled water analytical result for any designated contaminant exceeds the
designated concentration, the laboratory shall notify OCWO within 72 hours of
completing the analysis, and a follow-up confirmation sample shall be collected
and analyzed within 21 days of the notification. If the average of the initial and
confirmation samples also exceeds the designated concentration for the
identified pollutant, the causes of the exceedance shall be investigated and
appropriate corrections shall be made, and a report shall be submitted to the
OHS and SARWQCB. If the average of the initial and confirmation samples
exceeds the above concentration for two consecutive quarters, recharge of
recycled water shall be suspended, the causes of the exceedance shall be
investigated and appropriate corrections shall be made, and a report shall be
submitted to the OHS and SARWQCB. If recharge of recycled water is
suspended, effluent may be discharged to the Santa Ana River as permitted by
the SARWQCB.
5. During the initial operating period, the monthly running average recycled water
contribution (RWC) that is injected into the Talbert Gap Barrier or recharged in
the vicinity of Kraemer/Miller Basins in the Anaheim Forebay shall not exceed 75
percent of the total water recharged via injection or spreading at each location.
Diluents for Interim WF-21 at the Talbert Gap Barrier shall be potable water
and/or deep aquifer (colored) water. Diluent for the GWR System at the Talbert
Gap Barrier shall be potable water. Diluents for the GWR System at the
Anaheim Forebay shall be captured Santa Ana River storm flows and/or
imported water. Compliance shall be on a monthly running average basis over a
time period up to a maximum of the preceding 60 months. Once a month, the
average RWC shall be calculated during this period by dividing the total volume
of recycled water injected or spread during the preceding months by the total
volume of injection or spread water during that period. If the average RWC does
not comply with the above requirement, OCWO shall notify the OHS and
SARWQCB within 7 days and submit a report to the OHS and the SARWQCB
within 60 days describing the reason and corrective actions taken to avoid future
occurrences.
6. Following the successful completion of the initial operating period, OCWO may
increase the monthly running average RWC to 100 percent if the following are
documented in a report submitted to and approved by the OHS:
• Operations, monitoring, and compliance data;
14
• Injection and/or surface-spread recharge water has reached at least one
GWR System monitoring well for at least one year with an average RWC of
at least 0.6 (60 percent recycled water), and the GWR System has been in
compliance with the existing OHS-specified maximum average RWC of
0.75 (75 percent recycled water);
• Recycled water quality produced at the AWTF has consistently met all
requirements;
• Appropriate construction and siting of the monitoring well(s) used in the
demonstration have been validated;
• An updated engineering report;
• Review and assessment of the increased RWC by a scientific peer
advisory panel; and
• Water quality data collected at the monitoring well(s) used in the
demonstration:
o Meets all primary drinking water standards specified below in
Condition No. 8;
o Meets the total nitrogen criteria specified below in Condition No. 9;
and
o Indicates that the non-regulated contaminants, including TOC and
those specified in Tables 64449-A and 64449-8, total coliform levels,
and any endocrine disrupting chemicals, pharmaceuticals, or other
water quality constituents specified by OHS based on the results of
the recycled water monitoring are not increasing over the levels in the
recycled water due to the recharge operation.
7. Any recycled water that may already be present in the groundwater because of
on-going project related activities should be accounted for as a part of the total
amount of recycled water in calculating the percent of recycled water in an
aquifer.
8. The recycled water injected and recharged shall, at all times, meet all primary
maximum contaminant levels specified in the Drinking Water Quality and
Monitoring Requirements, California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 22,
Chapter 15 as follows:
• Inorganic chemicals in Table 64431-A (except for nitrogen compounds);
• Radionuclides in Table 4, Section 64443;
• Organic chemicals in Table 64444-A;
• Any new Federal or State maximum contaminant level upon adoption;
• Disinfection byproducts in Section 64533, Chapter 15.5;
• Action levels for lead and copper in Section 64678; and
15
• Secondary maximum contaminant levels in Tables 64449-A and 64449-B
("Upper" levels).
Recycled water shall be monitored on a quarterly basis at regular intervals by
analyzing a 24-hour composite or grab sample to determine compliance with
primary maximum contaminant levels referenced above for inorganic chemicals,
radionuclides, organic chemicals, and disinfection byproducts and with action
levels for lead and copper referenced above. Compliance shall be based on the
running-quarterly average, calculated each quarter using the previous four
quarters of data. If the recycled water is out of compliance, a report shall be
submitted to the OHS and SARWQCB that describes the reasons and the
corrective actions taken.
Prior to the commencement of recharge via injection and/or spreading of
recycled water, at least one 24t..hour composite or grab sample of recycled water
shall be collected and analyzed to determine compliance with primary maximum
contaminant levels referenced above for inorganic chemicals, radionuclides,
organic chemicals, and disinfection byproducts, and with action levels for lead
and copper referenced above and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the
treatment process. The results for the initial recycled water quality analysis
shall be submitted to the OHS and SARWQCB.
Recycled water shall be monitored on an annual basis by analyzing a
representative grab sample to determine compliance with secondary maximum
contaminant levels listed above. If the single sample result (or average of
samples collected during the year, if more than one) exceeds a secondary
maximum contaminant level, a report shall be submitted to the OHS and
SARWQCB that describes the reasons and corrective actions taken.
9. The total nitrogen concentration of the recycled water shall not exceed 5 mg/L
as nitrogen. Total nitrogen shall be defined as the sum of ammonia, nitrite,
nitrate, and organic nitrogen concentrations, expressed as nitrogen.
Compliance shall be based on the running average of all samples collected
during the past 20 weeks. Each week two grab or 24-hour composite samples
of recycled water shall be collected at least three days apart for total nitrogen
analysis. If the 20-week average total nitrogen concentration exceeds 5 mg/L as
nitrogen, recharge of recycled water shall be suspended until the total nitrogen
concentration does not exceed 5 mg/L as nitrogen. Within seven days of the
suspension, a report describing the causes of the failure and the corrective
actions taken to avoid future violations of these requirements shall be submitted
to the OHS and the SARWQCB.
If the average total nitrogen concentration in all samples of the recycled water
collected for analysis exceeds 5 mg/L as nitrogen for more than two consecutive
weeks, then a report describing the causes of the exceedance and the corrective
actions taken to avoid future exceedances shall be submitted to the OHS and
SARWQCB within 30 days.
16
If a single sample of recycled water for total nitrogen analysis exceeds 5 mg/L as
nitrogen, a confirmation sample shall be collected and analyzed within 48 hours.
If the average of the initial and confirmation samples exceeds 5 mg/L as
nitrogen, an enhanced groundwater monitoring program shall be conducted at
the closest downgradient monitoring well located one to three months
underground travel time from the recharge operation. Weekly sampling and
analysis for total nitrogen at the closest monitoring well shall begin four weeks
prior to and continue until four weeks after the anticipated arrival time of the
recycled water having the elevated total nitrogen level.
At the closest monitoring well, if the nitrite concentration exceeds 1 mg/L as
nitrogen, or if the sum of the ammonia, nitrite, and organic nitrogen
concentrations exceeds 3 mg/L as nitrogen, then the program shall be expanded
to the next-closest downgradient monitoring well located three to four months
underground travel time from the recharge operation. Weekly sampling and
analysis for total nitrogen at the next-closest monitoring well shall continue until
four weeks after the anticipated arrival time of the recycled water having the
elevated total nitrogen level.
During the enhanced groundwater monitoring program at either the closest or
next-closest monitoring well, if the sum of the ammonia, nitrite, and organic
nitrogen concentrations does not exceed 3 mg/L as nitrogen, then normal
groundwater monitoring as required in Condition Nos. 23 through 27 may
resume.
During the enhanced groundwater monitoring program at the next-closest
monitoring well, if the nitrite concentration exceeds 1 mg/L as nitrogen, or if the
sum of the ammonia, nitrite, and organic nitrogen concentrations exceeds 3
mg/L as nitrogen, then weekly sampling and analysis for total nitrogen at the
closest domestic well shall begin four weeks prior to and continue until four
weeks after the anticipated arrival of the recycled water having the elevated total
nitrogen level.
Within 30 days of conclusion of enhanced groundwater monitoring, a report
· summarizing the results of the enhanced groundwater monitoring program and
describing the causes of the exceedance and corrective actions taken to avoid
future violations of these requirements shall be submitted to the OHS and
SARWQCB.
10. Diluent water shall be monitored quarterly for nitrate and nitrite. Within 48 hours
of being informed by the laboratory of a nitrate and/or nitrite result greater than a
maximum contaminant level, a confirmation sample shall be collected and
analyzed. If the average of the initial and confirmation samples exceeds a
maximum contaminant level, use of the diluent water shall be suspended and
OCWD shall notify the OHS and SARWQCB within 48 hours of receiving the
confirmation sample result. The causes of the exceedance shall be investigated
17
and appropriate corrections shall be made before use of the diluent water may
be resumed.
11. The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) concentration of the recycled water shall not
exceed 0.5 mg/L divided by the OHS-specified maximum average RWC.
Compliance shall be based on the running average of the most recent 20
samples. Each week one grab or 24-hour composite sample of the recycled
water shall be collected for TOC analysis. Determination of compliance shall
begin as soon as four samples have been collected, averaging all available
samples up to 20 samples. After that time, compliance shall be determined
monthly based on the most recent 20 TOC samples. The average of the most
recent 20 samples shall be determined monthly. If the average TOC
concentration exceeds 0.5 mg/L divided by the OHS-specified maximum
average RWC, then recharge via injection and spreading of recycled water shall
be suspended until the above TOC requirement can be met. Within seven days
of the suspension, OCWD shall notify the OHS and SARWQCB.
If the average of the last four recycled water samples exceeds the TOC
concentration of 0.5 mg/l divided by the OHS-specified maximum average
RWC, a report shall be submitted to OHS and the SARWQCB within 60 days
that describes the reasons and the corrective actions that have been taken to
avoid future occurrences.
12. The turbidity of the RO product water prior to disinfection shall not exceed 0.2
Nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) more than 5 percent of the time in any 24-
hour period and shall not exceed 0.5 NTU at any time. The turbidity of the RO
product water shall be continuously measured with at least one reading every
1.2 hours and recorded. Compliance with the daily average turbidity shall be
determined based on using the recorded turbidity taken at intervals of no more
than 1.2 hours over a 24-hour period. Should the continuous turbidity meter and
recorder fail, grab sampling at a minimum frequency of 1.2 hours may be
substituted for a period of up to 24 hours. The results of the daily average
turbidity determinations shall be reported quarterly to OHS and the SARWQCB.
A failure to meet the turbidity performance requirements shall result in the
suspension of injection of recycled water until such time that the cause of the
failure has been identified and corrected. Any failure to meet the turbidity
performance requirements shall be reported to the OHS and the SARWQCB in
the next monthly report.
13. The recycled water intended for recharge via injection and spreading shall be
disinfected such that the 7-day median number of total coliforms shall not
exceed 2.2 total coliform bacteria per 100 milliliters (ml), and the number of total
coliform organisms shall not exceed 23 total coliform bacteria per 100 ml in
more than one sample in any 30-day period prior to injection or spreading. No
sample shall exceed 240 total coliform bacteria per 100 ml. A grab sample
shall be analyzed daily for total coliform bacteria. A failure to meet these
requirements shall require the submission of a report describing the cause of the
18
failure and the corrective actions taken to avoid future violations of these
requirements. Failure to meet the 7-day median coliform requirement for two
consecutive days shall result in the suspension of the injection of recycled water
until such time the cause of the failure has been identified and corrected. Any
failure to meet the total coliform requirements shall be reported to the OHS and
SARWQCB in the next monthly report.
UV irradiation following membrane filtration has been recognized by the OHS as
an acceptable alternative disinfection method to chlorination to achieve at least
5-log inactivation of virus. UV disinfection shall comply with the "Ultraviolet
Disinfection Guidelines for Drinking Water and Water Reuse" (December 2000)
published by the National Water Research Institute (NWRI) which specify for RO
permeate that (1) the design UV dose shall be at least 50 millijoules per square
centimeter (mJ/cm 2 ) under maximum day flow; (2) the effluent turbidity shall be
equal to or less than 0.2 NTU 95 percent of the time, and not to exceed 0.5 NTU
at any time; and (3) the RO permeate UV transmittance shall be 90 percent or
greater at 254 nanometers (nm).
14. Each quarter during the first year of operation, samples of the recycled water
shall be collected and analyzed as follows, and any positive results shall be
reported to the OHS and SARWQCB in the next monthly report:
• Unregulated chemicals in Table 64450, Chapter 15, Title 22, CCR,
Drinking Water Quality and Monitoring Requirements;
• Priority toxic pollutants (chemicals listed in the Water Quality
Standards, Establishment of Numeric Criteria for Priority Toxic Pollutants
for the State of California, and 40 CFR Part 131, Federal Register 65 (97),
May 18, 2000, p. 31682); and
• The following chemicals with State action levels: N-
nitrosodimethylamine (NOMA), 1,4-dioxane, and perchlorate.
After the first year of operation, the OHS may allow the monitoring frequency to
be reduced to annually for the above chemicals based on the initial sample
results.
15. Each year, OCWO shall collect and analyze samples of the recycled wate~ for
endocrine disrupting chemicals and pharmaceuticals specified by the OHS and
using methods accepted by the OHS. The results of this monitoring shall be
submitted to the OHS and SARWQCB annually.
16. Each year, OCWO shall collect samples of the recycled water and conduct a
Tentatively Identified Chemicals (TIC) analysis. The results of this monitoring
shall be submitted to the OHS and SARWQCB annually.
17. An operations, maintenance and monitoring plan (OMM Plan) shall be
developed for the Interim WF-21 AWTF and submitted to the OHS and the
SARWQCB for approval prior to startup of Interim WF-21. OCWD shall operate
19
its Interim WF-21 facilities in accordance with the approved OMM Plan. After a
year of operation, the Interim WF-21 OMM Plan shall be updated and submitted
to the OHS and SARWQCB for review and approval. The updated Interim WF-
21 OMM Plan shall be used as the basis for the GWR System AWTF OMM
Plan.
An OMM Plan shall be developed for the GWR System AWTF and submitted to
the OHS and the SARWQCB for approval prior to startup of the GWR System.
OCWD shall operate its GWR System facilities in accordance with the approved
OMM Plan. After a year of operation, the GWR System OMM Plan shall be
updated and submitted to the OHS and SARWQCB for review and approval.
All OMM Plans shall cover critical operational parameters to include routine
testing procedures for the MF, RO and AOP systems, optimization of the
hydrogen peroxide dose, UV dose for disinfection, and all treatment processes,
maintenance and calibration schedules for monitoring equipment, process alarm
set points, and response procedures for alarms in each treatment process of the
AWTF, including criteria for diverting recycled water if water quality requirements
are not met, start-up, peak flow and emergency discharges to the Santa Ana
River, and emergency response and contingency plans. During the first year of
operation of Interim WF-21 and the GWR System, all treatment processes shall
be optimized to reduce contaminant levels. The results of these initial
optimization efforts shall be incorporated into the updated OMM Plans. The
OMM Plans shall include staffing levels with applicable certifications levels for
AWTF operations personnel. Significant changes in the operation of any of the
treatment processes shall be reported to the OHS and SARWQCB. Significant
changes in the approved OMM Plans must be approved by the OHS and
SARWQCB prior to instituting changes.
18. At the Talbert Gap Barrier. the recycled water shall be retained in the
groundwater basin for a minimum of 12 months prior to being withdrawn at a
domestic water supply well. A numerical model, tracer, or other method shall be
used to determine the underground retention time and recycled water
contribution to each aquifer. If a tracer is used, the tracer shall be determined
prior to start-up.
19. At the Anaheim Forebay, the recycled water shall be retained in the groundwater
basin for a minimum of 6 months prior to being withdrawn at a domestic water
supply well. A numerical model, tracer, or other method shall be used to
determine the underground retention time and recycled water contribution to
each aquifer. If a tracer is used, the tracer shall be determined prior to start-up.
20. At the Talbert Gap Barrier, no domestic drinking water wells shall be allowed
within a buffer zone defined by the area less than 2,000 feet and 12 months
underground travel time from the Talbert Gap Barrier.
20
21. At the Anaheim Forebay, no domestic drinking water wells shall be allowed
within a buffer zone defined by the area less than 500 feet and 6 months
underground travel time from Kraemer/Miller Basins.
22. OCWD shall adopt a resolution that effectively prevents the use of groundwater
for drinking water purposes within the area required to achieve 12 months
underground retention time and 2,000 feet of horizontal separation from the
Talbert Gap Barrier and within the area to achieve 6 months retention time and
500 feet of horizontal separation from the Kraemer/Miller Basins area. The
resolution shall be invoked prior to the start of injection or spreading of recycled
water from the GWR System. In addition, OCWD shall notify the Orange County
Well Standards Advisory Board of its resolution to prevent construction of any
domestic supply wells within these buffer zones.
23. Groundwater monitoring to detect the influence of the GWR System recharge via
injection and spreading shall be performed. Monitoring wells shall be sited at
locations within approximately three months underground travel time of each
recharge area and at additional intermediate points between each recharge area
and the nearest downgradient domestic water supply well, and such that
samples can be obtained independently from each aquifer potentially conveying
the recharge water. Monitoring well locations shall be determined based on a
numerical model, tracer, or other method to determine the estimated
underground travel time from the recharge operation to the monitoring well sites.
If a tracer is used, the tracer shall be determined prior to start-up.
24. At a minimum, three new multi-depth groundwater monitoring wells, M-45, M-46
and M-47, shall be constructed in Fountain Valley between the Talbert Gap
Barrier injection wells and nearby domestic water supply wells. For the nearest
domestic water supply well, MCWD-5, well M-46 shall be installed near the
Santa -Ana River approximately three to four months travel time from the barrier
{approximately 700 feet), and well M-47 shall be installed approximately one-half
of the distance (approximately 1,500 feet) between the barrier and MCWD-5.
For both wells M-46 and M-47, samples shall be taken independently from the
aquifers receiving the injection water as follows: (1) Lambda/Omicron Aquifer;
(2) Upper Rho Aquifer; (3) Lower Rho Aquifer; and (4) Main Aquifer. A third new
monitoring well, M-45, shall be constructed approximately one-half of the
distance (about 2,800 feet) between the barrier and the Newport Beach
production wells, NB-TAMS, NB-TAMD, NB-DOLS, and NB-DOLD. Two
existing monitoring wells, M-10 and M-11, located approximately three months
travel time from the barrier to these Newport Beach production wells, shall also
be monitored. For M-45, M-10, and M-11, samples shall be taken independently
from the aquifers receiving the injection water as follows: (1) Alpha; (2) Beta; (3)
Lambda/Omicron; and (4) Main Aquifer.
25. At a minimum, one new multi-depth groundwater monitoring well, AMD-12, shall
be constructed west of Kraemer/Miller Basins along the groundwater flow path
toward domestic water supply well A-26 to monitor water quality in multiple
21
zones of the Main Aquifer. Well AM0-12 shall be located approximately 2,600
feet away from the recharge operation, or about one-third of the distance
(approximately three months travel time) between Kraemer/Miller Basins and
well A-26. In addition, two existing monitoring wells, AM-7 and AM-8, located
west of Kraemer/Miller Basins along the flow path toward well A-26, shall be
regularly monitored. AM0-7 is located at about one-quarter of the distance
(approximately 2 months travel time) between Kraemer/Miller Basins and well A-
26. AM-8 is located at approximately one-half of the distance (approximately
four months travel time) between Kraemer/Miller Basins and well A-26. After it is
taken out of service, well SCWC-PLJ2, which is located about three-quarters of
the distance (approximately six months travel time) between Kraemer/Miller
Basins and well A-26, may be used for monitoring purposes. For the new
monitoring well AMD-12, samples shall be taken independently from the Main
Aquifer system receiving the recharge water at the following approximate
depths: (1) 300-350 feet; (2) 400~450 feet; (3) 550-650 feet; (4) 750-800 feet;
and 900-1,000 feet. For existing monitoring wells AM-7, AM-8, and AM0-10,
samples shall be taken independently from the Main Aquifer system receiving
the recharge water at varying depths to track the travel and quality
characteristics of the spreading operation.
26. The groundwater monitoring program shall be reviewed and modified every two
years or sooner, based on results of the monitoring program. Changes to the,
monitoring program, including well locations, shall be approved by the OHS and
SARWQCB.
27. Each quarter, at a minimum, samples shall be collected from the aquifers and at
the depths listed above at each monitoring well and analyzed for the following:
• TOG;
• Total nitrogen;
• Constituents and characteristics in CCR, Title 22, Chapter 15, Tables
64449-A and 64449-B;
• Total coliform levels; and
• Any water quality constituents specified by the OHS based· on the results of
the recycled water monitoring conducted pursuant to these analyses.
If any of the monitoring results indicates that a maximum contaminant level has
been exceeded or that coliforms are present, OCWO shall notify the OHS within
48 hours of receiving the results and make note of any positive findings in the
monthly report submitted to the SARWQCB.
28. OCWD shall submit all water quality data for recycled water and groundwater
monitoring in a format acceptable to the OHS and SARWQCB. Analytical results
shall be reported to the OHS electronically using the Electronic Deliverable
Format as defined in the Electronic Deliverable Format (EDF) Version 1.2i
22
Guidelines and Restrictions dated April 2001 and Data Dictionary dated April
2001.
29. OCWD shall perform annually a mass balance to ensure that blending is
occurring in the aquifer for the initial phase of operation. Injection and surface-
spread recharge water flow paths will be determined annually from groundwater
elevation contours and compared to the flow and transport model's flow paths.
Assumptions for the model shall be revised if there are any significant changes
to the Basin's injection, spreading, recharge, and extraction activities. The flow
and transport model shall be updated to match as closely as possible the actual
flow patterns observed within the aquifer if the flow paths have significantly
changed.
30. During the initial 75 percent RWC operation period, OCWD shall submit annually
a report to the OHS and SARWQCB evaluating the compliance with the
minimum underground retention time, distance to the nearest point of extraction,
blending, and the maximum RWC requirements. The annual report shall include
water quality data on turbidity, coliforms, total nitrogen, regulated contaminants,
TOC, and non-regulated contaminants compliance. The annual report shall also
include a summary of corrective actions taken as a result of violations,
suspensions of recharge, detections of monitored constituents and any observed
trends, information on the travel of the recycled water (estimated location of the
leading edge), description of any changes in operation of any unit processes or
facilities, and description of any anticipated changes, including any impacts on
other unit processes.
31. An independent advisory panel shall provide on-going periodic scientific peer
review of the GWR System. Members of the advisory panel, at a minimum, shall
include a toxicologist, an engineering geologist or hydrogeologist registered in
California, an engineer registered in California and experienced in the fields of
wastewater treatment and public water supply, a microbiologist, and a chemist.
32. OCWO shall review Title 22 drinking water quality data for the nearest domestic
water supply wells in· the vicinity of the GWR System and Interim WF-21
injection operation at Talbert Gap Barrier and in the vicinity of the GWR System
spreading operation at the Anaheim Forebay, and shall immediately notify the
OHS and the owner of the well to discontinue using the well if it no longer
produces safe, wholesome, potable water as a result of the recycled water
injection or spreading operation, and shall provide an alternative safe drinking
water supply approved by the OHS.
33. OCWO shall submit an annual report of findings prepared by an independent,
qualified engineer registered in California and experienced in the field of
advanced wastewater treatment for groundwater recharge regarding the
operation of the GWR System and Interim WF-21 facilities and the results of the
monitoring and investigations of the impacts of recycled water injection at
Talbert Gap Barrier and spreading at Anaheim Forebay.
23
34. OCWD shall update and submit the engineering report every five years to the
OHS and SARWQCB.
35. Provided that OCWD meets all of the above conditions and findings of fact,
notwithstanding subsequent deletion of any condition by the SARWQCB, the
OHS finds that the GWR System and Interim WF-21 can provide injection
recharge water and that the GWR System can provide spreading recharge water
that will not degrade the groundwater basin as a source of water supply for
domestic purposes.
/
Cindy E r es, P .E.
Chief f the Southern California Branch
Drinking Water Field Operations
State of California Department of Health Services
Hearing Officer
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