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Pennsylvania's Chesapeake
Bay Tributary Strategy
- By William C. Gable
 The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
(PADEP) released Pennsylvania's current Chesapeake Bay
Tributary Strategy (CBTS) in January of 2005. The purpose of
the CBTS was to address Pennsylvania's commitment for nutrient
and sediment reductions in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, under
the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement. The goal of the Chesapeake 2000
Agreement was to remove the Chesapeake Bay from the federal
Clean Water Act's list of impaired waters prior to 2011 when
the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would
establish a bay-wide Total Maximum Daily Load resulting in
mandatory directives from EPA. The CBTS consists of various
initiatives to meet these nutrient and sediment reduction
obligations in a cost effective manner. The CBTS also focuses
Pennsylvania efforts to meet legal requirements associated with
impairment of the Bay, including new water quality standards
enacted by Maryland.
As a component of this initiative, the Point Source Work Group
(PSWG) was formed to address concerns arising over
implementation of nutrient reduction requirements for point
source sewage dischargers.
The strategy of PADEP with regard to permitting for wastewater
treatment facilities in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed is defined
with a multiple phase implementation plan. Permitting for
existing sewage discharges will be implemented by revoking and
reissuing permits using a phased approach, initially imposing
total nitrogen (TN) or total phosphorus (TP) cap loads for
significant sewage dischargers, based in part on their
respective delivered loads to the Bay.
The new cap loads for wastewater treatment facilities will be
implemented in 5 phases beginning with phase 1 on October 1,
2010 and the final phase 5 during 2013. As a first step in the
process of incorporating cap loads into individual wastewater
treatment permits, the PADEP requires that all significant
sewage dischargers monitor and report TN (and its specific
species) and TP on their monthly Discharge Monitoring Report
(DMR).
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Implementation Plan for
Sewage Facilities Planning
- By Bridget Shadler
 In an effort to address excess nutrients and
sediments in the Chesapeake Bay, On August 29, 2005, Maryland
amended its water quality standards. As a result of the changes
in Maryland's regulations, the Clean Water Act, and
Pennsylvania's regulations, Pennsylvania will need to reduce
its concentration of nutrients in water, which will eventually
enter the Chesapeake Bay.
The number one most important factor in the increased nutrient
load is population growth. Increased population growth results
in an increased discharge rate at sewage treatment plants and
increases the number of septic systems as well. However, it is
also important to note that 85% of nitrogen loads in
Pennsylvania are a result of non- point sources (pollution that
comes from a cumulative effect such as septic systems), and
these sources are not being addressed.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined a cap
load for each state and watershed. The EPA hopes that this will
not only protect the downstream water quality but will also
help restore the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Tributary
Strategy (CBTS) is also asking that all point sources provide a
14- and 22-percent reduction of total nitrate (TN) and total phosphorus
(TP), respectively. However, any new point source will have to
maintain a zero net increase in TN and TP. This means that
information beyond that simply related to hydraulic and organic
capacity must be considered and new alternatives must be implemented.
There are several alternatives that can be utilized to meet
these new criteria. For example:
- Wastewater
can be recycled and reused. More information on recycling
and reuse can be found in PADEP's Water Reuse Manual.
- Use
the wastewater to irrigate crops. In this technology, the
plants would take up the TN, thus reducing its
concentration. The TP would not hurt the soil profile and
would not pollute groundwater.
- Retire
existing on lot systems. For each on lot system that is
retired, approximately 25 pounds per year of TN can be
considered to offset an increased point source TN load.
However, retirement of on lot systems does not result in a
transfer of TP loads, since on lot systems do not
contribute to groundwater.
When the above-mentioned options are not feasible, nutrient
trading can be utilized. If a facility cannot meet the net-zero
requirements, the must have in writing that they will purchase
enough credits to offset the additional TNs and TPs. On the
other hand, if you can exceed these requirements, then your
facility can sell their credits.
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PADEP Policy Change for
Preliminary Hydrogeological Evaluations
- By Philip M. Donmoyer, P.G.
 When it comes to developing a property in the
Commonwealth, one of the many things that must be planned for
is how the sewage generated on your property will be treated.
This is usually accomplished by the completion of a Sewage
Planning Module (SPM), which is required by, and needs the
approval of, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection (PADEP). When on lot disposal systems (OLDS) are
proposed, a Preliminary Hydrogeological Evaluation, or more
commonly referred to as a Prelim Hydro, is sometimes required
to be completed as part of the SPM package.
According to PADEP regulations, Prelim Hydros are required when
the use of subsurface soil absorption areas is proposed and one
of the following exists:
- A
large volume [10,000-gallons per day (gpd)] on lot sewage
system will be used.
- A subdivision
of more than 50 equivalent dwelling units (EDUs) with a
density of more than one EDU per acre is proposed.
- The
PADEP has documented that the nitrate- nitrogen
concentration in water supplies within ¼ mile of the
proposed site exceed 5 parts per million (ppm).
- The
PADEP has determined that known geological conditions for
the proposed Site may contribute to the potential for
groundwater pollution from the systems. This generally
refers to areas underlain by carbonate- bearing geologic
formations (limestone, dolomite, marble.)
Prelim Hydro's must include, as a minimum, the following
information in map and narrative form:
- The
topographic location of the proposed systems in relation
to groundwater or surface water flow, or both.
- Estimated
wastewater dispersion plume using an average daily flow of
262.5 gallons per EDU per day or other flow data supported
by documentation.
- Identification
and location of existing and potential groundwater uses in
the estimated area of impacted groundwater)
In order to complete the Prelim Hydro, the background, or
current, nitrate concentrations in the groundwater beneath the
property to be developed needs to be determined, which is
accomplished through groundwater sampling and analysis. PADEP's
regulations do not include any mention of the length of time
these sample results are valid. This wasn't a serious issue
until recently when the PADEP started disapproving SPM
applications because the groundwater sample results utilized in
the Prelim Hydro's were over a year old and deemed 'not
current.' The PADEP conducted (and is still conducting in a
more limited extent) a 10-year investigation to determine if
there was a trend regarding the concentration of nitrates in
groundwater versus time (season). The results demonstrated a
clear yearly cycle in the variation of the nitrate
concentrations, but not in any particular pattern or season.
When confronted with SPM's or other studies that utilized
groundwater sample results that were, in some cases, years old,
and being reused at properties, the PADEP looked to this annual
cycling as its' basis for a cut-off. Therefore, based on this
information, it is always best to submit the SPM to the PADEP
in a very timely manner to avoid resampling, and possibly,
receiving unfavorable results that could severely hinder the
development plans for the property.
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Seeking Employment?
- By Brian J. Beahan, P.G., CHMM, President
 We are always interested in speaking with
qualified professionals to join our team. We appreciate your
referrals of business and now are seeking your referrals for
qualified environmental and geologic consulting professionals.
If you know of anyone who is seeking a change and a challenging
new direction in their career, where creativity and
solutions-oriented thinking really make a difference, please
pass on our contact information.
Find out more....
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Our
customers have approached us with problems, we've understood what
needed to be done and we've provided appropriate solutions. Our
mission statement, indeed our company as a whole, is centered on
meeting this objective. May we put our quality, client-centered
environmental solutions to work for you too?
On
behalf of the staff of Alternative Environmental Solutions, Inc.,
I invite you to experience the value we add to your business.
Sincerely,
Brian J. Beahan, P.G., CHMM
Alternative Environmental Solutions
email: aes1@altenv.com
phone: 717-517-5000
fax: 717-517-5004
web: http://www.altenv.com
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