HomeMy WebLinkAbout851222.tiff WATER QUALITY NEWS WELD CCM
Colorado Water Congress • 1390 Logan St., Rm. 312 • Denver, Colo m; 37-0812
Editor : Jerry W . Raisch t Wierf j d:
A SUMMARY OF CURRENT WATER QUACI T REELEY. cola.
DEVELOPMENTS OF INTEREST TO COLORADO WATER USERS
SUMMARY OF THE BASIC STANDARDS FOR SUBSURFACE WATER
PROPOSED BY THE COLORADO WATER QUALITY CONTROL COMMISSION
The Colorado water Quality Control Commission has proposed regula-
tions to protect and control groundwater quality. The hearing on these
' regulations will be November 4, 1985. The Colorado Water Congress has
requested party status and intends to participate in the hearing . The
regulations provide a framework for establishment of use categories and
water quality standards for subsurface waters , an interim regulation to
control subsurface water contamination and contemplate implementation
through discharge permits . The thrust of the regulations is to prevent
T uture groundwater problems and to remedy existing problems not already
addressed by some other law (e .g . RCRA, UIC ) . If adopted , the regulations
will require dischargers who have impaired groundwater quality to clean up
existing problems . The regulations are broad in scope and contemplate
implementation through the discharge permit program .
. Use Categories
The proposal does not contemplate setting use classifications
throughout the state as the Commission has done on surface streams . Use
categories would be established only when:
1 . The Division receives an application for a permit to discharge to sub-
surface water or to surface waters that are hydrologically connected to
subsurface waters .
2. An activity-specific control regulation is adopted by the Commission (e .g .
control subsurface discharges by industrial wastewater impoundments ) .
3. An entity is alleged to be a contributor to site-specific subsurface
water contamination pursuant to the interim control regulation (des-
cribed below) .
Three use categories are proposed .
1 . Category i . Public and private water supplies , irrigation, livestock wa-
tering, commerical/industrial and other uses . (TDS less than 3, 000 mg/1 . )
2. Category 2. Irrigation, livestock watering, commercial/ industrial and
other uses . (TDS 3, 000 to 10, 000 mg/1 . )
3. Category 3. All uses other than public or private water supplies . (TDS
greater than 10, 000 mg/1 . )
Initial use categories would be established by the Division. Changes
to these categories can be sought by affected persons and requests for
charges would be heard by the Commission .
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If . Water Quality Standards
Once a category is established , water quality standards will apply
e protect the use category. A1l categories will be subject to five nar-
rative standards requiring the subsurface waters to be " free from" pollu-
tion such as that which is carcinogenic , mutagenic, teratogenic or toxic
to humans or in concentrations that pose a danger to public health, safety
or welfare .
A list of maximum contaminant levels applies to Use Categories 1
and 2. The levels in this list are similar to the National Primary
Drinking Water Standards . In addition , the National Secondary Drinking
Water Standards would apply to Use Category 1 . It should be noted that
~.he National Standards were designed to apply at the supply pipe after
rreatment . These regulations propose to require that the standards be met
{ the ground .
ITT . Interim Control. Regulation
The proposal includes an interim control regulation which would
apply to various classes of listed dischargers (e .g . , agricultural facil.i-
t es , domestic wastewater treatment plants , and industrial wastewater
,Eiaundments ) . Under this control regulation the Division could require
• _n eclial action plans if a groundwater use has been impaired . Failure by a
�• -e to implement the plan will result in issuance of a notice of viola-
tion cease and desist order and/or a clean up order pursuant to the
'orcement sections of the Colorado Water Quality Control Act . Action.
aken by the Division under the interim control regulation authority are
ewable by a hearing officer .
'•" Implementation by Discharge Permits
The regulation includes a proposal that any point source discharge
• who generates wastewater effluent and who discharges that wastewater to
e,,laaurface waters must obtain a permit . This includes not only direct
aubsurface discharges but also incidetal subsurface discharges from sur-
{:•: discharges (e .g . , a municipal wastewater treatment plant that (Hs-
, , rges into a stteam ) . The subsurface groundwater standards would be the
for additional effluent limitations to be included in the permit .
Variances ances may be sought from the subsurface groundwater standards for
1 .scharges to Category 3 waters . Variances from permit conditions may
• so be sought for discharges into Category 1_ or. 2 waters provided that
:sent or potent .al future use will be impaired and provided that the
e' surface groundwater standards will not be exceeded . It should be noted
•; t the Commission must amend its discharge permit regulations before
r^ ..aits for discharges to groundwater will actually be required .
^:merits on the Water Quality Newsletter and suggestions for inclusion
--• aulci be addressed to Jerry W. Raisch, Vranesh and Raisch, P.Q. Box 871 ,
. •1.c3e , Colorado 80306 (Phone: 303-443-6151 ) .
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