Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Water Quality Management (208) Program Vonie Gilreath, Regional Planner, BCDCOG Coastal Community Workshop February 7, 2006

Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments History  Formed by local governments in Berkeley & Charleston Counties to encourage a regional approach to local dilemmas. o  Dorchester County governments joined  Organization changed Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG).  One of 10 COGs  Board membership Primary Role:  Assist local governments develop local and regional land use plans.  Coordinates the notification and review of all projects in the region seeking federal funding. Transportation Water Quality

Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Water Quality Management (208) Plan True Regional Planning! True Regional Planning! Background Background  208 Plan evolved from Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 Goal- Prevent, reduce eliminate water pollution Goal- Prevent, reduce eliminate water pollution EPA supervising agency EPA supervising agency 2 Goals Amendments: 2 Goals Amendments:  1. Achieve water clean enough for recreation, fish, shellfish and wildlife  2. By 1985, no discharges of pollutants into waters

208 Water Quality Management Plan Section 208 of Water Pollution Control Water Act Section 208 of Water Pollution Control Water Act  Authorized grants to designated state/regional agencies  Designated BCDCOG area wide planning agency  Four other COG’s designated  DHEC serves as planning agency for balance of state

Section Water Quality Mngt Role Section Water Quality Mngt Role  BCDCOG Must Develop Water Quality Mngt. Plan for: 1. Municipal and industrial point sources to include storm water 1. Municipal and industrial point sources to include storm water 2. Nonpoint sources 2. Nonpoint sources 3. Protection groundwater 3. Protection groundwater 4. Pollution from residential waste 4. Pollution from residential waste 208 Water Quality Management Plan

Specifically, 208 plan must address: Specifically, 208 plan must address:  1. Evaluation of existing & potential water problems  2. Needs for waste treatment systems over 20 Year period  3. Inventory/projection wasteload of point sources of pollutants  4. ID agencies to manage and carry out Plan  5. Determination of water quality standards to achieve fishable swimmable goal  6. Evaluation of environmental/economic impacts resulting from Plan

208 Water Quality Management Plan 208 Plan Defines Role of Local Designated Management Agencies  Most Important players Role: manage and carry out plan Service areas determined by COG Board Includes:  BCWSA, Charleston Water System (formerly CPW), MPW, IOP, Kiawah, Summerville CPW, NCSD, etc.

208 Water Quality Management Plan GOALS OF THE PLAN 1. All surface waters should meet state standards. 2. Should provide for sufficient wastewater treatment capability to accommodate the 20-year growth projected. 3. Existing point source discharges should be discontinued at such time as connection to a regional public wastewater treatment system is available. 4. New and expanded point source discharges should be discouraged if an environmentally preferable and economically feasible alternative exists. 5. Alternative wastewater disposal techniques should be considered when plans for new or enlarged treatment systems are being considered. 6. SCDHEC and other state/federal agencies are encouraged to expand, upgrade and integrate their water quality monitoring programs in the region, in order to identify specific sources of existing and potential water quality problems.

Permitting Process Permit Application (New, Renewal, or Expansion) BCDCOG (208 Water Quality Certification, Minor or Major Amendment) DHEC

Minor Amendments Include: 1. Any new WWTF requesting a permitted flow of less than 1.0 MGD and defined to be a minor facility by SCDHEC or EPA. 2. Improvements to an existing WWTP which are necessary to meet NPDES Permit Conditions requiring increased levels of treatment. 3. An existing WWTF which would be expanded by less than 50% of the current permitted capacity, with respect to flow. 4. An existing WWTF which would be “rerated” to handle a higher permitted flow, but would not result in an increased permitted UOD loading to the receiving stream. 5. A proposed change in the current effluent disposal method, discharge point, or service area for an existing WWTF that would be consistent with the goals and other provisions of the BCDCOG 208 plan. 6. Agreements between Designated Management Agencies.

Major Amendments Include: 1. Proposal for new, increased, or any other changes to existing permitted discharges into Water Quality Limited stream segments. 2. Proposals involving the allocation of TMDL’s for Water Quality Limited stream segments. 3. Any new WWTF requesting a permitted flow of 1.0 MGD, or more, or defined to be a major facility by SCDHEC or EPA. 4. Existing Wastewater Treatment Facilities which will be expanded by at least 50% of the current permitted capacity, with respect to flow. 5. An expansion of an existing WWTF which involves an increase in the presently permitted wasteload, expressed as UOD, which could be discharged to a receiving stream. 6. Proposals effecting the Service Area of two or more Designated Management Agencies which do not include appropriate agreements between those Management Agencies. 7. Proposed projects which conflict with the goals of the BCDCOG 208 WQM Plan.

General Requirements for Plan Amendment Applications 1. Justification of plan amendment. 2. Identification of the designated 20-year planning area. 3. Projected land use patterns over the 20-year planning period for the designated wastewater facilities planning area. 4. Population projections for the designated planning area over a 20-year period, and associated wastewater flow. 5. An evaluation of feasible wastewater collection, treatment and/or effluent disposal alternatives which would be required to handle the projected wastewater flow to meet 20-year needs for the planning area.

6. An environmental assessment and cost effective analysis of the most feasible wastewater collection, treatment, and/or effluent disposal alternatives. 7. The identification of the selected wastewater collection, treatment, and/or effluent disposal alternatives identified in the above analysis. 8. Technical Information to include for selected alternative: a. Process design criteria. b. Expected effluent quality. c. For phased projects, include phase schedules. 9. The method of sludge disposal. General Requirements for Amendments Applications continued

BCDCOG Technical Sub-Committee Review Recommendation to the Environmental Committee 208 Water Quality Plan Amendment Process Prepared By: BCD COG 4/26/96 Public Hearing (Optional) COG Environmental Committee Review with Recommendation to Full COG Board Vote By Full COG Board Amendment Approved or Disapproved Amendment Request Received

Examples of Recent Amendments to 208 Plan Summerville CPW approved to serve area along Interstate 26 located in BCWSA area but BCWSA can not serve area MPW approved to serve an area along Hwy.41 that is in BCWSA area.

What fee do I have to pay? The fee is required to offset the growing costs of maintaining the Regional Water Quality Management Program. The fee is required to offset the growing costs of maintaining the Regional Water Quality Management Program. The charges vary depending on the type of request. The charges vary depending on the type of request. Collection Systems (including interceptors and pump stations): $230 Residential Multiphase Projects Phase 1 only: ……………………$230 Phase 1 only: ……………………$230 All subsequent phases: $175 Treatment Systems (including additions, modifications, and permit reissuances): $425 Other System Improvements (requests that do not fall into the other categories): $325 What is a POTW? POTW stands for Public Operator of Treatment Works. If the project involves sewer lines, the POTW contact on the form would be the contact to the public entity that is accepting your waste flow. POTW stands for Public Operator of Treatment Works. If the project involves sewer lines, the POTW contact on the form would be the contact to the public entity that is accepting your waste flow. What information is needed with the submission of a certification form? For sewer line extensions: The BCDCOG requires a completed certification form and a location map indicating the where the lines are to be constructed. A full set of engineering plans is not required. For all other projects: The BCDCOG requires a PER (preliminary engineering report) for new, expanded, or changes in point source discharges. For sewer line extensions: The BCDCOG requires a completed certification form and a location map indicating the where the lines are to be constructed. A full set of engineering plans is not required. For all other projects: The BCDCOG requires a PER (preliminary engineering report) for new, expanded, or changes in point source discharges. What projects require a 208 Water Quality Certification? The BCDCOG reviews projects that involve point source discharges into the region’s waters. Extension of sewer lines falls within that scope, as well as new point source discharges, expansions, or changes to existing discharges. The BCDCOG also reviews subdivision of property that will be served by septic systems, with the exception of simple division of land of 4 lots or less. The BCDCOG does not review water line extensions or projects that fall under one of SCDHEC’s general permits. The BCDCOG reviews projects that involve point source discharges into the region’s waters. Extension of sewer lines falls within that scope, as well as new point source discharges, expansions, or changes to existing discharges. The BCDCOG also reviews subdivision of property that will be served by septic systems, with the exception of simple division of land of 4 lots or less. The BCDCOG does not review water line extensions or projects that fall under one of SCDHEC’s general permits. 208 Water Quality Management Plan Commonly Asked Questions What does the BCDCOG have to do with water quality? The BCDCOG - Water Quality Management Agency for the region. As part of our responsibilities the BCDCOG reviews sewer projects for conformance to the Regional Water Quality Management Plan. The BCDCOG carries out this review for (DHEC). Without certification from our agency, SCDHEC will not issue a permit for a sewer project. The BCDCOG - Water Quality Management Agency for the region. As part of our responsibilities the BCDCOG reviews sewer projects for conformance to the Regional Water Quality Management Plan. The BCDCOG carries out this review for (DHEC). Without certification from our agency, SCDHEC will not issue a permit for a sewer project.

SAMPLE SEWER FORM SUBJECT: Request for 208-plan Sewer Conformance Certification Collection Systems =$230 Treatment Systems =$425 Other System Improvements =$325 Residential Multiphase Projects (Phase 1) =$230 All subsequent phases of Multiphase Project = $175 Please review the following project and complete Section 10 and Project Name: 2. County: 3. General Location (see attached map): 4. Type of Action for Review: Construction Permit Request 5. Type of Project: Number of Units: 6. Type of Waste Volume (GPD): 7. Disposal Method: 8. Consulting Engineer (include phone number): 9. POTW Contact (include phone number): 10. This project (is) (is not) in conformance with the 208/201 Plan 11. Comments: Signature of Certifying Officer Date Return with any attached comments to the following address: NAME:ADDRESS:CITY:

Next Steps Update 208 Plan 1. Update 208 Plan 2. Johns Island 2. Johns Island 3. Package Plants 3. Package Plants

For more information:  208 Plan can be downloaded from Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Council of Governments website at bcdcog.com  Contact: Vonie Gilreath, Regional Planner, BCDCOG or )