CWAG 2010 WATER LAW CONFERENCE The Broadmoor Colorado Springs, Colorado April 29 – 30, 2010

Permitting Challenges in Reverse Osmosis Waste Janet Kieler P.E. Permits Section Manger Water Quality Control Division

The Bottom Line  Issuance  Denial  Compliance Schedules  Significant Change in Operations

The Regulatory Framework for Permitting  Technology Based Standards  Water Quality Standards, numeric and narrative – Protect beneficial uses – Assimilative capacity (mixing/dilution) allowed where available  Antidegradation

Issuance  Adequate dilution for all pollutants, direct or indirect discharge  Smaller scale to a POTW, e.g., industry needing high purity water  Larger scale with high quality receiving waters – Unlikely because the source water will not require RO  Blending with raw water, storage, alternate disposal

Denial  Typical Contaminants of Concern (x6 from source water) – Nitrate – TDS – Trace organics – Pharmaceuticals – Radionuclides – Selenium – Metals  No assimilative capacity – 0 low flow stream – Impaired waters, front range, agricultural areas

Compliance Schedules Division began taking a closer look at RO discharges in 2006 Existing facilities eligible for a compliance schedule for new requirements

Significant changes in operation  Drinking water discharges to a POTW  Evaluate the impact to the POTW permit first  Will eventually result in a compliance schedule if unsustainable

Public Involvement  Awareness and participation  Environmental Justice  Indirect or direct reuse

Drivers  Drinking Water Regulations  Public desires and expectations  Land use and development  Deplenishing supplies

Options?  Zero Liquid Discharge  Underground injection  Evaporation  Alternate supplies – Reuse  Reduce demand, quantity and quality  Changes in regulatory framework – State rulemaking or statutes – Federal rulemaking or statues

Case Studies  Issuance – ECCV Northern Project – ACWWA  Denial – Thornton – Greatrock North  Compliance Schedules – La Junta – Brighton – Las Animas – Milliken  Underground Injection – Sterling

CWAG 2010 WATER LAW CONFERENCE The Broadmoor Colorado Springs, Colorado April 29 – 30, 2010