Title
Authorization to Receive and File Updated 2024 GLWA Industrial Pretreatment Program Rules
Body
Agenda of: September 25, 2024
Item No.: 2024-311
Amount: N/A
TO: The Honorable
Board of Directors
Great Lakes Water Authority
FROM: Suzanne R. Coffey, P.E.
Chief Executive Officer
Great Lakes Water Authority
DATE: September 23, 2024
RE: Authorization to Receive and File Updated 2024 GLWA Industrial Pretreatment Program Rules
MOTION
Upon recommendation of David W. Jones, General Counsel, the Board of Directors for the Great Lakes Water Authority (“GLWA”) receives and files the Updated 2024 GLWA Industrial Pretreatment Program Rules; directs staff to upload the Updated Rules to the GLWA website for public comment until November 11, 2024; and authorizes the Chief Executive Officer to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND
Pollutants in industrial wastewater may compromise treatment processes or contaminate waters of the state. To protect treatment and recovery facilities and the environment, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (“EGLE”) administers an Industrial Pretreatment Program (“IPP”) which requires industrial dischargers to use treatment techniques and management practices to reduce or eliminate the discharge of harmful pollutants to sanitary and combined sewers. The IPP is a core part of the Federal Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”). At the present time, the Great Lakes Water Authority (“GLWA”) administers the IPP.
JUSTIFICATION
The IPP is administered for the enforcement of local pollution controls following the objectives of the NPDES permit and the Clean Water Act (“CWA”). EGLE is currently negotiating GLWA/Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s (“DWSD”) NPDES Permit and the IPP Rules have been updated to incorporate relevant changes.
On July 1, 2019 EGLE issued GLWA/DWSD’s current NPDES Permit, which required GLWA to (i) develop GLWA IPP Rules, (ii) develop and obtain approval from EGLE for a revised IPP based upon the aforementioned GLWA Rules, and (iii) amend the GLWA Rules to incorporate the Local Limits Evaluation report of June 1, 2021, as revised. The Updated 2024 IPP Rules address these requirements.
The current Industrial Waste Control regulatory programs include: (1) the IPP, (2) the Surcharge Program, (3) the Hauled-in-Waste Program, and (4) the Special Waste Discharge Program.
Industrial Pretreatment Program: The IPP is a local regulatory program that controls toxic pollutant discharges to the Detroit Collection System. Through a command/control center, the IPP regulates the indirect discharge of wastewater by non-domestic, commercial, and industrial users.
Surcharge Program: The Surcharge Program complies with Michigan and Federal regulations that require all users of public sewerage system facilities to contribute towards treatment costs for pollutants pertaining to facilities and their operation.
Hauled-in-Waste Program: This program regulates and controls the discharge and release of septic wastes in the wastewater system. Discharges are permitted at specific dump sites.
Special Waste Discharge Program: This program regulates and controls the discharge and release of treated groundwater from underground storage tank sites, construction and pond water, wastewater associated with the development or cleanup of buildings or properties, and other uncategorized wastewater. The program also maintains a general permit program for gas, steam, and electrical utilities.
The Board approved the current GLWA IPP Rules on November 19, 2019. EGLE subsequently updated and approved the Local Pollutant Discharge Limits Evaluation and the Updated 2024 IPP Rules includes these limits.
The GLWA IPP Rule Updates were presented to the Wastewater Analytical Task Force (WATF) on April 12th, 2024, where the discussion focused on Airport (civilian and military) discharge contributions.
A summary of the five (5) proposed 2024 Updates to the IPP Rules is as follows:
1. The term “Non-residential water meter” is now defined to clarify its use in applying the IWC Meter Charge.
2. The definition for “PFAS Compounds” is modified to include eleven (11) additional compounds identified by Michigan EGLE.
3. The definition of “Total Phenolics Compounds” is revised to clarify its meaning.
4. Revised and/or new local pollutant discharge limitations are proposed based on the approved June 2021 study as follows:
a. The Daily Maximum Limit for Total Phosphorus is reduced from 150 mg/l to 125 mg/l.
b. The Daily Maximum Limit for Available Cyanide is added for 1.5 mg/l.
c. The Daily Maximum Limit for Copper is reduced from 3 mg/l to 0.72 mg/l.
d. The Daily Maximum Limit for Mercury replaces the “Non-detect limit with a numerical value of 0.002 mg/l.
e. The Daily Maximum Limit for Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) is added for 65 ng/l (nanograms per liter).
f. The Daily Maximum Limit for “Total Phenolic Compounds” is revised from 1 mg/l to 5 mg/l.
5. A typographical correction is made to identify “seven (7)” phenolic compounds instead of eight (8).
GLWA is required by state and federal law to adopt binding rules and regulations to comply with all applicable state and federal laws, including, without limitation, the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 USC Section 1251, et seq., the General Pretreatment Regulations for Existing and New Sources of Pollution, 40 CFR 403, and the National Categorical Pretreatment Standards contained in 40CFR Sections 405-471.
BUDGET IMPACT
The proposed action does not impact the budget.
COMMITTEE REVIEW
A committee has not reviewed the Updated 2024 GLWA IPP Rules. The Updated IPP Rules are being presented directly to the full GLWA Board of Directors. A discussion will be held at the Board of Directors Meeting on October 23, 2024 to review the Updated Rules.
SHARED SERVICES IMPACT
This item does not impact the shared services agreement between GLWA and DWSD.