Water quality, including both surface water and groundwater, is a growing concern for most Americans.
While relatively few industries/individuals potentially impact groundwater, virtually all industries/individuals have the potential to impact surface waters. Section 301 of the Clean Water Act requires a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water permit for “industrial activities” discharging pollutants into waters of the United States, as defined in 40 CFR 122.2.
Furthermore, waste water treatment plants discharging treated waste water are also regulated. Since the inception of storm water regulations in 1992, RSB Environmental professionals have dealt extensively with the EPA and state permitting and enforcement agencies to clarify permitting issues and interpretations as well as actively permitting industrial activities throughout the US under a variety of permitting programs and regulations. Our storm water specialists are well versed in the federal and state regulations.
The discharge of treated wastewater into or adjacent to water in the state must be authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Permitting
Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Permits
- Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES)
Facilities that dispose of treated effluent by discharge into waters in the state are required to obtain this permit.
- Texas Land Application Permit (TLAP)
Facilities that dispose of treated effluent by land application (surface irrigation, evaporation, drainfields or subsurface land application) are required to obtain this permit.
Water Quality Permits for Agriculture
- Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) Water Quality General Permit
- Water Quality Individual Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
On-Site Sewage Facilities (Septic Systems)
Permitting, maintenance, and construction requirements for on-site sewage facilities (septic systems).
Sewage Sludge Permits
- To process or dispose of sewage sludgeor apply it to the land, you must first obtain an individual permit. Class B sewage sludge is a classification of sewage sludge based on the levels of disease-causing organisms (pathogens). For a complete legal definition of Class B sewage sludge, see Title 30, Texas Administrative Code (30 TAC), Section 312.8
- To apply domestic septageto the land, you must first register with the TCEQ. Domestic septage is the material pumped from septic tanks and similar wastes—but not chemical toilet waste. For a complete legal definition of domestic septage, see Title 30, Texas Administrative Code (30 TAC),Section 312.8.
- To apply water treatment sludgeto the land, you must first register with the TCEQ. Water treatment sludge is generated during the treatment of surface water or groundwater for potable use. For a complete legal definition of water treatment sludge, see Title 30, Texas Administrative Code (30 TAC), Section 312.8.
- To apply Class A or Class AB sewage sludgeto the land, you must first notify the TCEQ. Class A or Class AB sewage sludge has been treated to reduce pathogens and its attractveness to vectors to a greater extent than is achieved in Class B sewage sludge. For a complete legal definition of Class A or Class AB sewage sludge, see Title 30, Texas Administrative Code (30 TAC), Section 312.8
Project Experience:
RSB Environmental has help multiple facilities in the private and public sector, including cities, schools, farms and industrial facilities all in Texas to renew, amend or obtain for first time a Water Quality Permit.
One of our most recent project included to obtain a CAFO permit for a Chicken Egg Farm located outside of San Antonio. The system consist into a septic system which will clean the water, then will pass to an aerobic system to finalize in land irrigation.
The CAFO permit requires multiple studies and calculation some are:
- Nutrient Management Plan
- Soil analysis of LMU
- Wastewater Testing
- Solid waste management plan
- SPCC
- Water balance & System design calculations
- Retention control structure design calculations
- USGS Topographic maps, site map, LMU map
- Recharge Feature Certification with supporting documents
- Odor Control Plan.