FEBRUARY 2024
On February 1, 2024 the Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) will consider two rulemaking milestones of interest to MEPDES permit holders and wastewater treatment operators:
- The BEP will consider adoption of Chapter 526: COOLING WATER INTAKE STRUCTURES. The proposed rule will apply to any MEPDES point source with a cooling water intake structure. (agenda item II.3)
- The BEP will consider posting Chapter 534: WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR CERTIFICATIONS - REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION for public comment. The proposed rule will establish administrative procedures for revocation and suspension of operator certification. The rule does not change the criteria for revocation which are established in Chapter 531. (agenda item II.4)
An agenda for the February 1, 2024 BEP meeting can be found here: www.maine.gov/dep/bep/ . Drafts of the proposed rules and supporting documents can be found at links in the agenda.
Sometime this winter the Department intends to seek pre-rulemaking comments on a new rule to establish Freshwater Nutrient criteria. Sign up here for an email notice for the opportunity to comment.
If you have questions about these items or any DEP rulemaking matters contact Matthew Hight at matt.hight@maine.gov
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MEDEP’s DWQ Licensing Unit for the Water Bureau has been rebuilding and restructuring to better serve the regulated community. Highlights include:
- Licensing and Compliance functions are now under the same Supervisor, Holly Ireland.
- There is a new Licensing Coordinator, Laura Crossley.
- We have two new permit writers, Ben Pendleton and Asenath Frizzell.
- The Department is working to fill the vacancy for a third Permit Writer.
- As the new staff gets trained in writing permits, the MEDEP is also formulating a plan to address the back log of expired permits that have been administratively extended.
In 2022, the Department’s Licensing Unit was reviewed by EPA for a “Permit Quality Review”, resulting in a report outlining essential and recommended changes to the permitting program. Specifically, EPA recommended changes to MEDEP’s permit application forms. Below is an explanation of updates/ changes to MEDEP’s MEPDES/WDL application submission guidelines for different permit types.
Application Form Submission Updates POTWs and Non-POTWS, including CAFO’s: Complete Maine DEP Form DEPLW0105-B2003 General Application Form found at this link:
MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Be sure to include in your submittal to MEDEP any additional forms specified on page 4 of the application form.
It is very important that a MEPDES/WDL renewal application is submitted to the Department prior to the expiration date of your MEPDES/WDL . A timely renewal application maintains your current MEPDES/WDL in effect until the Department acts on your renewal application.
POTWs: POTWs must also submit EPA Form 2A for New and Existing Publicly Owned Treatment Works, which will temporarily replace the MEDEP Form DEPLW0106. These forms can be found at:
NPDES Permitting Program: New and Existing Publicly Owned Treatment Works, Application Form 2A (epa.gov)
Non-POTW, including CAFO’s: Complete the EPA Form 1 – Application for NPDES Permit to Discharge Wastewater – General Information. Detailed instructions and application forms can be found at this link:
NPDES Permitting Program: General Information, Application Form 1 (epa.gov)
Additional information for POTWs and Non-POTWs: Facilities classified as “sludge only facility” that do not discharge to surface waters and “new or existing treatment works treating domestic sewage” also need to fill out EPA’s Form 2S: NPDES Permitting Program: New and Existing Treatment Works Treating Domestic Sewage, Application Form 2S (epa.gov)
CAFOs: CAFOs will fill out EPA Form 1, Maine's General application and the MEDEP CAFO form found at this link:
Microsoft Word - DEPLW0569 - CAFO and Livestock Operation Permit Application.doc (maine.gov)
Note: Always follow MEDEP’s instructions when filling out forms!
Signatory Policy Updates
MEDEP is updating our signatory policies to coincide with 40 CFR Part 122.22, as follows:
- All POTW applications must be signed by an elected Select Board Member, Town Manager or equivalent.
- All non-POTWs applications must be signed by an owner, responsible corporate officer, or manager having the duty of making major capital investment recommendations and initiating and directing other comprehensive long-term environmental compliance measures.
More information on signatory requirements for different types of organizations can be found in 40 CFR § 122.22 Signatories to permit applications and reports.
Digital Submissions for Wastewater Applications
The Department is moving to digital submissions for wastewater applications via a designated DEP email site. We are no longer requiring a facility to send two print copies to the Department.
Please submit your renewal application via WaterPermits.DEP@maine.gov. If you are unable to access email or lack the online capabilities to complete such a task, please let us know.
MEDEP is happy to answer your questions about these changes to the application and submission process. Please contact the Licensing Coordinator, Laura.Crossley@maine.gov, 207-615-6711 to discuss further.
This article will give a brief overview of the most important quality control (QC) steps to incorporate as routine practice for labs performing compliance testing for pH in wastewater effluent. Performing the proper QC procedures is important to ensure that you are generating accurate and defensible data.
For compliance pH testing, the following are minimum required QC procedures that must be performed and documented:
- Calibrate pH meter each day that compliance pH measurements are performed. Calibration must be performed before samples are analyzed using at least 2 buffers that bracket the expected sample results. Record the slope information and confirm it is the acceptable range per manufacturer’s manual.
- Conduct a buffer check, and record result, for each sampling event.
- At least once per year analyze a blind proficiency sample (DMR-QA study satisfies this requirement).
In addition to the above list of pH specific requirements, all analytical methods require documentation of the following:
- Exact sample location/ Date/ Time/ Name of person collecting the sample.
- Sample type (pH should be grab).
- Date/ Time/ Name of person that performed the analysis.
- Name of approved method that was used to analyze the sample.
If you have questions about quality control requirements for tests performed at your laboratory, contact your compliance inspector or DEP technical assistance at Brett.A.Goodrich@maine.gov.
Longtime MEDEP employees Enid Mitnik and Jim Crowley have retired. Enid had worked at the Department since she began as a high school contractor. Jim came to the MEDEP after years working as an industrial chemist, most recently in the pulp & paper industry.
Both Enid and Jim showed a passion to save and protect the environment here in the great State of Maine. They worked hard their whole careers to make Maine a better place for all.
Good luck as you move on to the next chapter of life. You will be missed by your coworkers and the community you served.
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Wastewater Operator Renewals - March 1, 2024 for Even-Numbered Certification
Renew online at https://jetcc.org/index.php or contact Spring Connolly, certification@neiwpcc-jetcc.org or call 207-253-8020. Use the website www.jetcc.org to check your Total Contact Hours (TCH) recorded.
Climate Resilience Training for EPA Region 1 Wastewater Utilities
Starting on March 5, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU) initiative and EPA Region 1 is providing a series of six free webinars for wastewater utility owners and operators in New Hampshire and Massachusetts that have been and/or will be issued NPDES permits that contain new major storm and flood event adaptation planning requirements. Utilities, permit writers, and stakeholders from other states in EPA Region 1 can also benefit and are also welcome to attend.
This FREE training can benefit all utilities in New England from a climate resilience planning perspective. Sessions are 10 AM-noon on March 5, 7, 12, 19, 26, and 28. Two TCHs/session are awarded by MEDEP. Contact ramming.audrey@epa.gov with any questions, or go to this Link to register.
Monthly Training Calendar and Training/Certification Resources.
The monthly training calendar, which lists training by not-for-profit organizations is emailed to certified operators each month. It can be found at the DEP’s certification website https://www.maine.gov/dep/water/wwoperator/ under the Additional Materials section.
The NEIWPCC/JETCC website, https://jetcc.org/index.php provides information on signing up for an exam, training classes, and certification renewal. Contact call Spring Conolly at certification@neiwpcc-jetcc.org or call 207-253-8020 for more information.
Water and Wastewater Technology Classes at Community Colleges
Whether you are pursuing an associate degree or seeking professional development, Maine’s Community College System offers Water/Wastewater classes at both South Portland’s Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) and Presque Isle’s NMCC campus.
Working full-time, and can’t attend classes in-person? No Problem. Instructors will work with you to tailor a program for your schedule and educational needs.
This exciting new program is geared toward technology and providing instruction needed to pursue good jobs in the water/wastewater field.
For more information, contact Patrick Wiley, pwiley@smccme.edu at SMCC or Gil St. Pierre, ngstpier@nmcc.ed at NMCC.
Alfond Center Offers 50% Training Reimbursement
The Alfond Center for the Development of Maine’s Workforce is offering a 50% math for Workforce Development training. For more information on this funding opportunity, visit the Center’s website, https://www.mccs.me.edu/workforce-training/maine-workforce-development-compact or contact Edward Wright at ewright@mccs.me.edu or (207) 227-2603.
Veolia Academy Offers Free Water/ Wastewater Online Training
Workforce is one of the top three stressors among all water and wastewater utilities in the United States. It all starts with finding qualified candidates, a barrier to entry that holds many back from achieving operator status.
To address this industry-wide problem, Veolia Academy is now offering online water and wastewater training classes FREE OF CHARGE. Many of these classes are approved by the Maine DEP for continuing education credit.
For more information about the online, self-paced education platform, visit https://academy.veolia.us/
Membrane Filtration Training by MRWA
Maine Rural Water Association (MRWA) is hosting a Membrane Filtration Training session in Oxford on February 16 from 8 AM – 12 PM. The class is approved for 4 wastewater TCHs.
This session will begin with a detailed presentation on membrane filtration operations and technology and conclude with a tour of the Oxford Wastewater Treatment Facility. The class will be hosted by Zhenya Shevchenko, a professional engineer who supervises the membrane filtration treatment facility in Oxford.
To register, go to: www.mainerwa.org/events/membrane-filtration
1. What is the volume in gallons of a rectangular tank that is 10 ft by 30 ft by 16 ft? Use the conversion 7.5 gal/cubic foot (cf).
a) 2,502 gal
b) 4,800 gal
c) 36,000 gal
d) 40,032 gal
2. How long will it take to fill the tank above if the flow entering the tank is 1.3 MGD?
a) 40 minutes
b) 42 hours
c) 4 days
d) 3.6 minutes
3. What is the volume of a circular tank in gallons if it is 12 feet deep and has a diameter of 30 feet?
a) 52,845 gal
b) 8,478 gal
c) 10,800 gal
d) 63,585 gal
4. How long will it take to fill the tank above if the flow entering the tank is 1.3 MGD?
a) 52 hours
b) 1.2 minutes
c) 1.2 hours
d) 5.2 hours
5. Your superintendent wants to know how efficient the primary clarifier was at removing solids during a major rainstorm. The lab tech tells you that the average 24-hour composite TSS of the sewage entering the primary settling tank on the day in question was 228 ppm, and the average 24-hour composite TSS of the effluent that same day was 87 ppm. What do you tell the superintendent was the approximate percent removal?
a) 86%
b) 99%
c) 52%
d) 62%
6. What is the mixed liquor suspended solids concentration given the following?
Initial weight of filter disk = 0.45 gm
Volume of filtered sample = 60 mL
Weight of filter disk and filtered residue = 0.775 gm
a) 0.005 mg/L
b) 0.5 mg/L
c) 3417 mg/L
d) 5417 mg/L
Answers:
Question 1: c) 36,000 gal
First, find the volume in cubic feet (cf) = 10 ft X 30 ft X 16 ft = 4,800 cf
Next, convert cf to gallons by multiplying by 7.5 gal/cf
4,800 cf X 7.5 gal/cf = 36,000 gal.
Question 2: a) 40 minutes
Vol = 36,000 gallons
Flow = 1.3 MGD = 1,300,000 gals/day
Time to fill tank = Volume/Flow
36,000 gal/ 1,300,000 gal/day = 0.028 days.
Convert to minutes: 0.028 days X 1440 min/day = 39.7 minutes. Round up to 40 minutes.
Question 3: d) 63,585 gal
Tank dimensions: Depth (or Height) = 12 ft, Diameter = 30 ft
Convert to cubic feet (cf)
Volume = 0.785 X 30 ft X 30 ft X 12 ft = 8,478 cf
Convert to gallons: 8,478 cf X 7.5 = 63,585 gal
Question 4: c) 1.2 hours
Vol = 63,585 gallons
Flow = 1.3MGD = 1,300,000 gals/day
63,585 gallons / 1,300,000 gal/day = 0.0489days
0.0489 days X 24 hr/day = 1.2 hours
Question 5: d) 62%
Efficiency = (Value In – Value Out)/Value In X 100
TSS entering the primary clarifier = 228 mg/L
TSS leaving the primary clarifier = 87 mg/L
Plugging in the numbers:
Efficiency = (228 mg/L – 87 mg/L) / 228 mg/L X 100 = 61.8% round up to 62%
Question 6: d) 5,417 mg/L
MLSS is the suspended solids of the mixed liquor in the aeration basin.
First, subtract the weight of the filter disk to find weight of solids (in grams), and multiply by 1 million to convert grams to mg.
Suspended Solids = (Wt2 – Wt1)(1,000,000)
Suspended Solids = (0.775gms – 0.45gms)(1,000,000) = 0.325 gm X 1,000,000 = 325 mg
Next, convert the sample size from mL to liters by dividing by 1000:
Sample size in liters: 60 mL/1000 = 0.06 L
Next, divide the mass (in mg) by the sample size (in liters) to get mg/L:
Suspended Solids = 0.325 mg / 0.06 L = 0.005417 mg/mL = 5,417 m/L
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