On Point for August 2018: New pond general permit, water softeners at state fair

Having trouble reading this message? View it as a webpage.

On Point - News and updates for wastewater discharge permit holders

August 2018

Coming soon: New general permit for pond WWTFs

Pond Wastewater Treattment Facility

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is getting ready to place the new Wastewater Pond General Permit (MNG585000) on public notice. The draft permit will be placed on a 60-day public notice which is expected to start sometime in September 2018.

Here’s what pond Wastewater Treatment Facilities (WWTFs) need to know:

  • Reissuance of the Stabilization Pond General Permit has been significantly delayed due to Minnesota’s adoption of the River Eutrophication Standards and the MPCA reviewing phosphorus effluent limits on a watershed basis.
  • The MPCA is issuing a new general pond permit – Wastewater Pond General Permit (MNG585000).
  • This new general permit will allow Notices of Coverage to be issued to eligible pond WWTFs in batches as the MPCA completes their phosphorus watershed and effluent limit reviews.
  • Pond WWTFs will remain covered under the expired Stabilization Pond General Permit (MNG580000) until the MPCA issues them a Notice of Coverage under the new Wastewater Pond General Permit (MNG585000). The MPCA will contact pond permittees about any new limits.
  • When issued a Notice of Coverage under the new pond general permit, your permit number will change from a MNG580000 number to a MNG585000 number. Note the additional "5" in the number. For example, if your current general permit number is MNG580001 your new number will be MNG585001.
  • The EPA has completed a review of the new general pond permit.
  • The pre-public notice review period for the draft permit was from June 6 – July 6, 2018.
  • The draft permit is expected to be placed on a 60-day public notice starting in September 2018.
  • Please keep an eye out for MPCA communications.
  • It is important that the MPCA has your correct contact information. If you think your email address or mailing address may be out of date, please send the facility name, permit number, and new contact information to: npdes.pca@state.mn.us.

If you have any questions about the permit, please email the MPCA at generalpondpermit.pca@state.mn.us.


Corn dogs and water softener settings: Both found at Minnesota State Fair

Water softener exhibit at Eco Experience at Minnesota State Fair 2018

What do corn dogs and water softener settings have in common? You will find both at the Minnesota State Fair this year. One of the water exhibits at Eco Experience focuses on how people can set their water softeners to use less water and less salt, meaning less chloride passing through wastewater treatment facilities to lakes and streams.

Eco Experience is a building filled with hands-on activities, demonstrations and resources, open daily at the State Fair through Sept. 3 from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Other water exhibits this year include:

  • A “sink slide,” where children and adults can learn why it is important to keep things like pharmaceuticals, household hazardous waste, dyes, fragrances, and microbeads out of the drain.
  • A close look at bugs that live in lakes and streams and what they can tell us about the health of Minnesota waters.
  • A visual display by Great Lakes Aquarium about how climate change can affect Lake Superior.
  • Recommendations for maintaining septic systems.
  • Twin Cities residents can sign up to adopt a storm drain.

Also popular at Eco Experience is the Water Bar, where fair-goers can taste water from around Minnesota.

A partnership between the Minnesota State Fair, the MPCA, and more than 150 organizations and businesses across the state, the Eco Experience has become the second most visited exhibit at the fair. The Eco Experience is the largest environmental event of its kind, nationally, in the last two decades. Since 2006, more than 3.5 million visitors have attended the 25,000-square-foot exhibit to learn more about clean air and water, saving energy, climate change, recycling, healthy local food, gardening, transportation, green building and remodeling, and other ways to lead more eco-friendly lives.

Related media coverage:


0% interest loans available to curb water pollution

Cities and other government entities can borrow up to $20 million with 0% interest to address non-point source pollution through the Clean Water Partnership program.

Eligible projects include:

Buffer of native plants along lakeshore in Minnesota

  • Urban green infrastructure such as rain water reuse, green roofs, porous pavement, or any stormwater best management practice (BMP)
  • Buffers: purchase of native seeds and vegetation
  • Septic system upgrades and replacements
  • Technical assistance, outreach, and education
  • Equipment such as conservation tillage equipment
  • Any nonpoint source BMP
  • Feedlot upgrades and replacement  

Project sponsors can use the loans to implement projects directly or to set up a loan fund for landowners and other stakeholders. Government entities may apply to the MPCA at any time.

See the program webpage for more information, or contact: 


Tip for staying in compliance: Be sure to calibrate flow monitoring equipment

Typically, National Pollution Discharge Elimination System and State Disposal System (NPDES/SDS) permits require flow monitoring equipment to be calibrated and/or checked twice annually. Below are a few considerations to assist in complying with this requirement:

  • Calibrations and/or checks can be performed in-house or by a qualified third party
  • Permit holders performing in-house checks should have a logical and defined procedure
  • Records documenting the calibrations shall be maintained for at least three years

For helpful information, see these online resources:


eDMR tips: Revoking authorization, amending sample values

eDMRComputer

Be sure to revoke authorization for staff leaving service

Have an operator retire recently or other change that resulted in new staff submitting eDMRs? Please submit the form at this link to revoke an individual’s authorization to submit eDMR data for a facility: www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-wwprm7-100b.doc

If amending an eDMR, do you need to amend sample values too?

When amending an eDMR, consider if it’s appropriate to perform a sample values amendment as well. In general, if you need to add previously unreported data to an eDMR, then you should probably also submit an amended sample values report. Here’s how to do that:

If need help with eDMRs, contact MPCA

If you have questions or need help with eDMRs, please contact your MPCA compliance and enforcement officer or visit the MPCA DMR webpage.


MPCA offering basic and refresher courses for Type IV certification

The MPCA is offering a basic course for Type IV operator or inspector certification that covers land application of biosolids. This course covers site selection, application rates, nitrogen management, reports, field analysis of potential sites, verification of site/soils data, management problems. This course plus six months of experience is a prerequisite for taking the Type IV exam.

The course will be held Sept. 11-13 at Jimmy’s Conference Center in Vadnais Heights. For more information, see the 2018 Wastewater Operator Training Calendar  or contact Annaliza Heesch at the MPCA (651-757-2591).

For operators and inspectors who need to renew their Type IV certificate or who need a refresher, the MPCA will offer a refresher course Oct. 23-24 in Mankato. This course reviews land-application management procedures, including all elements of the basic course. For more information, see the 2018 Wastewater Operator Training Calendar  or contact Annaliza Heesch at the MPCA (651-757-2591).


Funding at work: Grants and loans flowing to cities for wastewater projects

Legacy Amendment

The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA) recently awarded grants and low-interest loans to several Minnesota cities to address wastewater needs:

  • Bagley in Clearwater County received a loan of $538,157 from the Clean Water Revolving Fund to rehabilitate its sanitary sewer collection system and a loan of $490,913 from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund to replace cast iron water mains.
  • Brownton in McLeod County is making improvements to its sanitary sewer system and lift stations, along with adding wireless alarms and a diesel generator. The PFA approved a grant for the project of $1.34 million from the Water Infrastructure Fund. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Rural Development awarded the project a $1.73 million loan and a $724,000 grant.
  • Elbow Lake in Grant County received a loan of $170,193 from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund and a $532,000 grant from the Water Infrastructure Fund for water main replacement on Division Street. The city also received a $600,400 loan from the Clean Water Revolving Fund to rehabilitate its sanitary sewer collection system for Division Street.
  • Waverly in Wright County received a $330,464 grant from the Water Infrastructure Fund and an $82,616 loan from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund to rehabilitate its wellhouse. In addition, the PFA awarded the city a $1.64 million grant from the Water Infrastructure Fund and $410,587 loan from the Clean Water Revolving Fund to rehabilitate part of its sanitary sewer collection system.
  • Wheelers Point Sanitary District in Baudette in Lake of the Woods County is building a new wastewater collection and treatment system. The PFA awarded the project a $3.56 million grant from the Water Infrastructure Fund. The project also received a $4.46 million grant and $2.14 million loan from the USDA.
  • Chisholm in St. Louis County city was approved for a $2.39 million grant from the Water Infrastructure Fund and a loan of $597,306 from the Clean Water Revolving Fund to rehabilitate its sewer collection system in the city’s Lakeview neighborhood. For another project, the city received a $1.5 million loan from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund to replace sections of water main and to install new fire hydrants and gate valves.
  • Gilbert, in St. Louis County, is rehabilitating its wastewater treatment facility and adding advanced components for treating mercury. The project was approved for a $6.64 million grant from the Point Source Implementation Grant Program and a $4.96 million loan and $122,444 grant from the Clean Water Revolving Fund. Other project funding came from the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board ($250,000 grant) and Community Development Block Grant Program ($100,000 grant).
  • Stewart in McLeod County is replacing water mains in various parts of the city. It will receive a $1.1 million grant from the Water Infrastructure Fund and a $275,179 loan from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund. The city also was approved for a $1.23 million grant from the Water Infrastructure Fund and a $307,733 loan from the Clean Water Revolving Fund to replace a portion of the city’s sanitary sewer in a four-block area.
  • Eden Valley, in Meeker and Stearns counties, was approved for a $799,239 loan from the Clean Water Revolving Fund to replace a portion of the city’s sanitary sewer line. The city also was approved for a $691,692 grant from the Water Infrastructure Fund and a $172,923 loan from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund to replace a water main.
  • Rice Lake in St. Louis County will decommission two lift stations and install a new force main on Third Avenue South. The project received a $220,019 grant from the Water Infrastructure Fund and a $55,005 loan from the Clean Water Revolving Fund.
  • Mankato, in Blue Earth, Nicollet and Le Sueur counties, plans to decommission 61 septic tanks in Southview Heights and connect the subdivision to the city’s sewer system. The PFA awarded the city a $1.12 million grant from the Point Source Implementation Grant Program.

The PFA provides financing and technical assistance to help communities build and maintain infrastructure that protects public health and the environment and promotes economic growth. Since inception in 1987, the PFA has financed $4.5 billion in public infrastructure projects in communities throughout Minnesota. Read more at the PFA website.


In the news and online: Wetter weather, Polymet update, marijuana industry impact