October 2018
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is requesting comment on amendments to Minnesota Rules chapter 7050 which establish designated uses for rivers, streams, and lakes. The request for comments was published in the Sept. 24 State Register, and the public comment period is open through 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 8.
The notice of request for comments in on the MPCA Public Notice Webpage (scroll down to the Sept. 24 date). Information about the MPCA’s proposed amendments is available on the rulemaking webpage.
What the rule amendments are about:
The proposed amendments affect Class 2 (Aquatic Life) and Class 7 (Limited Resource Value Waters) designations. Minnesota’s surface waters are currently assigned, or designated, a number of possible beneficial uses, such as drinking water, aquatic life, and recreation like fishing and swimming. These designations are the current or expected beneficial uses that should be attained in those waters. Different physical and chemical criteria – for water quality standards – apply depending on the beneficial uses that need to be protected in each water.
The MPCA routinely reviews use designations to ensure that assigned beneficial uses are protective and attainable as defined by the Clean Water Act and Minnesota Rule. As the result of routine monitoring and stakeholder requests, the MPCA has identified waters where the current designated beneficial use does not accurately reflect an attainable use. The designated beneficial use for each water body must be correct and appropriate because the designated use affects many water quality protection and restoration efforts such as assessment, stressor identification, National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permitting, and Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies.
The Western Lake
Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) in Duluth will hold its 40th anniversary
party from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, in conjunction with the Lincoln
Park Business District open house event. The WLSSD will offer walking and bus
tours of the main campus at 27th Avenue West as well as activities, games,
prizes and refreshments.
When the plant
opened in 1978, it consolidated 17 facilities into one, treating wastewater
from the surrounding area and discharging it according to water quality
standards into the Duluth harbor. With great reductions in pollution from other
point sources, the St. Louis River rebounded with cleaner water and more desirable
fish species.
To quote a recent Duluth New Tribune
story: “The cleaner
water allowed fish to live, reproduce and thrive in the St. Louis River estuary
and harbor for the first time in decades. The walleye population skyrocketed.
Sturgeon were reintroduced, as were musky. Catfish, smallmouth bass and
northern pike also flourished, along with minnows, amphibians, mayflies and
other small creatures that form the backbone of the food chain.”
Read more about the tremendous impact
of the WLSSD in the Duluth News Tribune: WLSSD
marks 40 years of cleaner St. Louis River.
Related stories:
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In the absence of any legislative- or industry-driven
change, “flushable” wipes continue to plague municipal wastewater
infrastructure. Municipalities have been forced to find solutions to the damage
caused by the fibers of these products, as well as other “rags” that bind up
pump impellers, clog screens, and coagulate other fats, oils, and grease into
fatbergs.
The city of Big Lake, in Sherburne County, has resolved to
take action to address the problem of wipes and rags in the city’s 14 lift
stations. The damage to pumps and the resulting repair call-outs were a cost
that was simply too great, according to Charlie Gammon, water and sewer foreman
for Big Lake. The city is moving away from the more conventional pumps in lift
stations and installing vortex pumps that allow only 15% contact with
impellers.
Vortex pumps have proven to be able to eliminate much of the
need for call-outs and damage to pumps from wipe and rag fibers. But, it hasn’t
come cheap. Gammon said that a 5 horsepower vortex pump can run $8,500; and a
15 to 20 horsepower vortex pump can cost as much as $25,000. Given the 14 lift
stations in Big Lake’s collection system, this is a major investment to deal
with wipes and rags. In the long run, though, Big Lake will save money in call-outs
and pump repairs.
“I’m fortunate that Big Lake has given me a lot of
flexibility to address these issues,” Gammon said.
The downside to installing vortex pumps is that wipe and rag
fibers pass on to the head works where the current screens are not fine enough
to catch them all. As part of a phased reconditioning project, Big Lake will be
spending about $600,000 to retrofit new finer screens to the head works, which
will prevent fibers from passing through and into more sensitive treatment
processes.
Gammon recommends that municipalities that have trouble in
collection systems from wipes and rags establish good relationships with their
pump representatives.
“Pump reps want your business, so they will work with you,”
said Gammon. “Demo their pumps. They have loaner pumps that they will let you
use for a while to try it. See how they work before you invest. I always keep
in mind that the rate payer is who I'm watching out for, and while I know a lot
of reps and really like them, I’m not their friend at work. Every dollar counts
to the rate payer.”
Water quality signatories on NPDES/SDS permits can start to
look for an email from the MPCA with their draft Annual Compliance Summary
Report in November.
This draft report provides permittees the opportunity to
review the information in the MPCA database regarding their NPDES/SDS permit
for the period of Oct. 1, 2017 through Sept. 30, 2018. They can then send
corrections to the MPCA, which if done promptly, should be reflected in the
final version of the report that is sent to both the water quality signatory
and the responsible official for the facility in early 2019.
In addition, the updates and corrections help make sure MPCA
staff have good data as they review facilities for the Operational Awards
presented at the MPCA Annual Wastewater Operation Conference in March 2019 (see
story below).
To ensure delivery of the draft Annual Compliance Summary
Report and avoid diversion to the junk mail folder, please add
npdes.pca@state.mn.us to your address book now.
MPCA staff will
soon be completing compliance reviews to determine permittees’ eligibility for
the Wastewater Facility Operational Awards, which will cover the 2018 review
period. Awards will be granted to permittees who demonstrate exceptional
compliance with their permits. Again this year, permittees will not have to
apply for the award, which will be presented during the annual Wastewater
Operations Conference held in Brooklyn Park in March 2019.
MPCA staff will
send a notification email to permittees qualifying for the awards. The agency
will also post a list of award recipients on its website.
If planning to
attend the 2019 conference and receiving an award, be sure to attend the awards
ceremony. The MPCA has established a new format for the ceremony based on feedback
from permittees. The 2019 ceremony will be an open house format where
operators can be recognized for their efforts, meet MPCA leadership and staff,
and receive certificates of commendation.
The MPCA welcomes Taylor Olson as its new compliance and
enforcement officer for wastewater discharge permit holders in the southwest
region. Olson holds a degree in Environmental Science from Southwest State
University, and worked as an environmental specialist for a wind farm
construction project before coming to the agency. Originally from Granite
Falls, Minn., Olson is quite familiar with the southwest region. He enjoys
fishing, hunting and golfing during his free time. Olson looks forward to
meeting wastewater professionals in the surrounding community and helping them
solve compliance issues. He will work out of the Marshall office and can be
reached at 507-476-4274 or taylor.l.olson@state.mn.
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Reporting that no
chlorine was used or that chlorine monitoring was not done can be confusing on
eDMRs. Leave the boxes blank on the sample values and DMR
forms, and add a note to the DMR indicating that you did not chlorinate or that
monitoring wasn't done. Do not put "0" (zero) or "NA" in
the parameter boxes.
See other tips on the MPCA
Discharge Monitoring Reports webpage. For help with eDMRs and other compliance issues, you
may also contact your MPCA
compliance officer.
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The Minnesota Public Facilities
Authority (PFA) recently approved the following grants and loans for water
and sewer projects:
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Willmar in Kandiyohi, $1.82 million. The city will replace the fairgrounds, Gorton Avenue and Armory wastewater lift stations. The project is being funded with a 20-year Clean Water Revolving Fund loan.
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Two Harbors in Lake County, $1.91 million. This project will rehabilitate the city’s main lift station. The $382,930, 20-year loan comes from the Clean Water Revolving Fund. The rest of the funding comes from the Water Infrastructure Fund in the form of a $1.5 million grant.
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Hoyt Lakes in St. Louis County, $1.40 million. Hoyt Lakes will use these funds to rehabilitate the city’s wastewater treatment plant. It is funded completely by a $1.4 million loan.
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Erskine in Polk County, $376,294. This project will rehabilitate the city’s sewer collection system
and wastewater treatment facility. It is fully funded by a Clean Water
Revolving Fund loan.
The
PFA helps communities build and maintain infrastructure to protect public
health, the environment and promote economic growth. The PFA has financed $4.5
billion in public infrastructure projects throughout Minnesota since its
inception in 1987. Read more at the PFA’s website.
Below is a list of
upcoming MPCA seminars for wastewater operator training.
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Type IV Refresher, Oct. 23-24, Mankato Country Inn & Suites. This will be the last opportunity for renewal hours until March 2019. (9 credit hours)
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Collection Systems Basic, Nov. 13-15, Jimmy’s Conference Center, Vadnais Heights. Exam session on Nov. 15 at 12:45 p.m. (16 credit hours)
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Pump Workshop, Nov. 28, Electric Pump, New Prague. The workshop will include pump theory, maintenance, troubleshooting, and hands-on training. (6 credit hours)
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Wastewater Treatment Basic, Dec. 11-13, Jimmy’s Conference Center, Vadnais Heights. Exam session on Dec. 13 at 12:45 p.m. (16 credit hours)
Seminar registration forms and exam applications can be
found on the MPCA website (www.pca.state.mn.us/water/wastewater-operators-training-and-certification).
Please contact Annaliza Heesch at 651-757-2591 or annaliza.heesch@state.mn.us if you have any questions.
Collection System Conference set for March 25-27, 2019
The MPCA will hold the 45th annual
Collection System Conference March 25-27, 2019 at the Marriott Northwest in
Brooklyn Park (7025 Northland Drive North, Brooklyn Park, Minn.).
Highlights include:
- SA and SB exam refresher
- SC and SD exam refresher
- Certification examinations
- Vendor and professional organization displays
Other topics include pipe and
manhole rehab, asset management, pumps and lift station tour, SCADA &
electrical generation, infiltration and inflow, condition assessment, FOG,
cybersecurity, and much more. The conference brochure and registration packet
will be available on the MPCA Wastewater Training webpage in January 2019. Exam refreshers require pre-registration
(see the registration page of the brochure for details). For more information,
contact Annaliza Heesch at 651-757-2591 or annaliza.heesch@state.mn.us.
Wastewater Operations
Conference set for March 27-29, 2019
The MPCA will hold the 82nd annual
Wastewater Operations Conference March 27-29, 2019 at the Marriott Northwest in
Brooklyn Park (7025 Northland Drive North, Brooklyn Park, Minn.).
Highlights include:
- A & B exam refresher
- C & D exam refresher
- Type IV (biosolids) refresher
- Certification examinations
- Vendor and professional organization displays
- Facility Operational Awards ceremony
Other topics include new plant
and/upgrades, new technologies, emergency response, facility optimization,
industrial wastewater and pretreatment, emerging issues, activated sludge
operations, stabilization ponds, safety, LSTS, and much more. The conference
brochure and registration packet will be available on the MPCA Wastewater Training webpage in January 2019. Exam refreshers require
pre-registration (see the registration page of the brochure for details). For
more information, contact Annaliza Heesch at 651-757-2591 or annaliza.heesch@state.mn.us.
The “We Are
Water MN” program runs through Nov. 26 at the University of Minnesota’s
Institute on the Environment, 1954 Buford Ave., St. Paul. We Are Water MN
explores the connections between the humanities and water through an exhibit,
public events and educator resources. The 2018-‘19 tour will feature the
stories of two Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program certified producers and how they
manage water quality on their farms.
As part of the
exhibit, the Institute on the Environment and the River Life Program will
offer:
- Weekly Wednesday River Walks, through Nov. 14 at noon
- Phalen Creek Nibi Walk, Oct. 27
- Seminars and presentations open to
the public
Visit the U of M website for full program details. School
groups and walk-in visitors are welcome during open hours.
Also
nearby
Pair a visit to
We Are Water MN and the newly renovated Bell Museum just blocks away. Check out
their new digital planetarium, famous wildlife dioramas, and this fall’s
visiting exhibit: Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture. Open daily from 10
a.m. – 5 p.m.
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