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eDMR news

Changes to MPCA e-Services delivery

As many of you are aware, the MPCA is in the midst of updating its data management and e-Services access systems. Although the initial stage of the project is just getting underway, we do know that there will be some changes, particularly in the appearance of e-Services screens. The eDMR and Sample Values spreadsheets, eDMR online entry and the calculator tools will remain available. It’s our intent to keep changes to a minimum while continuing to improve our e-services and the overall online experience of our partners. Changes will likely be implemented by November 2014. Additional information will be shared via On Point and direct email to eDMR submitters as it becomes available.

Sampling and monitoring updates

Got TKN?

Nitrogen pollution of ground and surface water is becoming an increasing concern for our drinking water supplies and the health of our environment. Accurate reporting is a key component of better nitrogen management. Some communities have been reporting Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) values for their wastewater discharges which are less than their Ammonia-Nitrogen (NH3-N) values. This is not possible for the same sample since TKN is the sum of organic and ammonia nitrogen. TKN can never be less than NH3-N within acceptable laboratory error. In cases where TKN appears significantly less than NH3-N, laboratories should not report either result without further evaluation. The Clean Water Act-approved analytical methods for TKN discusses potential laboratory error from high levels of nitrate (>10 mg/L and/or levels that are 10 times more than the TKN). The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has notified certified laboratories about this potential analytical error and the need for them to investigate the problem if the difference between TKN and NH3-N values exceeds the expected precision. Both the TKN and the NH3-N preparation and analytical data should be reviewed. If it is determined that either of the results are suspect, the sample should be re-prepared and re-analyzed. Wastewater Treatment facility owners and operators should be aware of this analysis and associated  reporting problem for your facilities to help ensure the nitrogen values you provide on your Daily Monitoring Reports, as required by your permit, are usable and defensible.   If you have any questions you can call Bill Priebe, MPCA Metro Region, at (651)757-2658.

Water Quality Standards

Triennial review

Every three years, the public gets an opportunity to provide comments on the need for amendments and revisions to rules governing state water quality standards. This process is called the Triennial Standards Review (TSR). The 2013 TSR comment period ended on January 28, 2014.

More than 30 individuals and organizations submitted comments. Greater than half the comments addressed the proposed revision of the Class 3 aquatic life standard for chloride. Revision of this standard is of concern to local units of government because of its potential impact on the use of road salt to maintain safe roadways and walkways. In addition, many communities have wide usage of residential water softeners which add chloride to the water. Removing chloride from wastewater is technically challenging and expensive.

MPCA staff are currently reviewing all of the submitted the comments and developing a prioritized list of water quality standards projects. The priority list will be published by the end of April 2014.

Submitted comments are available for review on the MPCA Water Quality Standards webpage.               

Total suspended solids and river nutrient levels

The MPCA has proposed a couple of specific amendments to Water Quality Standards. First, the Agency proposes to replace the existing turbidity standard with a standard for Total Suspended Solids (TSS). An additional proposal seeks to add new standards to address nutrients in rivers, streams, Mississippi River navigation pools and Lake Pepin.

• Total Suspended Solids: The proposed TSS standards will provide a seasonal, multi-year approach to data assessments. The new standard would apply regionally and include site-specific standards for the Red River and the lower Mississippi River.
• River Nutrient Levels: Excess nutrient (also known as eutrophication) standards for rivers, streams, Mississippi River navigation pools and Lake Pepin would use a response variable format where an impairment requires exceedance of the phosphorus standard and at least one response variable (chlorophyll-a [suspended algae], BODs, dissolved oxygen flux or pH).

These Water Quality Standard amendments were proposed in the State Register on November 18, 2013, and public hearings were held on January 8, 2014. An Administrative Law Judge is expected to issue a report by the end of March 2014. The rules are expected to become effective late summer 2014, pending MPCA adoption and U.S. EPA approval.

Additional information on the proposed standards and associated rule-making process is available on the MPCA Water Quality Standards for River Eutrophication and Total Suspended Solids webpage.

Spotlight

Legacy funding flowing through Minnesota

According to a recent report, nearly all of Minnesota’s 81 watersheds are benefitting from projects supported by the Clean Water Fund, established by the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008. The majority of the funding, about 84 percent, is going toward implementation activities. Local partners are important contributors with 43 percent of appropriations being awarded to non-state agencies. State agencies that receive Clean Water Fund dollars recently released their second collaborative report. The 2014 Clean Water Fund Performance Report, clarifies connections between the Clean Water dollars invested, actions taken and outcomes achieved. Measures specifically related to wastewater treatment include: Municipal infrastructure project implementation, page 20 Municipal wastewater phosphorus changes, page 30 The entire report is available on the Minnesota’s Legacy Clean Water Fund Performance Reports webpage.

Preparedness

Don't get soaked

EPA's Water Security Division has posted a new video on YouTube at http://goo.gl/7pMJhh  titled "Don't Get Soaked."  The video features water and wastewater utility staff describing the benefits of investing in preparedness, prevention, and mitigation activities. The target audience for the nearly 10 minute video is water and wastewater utility managers, board members, and elected/appointed officials. The video asks if these officials and decision makers are prepared should the unexpected event occur and compromise or otherwise affect their infrastructure.

Training opportunities

77th Annual Wastewater Operations Conference: March 26-28, 2014

Marriott Northwest, 7025 Northland Drive North, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota See the full conference brochure and registration packet under Wastewater Training on the MPCA Training Events Calendar webpage.

Feedback

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To share your feedback or offer a suggestion for a future edition of On Point, contact Nancy Miller via email or by phone at 507.206.2612.