Like monitoring, permit requirements differ based on the ultimate disposal of the bioreactor effluent. Systems serving a single family dwelling, duplex, or triplex, require an installation permit from the local health department. All other systems require a Permit to Install from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). The agency staff reviews the plans to insure the system is adequately designed. An operation and maintenance plan needs to be submitted with the permit application. This plan will likely require revision after the bioreactor has been in use for several years.
Monitoring requirements and effluent limitations are typically specified in a Permit to Install for wastewater reuse systems. Monitoring results must be submitted regularly to the OEPA.
If the bioreactor is designed to discharge into waters of the state, a discharge permit (referred to as a NPDES permit) is required in addition to a Permit to Install. The NPDES permit is issued for five years and requires renewal. It specifies the required effluent limits and monitoring conditions that must be met. Effluent limits for conventional treatment technologies are listed in Table 5.
| Table 5. Effluent Limits for Stream Discharge from Conventional Treatment Technologies.* | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Effluent Parameter | 30 Day Average | 7 Day Average | |
| TSS | 12 mg/l | 18 mg/l | |
| CBOD5 | 10 mg/l | 15 mg/l | |
| Ammonia-summer | 1.0 mg/l | 1.5 mg/l | |
| Ammonia-winter | 3.0 mg/l | 4.5 mg/l | |
| DO | not less than 6.0 mg/l | not less than 6.0 mg/l | |
| Fecal coliforms | 1,000 mpn/100ml | 2,000mpn/100ml | |
| Chlorine (if applicable) | less than 0.038 mg/l | less than 0.038 mg/l | |
| pH | 6.5 to 9.0 | 6.5 to 9.0 | |
| Oil and grease | less than 10 mg/l | less than 10 mg/l | |
| *Sand bioreactors may be required to meet these limits. | |||
More stringent limits are required if water quality standards cannot be maintained within the limits for conventional technologies. As with any new discharge to the waters of the state, the provisions in Ohio's antidegradation rule (3745-1-05) must be complied with as summarized in Table 6. Most of Ohio's streams are classified as general high quality waters. A complete list of stream designations is found in 3745-1.
| Table 6. Summary of Provisions of Ohio's Antidegradation Rule for Waters of the State. Discharges may not interfere with any designated or existing use. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding National Resources |
Outstanding High Quality |
Superior High Quality |
General High Quality |
Limited Quality |
State Resource |
|
| Examples | Lake Erie | Warm water habitat | Scenic Rivers and Publically Owned Lakes | |||
| Impact of Discharge on Ambient Water | May not be degraded | May not exceeda 5% change | Up to water quality criteria set aside | Up to water quality criteria | Up to water quality criteria | Up to water quality criteria or up to set aside for oxygen demand, if exists |
| Renewing NPDES | No increase in concentration or load | No increase in load | Up to water quality criteria set aside | Up to water quality criteria | Up to water quality criteria | Up to water quality criteria or up to set aside for oxygen demand or less than 5% change in ambient for toxics |
| New NPDES and/or PTI | Not allowed | At existing background water quality | Up to water quality criteria set aside | Up to water quality criteria | Up to water quality criteria | Table 4 levels and less than 5% change in ambient for toxics |
| Exclusions* | None apply | None apply | If none apply must evaluate** | If none apply must evaluate** | All limited quality waters meet exclusions | If none apply must evaluate** |
*Exclusions
| ||||||
Early contact with the district OEPA office is highly recommended. By obtaining the necessary application forms early, and discussing the desire to use a sand bioreactor for wastewater treatment, the planning and permit process can help avoid confusion and determine special environmental conditions.