Reuse, Water Quality Standards, and Sensitive Public and Private Water Supplies

Derek SmitheeChief, Water Quality Programs Division

Oklahoma Municipal League & Oklahoma Municipal Utility Providers

Water/Environmental Summit

Let’s go back in time 30 years…

– Working to get secondary treatment at WWTPs– At the early stages of a 25 year “wet” cycle– Population in Oklahoma was 3.02 million (now

3.8 million)– Strongly dependent on good raw water quality as

treatment technology was mostly floc and settle

So:– In an effort to protect small sensitive water supply

reservoirs, the WQS incorporated a new limitation for additional protection called “Sensitive Public and Private Water Supply”

Sensitive Public and Private Water Supplies (SWS)

• 77 waterbodies• Relatively small municipal water supplies• Afforded additional protection in the Water

Quality Standards Antidegradation policy

785:45-5-25. Implementation Policies for the Antidegradation Policy Statement

4) Sensitive Public and Private Water Supplies (SWS).

(A) Waters designated "SWS" are those waters of the state which constitute sensitive public and private water supplies as a result of their unique physical conditions and are listed in Appendix A of this Chapter as "SWS" waters. These are waters (a) currently used as water supply reservoirs, (b) that generally possess a watershed of less than approximately 100 square miles or (c) as otherwise designated by the Board.

(B) New point source discharges of any pollutant after June 11, 1989, and increased load of any specified pollutant from any point source discharge existing as of June 11, 1989, shall be prohibited in any waterbody or watershed designated in Appendix A of this Chapter with the limitation "SWS". Any discharge of any pollutant to a waterbody designated "SWS" which would, if it occurred, lower existing water quality shall be prohibited, provided however that new point source discharge(s) or increased load of specified pollutants described in 785:45-5-25(b) may be approved by the permitting authority in those circumstances where the discharger demonstrates to the satisfaction of the permitting authority that a new point source discharge or increased load from an existing point source discharge will result in maintaining or improving the water quality of both the direct receiving water and any downstream waterbodies designated SWS.

• Now…It’s 2015.• Does this still do what we want it to?– Everyone has secondary treatment. Some have

tertiary– In a drought?– Population increases and changing demographics– New treatment technology in both wastewater

and drinking water

• Potential actions– Create a new category:• SWSr – Sensitive Public Private Water Supply with

Reuse

• Would potentially allow certain discharges, under certain conditions– Require disinfection– Must assure all beneficial uses are protected– Must assure all PPWSs are protected

• As of Feb. 2015– Still in concept stage and working with multiple

stakeholders to fleshout– Pointing to potential changes being proposed in

the 2015/2016 WQS Revision– All modifications will be subject to the A.P.A.

Questions?