Original_WLA000257_Transmittal_from_EPD_2023.pdf

Jeffrey W. Cown, Director

Watershed Protection Branch 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive Suite 1470A, East Tower Atlanta, Georgia 30334 404-463-1511

August 18, 2023

Joseph Johnson, P.E., General Manager Spalding County Water Authority 119 East Solomon St Griffin, Georgia 30223

RE: Wasteload Allocation Transmittal

New Discharge to Cabin Creek

EPD # WLA000257

Spalding County, Ocmulgee River Basin

Dear Mr. Johnson:

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has completed the evaluation of the wasteload allocation request for a new discharge of 0.05 and 0.10 MGD of treated domestic wastewater into Cabin Creek in the Ocmulgee River Basin. The following wasteload allocation is valid for one year from the date of this letter unless a written extension is requested and granted. The wasteload is provided for planning purposes only.

Recommended effluent permit limits – Discharge to Cabin Creek:

Constituent/Parameter (1) Limits

Effluent Flow Rate (MGD) 0.05 0.10

Five-Day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (mg/L) 25.0 20.0

Total Suspended Solids (mg/L) 20 20

Ammonia, as N (mg/L) 10.0 5.0

Total Phosphorus, as P (mg/L) 5.0 5.0

Dissolved Oxygen, Minimum (mg/L) 5.0 5.0

Escherichia Coli (#/100 mL) 126 126 pH, Minimum – Maximum (Standard Units) 6.0 – 9.0 6.0 – 9.0

Total Residual Chlorine, Daily Maximum (mg/L) (2) 0.31 0.16

(1) Values are maximum monthly averages except as noted.

(2) If an ultra-violet light or ozone system is used to treat bacteria, the TRC limit will only apply when chlorine is in use at the facility.

Mr. Johnson August 18, 2023

Recommended effluent permit limits (continued):

Constituent/Parameter Limit

Orthophosphate, as P (mg/L) Monitor

Organic Nitrogen, as N (mg/L) Monitor

Nitrate-Nitrite, as N (mg/L) Monitor

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, as N (mg/L) Monitor

Priority pollutant limitations and aquatic toxicity testing requirements will be determined at a later date. Please also be aware that EPD will be developing a Nutrient Permitting Strategy in the upcoming months that may result in a total nitrogen limit and/or reduced total phosphorus limit.

Spalding County Water Authority (Authority) will also be required to submit an Antidegradation

Analysis justifying the proposed discharge, an Environmental Information Document to evaluate the direct and indirect environmental impacts of the project, and a Design Development Report to describe any process modifications. EPD must concur with all the documents before a draft NPDES permit for the requested flow rates can be issued. Please submit the reports for review to the Wastewater Regulatory Program.

Communities requesting a new or increased surface water discharge permit are also required to prepare a Watershed Assessment (WA) and Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) for watersheds in their jurisdiction if they have not already done so. Prior to conducting the WA, a Watershed Monitoring Plan (WMP) describing the field study proposal for the WA should be submitted for review and approval. We strongly recommend that a pre-submittal meeting be held with our TMDL Modeling and Development Unit prior to submitting the WMP. Guidance for preparation of the WMP, WA, and WPP can be found at: www.gaepd.org.

If you should have any questions, please contact me at (470) 524-0657 or alex.gramling@dnr.ga.gov.

Sincerely, Alex Gramling Municipal Permitting Unit Wastewater Regulatory Program cc: Rick Jeffares, Turnipseed Engineers (RJeffares@turnipseed.com)

Eric Armstrong, Falcon Design Consultants, LLC (earmstrong@fdc-llc.com) Joseph Johnson, Spalding County Water Authority (Josephjohnson@spaldingcounty.com) Rebecca Lindsey, Lindsay Engineering & Consulting, LLC (rebecca@lindsay-engineering.com) Josh Welte, EPD Water Quality Modeling Unit (josh.welte@dnr.ga.gov)