Licence conditions for pollution studies and reduction program


  

Licence conditions for pollution studies and reduction programs

Summary
 
Licence number: 2391
Title: Pollution Reduction Study (PRS) 4 - Disinfection Optimisation Study and Faecal Coliform Concentration Limits for Discharges
Start date: 07 Mar 2017
 
Licence Condition
Background During a statutory review of this licence the EPA decided to consider the application of a discharge concentration limit for faecal coliforms on the basis that: .     the installation of ultra violet disinfection in 2004 is currently not reflected within the licence; .     faecal coliform monitoring data from 2010 to 2016 demonstrates significant variability in the level of treatment achieved by the system; .     the design criteria of the current UV treatment system does not appear to be effective or an appropriate level of treatment; .     the establishment of a treatment standard to ensure reliable pathogen treatment is important to reduce public health exposure from exfiltration ponds that discharge via groundwater in the direction of Old Bar Beach, a public access beach; and .     to achieve consistency with the industry sector.   This PRS is aimed at achieving consistency and reliability in the treatment of pathogens and that pathogen levels are as low as reasonably practicable based on the design and performance of the plant. At the conclusion of the PRS it is the aim of the EPA to require the undertaking of suitable optimisation measures and set limits on the licence for faecal coliforms.
Deliverables The licensee must investigate measures to achieve optimisation of the UV treatment system and achieve consistent treatment results. The investigations must include but need not be limited to: ·         Details of the optimisation measures considered; ·         Specification of the design treatment criteria for the measures considered; ·         Expected treatment system performance; ·         Identification of preferred measure(s) for optimisation and justification for their selection; ·         Proposed 90 and 100 percentile concentration limits for faecal coliforms in treated effluent; and ·         a timetable for implementation of preferred measure(s).                                                                                                                                                                . The investigations must be written into a report that addresses each of the above points.  The report must be submitted to the Environment Protection Authority by email to hunter.region@epa.nsw.gov.au by 31 July 2017.