Section 60320.208 - Pathogenic Microorganism Control(a) A project sponsor shall design and operate a GRRP such that the recycled municipal wastewater used as recharge water for a GRRP receives treatment that achieves at least 12-log enteric virus reduction, 10-log Giardia cyst reduction, and 10-log Cryptosporidium oocyst reduction. The treatment train shall consist of at least three separate treatment processes. For each pathogen (i.e., virus, Giardia cyst, or Cryptosporidium oocyst), a separate treatment process may be credited with no more than 6-log reduction, with at least three processes each being credited with no less than 1.0-log reduction.(b) For each month retained underground as demonstrated in subsection (d), the recycled municipal wastewater or recharge water will be credited with 1-log virus reduction.(c) With the exception of log reduction credited pursuant to subsection (b), a project sponsor shall validate each of the treatment processes used to meet the requirements in subsection (a) for their log reduction by submitting a report for the Department's review and approval, or by using a challenge test approved by the Department, that provides evidence of the treatment process's ability to reliably and consistently achieve the log reduction. The report and/or challenge test shall be prepared by an engineer licensed in California with at least five years of experience, as a licensed engineer, in wastewater treatment and public water supply, including the evaluation of treatment processes for pathogen control. With the exception of retention time underground, a project sponsor shall propose and include in its Operation Optimization Plan prepared pursuant to section 60320.222, on-going monitoring using the pathogenic micro-organism of concern or a microbial, chemical, or physical surrogate parameter(s) that verifies the performance of each treatment process's ability to achieve its credited log reduction.(d) To demonstrate the retention time underground in subsection (b) a tracer study utilizing an added tracer shall be implemented under hydraulic conditions representative of normal GRRP operations. The retention time shall be the time representing the difference from when the water with the tracer is applied at the GRRP to when either; two percent (2%) of the initially introduced tracer concentration has reached the downgradient monitoring point, or ten percent (10%) of the peak tracer unit value observed at the downgradient monitoring point reached the monitoring point. A project sponsor for a GRRP shall initiate the tracer study prior to the end of the third month of operation. A project sponsor for a GRRP permitted on or before June 18, 2014 that has not already performed such a tracer study shall complete a tracer study demonstrating the retention time underground. With Department approval, an intrinsic tracer may be used in lieu of an added tracer, with no more credit provided than the corresponding virus log reduction in column 2 of Table 60320.208.(e) For the purpose of siting a GRRP location during project planning and until a GRRP's project sponsor has met the requirements of subsection (d), for each month of retention time estimated using the method in column 1, the recycled municipal wastewater or recharge water shall be credited with no more than the corresponding virus log reduction in column 2 of Table 60320.208. Table 60320.208
Column 1 | Column 2 |
Method used to estimate the retention time to the nearest downgradient drinking water well | Virus Log Reduction Credit per Month |
| Tracer study utilizing an added tracer.1 | 1.0 log |
| Tracer study utilizing an intrinsic tracer.1 | 0.67 log |
| Numerical modeling consisting of calibrated finite element or finite difference models using validated and verified computer codes used for simulating groundwater flow. | 0.50 log |
| Analytical modeling using existing academically-accepted equations such as Darcy's Law to estimate groundwater flow conditions based on simplifying aquifer assumptions. | 0.25 log |
| 1 The retention time shall be the time representing the difference from when the water with the tracer is applied at the GRRP to when either; two percent (2%) of the initially introduced tracer concentration has reached the downgradient monitoring point, or ten percent (10%) of the peak tracer unit value observed at the downgradient monitoring point reached the monitoring point. |
(f) A project sponsor shall obtain Department approval for the protocol(s) to be used to establish the retention times in subsections (d) and (e).(g) Based on changes in hydrogeological or climatic conditions since the most recent demonstration, the Department may require a GRRP's project sponsor to demonstrate that the underground retention times required in this section are being met.(h) If a pathogen reduction in subsection (a) is not met based on the on-going monitoring required pursuant to subsection (c), within 24 hours of being aware a project sponsor shall immediately investigate the cause and initiate corrective actions. The project sponsor shall immediately notify the Department and Regional Board if the GRRP fails to meet the pathogen reduction criteria longer than 4 consecutive hours, or more than a total of 8 hours during any 7-day period. Failures of shorter duration shall be reported to the Regional Board by a project sponsor no later than 10 days after the month in which the failure occurred.(i) If the effectiveness of a treatment train's ability to reduce enteric virus is less than 10-logs, or Giardia cyst or Cryptosporidium oocyst reduction is less than 8-logs, a project sponsor shall immediately notify the Department and Regional Board, and discontinue application of recycled municipal wastewater at the GRRP, unless directed otherwise by the Department or Regional Board.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 22, § 60320.208
1. New section filed 6-18-2014 as an emergency; operative 6-18-2014. Submitted to OAL for filing and printing only. This adoption is not subject to OAL review and shall remain in effect until revised by the Department of Public Health pursuant to Water Code section 13562.5 (Register 2014, No. 25).
2. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (b) filed 7-18-2022 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2022, No. 29). Note: Authority cited: Sections 13521, 13540, 13562 and 13562.5, Water Code; and Sections 131052 and 131200, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 13520, 13522, 13522.5, 13523, 13523.1, 13524, 13540, 13560, 13561 and 13562.5, Water Code.
1. New section filed 6-18-2014 as an emergency; operative 6/18/2014. Submitted to OAL for filing and printing only. This adoption is not subject to OAL review and shall remain in effect until revised by the Department of Public Health pursuant to Water Code section 13562.5 (Register 2014, No. 25).
2. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (b) filed 7-18-2022 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2022, No. 29).