7 Del. Admin. Code § 7431-1.0

Current through Reigster Vol. 28, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 7431-1.0 - Introduction and Background

1.1 Water quality monitoring performed by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has shown that, within the Lums Pond Sub-Watershed, a small tributary southeast of Lums Pond that connects the Pond to a marina on the C&D Canal (Summit Marina) is impaired because of low dissolved oxygen. This small tributary receives pollutants from nonpoint sources, Lums Pond overflow, and the Lums Pond State Park Wastewater Treatment Plant discharge. A reduction of oxygen consuming pollutants and nutrients from point and nonpoint sources within the sub-watershed is necessary to improve water quality in this tributary and attain applicable water quality standards.

1.2 Section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act requires states to develop a list (303(d) List) of waterbodies for which existing pollution control activities are not sufficient to attain applicable water quality criteria and to develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for pollutants or stressors causing the impairment. A TMDL sets a limit on the amount of a pollutant that can be discharged into a waterbody and still protect water quality. A TMDL has three components including a Waste Load Allocation (WLA) for point source discharges, a Load Allocation (LA) for nonpoint sources, and a Margin of Safety (MOS) to account for uncertainties and future growth.

1.3 DNREC has listed the Lums Pond Sub-Watershed on Delaware's 303(d) Lists and proposes the following Total Maximum Daily Load Regulation for nitrogen, phosphorus, and 5-day Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD₅) material.

7 Del. Admin. Code § 7431-1.0