Section 213.6 - Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems(a) General. (1) New industrial and municipal wastewater discharges into or adjacent to water in the state that would create additional pollutant loading are prohibited on the recharge zone.(2) Increases in existing discharges into or adjacent to water in the state that would increase or add new pollutant loading are prohibited on the recharge zone.(3) Existing permits may be renewed for the same discharge volumes and with the same conditions and authorizations specified in the permit. Permits will not be renewed if the facility becomes non-compliant, as defined in Chapter 70 of this title.(4) New land application wastewater treatment plants located on the recharge zone must be designed, constructed, and operated such that there are no bypasses of the treatment facilities or any discharges of untreated or partially treated wastewater.(5) Design of wastewater treatment plants must be in accordance with Chapter 317 of this title.(b) Land application systems. (1) Except for licensed private sewage facilities, land application systems that rely on percolation for wastewater disposal are prohibited on the recharge zone.(2) Wastewater disposal systems for disposal of wastewater on the recharge zone utilizing land application methods, such as evaporation or irrigation, will be considered on a case-by-case basis. At a minimum, those systems must attain secondary treatment as defined in Chapter 309 of this title (relating to Effluent Limitations).(3) Existing permits may be renewed for the same discharge volumes and with the same conditions and authorizations specified in the permit unless the facility becomes non-compliant, as defined in Chapter 70 of this title.(c) Discharge upstream from the recharge zone.(1) All new or increased discharges of treated wastewater into or adjacent to water in the state, other than industrial wastewater discharges, within zero to five miles upstream from the recharge zone, at a minimum, shall achieve the following level of effluent treatment:(A) five milligrams per liter of carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand, based on a 30-day average;(B) five milligrams per liter of total suspended solids, based on a 30-day average;(C) two milligrams per liter of ammonia nitrogen, based on a 30-day average; and(D) one milligram per liter of phosphorus, based on a 30-day average.(2) All new or increased discharges into or adjacent to water in the state, other than industrial wastewater discharges, more than five miles but within ten miles upstream from the recharge zone and any other discharges that the agency determines may affect the Edwards Aquifer, at a minimum, must achieve the level of effluent treatment for 2N based on a 30-day average as set out in Table 1 of Chapter 309 of this title. More stringent treatment or more frequent monitoring may be required on a case-by-case basis.(3) All discharges, other than industrial wastewater discharges, more than five miles upstream from the recharge zone which enter the main stem or a tributary of Segment 1428 of the Colorado River, or Segment 1427, main stem Onion Creek, or a tributary of Onion Creek must comply with § 311.43 of this title (relating to Effluent Requirements for All Tributaries of Segment 1428 of the Colorado River and Segment 1427, Onion Creek, and Its Tributaries, of the Colorado River Basin), and to § 311.44 of this title (relating to Disinfection). More stringent treatment or more frequent monitoring may be required on a case-by-case basis.(4) Any existing permitted industrial wastewater discharges within zero to ten miles upstream of the recharge zone must, at all times, discharge effluent in accordance with permitted limits. Any application for new industrial wastewater discharge permits for facilities zero to ten miles upstream of the recharge zone will be considered on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with appropriate discharge limits applicable to that industrial activity and with consideration of its proximity to the recharge zone.30 Tex. Admin. Code § 213.6
The provisions of this §213.6 adopted to be effective December 27, 1996, 21 TexReg 12125; amended to be effective June 1, 1999, 23 TexReg 10477