Detroit WWTP NPDES Permit Informational Meeting Michigan Department of Environmental Quality October 17, 2013

Framework for Tonight’s Public Meeting 6:30 – 8:30 PM  Introductions  DWSD and DEQ Presentations  Open discussion and questions

DEQ Presentation  Progress addressing WWTP noise and odor concerns   Background and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements   NPDES permit compliance during 2013   Upcoming NPDES permit requirements

DWSD Presentation Sam Smalley, P.E., Assistant Director Wastewater Operations

Background  After 35 years, No longer Under Federal Court Order as of March  Under an administrative consent order (ACO) with the DEQ for violations from

Detroit WWTP - Background  One of the largest WWTPs in the US  Treats dry weather flow and significant wet weather flow through secondary treatment up to 930 million gallons per day (MGD)  Treats wet weather flow through primary treatment up to 1700 MGD

NPDES Permit  Permit MI issued March 1, 2013; effective May 1, 2013  Expires October 1, 2017   Click on: Water, Surface Water, NPDES Permits  Under Information click on Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD)

3 Key Issues Addressed 1. Sustained compliance with permit requirements 2. Reductions in authorized total phosphorus loads to help address Lake Erie algae 3. Adaptive Management CSO Control program; includes Green Infrastructure, considers Detroit residents’ finances

1. Sustained Compliance - Facility Improvement Program  Includes ACO conditions that control the solids inventories at the WWTP  Requires construction of new solids dewatering equipment by 2016  Requires a Long-term Solids Disposal Plan  Requires Asset Management to address operation and maintenance issues  Adjust effluent limits based on good operation

Solids Handling – Long Term  Will Permanently Shut Down Incinerators in Complex C-l  6 incinerators built in the 1940s  Upgrade Incinerators in Complex C-ll  8 incinerators built in the 1970s  Necessary to meet more stringent Federal emission standards effective March 2016

Biosolids Dryer

Biosolids Dryer - Future Disposal Peak 850 dtpd Average Day 450 dtpd

Asset Management is…  The practice of managing infrastructure assets  Minimizing the total cost of owning and operating them  Delivering the desired level of service $$$$ $$

2. Phosphorus Reduction  Adjustment of Effluent Limits based on good O&M  Monitoring periods at wet weather outfalls changed to more quickly reflect good WWTP operation and maintenance  Effluent limits at wet weather outfalls adjusted to require well operated WWTP PollutantFormer Limit (30 discharge days) Current Limit (monthly average) TSS100 mg/l70 mg/l CBOD5100 mg/l40 mg/l Total Phosphorus 2.5 mg/l1.5 mg/l

Reduction in Permitted Phosphorus Levels  Beginning 2015 WWTP secondary treated outfall reduced from 1.0 mg/l to 0.7 mg/l as a monthly average WWTP secondary treated outfall reduced from 1.0 mg/l to 0.7 mg/l as a monthly average Growing season average of 0.6 mg/l (from April – September) Growing season average of 0.6 mg/l (from April – September)  Based on levels the WWTP can achieve optimizing existing facilities

Outfall 049B Phosphorus

Detroit Total Phosphorus Loads Secondary treated outfall 049B to Detroit River – 80% of P load Wet weather outfalls 050A 049A

3. Adaptive CSO Control Program  Michigan’s CSO program started in 1988  Municipalities must either: eliminate the CSO or eliminate the CSO or provide adequate treatment to meet all water quality standards at times of discharge provide adequate treatment to meet all water quality standards at times of discharge  Detroit’s collection system consists of basically all combined sewers

19 Wet Weather – Uncontrolled CSOs  Typical Uncontrolled CSO

Adaptive Management Program  Remaining CSOs (55) 17 CSOs remain to the Rouge River 17 CSOs remain to the Rouge River 38 CSOs to the Detroit River 38 CSOs to the Detroit River  An adaptive management approach for these will:  Use lessons learned from previous CSO projects and better discharge data  Consider the financial capability of DWSD and City residents  Consider reductions in stormwater flows by using an expanded Green Infrastructure (GI) program

CSO Correction Progress

Green Infrastructure (GI) What is Green Infrastructure? Low Impact Development (LID) Manual for Michigan “a network of open space, woodlands, wildlife, habitat, parks, and other natural areas which sustain clean air, water, and natural resources, and enhance quality of life”. Table Source: Value of Green Infrastructure, CNT / American Rivers

Green Infrastructure (GI) How does Green Infrastructure reduce runoff? More pathways for water to: Soaks into the ground Taken up by plants Hard surfaces (like pavement and roofs) remove these pathways Rainfall Evapo- transpiration Evapo- transpiration Runoff Stream Baseflow Too much runoff  sewer overflows

Green Infrastructure (GI) Green Infrastructure Plan Received August 1, 2013 Conditional Approval October 15, 2013 Revised Plan Due - August 1, 2014 Investment - $3M per year for 5 years; $50M over 20 years (through 2029) On our website Detroit Future City Areas Upper Rouge Implementation Near Eastside Planning

Green Infrastructure (GI) A few key aspects of the current GI Plan: Alignment with Detroit Future City Public Outreach and Participation Partnerships Target stormwater runoff reduction 2.8 MG by 2017 Strategy

Compliance  ACO  Presently in compliance with all ACO schedules or approved extensions

Compliance  NPDES Permit  National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA)  DWSD Wins Silver Peak Performance Award (2012)  5 or fewer NPDES Permit violations in a calendar year

NPDES Permit Compliance Violations 2013 DateOutfallParameterLimit Result January B TSS Min % Removal 85% 83.9% 2/27/13107AFecal Coliform1000 cts/100 ml 4394 cts/100 ml 4/18/13105AFecal Coliform1000 cts/100 ml2064 cts/100 ml 8/31/13109AFecal Coliform400 Cts/100 ml 642 cts/100 ml September Phosphorus1.5 mg/L1.65 mg/L

Upcoming Permit Requirements  Residuals Management Plan  Wet Weather Operation Plan  Asset Management Program  Oakwood Pump Station and RTB Project Performance Certification (PPC)  River Rouge Outfall 2 “Biological Survey”  Green Infrastructure Annual Report  Pollutant Minimization Program for Total Mercury and Total PCBs  Collection System & CSO treatment facility Op Plan  RRO2 Segment 2 Design

Residuals Management Program (RMP)  Annual Report due October 30  RMP approved April 22, 2008 to authorize land application of bulk biosolids or prepare bulk biosolids for land application  Must certify that current residuals management practices are in accordance with the approved RMP

Wet Weather Operation Plan  Annual report due Jan 1  Details necessary requirements to maximize wet weather treatment at the WWTP while complying with effluent limits and all other permit conditions  Minimize untreated combined sewage in the tributary collection system

Asset Management  Program due January 1, 2014  Inventory and Assessment of Fixed Assets  Preventative Maintenance Program  Needs Assessment  Assessment of Criticality and Risk Management  Capital Planning Process  Scheduled Replacement Program  Budget and Rate Sufficiency  Annual Reporting

Oakwood Pump Station and RTB PPC  The Oakwood CSO facilities (pump station and RTB) were constructed to eliminate discharges of raw, untreated sewage from Outfall 082 after June 1, 2012  January 1, 2014 – End performance evaluation period  February 1, Submit evaluation report

River Rouge Outfall 2 Biological Survey  Assess the effect of discharges from Outfall 084 (RRO2) with regard to discharges of toxic substances  June 1, 2014 – submit approvable work plan for conducting a “biological survey” to determine whether the community of aquatic, benthic biota in the Rouge River is negatively impacted by discharges from Outfall 084

Green Infrastructure Annual Progress Report  August 1, 2013 – Plan Submitted  Annual report due August 1  Tributary area for Rouge River Outfalls  Upper Rouge and Near Eastside Areas

Pollutant Minimization Program (PMP) for Total Mercury and PCBs  PMP approved November 9, 1995 and updated October 1996  The goal of the PMP is to maintain the effluent concentration for total HG at or below 1.3 ng/L  Implement the PMP to reach the goal  Implement reasonable cost effective control measures when sources of HG/PCBs are discovered

Collection System & Treatment Facility Operation Plan  Annual report due October 1  Coordinated with the WWTP Wet Weather Op Plan  Collection and treatment systems are operated to maximize treatment  All dry weather flows are conveyed to the treatment facilities without bypass  Max wet weather flow is conveyed to the treatment facilities to minimize untreated discharges  Ongoing inspection of the sewer system within the City to reduce I/I and eliminate unauthorized connections

RRO2 Segment 2 Design  December 1, 2014 submittal of Final Plans and Specifications

Summary  DEQ WRD and DWSD commitment to meet with stakeholders to discuss WWTP issues  Provided Information regarding: 1) Noise and Odor 2) NPDES Permit Compliance 3) Upcoming Permit requirements

Questions Discussion Comments Contact: Phil Argiroff: Phil Argiroff: Laura Verona: Laura Verona: