Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection DEEP Updates

November 17, 2016

George Hicks, P.E. Supervising Sanitary Engineer Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection New Bureau Structure

WPLR

Land and Water Water Planning Remediation Resources and Management Management

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Reorganization/Staffing Changes

Denise Ruzicka, Director

State Dams and Site Operations (Landfills) Dam Safety Regulatory Municipal Wastewater Municipal Wastewater

Ray Frigon Art Christian Jennifer Perry George Hicks

Rowland Scott Wing Ann Kyzyk Dan Biron Denny

Lisandro Pete Ashley Illiana Raffa Suarez Spangenberg Stewart

Teddy Stela Kartik Parekh Ann Straut Brightwell Marusin

Anna Laskin Ivonne Hall Steve Muollo

Carlos Craig Carla Feroni Esguerra Motasky

Catharine Susan Unger Chu

Syed Bokhari Max Fan

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Nitrogen Trading Program • Nitrogen General Permit – On July 24, 2015, Connecticut Fund for the Environment (CFE) / Save the Sound submitted a petition to DEEP requesting a hearing on the renewal of the Nitrogen General Permit. – On October 1, 2015, the petitioner withdrew its request for the hearing. – DEEP agreed with the petitioner to reissue the permit for Nitrogen Discharges for 3 years instead of 5 years. – Reissued on October 9, 2015 and the effective date is January 1st, 2016.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Nitrogen Trading Program

– On July 5, 2015 the bill No. 940 was passed “An act concerning the sustainability of the nitrogen credit exchange” is based on self-sufficiency, where buyers would pay for credits as current practice, sellers would proportionally divide those payments. – The self-sufficiency program is in effect for 2016.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Trading Program Accomplishments

EQ baseline 25010 lbs/day

EQ 2014 limit 9149 lbs/day

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Nitrogen Trading Program Cost of a Credit 2002 – Estimated 2016 $8.00 $7.14 $6.80 $7.00 $6.47

$6.00 $5.42 $5.61 $5.01 $4.50 $4.59 $5.00 $4.36 $4.54 $4.00 $3.40 $3.00 $2.11

Credit Price Credit $2.14 $1.90 $2.00 $1.65

$1.00

$0.00 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Year Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Trading Program Accomplishments 2015 – 2018 Nitrogen Upgrades: • Finished Construction • Under Design – Putnam – Rocky Hill – Mattabassett – Norwich • Under Construction – Farmington – Hartford • In Planning – New Haven – Killingly – Middletown Abandonment – Sprague – Plymouth

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection National Study of Nutrient Removal and Secondary Treatment • EPA will require POTWs fill out and submit a treatment survey online • Questions may be directed to: Janet Goodwin, Chief or Paul Shriner or Anthony Tripp Office of Water Office of Water Office of Water US EPA US EPA US EPA 202-566-1060 202-566-1076 202-566-1419 • https://www.epa.gov/eg/national-study-nutrient- removal-and-secondary-technologies

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Annual Sludge Reporting

• 2016 report must be done electronically next year • EPA is mailing letters shortly with training to follow • Those using NetDMR should not have an issue

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Sewage Right-To-Know • Training began May 2016 • Website live July 5, 2016 • We’ve offered 34 training opportunities • Trained 212 people from 75 utilities • 64 of 125 total utilities currently reporting live • 4 more training opportunities this year: – Nov 22 & 30 – Dec 6 & 13

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection NPDES Permits

Current universe is 96 permits All permits currently Current backlog is 7 permits being reissued will have new electronic reporting language requiring compliance within 60 days.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection FFY 2017 Permits to be issued • Greenwich American Permit Apps Currently “In-House”: Center Canton • Milford – Beaver Beacon Falls Brook Suffield • Plainfield North Farmington • Sharon Stonington Mystic • MDC – East Hartford • Winsted Permit Apps due by end of 2016: Killingly • Thomaston Putnam • Stafford Groton Town • High Tower Trading Deep River 2017 EPA Priority Permit (6) Backlog Permit

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection STORM RESILIENCY SURVEY (STATUS UPDATE)

Effort led by UCONN in collaboration with CIRCA and DEEP. Data gathering phase was completed last summer with an 87% response rate. Goals: • Establish a wastewater infrastructure baseline, and assess preliminary risks and vulnerabilities (Presentation available on DEEP website). • Learn from municipalities on their experiences related to recent storm impacts. • Understand factors that influence decision making to implement resilient and adaptive measures.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection STORM RESILIENCY SURVEY (Continued) Impacts: 72% of systems impacted • Power loss (~90%) • Flooding (~75%) • Bypass (~65%) • Access loss (~35%) Ongoing & future efforts: • UCONN is further refining and interpreting survey results via in-person interviews and statistical analysis. Interview results are anonymous and only aggregate results will be made public. • Medium to long term: Continue to work with municipalities to introduce adaptive measures via CWF projects. Evaluate the reintroduction of a stand- alone CWF priority list funding category for resiliency upgrades.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection TR-16 (2016 revision) It defines and recommends measures for improving resiliency. It is generally consistent with federal EO# 13690 (Jan/2015). Required for federally-funded projects: – New facilities: Must provide for uninterrupted operation of all units during a 100-year flood event (1% chance of flooding/year). – Conveyance and treatment equipment & components: • New critical equipment/components: (BFE + 3 feet). • Non-critical equipment/components (BFE + 2 feet). • 500-year flood levels of protection may apply to state funded projects. • Depending on vulnerability, hazards and exposure; a more detailed climate- informed science approach may be warranted (e.g., sea level rise projections).

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection STORM RESILIENCY • Please update your emergency response plans and provide training to staff on at least a yearly basis. These are resources that can be used as reference for updating inspection and operational checklists and SOPs:

- Emergency Response for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities https://www.epa.gov/waterutilityresponse

- NEIWPCC: Preparation of Wastewater Infrastructure (strategies and tips)

Additional resources regarding climate change impacts and vulnerability assessments:

Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA). Vulnerability maps available in high resolution for New Haven and Fairfield counties. SLR projections expected to be available in summer of 2017. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection DEEP Municipal Wastewater ListServ

341 users subscribed

• May also contact us at [email protected] to: – Distribute municipal notices amongst users. – Obtain a current list of DEEP Municipal Wastewater ListServ users. • To sign up: 1) Send email to [email protected] 2) Leave subject line blank. 3) In body of message type: Subscribe DEEP_MunicipalWastewater YourFirstName YourLastName

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Connecticut DEEP:

2nd Generation Nitrogen Strategy

Kelly Streich, CTDEEP November 17, 2016 Presentation to Manager’s Forum

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection The Agenda

1) Brief LIS TMDL History and Progress 2) Shifting CT Nitrogen Loads and Priorities 3) EPA’s Nitrogen Reduction Strategy 4) CT’s 2cd Generation Nitrogen Strategy 5) Priority Embayments and WWTPs 6) Potential Future N Reduction Efforts

• Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection LIS TMDL History • Adopted in 2000, to be implemented by 2015 • Good progress, but mixed results • TMDL revision/enhancement stalled in 2014 • CFE/STS petition to EPA- 3/2015 • Uconn Embayment Study- 2015 • EPA Nitrogen Strategy- 12/2015 • CT DEEP 2nd Generation Nitrogen Strategy- 2016

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection 2000 TMDL Nitrogen Requirements • 58.5% Reduction in Total Nitrogen Loading for CT • The reduction applied to WWTPs in CT is 63.5%

• 25% Aggregate WWTP Reductions for Upstream States (MA, NH, VT)

• 10% Reduction in NPS (all the watershed)

• Atmospheric Reductions • 18% reduction expected (CAA)

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection 3 CT WWTPs – Meeting the TMDL

Monthly Average Total Equalized Nitrogen Loading to Long Island Sound

25,000 12 Mo Moving Avg Linear Regression

20,000

15,000 Equalized N/day lbs Equalized

10,000

2014 Limit

5,000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection LIS Hypoxic Area Trend

Area of below 3 mg/L Area below 1 mg/L Hypoxia Area trend

450

400

350

300

250

200 SquareMiles 150

100

50

0 1987Connecticut1989 1991 1993 Department1995 1997 of1999 Energy2001 and2003 Environmental2005 2007 2009 Protection2011 2013 2015 Year Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Overall Trends in Nitrogen Loading

Source Trend Description WWTPs (CT/NY) 88% of WLA target

Atm Deposition 26% in TN, 50% in NO3 Agricultural 25-40% in fertilizer and livestock Urban Stormwater 2-3% in impervious areas Septic 8% in basin population (1990-2010) Turf Fertilizer 1-2% in turf/grass areas Source: Long Island Sound Study, 2013

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection CT Nitrogen Loading- Shifting Priorities

Connecticut Nitrogen Load- Baseline & Current 12000

10000

8000

6000 tons/year

4000

2000

0 Baseline Current Baseline Current Baseline Current Baseline Current WWTP Urban Agriculture Forest

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Nitrogen Loading- Shifting Priorities

CT Baseline Nitrogen Percentages

WWTP 23 Urban

Agriculture 6 55 Forest

17 CT Current Nitrogen Percentages

30 30 WWTP

Urban

Agriculture

7 Forest

33 Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection EPA Nitrogen Reduction Strategy

• Complement LIS TMDL N management initiatives by addressing other eutrophication related impacts. • Develop numeric N thresholds that are protective of designated uses • Set N reduction targets and allocations where necessary to meet the N thresholds • Continue efforts to increase oxygen in WLIS • Contract is in place – First Phase

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Other eutrophication-related impairments

Historical eelgrass (black dots) versus current (orange circle)

LIS wetlands in red

32 EPA Nitrogen Reduction Strategy Customize the application of nitrogen thresholds to develop targets for each of three watershed groupings:

Coastal watersheds Tributary watersheds WLIS coastal that directly drain to that drain inland reaches watersheds with large, embayments or direct discharging nearshore waters WWTFs

33 CT 2nd Generation Nitrogen Strategy

1) Wastewater Treatment Plants  Complete new planned upgrades Bays WWTP  Continue to operate trading program 2) Enhance NPS/Stormwater Mgt. NPS  Regulatory and non-regulatory measures 3) Focus on Embayments  Outreach and short term management measures  Enhance monitoring  Prioritize embayments for analysis and TMDLs (or alternative action plans)

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Wastewater Treatment Plants - TMDL Plus

EQ lbs to be EQ lbs from 28 WPCFs removed by 2022 2% going to 4mg/l or less 3% = 566 lbs = 378 lbs

95% EQ lbs removed so far = 16,381 lbs Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Curbing NPS Nutrients

• Urban Stormwater – Implement 2015 Enhanced MS4 General Permit • Coverage, nitrogen, IC & retrofits, LID/GI – Finalize DOT General Permit (MS4 like) – Impervious Cover Response Plan – DEEP and CLEAR Outreach/Tech. Assist. • Septic Systems and Sewers Analysis – Continue coastal sewer plans and decentralized projects – Further assess SS loads and management options

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Curbing NPS Nutrients • Turf and Fertilizer – Adopt regional nitrogen guidelines – Outreach & education • Agriculture – Nutrient mang. plans – CAFO general permit – Animal waste distribution, value end products, energy digesters – NRCS coordination • Phosphorus Report to the Legislature – WWTPs, stormwater, septic systems, agriculture, fertilizer

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Uconn Eutrophication Susceptibility Study • Estimated Nitrogen Load (total and normalized) for 116 Embayments • Determined Potential Sources of Nitrogen to Embayments • Predicted Potential Embayment Eutrophication • Identified 16 CT Embayments of Concern

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Embayment Projects & Outreach

• Project with CLEAR/NEMO to communicate: – Eutrophication Susceptibility Study Results – Sources of Nitrogen (Fertilizers, Stormwater, OWTS) – Best Management Practices – Solicit input for local level actions • Anticipated project to evaluate OWTS, nitrogen load, susceptibility to failures, and mgt. options • Additional embayment monitoring, nitrogen assessments, and modeling

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Niantic River Estuary Pilot Project • Evaluate environmental impacts (eelgrass, hypoxia) and stressors (river flow, nutrients) • Develop an ecosystem model to link with watershed loading model • Develop targets for nitrogen load protective of eelgrass • Evaluate mitigation strategies • Assess the transferability to other CT embayments

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Assessment of Embayments

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Embayments with WWTP Discharges

Embayments with WWTPs and Type of WWTP 8

7

6

5

4

3

Number WWTPs of 2

1

0

CT Embayments = 82 Vaudrey’s Priority Embayments w/WWTPs = 16 Embayments Individual Nitrogen GP Small Plant Total # of WWTPs = 31

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection WWTP Load to Embayment

Wastewater Treatment Plant Nitrogen Load (2015) to Embayments 2500

2000

1500

1000

Total Nitrogen in lbs/day Nitrogen Total 500

0

Priority Embayments Based on N load per Embayment Area

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection WWTP Discharge Concentrations Wastewater Treatment Plant Nitrogen Concentration (2014) 12

10

8

6

4 Total Nitrogen in mg/L in Nitrogen Total 2

0

Priority Embayments Based on N load per Embayment Area

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Priority Embayments

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Priority Embayments with WWTP Does not Includes Priority Embayments with WWTPs (and type) include Westerly Ridgefield 2.5 WWTP WWTPs

2

1.5

Number of WWTPs 1

0.5

0 Pawcatuck River, RI Stonington Harbor, CT Mystic River, CT Saugatuck River, CT Norwalk Harbor, CT Individual Nitrogen GP

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection WWTP N Load to Priority Embayments

Wastewater Treatment Plant Nitrogen Load (2015) to Priority Embayments 350 WWTP N Load to the Pawcatuck River 300

250 11, 4%

Westerly WWTP

200 Pawcatuck WWTP

288, 96% 150

Total Nitrogen in Nitrogen lbs/day Total 100

50

0 Pawcatuck River, RI Stonington Harbor, CT Mystic River, CT Saugatuck River, CT

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Potential Future N Reduction Efforts

• TMDLs (or alternatives) for embayments • Individual permit limits for WWTPs directly discharging to priority embayments • Focus on additional NPS reductions of N • Additional reductions for WLIS WWTPs

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Questions ?

Contact: Kelly Streich [email protected] 860.424.3864

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Sewer Service

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection For further information on many of these topics, please see the Municipal Facilities website:

www.ct.gov/deep/municipalwastewater

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection