Application For Renewal of NPDES CA0107409 and 301(h) Modified Secondary Treatment Requirements POINT LOMA OCEAN OUTFALL Volume III Large Applicant Questionnaire January 2015 THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT Application for Renewal of NPDES CA0107409 301(h) Modified Secondary Treatment Requirements for Biochemical Oxygen Demand and Total Suspended Solids POINT LOMA OCEAN OUTFALL & POINT LOMA WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT Submitted pursuant to Sections 301(h) and 301(j)(5) of the Clean Water Act City of San Diego Public Utilities Department 9192 Topaz Way San Diego, CA 92123 (858) 292-6401 January 2015 APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL OF NPDES CA0107409 301(h) MODIFIED SECONDARY TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS Point Loma Ocean Outfall Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant VOLUME III LARGE APPLICANT QUESTIONNAIRE January 2015 Volume III Summary: Regulations established in Title 40, Section 125, Subpart G, of the Code of Federal Regulations require 301(h) applicants to respond to a series of technical questions (Large Applicant Questionnaire). This volume presents responses to the Large Applicant Questionnaire. Technical Appendices supporting the Large Applicant Questionnaire responses are presented in Volumes IV through X. As documented within the application, the Point Loma Ocean Outfall discharge complies with all applicable regulations and requirements established pursuant to Sections 301(h) and 301(j)(5) of the Clean Water Act. LIST OF VOLUMES Volume I Executive Summary Volume II Part 1 - Basis of Application Part 2 - NPDES Application Forms Part 3 - Antidegradation Analysis Volume III Large Applicant Questionnaire Volume IV Appendix A Existing Metro System Facilities and Operations Appendix B Future Metro System Facilities B.1 Planned Metro System Facilities Improvements B.2 2012 Recycled Water Study B.3 Water Purification Demonstration Project Report Volume V Appendix C Ocean Benthic Conditions C.1 Benthic Sediments, Invertebrates and Fishes C.2 San Diego Benthic Tolerance Intervals C.3 San Diego Regional Sediment Quality Contour Plots C.4 San Diego Sediment Mapping Study C.5 Deep Benthic Habitat Assessment Study Appendix D Bioaccumulation Assessment Volume VI Appendix E Sources of PCB Contamination Appendix F Point Loma Ocean Outfall Plume Behavior Study Appendix G Kelp Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Report Appendix H Coastal Remote Sensing Annual Reports Volume VII Appendix I Beneficial Use Assessment I.1 Beneficial Use Evaluation I.2 Compliance with Recreational Body Contact Standards Appendix J Endangered Species Appendix K Essential Fish Habitat Assessment Appendix L Proposed Monitoring Program Volume VIII Appendix M 2013 Annual Biosolids Report Volume IX Appendix N Source Control Program Appendix O 2013 Annual Pretreatment Report Volume X Appendix P Oceanography Appendix Q Initial Dilution Simulation Models Appendix R Re-entrainment Appendix S Dissolved Oxygen Demand Appendix T Analysis of Ammonia Appendix U 2012 California Ocean Plan Appendix V Correspondence LARGE APPLICANT QUESTIONNAIRE Responses to Large Applicant Questionnaire Title 40, Section 125, Subpart G San Diego Public Utilities Department January 2015 LARGE APPLICANT QUESTIONNAIRE Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION Response Format - Large Applicant Questionnaire…..…………………..…… I - 1 II. GENERAL INFORMATION AND BASIS DATA REQUIREMENTS II.A TREATMENT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION II.A.1 Basis of Application…….……….……….…….………………….….. II.A - 1 II.A.2 Description of Treatment/Outfall System……..…………………….... II.A - 8 II.A.3 Primary or Equivalent Treatment Requirements …..……………..….. II.A - 22 II.A.4 Effluent Limitations and Characteristics………………………….….. II.A - 26 II.A.5 Effluent Volume and Mass Emissions …………………….……..….. II.A - 49 II.A.6 Average Daily Industrial Flow .…………………………………..….. II.A - 55 II.A.7 Combined Sewer Overflows ….…………………………………..….. II.A - 57 II.A.8 Outfall/Diffuser Design .……….…………………………………….. II.A - 59 II.B RECEIVING WATER DESCRIPTION II.B.1 Type of Receiving Water ……….……….…….………….……….….. II.B - 1 II.B.2 Discharge to Stressed Waters ……..…………………………………... II.B - 2 II.B.3 Seasonal Circulation Patterns …..…………………………..……..….. II.B - 4 II.B.4 Oceanographic Conditions ………………………….……………….... II.B - 7 II.B.5 Re-Entrainment …………………….……..………………………..…. II.B - 14 II.B.6 Water Quality Conditions During Maximum Stratification……..……. II.B - 15 II.B.7 Steady State Oxygen Demand .…………………………………..….… II.B - 17 II.C BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS II.C.1 Biological Community…….……….…….………………….………… II.C - 1 II.C.2 Distinctive Habitats of Limited Distribution .……………………….... II.C - 3 II.C.3 Commercial and Recreational Fisheries …..…………………..…..…... II.C - 6 City of San Diego NPDES Permit and Public Utilities Department i 301(h) Application Table of Contents (continued) II.D STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS II.D.1 Applicable Water Quality Standards ….…….…………………….….. II.D - 1 II.D.2 Water Use Classification ……..………………………………………. II.D - 5 II.D.3 Consistency with Resource Protection Regulations ……………….…. II.D - 6 II.D.4 Other State or Federal Laws or Regulations …………………….….... II.D - 35 III. TECHNICAL EVALUATION III.A PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DISCHARGE III.A.1 Critical Initial Dilution ….……….…………..…….…….………….. III.A - 1 III.A.2 Zone of Initial Dilution Dimensions ……..…………….………….... III.A - 7 III.A.3 Effects of Currents …..…………………………………………..….. III.A - 9 III.A.4 Sedimentation of Suspended Solids ……………..………………….. III.A - 14 III.A.5 Effluent Volume and Mass Emissions …………………………..….. III.A - 15 III.B COMPLIANCE WITH WATER QUALITY STANDARDS III.B.1 Dissolved Oxygen After Initial Dilution ….…….………….……….. III.B - 1 III.B.2 Farfield Dissolved Oxygen ……..……………….………………….. III.B - 6 III.B.3 Sediment Dissolved Oxygen Depression ………….………….…….. III.B - 9 III.B.4 Receiving Water Suspended Solids ………….…………..……..….... III.B - 13 III.B.5 Receiving Water pH …………………….……..……………………. III.B - 16 III.B.6 Compliance with DO, TSS, and pH Standards ……………………... III.B - 17 III.B.7 Compliance with Standards and Criteria……….…………………… III.B - 23 III.B.8 Determination of Compliance with Water Quality Standards ……… III.B - 44 III.C IMPACT ON PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES III.C.1 Public Water Supplies …………..……….…….………………….… III.C - 1 III.C.2 Location of Public Water Supply Intakes.………….………………... III.C - 2 City of San Diego NPDES Permit and Public Utilities Department ii 301(h) Application Table of Contents (continued) III.D BIOLOGICAL IMPACT OF DISCHARGE III.D.1 Balanced Indigenous Population ….…………….………….……….. III.D - 1 III.D.2 Impacts to Distinctive Habitats ..……..………….………………….. III.D - 14 III.D.3 Impacts to Fisheries ………….………….…………………………... III.D - 15 III.D.4 Fish Mortality, Bioaccumulation or Disease .…………..……..…….. III.D - 17 III.D.5 Discharge to Estuarine Waters ……….……..………………………. III.D - 19 III.D.6 Compliance with 40 CFR 125.61 for Improved Discharges……....... III.D - 20 III.B.7 Compliance with 40 CFR 125.61 for Altered Discharges ………...… III.D - 21 III.B.8 Impacts to Stressed Waters …………………………………….….… III.D - 22 III.E IMPACT ON RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES III.E.1 Recreational Activities ….…….………….………………………….. III.E - 1 III.E.2 Impacts to Recreation ……..……………………..……………….….. III.E - 6 III.E.3 Restrictions to Recreational Activities .…….……….………….……. III.E - 19 III.E.4 Modified Restrictions to Recreational Activities ….……..……..….... III.E - 20 III.F MONITORING PROGRAM III.F.1 Proposed Monitoring Program …………….….….………….……….. III.F - 1 III.F.2 Monitoring Techniques and Protocols …………….…………………. III.F - 5 III.F.3 Staffing, Budget and Resources ………………….……………….…. III.F - 6 III.G EFFECTS OF DISCHARGE ON OTHER SOURCES III.G.1 Impacts to Other Dischargers …………….….….………….……….. III.G - 1 III.G.2 40 CFR 125.63 Determination …………………….………………… III.G - 4 III.H TOXICS CONTROL PROGRAM III.H.1 Sources of Industrial Pollutants ………….…………………………. III.H - 1 III.H.2 Non-Industrial Toxics Program …..……………..……………….…. III.H - 18 III.H.3 Public Education Program …….……….………….………………... III.H - 21 III.H.4 Approved Pretreatment Program ….……………………..……..…... III.H - 22 III.H.5 Urban Area Pretreatment Program ….……………………..……….. III.H - 23 REFERENCES City of San Diego NPDES Permit and Public Utilities Department iii 301(h) Application List of Abbreviations ACOE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ASBS Areas of Special Biological Significance ATSD EPA 1994 Amended Section 301(h) Technical Support Document BIP balanced indigenous population BMP Best Management Practices BOD biochemical oxygen demand BRI Benthic Response Index CalCOFI California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigation California Ocean Plan 2012 Water Quality Control Plan, Ocean Waters of California CDFW State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife CDOM colored dissolved organic matter CFR Code of Federal Regulations CFL Contributory Flow Limits CFU colony forming unit CIU Categorical Industrial User cm centimeters CPFV commercial public fishing vessels CTD conductivity, temperature, depth CWA Clean Water Act DNQ detected not quantifiable DPS Distinct Population Segment ELAP Environmental Monitoring Accreditation Program EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency ESA Endangered Species Act FIB fecal indicator bacteria ft feet gpm gallons per minute gpd gallons per day IWCP Industrial Waste Control Program HHW household hazardous waste km kilometer City of San Diego NPDES Permit and Public Utilities Department iv 301(h) Application List of Abbreviations (continued) m meters m2 square meter m3/sec cubic meters per second MBC Metro Biosolids Center MDL method detection limit MER mass emission rate Metro System San