New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 20 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Chapter 6 - WATER QUALITY › Part 6 - GROUND WATER PROTECTION - SUPPLEMENTAL PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS FOR DAIRY FACILITIES › Section 20.6.6.21 - ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR DAIRY FACILITIES WITH A LAND APPLICATION AREA

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
A.
Impoundment storage capacity management - wastewater and wastewater/stormwater
				combination.
A permittee shall operate and maintain a wastewater or
				combination wastewater/stormwater impoundment(s) or a tank for the purpose of
				storing wastewater prior to discharging to the land application area. A
				permittee shall manage wastewater or combination wastewater/stormwater
				impoundments to maintain the capacity and two feet of freeboard required by
				Subsection D of 20.6.6.17 NMAC.
B.
Authorized land application of wastewater and stormwater.
A
				permittee shall apply wastewater and stormwater to fields within the land
				application area, up to the maximum acreage of irrigated cropland specifically
				authorized by a discharge permit. Wastewater and stormwater shall be
				distributed uniformly over the fields at the planned rate consistent with the
				nutrient management plan (NMP); ponding shall be minimized.
C.
Land application area - fresh
				irrigation water required.
Wastewater shall only be applied to fields
				within the land application area receiving fresh irrigation water. Fresh
				irrigation water shall be used as the primary source to meet the water
				consumptive needs of the crop to support crop production and nutrient removal.
				Wastewater and stormwater are intended as sources of crop nutrients and shall
				not be used as a primary source to meet the water consumptive needs of the
				crop. An applicant may propose and the department may accept a proposal to
				apply wastewater to crops or grazing land without using fresh water for
				irrigation if the proposal demonstrates to the department's satisfaction that
				crops or plants to be grazed can be successfully maintained without fresh
				irrigation water.
D.
Wastewater/ irrigation water blending.
Wastewater may be blended in-line
				(i.e., fresh irrigation water supply lines) when fresh water irrigation lines
				are equipped with backflow prevention that is installed, operated, inspected
				and maintained in accordance with Subsections L and M of this section.
				Wastewater may also be blended in a mix-tank(s), applied alternately in the
				same irrigation line which has been physically disconnected from supply wells,
				or applied in a separate line, as authorized by a discharge permit. Wastewater
				may be blended with fresh water in a wastewater impoundment prior to land
				application so long as:
(1) the permittee
				maintains an accurate written record of the volume of fresh water added to the
				wastewater and that volume is accounted for in determining the volumes of
				wastewater applied for purposes of the nutrient management plan;
(2) fresh water is introduced in a safe
				manner to prevent scouring of the liner;
(3) the impoundment capacity requirements of
				this rule are met.