Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 252 - Department of Environmental Quality › Chapter 621 - Non-Industrial Discharging and Public Water Supply Lagoons › Subchapter 5 - Operation and Maintenance › Section 252:621-5-1 - Operation and maintenance for non-industrial discharging and public water supply lagoons

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
The construction requirements contained in 252:656 shall
				  apply to all non-industrial lagoons. The following operation and maintenance
				  requirements shall apply to all non-industrial discharging and public water
				  supply lagoons treating or storing wastewater:
(1)
Erosion control.
Protect all
				lagoon dikes and berms against erosion by using soil, gravel, concrete pads,
				shallow-root vegetation or other methods. Trees and deep-root vegetation shall
				not be used as erosion control and shall be removed in a timely manner to
				maintain the integrity and stability of the lagoon. Protect inner dikes from
				wave action and outer dikes from runoff and floodwaters.
(2)
Holding capacity.
Total
				retention lagoons shall be sized to contain the design flow of wastewater
				(including biosolids from non-industrial discharging wastewater lagoons and
				residuals from public water supply lagoons) plus expected rainfall plus 3 feet
				of freeboard. Where total retention is obtained by surface evaporation, the
				required area shall be based on design flow plus 90th percentile rainfall less
				the pan evaporation rates for the area where the lagoon will be located.
				Overflows shall be considered a violation of this Chapter and be subject to
				enforcement as an unpermitted discharge to waters of the state in violation of
				the Oklahoma Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act.
(3)
Liner protection.
No action
				shall take place during the use, maintenance, or operation of the lagoon which
				would destroy or diminish the effectiveness of any liner system or increase the
				liner permeability.
(4)
Lagoon and system protection.
No action shall be allowed to breach
				the walls, berms, dikes, or other structures causing or allowing the wastewater
				contained to escape, unless specifically allowed in a discharge permit as an
				allowable discharge from a discharging lagoon.
(5)
Use and purpose of lagoon or
				disposal system.
All lagoons and systems covered by this Chapter shall
				be designed for a specific treatment purpose (such as settling, biological
				degradation, beneficial reuse or final disposal), and shall be maintained and
				operated to produce optimum treatment results. No unauthorized industrial
				wastewater, hazardous substances, chemicals or wastes shall be placed in a
				discharging or public water supply lagoon system.
(6)
Site security.
Restrict
				access to discharging or public water supply lagoon systems and land
				application sites covered by this Chapter with fences, secured gates or other
				reasonable means. Post a sign listing the name of the facility operator, an
				emergency telephone number and the DEQ permit number.
(7)
Maintenance of wind action.
Trees, weeds, cattails, and all other obstructions shall be removed whenever
				they appear on or around the dikes or in the lagoon itself. Grass shall be
				mowed frequently to prevent the development of any obstructions to wind action
				and access.
(8)
Access
				road.
The access road to the lagoon shall be maintained so as to be
				passable during inclement weather conditions.
(9)
Other maintenance
				requirements.
All structures shall be maintained in good working
				order.
(10)
Prevention of
				pollution.
(A)
Seepage.
Whenever seepage is suspected or discovered, the owner shall notify the
				Department by telephone within 24-hours and follow-up with a written report
				within 5 days. The operator must take actions necessary to stop all seepage
				exceeding 500 gallons/acre/day (5.4 X 10-7
				cm/sec).
(B)
Total retention
				lagoon.
Discharge of wastewater from a total retention public water
				supply lagoon is prohibited.
(C)
Seals.
The owner shall maintain the seal, whether it is a natural
				or artificial, to prevent seepage. The Department may require that a different
				type of seal be provided if the one in place does not work.
(D)
Freeboard.
Maintain at least
				3 feet of freeboard on all lagoons covered by this Chapter unless otherwise
				specified in a permit. At no time shall wastewater be allowed to spill over the
				tops of the dikes.
(E)
Closure of the site.
Closure may be required by the DEQ if the
				facility is found to be in violation of applicable rules. Closure is required
				when the lagoon or land application site is permanently taken out of service.
				The owner shall close the site according to the requirements of Subchapter 9 of
				this Chapter.