ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    July 26, 1983
    CITY OF SPRING VALLEY,
    Petitioner,
    )
    V.
    )
    PCB 83—97
    ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL
    PROTECTION AGENCY,
    Respondent.
    OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (by W.J. Nega):
    This provisional variance request comes before the Board
    upon a July 26, 1983 Recommendation of the Illinois Environmental
    Protection Agency (Agency). The Agency recommends that a 45—day
    provisional variance be granted to the City of Spring Valley
    (Spring Valley) to allow it to draw down and bypass its aerated
    lagoon during which time the lagoon’s aeration equipment can be
    repaired. A similar provisional variance was granted to Spring
    Valley on April 29, 1982 in PCB 82—56 for a period of 45 days to
    allow Spring Valley to draw down and bypass its aerated lagoon in
    order to facilitate repairs to one of the main air headers in its
    aeration system.
    Spring Valley owns and operates a wastewater treatment plant
    (WWTP) which serves about 6,000 people plus several industries.
    The WWTP includes a bar screen, grit chamber, primary clarifier,
    aerated lagoon and chlorination with a DAF of 1.39 MGD and a DMF
    of 13.9 MGD. The WWTP discharges directly into the Illinois
    River pursuant to its NPDES Pemit No. IL 0031216. (Rec.i).
    The Petitioner’s secondary treatment facilities include a
    single cell aerated lagoon which provides biological treatment
    and sedimentation. The lagoon has a surface area of 14.1 acres
    and a capacity of 42.3 million gallons at its normal operating
    depth of 10 feet, However, the lagoon has a surface area of 15.5
    acres and a capacity of 66.0 million gallons at its high level of
    15 feet. The lagoon’s maximum operating depth is 16 feet.
    Lagoon aeration is accomplished via a series of parallel perforated
    pipes that are connected to 6—inch diameter headers anchored to
    the lagoon bottom. The aeration system produces fine streams of
    diffused air which, if disrupted, could reduce treatment efficiency
    and result in a degraded effluent. (Rec. 2).
    53-ui
    —2—
    Spring Valley began drawing down and bypassing its aerated
    lagoon on May 12, 1982 pursuant to the Board’s Order in PCB 82—56.
    On June 14, 1982, draw down was completed. On June 23, 1982,
    the repairs to the air header were completed and bypassing
    ceased. The Agency has noted that, during the period of the
    provisional variance in PCB 82—56, Spring Valley sampled its
    discharge for BOD and TSS and properly reported the results to
    the Agency pursuant to Condition 4 of the Board’s Order in
    PCB 82—56. (Rec. 2),
    On May 18, 1983, the Agency received a request from the
    Petitioner for a provisional variance to draw down and bypass the
    aerated lagoon in order to repair the broken air header. On June 2,
    1983, the Agency denied this requested provisional variance
    because it was concerned about: (1) the direct discharge of
    industrial slug loads during the period of bypassing; and (2) the
    septic conditions and poor quality of the ‘~astewater contained in
    the aerated lagoon (which was attributed to industrial slug
    discharges rather than the broken air header). (Rec. 3).
    On June 8, 1983, the Agency received another request from
    Spring Valley for a provisional variance. The Petitioner claimed
    that since the aerated lagoon was septic, producing a poor
    quality effluent, and causing odors, a provisional variance was
    needed to allow Spring Valley to bypass the lagoon, pump it down,
    and refill the lagoon in order to restore the biological treatment
    process that had been lost. (Rec. 3). Although the environmental
    problems with the aerated lagoon as described by the Petitioner
    were known by the Agency to have existed, an Agency inspection on
    June 13, 1983 revealed that the lagoon was no longer septic and
    that recovery was beginning. (Rec, 3). Accordingly, the Agency
    denied the second provisional variance request on June 16, 1983.
    Since June 2, 1983, the Petitioner has been able to restore
    its aerated lagoon to an acceptable operating condition by: (1)
    enacting a sewer use ordinance; (2) enforcing the sewer use
    ordinance by discoziueeting one of its contributing industries
    that was believed to be causing upsets at Spring Valley’s WWTP;
    and (3) adding sodium nitrate to the aerated lagoon to restore
    the lagoon to an aerobic condition (this practice was stopped on
    June 30, 1983 because dissolved oxygen levels began to rise).
    (Rec. 3—4).
    At the present time, the Petitioner’s easterly main air
    header is ruptured and apparently breaking loose to the surface
    and causing a loss of air to the distribution system.. So far,
    there are no noticeable problems with treatment efficiency, but
    failure to make the requisite repairs could possibly result in
    future problems which might occur abruptly at any time. (Rec. 4).
    The aerated lagoon needs to be bypassed and drawn down to
    approximately the 2 foot level in order to facilitate the necessary
    repairs. The draining process will require the draining of about
    34 million gallons from the aerated lagoon, while bypassing after
    receiving primary treatment will be at an approximate rate of 1.3
    53-112
    *3
    —
    million gallons per day based on the average effluent discharge
    rate of prior years. Levels of BOD might range from a minimum
    of 49 mg/i to a maximum of 250 mg/i, while levels of TSS might
    range from a minimum of 28 mg/i to a maximum of 94 mg/i over a
    relatively short period of time. (Rec. 2; 4).
    The Agency believes that any adverse environmental impact
    upon the Illinois River should be minimized through the actions
    of Spring Valley in bringing about the recovery of its aerated lagoon.
    Moreover, the Agency has noted that if the Petitioner is not allowed
    to expeditiously proceed with the necessary maintenance of its
    WWTP, the system could again degrade to its prior septic conditions
    and result in a greater adverse environmental impact by the discharge
    of a degraded effluent over a prolonged period of time. (Rec. 4).
    Complete recovery from the recent septic conditions took about 5
    months, and a recurrence of such an environmentally detrimental
    situation is to be avoided by proper preventive maintenance.
    Additionally, should the lagoon again become septic or further
    breakdowns occur in the aeration system, unnecessary extra
    expenses might result, (Rec. 4),
    The Agency has concluded that compliance on a short—term basis
    with the provisions of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 306.305 would impose an
    arbitrary or unreasonable hardship. It, therefore, recommends
    that the Board grant the City of Spring Valley a provisional variance
    from Section 306.305 for a period of 45 days to begin on the date draw
    down and bypassing begin, but no later than 10 days after the Board’s
    Order, subject to certain conditions.
    Pursuant to Section 35(b) of the Illinois Environmental
    Protection Act, the Board hereby grants the provisional variance
    as recommended.
    ORDER
    The City of Spring Valley is hereby granted a provisional
    variance from 35 111. Adm. Code 306.305 for a period of 45 days
    to begin on the date draw down and bypassing of its aerated lagoon
    begin, but no later than 10 days after the Board’s Order, subject
    to the following conditions:
    1. Spring Valley shall notify Robert E. Broms, P.E., Manager,
    Compliance Assurance Section, Division of Water Pollution
    Control (at 217/782—9720):
    a.) the day draw down begins;
    b.) the day repairs are initiated;
    c.) the day repairs are completed and the system
    returned to operation;
    53-113
    —4—
    2. Spring Valley shall provide primary treatment and
    chlorination to all flows prior to discharge.
    3. Spring Valley shall sample its discharge for the parameters
    listed in its NPDES permit with the same sample frequency and
    type.
    4. Spring Valley shall submit results of the above—mentioned
    samples within 7 days after the end of each week of discharging to:
    Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
    Division of Water Pollution Control
    Compliance Assurance Section
    2200 Churchill Road
    Springfield, IL 62706
    5. Spring Valley shall not discharge any sludge; however,
    removal and proper disposal of any lagoon sludge is acceptable
    while the lagoon is out of operation.
    6. Spring Valley shall continue to monitor its Industrial
    contributors and, at such time as any discharge of toxic pollutants
    is discovered in violation of its sewer use ordinance, bypassing
    shall cease until determined by the Agency to be acceptable to
    resume.
    7. Within 10 days of the date of the Board’s Order,
    Spring Valley shall execute a Certificate of Acceptance and Agreement
    which shall be sent to: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency,
    Division of Water Pollution Control, Compliance Assurance Section,
    2200 Churchill Road, Springfield, Illinois 62706. This certification
    shall have the following form:
    CERTIFICATION
    I, (We)
    having read the Order of the Illinois Pollution Control Board in
    PCB 83-97 dated July 26, 1983, understand and accept said Order,
    realizing that such acceptance renders all terms and conditions
    thereto binding and enforceable.
    Petitioner
    By: Authorized Agent
    Title
    Date
    53-114
    —5—
    I, Christan L. Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution
    Control Board hereby ce~fy that the above Opinion and Order
    was adopted on the
    .2 7
    day of ~
    l983byavoteof
    _________.
    Christan L. Moffett/~Clerk
    Illinois Pollution Control Board
    53-115

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