locating and eliminating illicit connections june 28, 2006 james walls
TRANSCRIPT
Locating and Eliminating Illicit Connections
June 28, 2006
James Walls
Locating and Eliminating Illicit Connections
June 28, 2006
James Walls
AgendaAgenda
1.1. Background and OrganizationBackground and Organization2.2. Previous MethodsPrevious Methods3.3. Current MethodsCurrent Methods4.4. Questions and CommentsQuestions and Comments
Regulation BackgroundRegulation BackgroundHarris County is a Phase I communityHarris County is a Phase I communityJoint MS4 permit became effective October Joint MS4 permit became effective October
1, 19981, 1998Joint MS4 permit with City of Houston, Joint MS4 permit with City of Houston,
Harris County Flood Control District, Texas Harris County Flood Control District, Texas Department of Transportation- Houston Department of Transportation- Houston District, and Harris County; aka “Storm District, and Harris County; aka “Storm Water Joint Task Force” Water Joint Task Force”
Harris County is a Phase I communityHarris County is a Phase I communityJoint MS4 permit became effective October Joint MS4 permit became effective October
1, 19981, 1998Joint MS4 permit with City of Houston, Joint MS4 permit with City of Houston,
Harris County Flood Control District, Texas Harris County Flood Control District, Texas Department of Transportation- Houston Department of Transportation- Houston District, and Harris County; aka “Storm District, and Harris County; aka “Storm Water Joint Task Force” Water Joint Task Force”
Regulation BackgroundRegulation BackgroundRegulation BackgroundRegulation BackgroundWeb site is www.cleanwaterclearchoice.orgWeb site is www.cleanwaterclearchoice.orgCurrently awaiting renewal of MS4 permit Currently awaiting renewal of MS4 permit
by the TCEQby the TCEQ
Web site is www.cleanwaterclearchoice.orgWeb site is www.cleanwaterclearchoice.orgCurrently awaiting renewal of MS4 permit Currently awaiting renewal of MS4 permit
by the TCEQby the TCEQ
OrganizationOrganization
Harris County
Harris County Public Health and
Environmental Services
Harris County Public Infrastructure Division
Environmental Public Health
Engineering Division
Harris County Storm Water
Quality Section
Previous MethodsRespond to citizen complaints
Dry and Wet Weather Screening of major outfalls (conveyance of >36” or drainage of an area >50 acres)
Screened more than 1300 major outfalls during dry weather with less than 5% success rate of locating and eliminating illicit connections
Screened more than 130 major outfalls during wet weather and discovered no illicit connections
Previous MethodsRespond to citizen complaints
Dry and Wet Weather Screening of major outfalls (conveyance of >36” or drainage of an area >50 acres)
Screened more than 1300 major outfalls during dry weather with less than 5% success rate of locating and eliminating illicit connections
Screened more than 130 major outfalls during wet weather and discovered no illicit connections
Current MethodsCurrent MethodsCitizen complaints
Major Outfall screening
Multi-Sector General Permit inspections
Commercial inspections
Citizen complaints
Major Outfall screening
Multi-Sector General Permit inspections
Commercial inspections
Citizen ComplaintsCitizen Complaints
Citizen ComplaintsCitizen Complaints
Agency created November 1953Agency created November 1953Estimated 1.5 million people in Estimated 1.5 million people in
unincorporated Harris Countyunincorporated Harris CountyRespond to approximately 250 water based Respond to approximately 250 water based
complaints per yearcomplaints per yearProvide a 24 hour citizen complaint hotlineProvide a 24 hour citizen complaint hotline
Agency created November 1953Agency created November 1953Estimated 1.5 million people in Estimated 1.5 million people in
unincorporated Harris Countyunincorporated Harris CountyRespond to approximately 250 water based Respond to approximately 250 water based
complaints per yearcomplaints per yearProvide a 24 hour citizen complaint hotlineProvide a 24 hour citizen complaint hotline
Citizen ComplaintsCitizen Complaints NNNooo NNNooo YYYeeesss Yes NNNooo YYYeeesss YYYeeesss NNNooo
Water Complaints
Is there a discharge
Collect samples and run field screenings
Are results
elevated
Stop
Contact responsible party
Advise Representative of applicable rules
Can it be traced to a source
Signs of discharge
Stop
Major Outfall ScreeningMajor Outfall Screening
Have currently inventoried more than 3,000 Major Outfalls in Harris County and stored them in a centralized database
The outfalls that had a discharge or evidence of a recent discharge are scheduled for a return inspection
Have currently inventoried more than 3,000 Major Outfalls in Harris County and stored them in a centralized database
The outfalls that had a discharge or evidence of a recent discharge are scheduled for a return inspection
Major Outfall ScreeningMajor Outfall Screening
Conduct at least 110 of these inspections per year during dry weather conditions
Conduct at least 11 inspections per year during wet weather conditions
Receive a biannual list from TCEQ of utility districts that have submitted unauthorized discharge reports
Conduct at least 110 of these inspections per year during dry weather conditions
Conduct at least 11 inspections per year during wet weather conditions
Receive a biannual list from TCEQ of utility districts that have submitted unauthorized discharge reports
Major Outfall ScreeningMajor Outfall Screening
Major Outfall ScreeningMajor Outfall Screening NNNooo NNNooo YYYeeesss YYYeeesss YYYeeesss NNNooo YYYeeesss NNNooo YYYeeesss
Dry/Wet Weather Screening
Major Outfalls Sanitary Sewer Overflows
Is there a discharge Stop
Are the results
elevated
Is it a one time
event
Is there a discharge
Notify responsible party and eliminate
Identify source and eliminate
Multi-Sector General Permit Inspections
Multi-Sector General Permit Inspections
Multi-Sector General Permit Multi-Sector General Permit InspectionsInspections
Multi-Sector General Permit Multi-Sector General Permit InspectionsInspections
Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) (TPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) became effective in August 2001became effective in August 2001
Inspect approximately 150 new sites per year Inspect approximately 150 new sites per year (required to do 10 per year) (required to do 10 per year)
Conduct follow-up inspections to ensure Conduct follow-up inspections to ensure compliancecompliance
If necessary forward to enforcement coordinatorIf necessary forward to enforcement coordinator
Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) (TPDES) Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) became effective in August 2001became effective in August 2001
Inspect approximately 150 new sites per year Inspect approximately 150 new sites per year (required to do 10 per year) (required to do 10 per year)
Conduct follow-up inspections to ensure Conduct follow-up inspections to ensure compliancecompliance
If necessary forward to enforcement coordinatorIf necessary forward to enforcement coordinator
Multi-sector General Permit Inspections
Multi-sector General Permit Inspections
YYYeeesss NNNooo NNNooo NNNooo YYYeeesss YYYeeesss
Multi-Sector General Permit Inspections
Identify facility for inspection
Is facility required to have permit
coverage
Stop Inspect property
Illegal discharges
and/or housekeeping
issues
Notify plant representative
Review storm water pollution prevention
plan
Is facility compliant
Notify plant representative
Stop
Commercial InspectionsCommercial Inspections
Commercial InspectionsCommercial InspectionsCommercial InspectionsCommercial Inspections
Program was implemented in July 2004Program was implemented in July 2004Identified five different business sectors we Identified five different business sectors we
felt could have a negative impact on storm felt could have a negative impact on storm waterwater
Developed sector specific literature about Developed sector specific literature about storm water impactsstorm water impacts
Commercial InspectionsCommercial InspectionsCommercial InspectionsCommercial Inspections
Conduct at least 110 site visits per year Conduct at least 110 site visits per year Program focuses on outreach as well as Program focuses on outreach as well as
enforcementenforcementGoal is to be proactive as opposed to Goal is to be proactive as opposed to
reactivereactive
Commercial InspectionsCommercial Inspections
Main idea is to be more effective by Main idea is to be more effective by stopping the pollution before it enters the stopping the pollution before it enters the system as opposed to finding its origin once system as opposed to finding its origin once in the pipein the pipe
The five sectors are restaurants, plant The five sectors are restaurants, plant nurseries, vehicle and equipment nurseries, vehicle and equipment washing,fueling stations, and automotive washing,fueling stations, and automotive and boat careand boat care
Commercial InspectionsCommercial Inspections NNNooo
YYYeeesss
Commercial Inspections
Inspect entire facility
Illegal discharges
and/or housekeeping
issues
Identify source
Notify company representative to
eliminate illegal action
Stop
Provide company representative with applicable literature
James Walls
www.harriscountyhealth.com
James Walls
www.harriscountyhealth.com