Section 905.110  Effluent Discharges

a)         General.  Buried sand filters, recirculating sand filters, waste stabilization ponds, and aerobic treatment plants listed by NSF for Class I effluent (See Section 905.100(a) and (c)) may be discharged to any one of the following 3 options:

1)         A receiving stream, river, lake, or pond which provides greater than a 5 to 1 dilution of the effluent, based on the 7 day, 10 year low flow rate.  A discharge within 10 feet of the above shall be considered to be a discharge to the receiving body of water.  Discharges greater than 10 feet from the receiving body of water shall comply with subsection (a)(2) or (3) of this Section.  Discharges to a lake or pond shall be limited to 2 discharges per surface acre of water.  More than 2 discharges may occur per individual surface acre of water, however, the total number of discharges to total surface acres of water shall not exceed a ratio of 2 to 1.  An example of this is as follows: In a 20 acre lake, several discharges may enter the lake in a 1/2 acre cove; however, the total discharges entering the lake would be limited to 40. Where discharges are not equally distributed around a lake or pond the Department or local authority shall be consulted to assure that nuisance conditions are not created.

2)         A common collector provided that the collector does not discharge within one mile upstream from a public water supply intake, public bathing beach, or to any public use area.  A public use area is any area which is frequently used by the public.  Examples of a public use area are playgrounds and picnic areas.  Common collectors used to carry treated effluent for 2 or more discharging systems with a combined design flow of less than 1500 gallons per day shall be constructed of materials as listed in Appendix A:  Illustration C of this Part, and shall discharge in accordance with subsections (a)(1) and (3) of this Section. If the flow from any number of discharging systems is combined and exceeds 1500 gallons per day, then the owner of the property shall provide a copy of the construction permit obtained in accordance with 35 Ill. Adm. Code 309.202(a) and (b) and a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to the Department or local authority to demonstrate that the effluent from this private sewage disposal system can discharge to this location.

3)         The ground surface, where the discharge points of private sewage disposal systems with surface discharges does not exceed an average of one per acre and the effluent does not pond or create a nuisance condition.

b)         Whenever a subdivision is platted that does not provide private sewage disposal systems in compliance with Section 905.60 or subsection (a) of this Section, then a sewage system in compliance with 35 Ill. Adm. Code 301 shall be provided.

c)         Where lots have been platted prior to March 15, 1996, the applicant for plan approval or local authority approval may apply for a variance to this Section in accordance with the provisions of Section 905.20(l).

d)         Effluent Standards.

1)         All surface discharges from private sewage disposal systems shall comply with United States Environmental Protection Agency Secondary Treatment Guidelines for BOD5 and Suspended Solids:

A)        BOD5

i)          Arithmetic mean of all effluent samples collected in a period of 30 consecutive days; 30 mg/1 (milligrams per liter) and 85 percent removal.

ii)         Arithmetic mean of all effluent samples collected in a period of 7 consecutive days; 45 mg/1.

B)        Suspended Solids:

i)          Arithmetic mean of all effluent samples collected in a period of 30 consecutive days; 30 mg/1 and 85 percent removal.

ii)         Arithmetic mean of all effluent samples collected in a period of 7 consecutive days; 45 mg/1.

C)        No effluent shall contain settlable solids.

D)        Color, odor, and turbidity must be reduced to below discernable levels.

E)         No effluent shall contain floating debris, visible oil, grease, scum, or sludge solids.

F)         A fecal coliform bacteria concentration not exceeding 400 organisms per 100 ml (milliliter) except where chlorination is not required.

2)         Samples shall be analyzed in accordance with the "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater".

(Source:  Amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 2431, effective March 15, 1996)