Unit News and Bulletins

• APS Express and Standard Review Program Evaluations
• New Non-Discharge Permit Information Page
• Reclaimed Water Rule Changes and Public Hearing Announcement
• Permit Extension Act of 2009
• New Division Policies Available
• List of Approved Bulk Fill Reclaimed Water Providers

APS Express and Standard Review Program Evaluations

Recently, the Aquifer Protection Section completed a detailed evaluation of the non-discharge Express and Standard Review Programs to determine the strengths and weaknesses of both programs in an effort to improve overall permitting efficiency and customer satisfaction.  The results of this evaluation are provided below for your convenience:

• APS Express and Standard Review Program Evaluation
• Appendix I

If you have any questions about this evaluation, please contact Nathaniel Thornburg at (919) 715-6160 or nathaniel.thornburg@ncdenr.gov, or Lori Montgomery at (919) 715-6187 or lori.montgomery@ncdenr.gov.

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New Non-Discharge Permit Information Page

The Aquifer Protection Section's Land Application Unit has created the Permit Information page (see lefthand sidebar) in an effort to provide the general public, private consultants and Permittees with information regarding current non-discharge applications, and active and expired non-discharge permits.

The reports are provided in Microsoft Excel format and shall be updated monthly.

If you have any questions about these reports, or would like to correct an error, please contact Nathaniel Thornburg at (919) 715-6160 or nathaniel.thornburg@ncdenr.gov.

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Reclaimed Water Rule Changes and Public Hearing Announcement

A Division-sponsored workgroup was formed in April 2007 to examine issues surrounding reclaimed water and to investigate potential rule changes that would facilitate the use of reclaimed water while assuring protection of public health and the environment.  The resulting draft rule revisions were approved by the Enviromental Management Commission (EMC) in September of 2008 and the associated fiscal analysis was completed in November of 2009.

G.S. 143-355.5, adopted as part of Session Law 2008-143, states that it is the public policy of the State to reuse treated wastewater or reclaimed water to meet the existing and future water supply needs of the State.  The Statute directs the EMC to encourage and promote safe and beneficial reuse of treated wastewater as an alternative to surface water discharges, and to adopt rules to identify acceptable uses of reclaimed water, facilitate the permitting of reclaimed water systems, and establish standards for reclaimed water systems that are adequate to prevent the direct distribution of reclaimed water as potable water.  The proposed rule changes fulfill the directive of G.S. 143-355.5.

• Public Hearing Announcement
• Approved Fiscal Analysis
• 15A NCAC 02T .0113 Revision
• 15A NCAC 02T .0506 Revision
• 15A NCAC 02T .0900 Repeal
• 15A NCAC 02U Adopt

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Permit Extension Act of 2009

In 2009, North Carolina enacted SL 2009-406 which extends coverage of certain government permits and approvals that are current and valid at any point between Jan. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2010 under Chapter 23, Article 21 of the North Carolina General Statutes.

These extensions apply to permitted facilities regardless of construction status, and apply to permits issued to both government and non-government entities.

A list of all effected non-discharge permits and their new expiration dates sorted by permit number may be downloaded here.

Non-discharge permits issued by the Division of Water Quality's Aquifer Protection Section that come under this law are listed below. 

Groundwater Protection Unit (Contact: Debra Watts, 919-715-6699)

• Groundwater Remediation Systems
• Single-Family Residence Wastewater Irrigation Systems
• Soil Remediation

Land Application Unit (Contact: Jon Risgaard, 919-715-6167)

• Wastewater Pump and Haul Systems
• Wastewater Irrigation Systems
• High Rate Infiltration Systems
• Other Non-Discharge Wastewater Systems (i.e. evaporation/infiltration)
• Reclaimed Water Systems
• Closed Loop Recycle Systems
• Residuals Management
• Coal Combustion Products Management

The session law suspends the permit or approval clock during the period Jan. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2010.

Permits issued prior to Jan. 1, 2008 and valid between Jan. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2010 have been extended for three years. For example, a permit effective from May 5, 2005 through April 30, 2010 is extended until April 30, 2013.

Permits and approvals that were renewed between January 1, 2008 and Aug. 2009 - the effective date of the law - have also been extended for three years. For example, a permit renewed on May 5, 2005 and effective until April 30, 2010 is extended until April 30, 2013.

New permits and approvals issued between Jan. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2010 will have an expiration date that is extended for the amount of time the permit has been active between Jan. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2010. For example, a new permit issued on May 5, 2009 that usually has a five-year permit limit will have an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2015. This reflects the 20 months the permit was active prior to the end of 2010.

While the examples given above are for five-year permits, some of the permits and approvals affected by the law are effective for different durations. 

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New Division Policies Available

The Aquifer Protection Section is pleased to announce three new policies designed to assist professional consultants with application submittals for non-discharge projects under 15A NCAC 02T. The three policies are:

• Single-Family Residence Wastewater Irrigation System Loading Rate Calculation Policy
• Soil Scientist Evaluation Policy
• Water Balance Calculation Policy

These three policies may be download from our Policies & Memorandums page.

Please note the Single-Family Residence Wastewater Irrigation System Loading Rate Calculation Policy is accompanied by a Single-Family Residence Loading Rate Workbook that can be downloaded here.

Please note all permit applications and other site reports shall be reviewed in accordance with these policies for any applications received on or after November 1, 2008.  For any application received prior to that time, APS staff shall review the application for adherence to the policy and discuss with the applicant and/or their consultants to encourage consistency with this policy.

If you have any questions about the new policies or their associated workbooks, please contact Nathaniel Thornburg at (919) 715-6160 or at nathaniel.thornburg@ncdenr.gov, or Rich Hayes at (919) 791-4200 or richard.d.hayes@ncdenr.gov.

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List of Approved Bulk Fill Reclaimed Water Providers

In an effort to promote the use of bulk reclaimed water as an alternative to the public's use of potable drinking water, the Division of Water Quality has provided a list of approved bulk fill reclaimed water providers.  This list may be found at the following website: http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/lau/BulkReclaimedWaterProviders.html

Bulk reclaimed water fill stations are conjunctive systems where reclaimed water is hauled from the generating facility, typically in tanker trucks, and is used for pre-approved applications by certified users.  To be permitted for a bulk reclaimed water fill station, the Permittee must first demonstrate that the treated wastewater meets the reclaimed water effluent quality criteria, and that adequate educational and operational programs are in place to assure proper use of the reclaimed water. 

Approved uses of bulk reclaimed water include:

• Concrete cutting
• Decorative ponds and fountains
• Fire fighting and fire extinguishing (users must meet Public Water Supply requirements)
• Hydro-seeding and fertilizer mixing
• Industrial and commercial cooling water
• Industrial and commercial toilet flush and fire prevention systems where there are separate, non-potable plumbing lines
• Irrigation of public and private landscapes and turf
• Make-up water for brine slurry (applied to roads to prevent freezing)
• Make-up water for preparation of non-potable chemical solutions, (e.g. pesticide solutions).
• Non-potable processes such as concrete production and compost production.
• Street sweeping (not street cleaning)
• Sewer cleaning (not washing)
• Soil compaction and dust suppression for construction
• Subsurface Directional Boring (Not for the construction of wells)
• Vehicle washing of municipal vehicles

For more information about the Division of Water Quality's Reclaimed Water Permitting Program, visit the Aquifer Protection Section website at:

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