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Flow Audit Study (FAS) Protocol
Download
the July 2000 FAS Summary Report (PDF, 1 MB)
Background
In
response to the State Board Order WQ 90-5, the San José Action Plan was
proposed in 1991 by the City of San José on behalf of the San
Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant (Plant) and the tributary
agencies (Santa Clara, Milpitas, Cupertino Sanitary District, West Valley
Sanitation District, County Sanitation Districts 2-3, Sunol and Burbank
Sanitary Districts). The overall goal is to protect and restore salt marsh
habitat for two endangered species by reducing the amount of freshwater
flows from the Plant to below 120-mgd average dry weather effluent flow
(ADWEF).
The
Plant submitted a revised South Bay Action Plan to the Regional Water
Quality Control Board in June 1997 and a Contingency Plan in December
1997. The Action Plan and its Contingency Plan were approved and incorporated
as permit requirements in the Plant's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permit issued by the RWQCB in June 1998. The Contingency
Plan is a tiered approach to insure that the ADWEF is brought and remains
below 120 million gallons per day (mgd).
Tier I of the Contingency Plan must be implemented if the measures contained
in the 1997 Revised Action Plan do not achieve expected reductions and
the ADWEF exceeds 120 mgd during the 1998 regulatory period (the average
of the three lowest consecutive month's flows between May and October)
or any subsequent year. If Tier I is necessary in 1998, implementation
must begin by November 1, 1998. The Tier I measures are as follows:
-
Public
Awareness Campaign to increase the awareness and acceptance of ultra
low flush toilets (ULFTs) and the need for water conservation
to reduce flow from all sources to the Plant.
-
Mandatory
retrofit of bathrooms/lavatories with water saving fixtures (e.g.
ULFTs, faucet aerators, and shower heads) and/or secure certification
of existing water-saving fixtures upon resale of all residential,
commercial, industrial and institutional property.
-
Mandatory
use of recycled water for landscaping for all customers within the recycled water service
area with an annual nonpotable water use of 5 AF/yr.
-
Require
all Commercial/Industrial/Institutional dischargers whose flow to
the sanitary sewer is 100,000 gallons per day or over to perform a
flow audit and implement all cost effective flow reduction measures.
The
following Flow Audit Study (FAS) protocol supports the Tier I requirement
for Commercial, Industrial, and institutional flow audits.
What
is the Flow Audit Study Protocol?
The
Flow Audit Study program, and specifically this document, have been developed
after extensive study and review of flow reduction and pollution prevention
efforts at commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities in Santa
Clara County. The Flow Audit Protocol provides guidance and establishes
the industry parameters for preparing and completing the Flow Audit Study
(FAS).
Also
included are several forms/worksheets that will assist dischargers to
the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant in gathering data,
evaluating flow reduction options, and reporting the results.
Who
Should Complete a FAS?
Any
commercial or industrial establishment discharging an average of more
than 100,000 gallons total per day to the sanitary sewer discharging to
the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. The baseline time
period for calculating average daily flow for Tier I dischargers is January
1, 1997 - December 31, 1997.
Exemptions:
- Dischargers
are using South Bay Water Recycling (SBWR) water in an industrial
process by October 31, 1998 and the remaining discharge from all
other sources is less than 100,000 gpd;
- Dischargers
are currently piloting projects as part of a research study effort
with the City which will either bring the facility's total discharge
to below 100,000 gpd by August 1, 1999 or use SBWR as described
in number A above; or
- Dischargers
submit closure plans to the City indicating that the company will
not be in operation after August 1, 1999. The president or Chief
Executive Officer of the company must sign this closure plan. If
the facility is not proceeding towards closure by March 1, 1999,
the company will have to begin completing a Flow Audit Study. Partial
permanent closure of production lines will be evaluated on a case-by-case
basis.
Download instructions for performing a water audit in MS Word or PDF or Win Zip
If
you have any questions contact Heidi Geiger at (408)
945-3000 or e-mail at heidi.geiger@sanjoseca.gov |
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