15A NCAC 02B .0503. DEFINITIONS

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms used herein shall be as defined in G.S. 143-213 and as follows:

(1)           "Biological monitoring" shall mean the sampling or testing of the biological integrity of surface waters and measurements of impacts including accumulations of pollutants in tissue, toxicity monitoring, and characterization of instream biological populations.

(2)           "Classified water pollution control facility" means a treatment works classified by the Water Pollution Control System Operator Certification Commission pursuant to Chapter 90A of the North Carolina General Statutes as class I, class II, class III, or class IV facility, or such other classifications as the Water Pollution Control System Operator Certification Commission may hereafter adopt.

(3)           "Commercial laboratory" means any laboratory which analyzes water samples for a fee.

(4)           "Composite sample" means: a sample gathered over a 24 hour period by continuous sampling or combining grab samples in such a manner as to result in a total sample which is representative of the wastewater discharge during the sample period.  This sample may be obtained by methods given below, however, the Director may designate the most appropriate method, number and size of aliquots necessary and the time interval between grab samples on a case-by-case basis. Samples may be collected manually or automatically.

(a)           Continuous - a single, continuous sample collected over a 24 hour period proportional to the rate of flow.

(b)           Constant time/variable volume - a series of grab samples collected at equal time intervals over a 24 hour period of discharge and combined proportional to the rate of flow measured at the time of individual sample collection, or

(c)           Variable time/constant volume - a series of grab samples of equal volume collected over a 24 hour period with the time intervals between samples determined by a preset number of gallons passing the sampling point.  Flow measurement between sample intervals shall be determined by use of a flow recorder and totalizer, and the preset gallon interval between sample collection fixed at no greater than 1/24 of the expected total daily flow at the treatment system, or

(d)           Constant time/constant volume - a series of grab samples of equal volume collected over a 24 hour period at a constant time interval.  This method may be used in situations where effluent flow rates vary less than 15 percent.  The grab samples shall be taken at intervals of no greater than 20 minutes apart during any 24 hour period and must be of equal size and of no less than 100 milliliters.  Use of this method requires prior approval by the Director.

(5)           "Daily" means every day on which a wastewater discharge occurs except Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays unless otherwise specified by the Director.

(6)           "Design flow" means the average daily volume of wastewater which a water pollution control facility was designed, approved and constructed to treat.

(7)           "Design treatment capability" means a water pollution control facility's capacity to achieve a specified degree of reduction in waste constituents at a specified design flow, to meet specified limits or removal efficiencies.

(8)           "Director" means the Director of the Division of Environmental Management, Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources.

(9)           "Division" means the Division of Environmental Management, Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources.

(10)         "Domestic wastewater" means water-carried human wastes together with all other water-carried wastes normally present in wastewater from non-industrial processes.

(11)         "Downstream" means locations in the receiving waters below (downstream of) a point of waste discharge after a reasonable opportunity for dilution and mixture as specified in the Commission's "Rules, Regulations, Classifications and Water Quality Standards Applicable to the Surface Waters of North Carolina."

(12)         "Effluent" means wastewater discharged following all treatment processes from a water pollution control facility or other point source whether treated or untreated.

(13)         "Flow" means the total volume of wastewater discharged from an outlet during any given period.

(14)         "Grab sample" means an individual sample collected instantaneously.  Samples of this type must be representative of the discharge or the receiving waters.

(15)         "Industrial establishment" means any industrial, business, commercial or governmental enterprise which produces water carried wastes.

(16)         "Influent" means the wastewater entering a water pollution control facility.

(17)         "Monitoring" means a program of sample collection, analysis, and observation sufficient to quantify various aspects of waste streams, treatment plant operations and environmental impacts.

(18)         "Point source" means any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance, including, but not specifically limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, or concentrated animal feeding operation from which waste is or may be discharged to the waters of the state.

(19)         "Quarterly" means occurring four times during a 12-month period at a frequency of once per each interval of three consecutive months.

(20)         "Quarterly Average" means the average of all samples taken over a quarterly period.

(21)         "Sample" means a representative portion of the wastewater from water pollution control facilities or of receiving waters.

(22)         "Standard Industrial Classification" (SIC) means those numerical designations set forth in "The Standard Industrial Classification Manual," (Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office) classifying industries according to the type of activity (relating to major products manufactured or principle services furnished) in which they are engaged. For the purposes of this Section, each industry or unit of government shall be classified by SIC numbers applicable to each activity carried on by such establishment or unit which results in a discharge of wastewater.  In addition, any industrial establishment or unit of government which collects or discharges domestic sewage is hereby assigned SIC number 4952.  The Standard Industrial Classification Manual, as used in this Section, is hereby incorporated by reference, including any subsequent amendments and editions.  A copy is available for inspection at the central office of the Division of Environmental Management, 512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina.  Copies may be obtained at the GPO Bookstore, Room 100, 275 Peachtree Street NE, or Post Office Box 56445, Atlanta GA 30343 at a cost of twenty-four dollars ($24.00).

(23)         "Storet number" means a number which designates a test or measurement according to the analytical procedure used or a method of measurement and units of measurement.  Storet is an acronym for the water quality data storage and retrieval computer system of the Environmental Protection Agency. 

(24)         "Toxic substances" means any substance, or combinations of substances, including disease-causing agents, which, after discharge, and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or assimilation into any organism, either directly from the environment or indirectly by ingestion through food chains, has the potential to cause death, disease, behavioral abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutations, physiological malfunctions (including malfunctions or suppression of reproduction or growth) or physical deformities in such organisms or their offspring or other adverse health effects.

(25)         "Toxicity monitoring" means controlled toxicity testing procedures employed to measure lethality or other harmful effects as measured by either aquatic populations or indicator species used as test organisms from exposure to a specific chemical or mixture of chemicals (as in an effluent) or ambient stream conditions.

(26)         "Unit of government" means any incorporated city, town or village, county, sanitary district, metropolitan sewerage district, water or sewer authority, special purpose district, other municipality, or any agency, board, commission, department or political subdivision or public corporation of the state, now or hereafter created or established, empowered to provide wastewater collection systems or wastewater treatment works.

(27)         "Upstream" means  locations in the receiving waters near but above (upstream of) a point of wastewater discharge and unaffected by the discharge.

(28)         "Water pollution control facilities" or "facility" means "treatment works" as defined in G.S. 143-213.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143‑213; 143‑215.68;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Amended Eff. April 1, 1993; December 1, 1984.