7 Del. Admin. Code § 7103-14.0
Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 3, September 1, 2024
Section 7103-14.0 - System Alternatives14.1 To properly compare the costs of a land treatment system to alternative conventional treatment systems' costs, land treatment system costs should be based on optimal combinations of pretreatment and land treatment options. The pretreatment requirements for some constituents such as nitrogen and phosphorus will be less for land treatment than for conventional treatment processes. Pretreatment costs for additional removal of the limiting constituent should be compared to costs of acquiring more land for treatment. | | |
| Waste Characterization | | |
| Generator | | |
| Preliminary Site Selection | Site Evaluation | Site Selection - loading rates - area req'd |
| | |
| Owner | County Extension Agent |
| | |
| Generator | Soil Cons. Service |
| | |
| Public Health | DNREC |
| | |
| Rep. of Local Gov't | Consulting Engineers, Agronomists, Soil Scientists |
| | |
| DNREC | Site Approval |
| | |
| LEGEND | | |
| Flow of procedure | | |
| Personsgencies involved | | |
| Feedback for revision | DNREC - - - - Permit Issued |
Figure 1. Flow Chart for land treatment system design and approval
14.2 Several alternatives exist as to management of the land and vegetative cover. Vegetative options include forage crops, grain crops, rotation cropping and trees. The required management intensity varies for different systems and is normally lower for trees and forage crops than for row crops. Realistic utilization potential and costs of production must be estimated to evaluate economic returns from the crop.14.3 Various management and equipment options should be evaluated. There are various irrigation system alternatives such as center pivot, solid set sprinkler, and traveling gun. Various alternatives in storage requirements and disinfection requirements should also be evaluated to minimize costs while maintaining a safe system.14.4 The options of buying or leasing land or farmer contracts should also be considered. For many municipalities and industries, buying the land and operating the system as a dedicated site for wastewater treatment (without environmental degradation to prevent further use for agriculture, forestry or other planned development) is likely most desirable. However, in some situations land lease agreements or farmer contracts may be less costly. Sites owned and operated by the wastewater generator will use the highest possible wastewater application rate compatible with waste treatment goals and protection of the environment. Sites which are privately owned may utilize application rates necessary only to supplement nutrient and water needs of the crops being grown.7 Del. Admin. Code § 7103-14.0