Chapter NR 106

NR 106.90(2)(a)7. 7. Where a public water utility has been identified as a significant contributor of chloride to the sewer system, request that the water utility conduct activities listed in par. (b).

NR 106.90(2)(b) (b) For direct-discharging municipal or commercial water softening plants:

NR 106.90(2)(b)1. 1. Identify the users of soft water or the processes using soft water, and the amounts they use.

NR 106.90(2)(b)2. 2. Determine which users or processes can tolerate unsoftened water, and determine their impact on demand.

NR 106.90(2)(b)3. 3. Determine which users can close-loop their once-through cooling system or which processes can be close-looped, and determine their impact on demand.

NR 106.90(2)(b)4. 4. Seek voluntary demand reductions.

NR 106.90(2)(c) (c) For dairies, train plant personnel to be more aware of salt conservation, emphasizing simple, cost effective housekeeping measures. For example, spilled salt can be cleaned up as a solid waste rather than flushed down the floor drain.

NR 106.90(2)(d) (d) For those facilities which process vegetables or meats:

NR 106.90(2)(d)1. 1. Train personnel as described in par. (c) in housekeeping measures.

NR 106.90(2)(d)2. 2. Optimize softener operation to ensure the appropriate regeneration interval and salt dosage are used.

NR 106.90(2)(e) (e) For any other facility not listed in pars. (a) to (d), conduct activities that identify and quantify chloride and softened water sources and usage and educate personnel on appropriate housekeeping practices and the need to minimize salt and softened water demands.

NR 106.90(3) (3) Tier 2 source reduction measures are those voluntary source reduction activities that improve and optimize equipment and processes, encourage restricted chloride use by users, eliminate wasteful practices and establish recycling practices where feasible, and other activities similar in nature. Tier 2 source reduction measures may include any of the following:

NR 106.90(3)(a) (a) For POTWs, institute sewer use ordinances that:

NR 106.90(3)(a)1. 1. Require significant industrial and commercial contributors to evaluate their water treatment systems with regard to softened water requirements, with the results of that evaluation being the basis for potential restrictions of chloride inputs.

NR 106.90(3)(a)2. 2. Mandate a DIR and high salt efficiency standard for new residential softeners.

NR 106.90(3)(a)3. 3. Mandate participation in a residential softener tune-up program, which involves qualified periodic servicing to ensure proper control settings and adjustments.

NR 106.90(3)(a)4. 4. Where a public water utility has been identified as a significant contributor of chloride to the sewer system, request that the water utility conduct activities listed in par. (b).

NR 106.90(3)(b) (b) For direct-discharging municipal or commercial water softening plants:

NR 106.90(3)(b)1. 1. Optimize softener operation to ensure the appropriate regeneration interval and salt dosage are used.

NR 106.90(3)(b)2. 2. If the regeneration is manual or timer-initiated, switch to a DIR controller.

NR 106.90(3)(b)3. 3. Evaluate the feasibility of brine reclamation.

NR 106.90(3)(c) (c) For dairies:

NR 106.90(3)(c)1. 1. Improve the handling of salt brines and the handling of cheese into and out of brine systems. Consider capital improvements such as automating the brine system, properly designed drip pans and splash guards.

NR 106.90(3)(c)2. 2. Optimize softener operation to ensure the appropriate regeneration interval and salt dosage are used.

NR 106.90(3)(c)3. 3. If the regeneration is manual or timer-initiated, evaluate the feasibility of switching to a DIR controller.

NR 106.90(3)(c)4. 4. Evaluate the feasibility of softener brine reclamation.

NR 106.90(3)(c)5. 5. Determine which subprocesses can tolerate unsoftened water, and make appropriate changes.

NR 106.90(3)(c)6. 6. Determine whether once-through cooling systems can be close-looped, and make appropriate changes.

NR 106.90(3)(c)7. 7. For plants that condense whey, evaluate the feasibility of using condensate of whey (COW) water for the first rinse for clean-in-place (CIP) systems and for boiler makeup water.

NR 106.90(3)(d) (d) For those facilities which process vegetables:

NR 106.90(3)(d)1. 1. If the regeneration is manual or timer-initiated, evaluate the feasibility of switching to a DIR controller.

NR 106.90(3)(d)2. 2. Evaluate the feasibility of softener brine reclamation.

NR 106.90(3)(d)3. 3. Investigate the feasibility of using a phosphonate additive instead of softening the cooling water.

NR 106.90(3)(d)4. 4. Evaluate the feasibility of reusing once-through cooling water as boiler make-up.

NR 106.90(3)(d)5. 5. Investigate the feasibility of using unsoftened water for container fill.

NR 106.90(3)(e) (e) For those facilities which process meats:

NR 106.90(3)(e)1. 1. If the regeneration is manual or timer-initiated, evaluate the feasibility of switching to a DIR controller.

NR 106.90(3)(e)2. 2. Evaluate the feasibility of softener brine reclamation.

NR 106.90(3)(f) (f) For any other facility not listed in pars. (a) to (e), conduct activities that improve and optimize equipment and processes, eliminate wasteful practices and establish recycling practices to achieve chloride reductions.

NR 106.90(4) (4) Tier 3 source reduction measures are those voluntary source reduction activities that evaluate the feasibility of replacing or upgrading equipment and processes or evaluate the feasibility of using alternative technologies or processes, and other activities similar in nature. Tier 3 source reduction measures may include any of the following:

NR 106.90(4)(a) (a) For POTWs, where residential point-of-use softening is the primary chloride input:

NR 106.90(4)(a)1. 1. Evaluate the requirement for new and replacement softeners to be metered demand type, with a higher, greater than 3350 grains of hardness exchange per pound of salt, efficiency capability.

NR 106.90(4)(a)2. 2. Evaluate the imposition of installation restrictions so that outside hose bibs are on unsoftened water. If restrictions are imposed, new homes and those in real estate transfers should be required to have plumbing restrictions for hard water by-passes, and the requirement should apply to self-installed equipment as well.

NR 106.90(4)(b) (b) For POTWs, where a central water supply softener is the primary chloride input, conduct activities listed in par. (c).

NR 106.90(4)(c) (c) For direct-discharging municipal or commercial water softening plants:

NR 106.90(4)(c)1. 1. Evaluate the feasibility of achieving greater salt efficiencies, greater than 3350 grains of hardness exchange per pound of salt.

NR 106.90(4)(c)2. 2. Evaluate softening alternatives that replace the sodium cycle ion exchange method of softening.

NR 106.90(4)(c)3. 3. Blend softened and unsoftened water to strike a balance between delivered water quality and environmental protection.

NR 106.90(4)(d) (d) For dairies:

NR 106.90(4)(d)1. 1. For plants that make brine salted cheeses, evaluate the feasibility of membrane filtration for reconditioning the brine so that it can be reused.

NR 106.90(4)(d)2. 2. For plants that make brine salted cheeses, evaluate the feasibility of using a no-brine make procedure in which salt is added directly to curd during the manufacturing procedure, thereby reducing salt discharges from spent brines.

NR 106.90(4)(e) (e) For those facilities which process vegetables:

NR 106.90(4)(e)1. 1. Evaluate the feasibility of eliminating brine flotation for quality grading, if applicable.

NR 106.90(4)(e)2. 2. Evaluate the feasibility of installing a closed-loop system for cooling water.

NR 106.90(4)(e)3. 3. Evaluate the feasibility of installing a brine recovery and reuse system for reducing salt waste at the point of supplying flavorings to containers.

NR 106.90(4)(f) (f) For those facilities which process meats:

NR 106.90(4)(f)1. 1. Investigate the feasibility of replacing brine chills with air, water or air-water chills.

NR 106.90(4)(f)2. 2. Reduce drainback through operational and equipment improvements.

NR 106.90(4)(f)3. 3. Investigate the feasibility of chill brine reconditioning and reuse.

NR 106.90(4)(f)4. 4. Evaluate the feasibility of reusing once-through cooling water, or installing a closed-loop cooling water system.

NR 106.90(4)(f)5. 5. Evaluate phosphonate additives instead of softened water.

NR 106.90(4)(g) (g) For any other facility not listed in pars. (a) to (f), evaluate the feasibility of replacing or upgrading equipment and processes, and the use of alternative softening technologies to affect chloride reductions.

NR 106.90(5) (5) Source reduction reporting. Following the completion of tier 1, 2 or 3 source reduction activities specified in the permit, but no later than 6 months prior to permit expiration, the permittee shall file a written report to the department documenting the current reduction as well as the anticipated future reduction in salt usage and chloride effluent concentrations.

NR 106.90 History History: Cr. Register, January, 2000, No. 529, eff. 2-1-00.

NR 106.91 NR 106.91 Variances for POTWs which accept wastewater from public water systems treating water to meet primary safe drinking water act standards. Publicly owned treatment works that accept wastewater from a public water system treating water to meet the primary maximum contaminant levels specified in ch. NR 809, if not able to meet the calculated limitation, may apply to the department for a variance from the water quality standard used to derive the limitation following the procedure specified in this subchapter. The department shall seek U.S. environmental protection agency approval before a variance is included in a permit. Upon approval, the permittee may be given an interim limitation, a target value, a target limitation and appropriate source reduction requirements, under s. NR 106.83 in the permit upon permit reissuance or modification. No calculated limitation, interim limitation, target value, target limitation, or source reduction requirement shall interfere with the attainment of the primary maximum contaminant levels specified in ch. NR 809.

NR 106.91 History History: Cr. Register, January, 2000, No. 529, eff. 2-1-00; CR 15-085: am. Register August 2016 No. 728, eff. 9-1-16.

NR 106.92 NR 106.92 Authority of a publicly owned treatment works to regulate chloride discharges. A publicly owned treatment works has the authority to regulate the discharge of chloride as enumerated in s. NR 211.40.

NR 106.92 History History: Cr. Register, January, 2000, No. 529, eff. 2-1-00.

NR 106.93 NR 106.93 New discharges. Any point source which has not been authorized under a WPDES permit prior to February 1, 2000, shall be required to meet the calculated limitations. Relocation of an existing discharge which was issued a WPDES permit prior to February 1, 2000, may not be considered a new discharge.

NR 106.93 History History: Cr. Register, January, 2000, No. 529, eff. 2-1-00.

NR 106.94 NR 106.94 Relocation of an existing discharge. An existing discharge which was issued a WPDES permit prior to February 1, 2000, and which is relocated after February 1, 2000, may be subject to voluntary source reduction activities and both an interim limitation and a target value or an interim limitation and a target limitation pursuant to s. NR 106.83 if the provisions of ch. NR 207 are met. Relocation includes the diversion of a discharge from a land treatment system to a surface water.

NR 106.94 History History: Cr. Register, January, 2000, No. 529, eff. 2-1-00.

NR 106.95 NR 106.95 Multiple discharges. The provisions of s. NR 106.11 are applicable to multiple discharges of chloride.

NR 106.95 History History: Cr. Register, January, 2000, No. 529, eff. 2-1-00.

NR 106.96 NR 106.96 Analytical methods and laboratory requirements. The provisions of s. NR 106.14 regarding analytical methods, sample handling and laboratory requirements are applicable to discharges of chloride.

NR 106.96 History History: Cr. Register, January, 2000, No. 529, eff. 2-1-00.

subch. VIII of ch. NR 106 Subchapter VIII — Permit Requirements for PFOS and PFOA Discharges

NR 106.97 NR 106.97 Purpose. The purpose of this subchapter is to specify how the department will regulate the discharge of PFOS and PFOA in wastewater to surface waters of the state that are subject to the PFOS and PFOA standards under s. NR 102.04 (8) (d) 1. pursuant to the permitting program under ch. 283, Stats.

NR 106.97 History History: CR 21-083: cr. Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.

NR 106.975 NR 106.975 Definitions. In this subchapter:

NR 106.975(1) (1) “Composite sample” has the meaning specified in s. NR 218.04 (11).

NR 106.975(2) (2) “Equipment blank” means a sample collected by passing laboratory-verified PFAS-free water over or through field sampling equipment before the collection of field samples to evaluate potential contamination from the equipment used during sampling.

NR 106.975(3) (3) “Grab sample” has the meaning specified in s. NR 218.04 (10).

NR 106.975(4) (4) “Major municipal discharger” means a treatment works or system that has a major municipal discharge as defined in s. NR 200.02 (7).

NR 106.975(5) (5) “Minor municipal discharger” means a treatment works or system that has a minor municipal discharge as defined in s. NR 200.02 (8).

NR 106.975(6) (6) “Municipal discharger” means all publicly operated treatment works and privately owned domestic sewage treatment works subject to the requirements under ch. NR 210.

NR 106.975(7) (7) “New discharger” means any building, structure, facility, or installation from which there is or may be a discharge of pollutants, that is not a new source, and that did not commence the discharge of pollutants at a particular site prior to August 1, 2022, and which has never received a finally effective WPDES permit for discharges at that site.

NR 106.975(8) (8) “New source” has the meaning specified in s. NR 106.117.

NR 106.975(9) (9) “PFAS” means a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance that contains a straight or branching chain of carbon atoms in which one or more of the carbon atoms have fluorine atoms attached at all bonding sites not occupied by another carbon atom and the fluorinated part of the molecule can be expressed as CnF2n+1.