15A NCAC 02B .0503 DEFINITIONS
Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms used in this Section shall be as defined in G.S. 143-212 and 143-213; the federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); 40 CFR Parts 122, 124, and 125; 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 that analyzes water samples for a fee.
(4) "Composite sample" means a sample gathered over a 24 hour period in such a manner as to result in a total sample that is representative of the wastewater discharge during the sample period. This sample may be obtained by methods set forth in this Item; however, the Director may designate the method to be used, the number and size of aliquots necessary, and the time interval between grab samples on a case-by-case basis to ensure a representative sample. 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;
(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 State and Federal holidays unless the Director determines that, due to variability in wastewater flows or characteristics or in treatment performance, it is necessary to also monitor on these days in order to characterize the discharge.
(6) "Design flow" means the average daily volume of wastewater that 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 or to control other characteristics at a specified design flow, such as required to meet specified discharge limits or removal efficiencies.
(8) "Director" means the Director of the Division of Water Resources or Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources, Department of Environmental Quality, whichever is the permitting authority; or his or her designee.
(9) "Division" means the Division of Water Resources or the Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources, Department of Environmental Quality, whichever is the permitting authority.
(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 a point of waste discharge after a reasonable opportunity for dilution and mixture as specified in 15A NCAC 02B .0204.
(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 discrete sample collected over a period of time not exceeding 15 minutes. Samples of this type must be representative of the discharge or the receiving waters.
(15) "Industrial establishment" means any manufacturing, business, commercial, or governmental enterprise that 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 the characteristics of waste streams, treatment plant operations, and environmental impacts.
(18) "North American Industry Classification System" (NAICS) code means those six-digit numeric designations used to classify business establishments according to the processes employed to produce goods or services. For the purposes of this Section, each industry or unit of government shall be classified by NAICS codes applicable to each activity carried on by such establishment or unit that results in a discharge of wastewater. Any industrial establishment or unit of government that collects or discharges domestic sewage shall be classified as NAICS number 221320 in addition to any other classifications that apply. The North American Industry Classification System Manual, as used in this Section, is hereby incorporated by reference, including any subsequent amendments and editions. The manual may be accessed free of charge at https://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/2017NAICS/2017_NAICS_Manual.pdf.
(19) "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, concentrated animal feeding operation, or vessel or other floating craft from which waste is or may be discharged to the waters of the state.
(20) "Quarterly" means occurring four times during a 12-month period at a frequency of once per each interval of three consecutive months.
(21) "Quarterly Average" means the average of all samples taken over a quarterly period.
(22) "Sample" means a representative portion of the wastewater from water pollution control facilities or of receiving waters.
(23) "Standard Industrial Classification" (SIC) code means those four-digit numerical designations set forth in "The Standard Industrial Classification Manual," 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 that results in a discharge of wastewater. Any industrial establishment or unit of government that collects or discharges domestic sewage shall be classified as SIC number 4952 in addition to any other classifications that apply. 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 Water Resources, 512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina. The classifications found in the manual may also be accessed free of charge at https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/sic_manual.html.
(24) "Storet number" means a number that 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.
(25) "Toxic substances" means any substance, or combinations of substances, including disease-causing agents, that, 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.
(26) "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.
(27) "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 empowered pursuant to applicable laws to provide wastewater collection systems or wastewater treatment works.
(28) "Upstream" means locations in the receiving waters near but above a point of wastewater discharge and unaffected by the discharge.
(29) "Water pollution control facilities" or "facility" means "treatment works" as defined in G.S. 143-213.
History Note: Authority G.S. 143-213; 143‑215.3(a)(1); 143‑215.64; 143-215.65; 143-215.66;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Amended Eff. April 1, 1993; December 1, 1984;
Readopted Eff. May 1, 2020.