Ariz. Admin. Code § R18-9-C815 - Pilot Study

A. An AWPRA applicant shall develop a Pilot Study Plan and conduct piloting on a pilot treatment train.

1. If an AWPRA builds a pilot facility to full-scale, the AWPRA applicant may, instead, opt to conduct piloting and full-scale verification simultaneously. If the AWPRA pursues this option, the AWPRA shall:

a. Consult with the Department, and

b. Develop and submit a Hybrid Pilot and Full-Scale Verification Plan to the Department for review and comment prior to conducting piloting and full scale verification under this section, R18-9-F835 and other requirements which are previously determined through consultation with the Department, and

c. For the purposes of the permit application pursuant to R18-9-C816, submit the Hybrid Pilot and Full-Scale Verification Plan and a Hybrid Pilot and Full-Scale Verification Report in lieu of the submission requirements at R18-9-C816(A)(2)(g) and (h).

2. An operator of a pilot facility may be credited with advanced water treatment qualifying experience under R18-9-B804.

B. Pilot Study Plan. A Pilot Study Plan shall be followed when constructing the pilot treatment train and piloting in accordance with this section.

1. A Non-National Pretreatment Program AWPRA applicant shall submit the Pilot Study Plan to the Department for review and comment prior to conducting piloting under this section.

2. A National Pretreatment Program AWPRA applicant may submit the Pilot Study Plan to the Department for review and comment prior to conducting piloting under this section, an approach recommended by the Department, or otherwise shall submit the Pilot Study Plan to the Department as a component of the AWP permit application prepared pursuant to R18-9-C816.

3. The Plan shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

a. The pilot study objectives,

b. A description of the proposed pilot treatment train,

c. The design criteria for each treatment component pursuant to R18-9-F832,

d. A design report and drawing,

e. An explanation of the pilot train's representation of the scale and the performance of the proposed full-scale AWTF and the selected treatment components therein,

f. A time period for which the pilot study will be conducted of no less than one year of continuous operation,

g. A monitoring plan which shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

i. The proposed monitoring, instrumentation, and any additional requirements pursuant to R18-9-A802(C).

ii. The proposed chemical critical control points designated pursuant to R18-9-E827(D),

iii. The proposed pathogen critical control points designated pursuant to R18-9-E828(D), and

iv. An advanced treated water sampling plan, and

h. The proposed Tier 3 chemical list and associated critical control points prepared pursuant to R18-9-E827,

i. The projected chemical treatment list prepared pursuant to R18-9-E826(F), and

j. A TOC Characterization Plan of all original drinking water sources, pursuant to the Trace Organics Removal Procedure under R18-9-F834(C)(1), if the AWPRA selects the Site-Specific TOC Management Approach.

4. The Initial Source Water Characterization Report prepared pursuant to R18-9-C814(E) shall be submitted as follows:

a. A Non-National Pretreatment Program AWPRA applicant shall submit the Initial Source Water Characterization Report as a component of the Pilot Study Plan, and

b. A National Pretreatment Program AWPRA applicant may submit the Initial Source Water Characterization Report as a component of the Pilot Study Plan, or otherwise shall submit the Initial Source Water Characterization Report as a component of the AWP permit application prepared pursuant to R18-9-C816.

5. The pilot treatment train shall be selected from, and optimized in accordance with, the projected chemical treatment list developed pursuant to R18-9-E826(F) and pathogen log reduction values established pursuant to R18-9-E828.

6. If a Pilot Study Plan includes the discharge of effluent and the facility is subject to the APP program, an APP application for permit coverage shall be submitted and effective before pilot train operation.

C. Piloting.

1. Pathogen and chemical removal shall be demonstrated during the pilot study by conducting sampling in accordance with the established monitoring plan developed in subsection (B)(3)(g).

2. Sampling shall be conducted at a minimum of two locations, the influent and effluent of the pilot treatment train, in accordance with the proposed critical control points.

D. Report. At the conclusion of piloting a Pilot Study Report shall be prepared and submitted to the Department as a component of the AWP permit application pursuant to R18-9-C816. The Pilot Study Report shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

1. A demonstration of the effectiveness, reliability, and consistency of the treatment components in achieving pathogen and chemical removal, as well as TOC management in accordance with the Pilot Study Plan under subsection (B),

2. A list of water reclamation facility operational parameters and ranges that produced the AWTF treated wastewater influent water quality.

E. The Department shall consider an AWPRA applicant's conformance with the pilot study requirements in this Article as a component of the AWP permit application. The Director shall deny an AWP permit application if a determination is made that, under the Pilot Study Plan, piloting was improperly conducted or is otherwise insufficient to achieve the objectives of the pilot study, or if the Pilot Study Report is incomplete or otherwise insufficient to demonstrate compliance with the Pilot Study Plan.

F. In addition to the requirements of this section, the pilot study shall be conducted using good engineering practices. Methods for conducting the pilot study shall be approved if the AWPRA applicant can demonstrate that the methods sufficiently and consistently verify the performance of the chosen treatment components, provide the opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of different types of treatment components, and inform the design of the full-scale AWP treatment train.

1. ADEQ shall develop and make available guidance on conducting an AWP pilot study.

2. An AWP pilot study conducted in a manner consistent with the criteria contained in an applicable ADEQ guidance document shall be considered to have been conducted using good engineering practices.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R18-9-C815

Former Section R9-8-332 renumbered without change as Section R18-9-815 (Supp. 87-3). Section repealed by final rulemaking at 7 A.A.R. 235, effective December 8, 2000 (Supp. 00-4). New Section made by final rulemaking at 31 A.A.R. 1069, effective 3/4/2025.