DESIGN GUIDELINES

FOR
WASTEWATER FACILITIES
MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
ENGINEERING AND CAPITAL PROJECTS PROGRAM

2012
Purpose:

Recommended Standards for Wastewater Facilities (as revised) for Great Lakes-Upper
Mississippi River Board of State and Provincial Public Health and Environmental
Managers (10-State Standards) will continue to be the main source of guidance for the
programs design review and construction permit functions. The 10-State Standards can
be downloaded free from http://www.10statesstandards.com website, or purchased as a
book from the Health Education Services (HES) at http://www.healthresearch.org/store.

These guidelines are intended to serve as addenda to supplement the 10-State Standards.
The 10-State Standards (as revised) and these guidelines supersede all other design
guidelines for wastewater (sewerage facilities) previously issued by the Department.

The following sections serve as addenda to the mentioned 10-State Standards chapters
and/or sections.

At the appearance of conflicting information, these guidelines supersede the 10-State

Standards as they intended to provide further clarifications specific for MDE.

Additional requirements beyond these guidelines and the 10-State Standards can be
added by the facilitys discharge permit and/or consent order or decree issued by MDE.

ADDENDUM TO CHAPTER 10
ENGINEERING REPORTS AND FACILITY PLANS
HYDRAULIC CAPACITY
Terminology and Typical Use:
Term
Description
Average Daily Flow For existing facility, its the
(Current or Initial)
current average daily flow based
on the last three years data. This
is done by averaging the daily
flow for each year, then
averaging the three years.
For a proposed facility, its the
project initial flow.
Design Average
Average daily flow a facility is
Flow (Design
designed to successfully process
Capacity)
Approved/Permitted A treatment plant design flow
Design Capacity
approved by the County Water
and Sewer Plans and permitted
by the discharge permit with
certain limits and conditions. It
must be greater than or equal to
a proposed design flow.
Diurnal Flow
The typical daily flow pattern
Pattern
for domestic wastewater with
usually peaks occurring in the
morning and evening.
Peak Hour Flow
The largest volume of flow
occurring within 1-hour period
in the record examined.

Maximum or Peak
Day Flow
Maximum Month
Flow

The largest volume of flow

occurring within a 1-day period
in the record examined.
The average daily flows for the
month with the highest total
flow in the record examined.

Typical Design Use

To evaluate and address low flow
conditions (minimum flows)

To develop maximum flowrates and

ratios to be used for the design of
equipment and unit processes.
The maximum flow that can be
evaluated to become the facilitys new
design capacity.

Important in developing process

control strategies for managing high
flows.
Sizing of pumping facilities and
conduits, sizing physical treatment
units (ie grit chambers, screens,
sedimentation tanks).
Sizing chlorine or other disinfection
contact tanks.
Also important in developing process
control strategies for managing high
flows.
Sizing of equalization tanks
Sizing of sludge pumping system
Sizing of chemical feed system
Sizing of the bioreactor
Sizing of the chemical storage tank

Peaking Factor:
The peaking factor is used to forecast the maximum/peaking flows for the new proposed design
capacity. The above average and maximum/peak flows are highly impacted by I/I and wet
weather events. Therefore, the preferred method of estimating these values is by using actual
data. When available, a record of three years should be examined at an existing facility. New
facilities may use data from plants of the similar size.
Peaking Factor (PF) = current peak flow (hourly, daily, monthly)
Current average daily flow
Peak Flow = PF calculated above X Proposed Design Capacity
New facilities may use data from other plants of the similar size and condition (preferred
method), or may use the following typical Peaking Factors (PF):
Design Capacity Range
0 to 0.25 MGD
0.25 to 16 MGD

Hourly PF
4
(3.2 X Design Capacity5/6)
Design Capacity

More than 16 MGD

Daily PF
3
75%
of Hourly PF
1.5

Monthly PF
2
50%
of Hourly PF,
but not below
1.2
1.2

Proposed Design Capacity:

Proposed Design Capacity = Current Average Daily Flow (0 for new facilities)
+ Projected Future Flow

Projected Future Flow:

Future flows are projected based on 100 gallons per day per person, or 250 gallons per day per
Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU). In addition, the following are the flow projections for
different establishments:

Table I - Flow Projection Based Upon Gallons Per Person Per Day
Airports (per passenger) ................................................................................................................5
Apartments-multiple family (per resident) .................................................................................60
Bathhouses and swimming pools.................................................................................................10
Camps:
Campground with central comfort stations....................................................................................35
With flush toilets, no showers .......................................................................................................25
Day camps (no meals served) .......................................................................................................15
Resort camps (night and day) with limited plumbing ...................................................................50
Luxury camps ..............................................................................................................................100
Cottages and small dwellings with seasonal occupancy................................................................50
Country clubs (per resident member)..........................................................................................100
Country clubs (per non-resident member present).........................................................................25
Dwellings:
Boarding houses.............................................................................................................................50
additional for non-resident boarders........................................................................................10
Luxury residences and estates .....................................................................................................150
Multiple family dwellings (apartments).........................................................................................60
Rooming houses.............................................................................................................................40
Single family dwellings..........................................................................................................75-100
Factories (gallons per person, per shift, exclusive of industrial wastes) .....................................35
Hospitals (per bed space) ............................................................................................................350
Hotels with private baths (2 persons per room).............................................................................60
Hotels without private baths..........................................................................................................50
Institutions other than hospitals (per bed space)..........................................................................125
Laundries, self-service (gallons per wash, i.e., per customer) ......................................................50
Mobile home parks (per space)....................................................................................................250
Motels with bath, toilet and kitchen wastes (per bed space) .........................................................50
Motels (per bed space) ..................................................................................................................40
Picnic Parks (toilet wastes only) (per picnicker) ............................................................................5
Picnic Parks with bathhouses, showers and flush toilets ..............................................................10
Restaurants (per seat) ....................................................................................................................25
Restaurants (toilet and kitchen wastes per patron) .......................................................................10
Restaurants (kitchen wastes per meal served) ................................................................................3
Restaurants, additional for bars and cocktail lounges......................................................................2
Schools:
Boarding ......................................................................................................................................100
Day, without gyms, cafeterias or showers ....................................................15
Day, with gyms, cafeterias and showers........................................................................................25
Day, with cafeterias, but without gyms or showers ......................................................................20
Service Stations (per vehicle served).............................................................................................10
4

Swimming pools and bathhouses ..................................................................................................10

Theaters:
Movie (per auditorium seat) ............................................................................................................1
Drive-in (per car space) ..................................................................................................................5
Travel Trailer Parks without individual water and sewer hook-ups (per space) ..........................50
Travel Trailer Parks with individual water and sewer hook-ups (per space) ..................... .......100
Workers:
Construction (at semi-permanent camps)......................................................................................50
Day, at schools and offices (per shift)...........................................................................................15
An alternative method used to project average daily flows generated from commercial
establishments, public service buildings, or dwelling units can be figured on the basis of total
floor area, number of building units, or service seats multiplied by a statistical factor. Guiding
factors are given in Table II.

Table II - Guiding Factors for Flow Projection Related with Commercial Establishments,
Public Service Buildings, or Dwelling Units
Office Buildings ..................................................................................... Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.09 = gpd
Medical Office Buildings........................................................................Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.62 = gpd
Warehouses..............................................................................................Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.03 = gpd
Retail Stores ........................................................................................... Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.05 = gpd
Supermarkets...........................................................................................Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.20 = gpd
Drug Stores............................................................................................. Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.13 = gpd
Beauty Salons......................................................................................... Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.35 = gpd
Barber Shops............................................................................................Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.20 = gpd
Department Store with Lunch Counter....................................................Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.08 = gpd
Department Store without Lunch Counter...............................................Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.04 = gpd
Banks.......................................................................................................Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.04 = gpd
Service Stations ..................................................................................... Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.18 = gpd
Laundries & Cleaners .............................................................................Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.31 = gpd
Laundromats............................................................................................Gross Sq. Ft. x 3.68 = gpd
Car Wash without Wastewater Recirculation Equipment. .Gross Sq. Ft. x 4.90 = gpd
Hotels.......................................................................................................Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.25 = gpd
Motels .....................................................................................................Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.23 = gpd
Dry Goods Stores ................................................................................... Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.05 = gpd
Shopping Centers ....................................................................................Gross Sq. Ft. x 0.18 = gpd

Flow projection for country clubs or public parks may be made on the basis of plumbing fixtures.
The related statistical flow figures per unit of plumbing fixture are shown in Table III and Table
IV.
Table III - Flow Projection for Country Clubs
Gallons Per Day Per Fixture
Showers........................................................................................................................................500
Baths............................................................................................................................................300
Lavatories ....................................................................................................................................100
Toilets .........................................................................................................................................150
Urinals..........................................................................................................................................100
Sinks ..............................................................................................................................................50
Table IV - Flow Projection for Public Parks
(During hours when park is open)
Gallons Per Day Per Fixture
Flush toilets ...................................................................................................................................35
Urinals ...........................................................................................................................................10
Showers .......................................................................................................................................100
Faucets ..........................................................................................................................................15

ORGANIC CAPACITY
(For Wastewater Treatment Plant)
For existing facilities, 3-year data, if available should be evaluated, and average concentration is
calculated in the treatment plant influent, primary effluent, and secondary effluent. For new
wastewater treatment plant typical values are used.
Average Organic/Mass Loading (Lbs/Day)
= Design Capacity (MGD) X Average Concentration (mg/l) X 8.34 (Conversion Factor)
Sustained Mass Loading (Lbs/Day)
= Average Mass Loading X PF (hourly, daily, monthly depending on the unit
process being sized)
Computer Simulations:
Computer simulations have become more common in recent years, especially in the design of
Biological and Enhanced Nutrient Removal processes. Simulators use mathematical models to
allow designers to study kinetic- as well as time-based solutions while determining the total mass
balances of many constituents.

ADDENDUM TO CHAPTER 40
WASTEWATER PUMPING STATION
EMERGENCY OPERATION
Additional Measures for Facilities Located within Certain Critical Water Uses:
Per Section 47.3 of Chapter 40 of the Recommended 10-State Standards (under Emergency
Operation), the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) hereby establishes the following
supplemental design guidelines for wastewater pumping stations that can have a potential
overflow that may affect public water supplies and other critical water uses identified by MDE.
These supplemental guidelines apply to any existing station where pumping capacity is being
increased to accommodate increased flows due to growth, and for proposed new pumping
stations (not for the purpose of functional replacement); AND fall under at least one of the
following categories:
1. Existing or new within 3 miles of a shellfish water
2. Existing or new within 3 miles of a bathing beach water
3. Existing or new within 3 miles of public water supply (P designation surface water)
4. Existing pumping stations within 3 miles of bacteria impaired water and has one or more
overflow event(s) over the past 3 years that is/are attributable to a power outage,
mechanical failure or human error

A.

Case I

The wastewater pumping station is missing one of the four essential items: a telemetering
alarm system, a standby pump unit, a stationary auxiliary power source, or a pump-around
connection.

MDE may allow a 24-hour emergency wastewater storage capacity as a substitute for
the missing essential item.

B.

Case II

The wastewater pumping station provides all four essential items:

1. A telemetering alarm system
2. A standby pump unit (internal)
3. A stationary auxiliary power source connected to a separate power feed substation
or stationary generator
4. A pump-around connection coupling facility
AND
(a) For Pumping Capacity (Qp) 150 gallons per minute (gpm), or serving Equivalent
Dwelling Units (EDU) 200, no additional measure is required.
(b) For Pumping Capacity (Qp) > 150 gallons per minute (gpm), or serving Equivalent
Dwelling Units (EDU) > 200, one of the following items must be provided in addition
to the four essential items listed above:
Option 1:

A third power source must be provided by a separate feed line to a new

power substation, by providing a new stationary generator, or by a
stationary independently-powered pumping unit(s) with adequate capacity
to maintain proper operation.

Option 2:

An additional 2-hour wastewater storage capacity shall be provided for

emergency need, based on the newly projected design average daily flow.

Emergency Wastewater Storage:

For existing wastewater pumping station, MDE may approve a wastewater emergency storage
capacity with a detention time less than 2 hours, provided that all of the following circumstances
are substantive and evidenced:
(1)

Options 1 and 2 above are also not feasible;

(2)

There is no physical means to provide the required storage capacity due to

site restriction at the premise of the pumping station;

(3)

The pumping station has had excellent operation records without

Overflow of wastewaters at the premise of the station in the past
five years; and

(4)

An emergency plan ensuring that the maximum response time will be less
than one hour to remedy the malfunction of the pumping station.

Emergency wastewater storage capacity defined as detention time is determined by the

following:
Total Wastewater Storage Time + Wastewater Traveling Time = 2 Hours
(1)

The traveling time of land overflow wastewaters will be calculated at 1 foot per second
(fps).

(2)

In water, the traveling time overflow wastewater will be calculated at 2 feet per seconds
(fps).

(3)

The wastewater storage time will be calculated by dividing the total storage capacity with
the design average daily flow (Qa).
Where,

Qa = average daily flow, in gpm

Qp = pumping capacity, in gpm

If Qp = 0 to 694 gpm
If Qp = 695 to 22,384 gpm
If Qp > 22,384 gpm
(4)

Qa = 0.25 X Qp
Qa = 0.0668 X Qp1.2
Qa = 0.5 X Qp

The total storage capacity includes:

the available excess storage in the wet well above the elevation of high water alarm to
the elevation where the first sewer service connection is made or the sewer systems
lowest ground elevation,

the available storage in the wastewater collection system up to where the first sewer
service connection is made or the sewer systems lowest ground elevation , and

the storage basin provided, if necessary.

ADDENDUM TO CHAPTER 50
WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES
ESSENTIAL FACILITIES
Special Requirements for Facilities Discharge to Shellfish Harvesting Waters:
Per COMAR 26.08.04.04.C (2) (c), these facilities shall incorporate a bypass control system,
including a minimum 24-hour emergency holding facility,

The facility shall provide for biocide residual control.

The 24-hour emergency holding facility must be sized based on the plant design capacity.

Retention or holding time of other unit processes used for other purposes cannot be
counted toward this 24-hour emergency storage.

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ADDED CHAPTER 110

SUPPLEMENTAL DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR DRIP DISPERSAL OF TREATED
WASTEWATER

Scope:
Drip dispersal is a method used to distribute treated wastewater over an area of land at root zone
depth for final polishing, reuse, and/or recharge of groundwater. The proposed dispersal system
shall be capable of uniformly distributing the wastewater effluent over the required area of
application.
Applicability:
These guidelines are applicable to the design of large on-site dispersal systems, land application
systems or any other treatment systems receiving discharge and construction permits from the
Maryland Department of the Environment (Department).
The Departments discharge permit must be issued and its limitations set before a construction
permit can be reviewed and issued.
As for any construction permitted facility, the drip system design plans submitted to the
Department for construction permit shall be signed and sealed by a Professional Engineer
licensed in the State of Maryland. The system design engineer shall follow these guidelines and
incorporate necessary manufacturing product specifications into the design document to ensure
satisfactory performance of the drip dispersal system.
Pre-Treatment:
Wastewater effluent dispersed through this method must be treated to meet the water quality
standards within the issued discharge permit limitations. The treatment process will be reviewed
and approved for construction in accordance with the Departments Design Guidelines and the
Recommended 10-State Standards.
Nitrogen removal capability by the vegetation planted at a drip irrigation field or other means is
determined by the discharge permitting process and is accounted for in the set discharge permit
limitations. The vegetation planted on the drip dispersal field shall provide a comparable
nitrogen uptake rate as used in the Nitrogen Balance Calculation for achieving a zero nitrogen
percolate concentration during the growing season.

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Wastewater Effluent Dosing and Equalization Tank:

The treated wastewater effluent shall be discharged to the drip disposal system through a dosing
tank that has sufficient volume to provide flow equalization. Storage requirements within the
treatment and dispersal system shall be at least one full day-storage located between the
treatment and dispersal systems.
The Wastewater Effluent Dosing and Equalization Tank will be reviewed and approved for
construction in accordance with the Departments Design Guidelines and the Recommended 10State Standards.
Drip System Dosing Pump and Filter:
The system is to be designed with the pumps, filters, and dispersal area to accommodate the
following conditions:
1. Filter flushing
2. Zone dosing
3. Tubing network flushing
Dosing pump selected for the dispersal system shall be capable of delivering the design hydraulic
flow. At least one standby pump must be provided and available for service at all times.
The filters shall be included as part of the drip dispersal system and meet the manufacturers
specifications as approved by the design engineer.
Wastewater Effluent Loading Rate:
The wastewater effluent loading rate will be determined and provided by the issued discharge
permit and shall not exceed an annual average loading rate of two inches per week.
2 inch per week = 0.18 gal/ft2/day
Dispersal Area Sizing:
The size of the required dispersal area is determined by the daily design flow (gpd) and the
loading rate stipulated in the issued discharge permit.

12

Zone Layout:
Dispersal Zone, as defined by NOWRA, is the smallest unit of a drip dispersal system, consisting
of a supply manifold, return manifold, drip laterals, and associated appurtenances, which can be
loaded independently of all other parts of the dispersal system.
Zone width across contour is typically from 50 to 300 feet. Zone width is delineated by the
following factors:
1. Site and soil evaluation.
2. Available distance down slope
3. Maximum linear feet of drip tubing as provided by the manufacturer
Drip Tubing (Dripper line) Runs and Laterals:
A length of dripper line across the contour is defined as a run. The tubing is to be installed on
contour.
Typical Run Length = 50 to 300
Lateral is a dripper line consisting of a run or series of runs extending from the supply manifold
to the return manifold of a single dispersal zone. Lateral length is dependent on head loss, and
the drip system design (i.e. dosing pump and filter).
Typical Dripper line Depth = 6 to 12 inches
Percent Run Time:
Each manufacturer offers different models with various dispersal dosing capacities. The selected
model must be capable to accommodate the peak day flow within the desired Percent Run Time
of less than 50%.
Percent Run Time =

Peak Day Flow (gpd)

Dispersal Dosing Capacity (gpm) X 1440

X 100%

Dripper line Spacing:

Typical manufacturer recommendations call for drip tubing to be spaced 1 foot to 3 feet on
center (2 o.c. is the most common).

13

Zone Dosing:

A pressure regulator is required to maintain adequate residual pressure during dosing.

The control system must allow for variable loading rate and/or dosing time at the
individual zones.
Individual zones shall be designed to be easily taken in and out of service for
maintenance or repair.

Zone Forward Field Flushing:

Each drip zone must automatically undergo a periodic forward field flushing usually every 25
cycles or 15 days, whichever occurs first. Other flushing frequencies can be considered if
recommended by the manufacturer. Control system must allow for adjustable flushing
frequency.
A minimum velocity of 2 ft/sec should be used in the zone flushing.
A minimum velocity of 1 ft/sec is acceptable if the drip tubing is manufactured with
antimicrobial inner lining to inhibit adhesion of biological growth on the inside walls of the tube
and emitters.
Flush Residuals Required Treatment:
All filter flush and tubing network forward flush residuals are to return to the head of the pretreatment system, or be treated by an acceptable side-treatment system before returning to the
dosing station.
Air Release Valve:
An air release valve shall be provided for each zone at the highest elevation of the zone.
Minimum Required Horizontal Separation:
The following are the minimum horizontal separation distances required between the Drip
Dispersal Area and other land features or components. Any exception may be considered by the
Department using the Departments Design Guidelines and the Recommended 10-State
Standards.
Land Feature or Component
A flowing body of water
Well or suction line
Water service line
Occupied building
Property line
In-ground Swimming Pool

Minimum Required Horizontal

Separation Distances (in feet)
50
100
50
50
50
50

14