The State Water Resources Control Board has established statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs), commonly referred to as the Winery Order, to regulate the land discharge of process water from wineries, grape juice storage facilities, and wine distillation operations.
The Winery Order applies to facilities that generate winery process wastewater and are subject to regulatory oversight for discharge activities. Condor supports winery operators by helping them understand applicability, maintain compliance with permit requirements, and meet monitoring and reporting obligations associated with the Winery Order.
Under the Winery Order, dischargers are categorized into regulatory tiers based on the total annual volume of winery process water generated prior to treatment. Tier classification determines the applicable application requirements, regulatory obligations, fees, and monitoring and reporting responsibilities.
Each tier reflects the relative complexity and regulatory oversight associated with the facility’s discharge activities. Understanding the correct tier classification is essential to maintaining compliance and meeting ongoing reporting requirements.
Tier 1 10,000 – 100,000 Gallons Per Year
Tier 2 100,001 – 300,000 Gallons Per Year
Tier 3 300,001 – 1,000,000 Gallons Per Year
Tier 4 > 1,000,000 Gallons Per Year
Condor’s California Licensed Professional Engineers, Hydrogeologists and Geologists provide WDRs assistance to the food processing industry and to publicly and privately owned wastewater treatment works. With nearly four decades of experience, Condor can guide you through the nuances of the individual Tier requirements and proactively prepare your winery for Winery Order compliance. Our expertise includes data acquisition and analyses for hydrogeologic investigations involving groundwater quality and degradation, monitoring well siting and development, and preparation of reports for regulatory submittal. Condor’s professional capabilities include the following WDRs services: