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decanting process. If at any time during this process effluent turbidity violates water quality standards, the <br /> effluent must be retained until analysis of the interior surface waters shows the suspended solids <br /> concentration to be within acceptable limits. Decanting then continues in this manner until all ponded water <br /> is released over the weir. Subsequent dewatering techniques are discussed in Chapter 4 . 0 . <br /> 3.4 Effluent Monitoring <br /> As discussed in the preceding section, effluent monitoring will be an integral part of facility <br /> operation . The IR- 14 containment basin has been designed to produce effluent which meets water quality <br /> standards for Class III waters asset forth in Chapter 62-302 ofthe Florida Administrative Code. These rules <br /> require a comprehensive monitoring program to document permit compliance. The monitoring program <br /> should therefore continue throughout active dredging and decanting operations . Effluent samples should be <br /> taken and analyzed as often as practical . The minimum recommended sampling frequency is two times per <br /> eight hour shift. <br /> Although effluent turbidity is only 1 of 29 parameters addressed in Florida ' s state water quality <br /> standards, compliance with these standards has been historically based on turbidity alone for several reasons. <br /> First, turbidity is reliably measured in the field and is the only water quality parameter over which the site <br /> operator may exercise direct control . Second, turbidity is a strong indicator of general effluent quality since <br /> many contaminants, most notably metals, exhibit a strong affinity for fine particles . Thus, reducing turbidity <br /> should result in an overall improvement in effluent quality. <br /> However, the disturbance of contaminated sediments may result in the release of other pollutants <br /> (predominantly nutrients and hydrocarbons) which do not necessarily associate with fine particles. If the in <br /> situ sediments contain elevated levels of these contaminants, turbidity may be an inadequate indicator of <br /> effluent quality. Shoal sediments should undergo comprehensive elutriate and dry analysis to determine the <br /> presence ofthese contaminants . Additional testing under the effluent monitoring program , ifrequired , should <br /> then focus on those contaminants documented by pre-dredging sediment analysis. <br /> Because effluent turbidity is a primary water quality parameter for site operation, compliance with <br /> turbidity standards will largely control both the dredge plant output and the release of effluent. However, the <br /> 33 <br />