Any rules and regulations adopted by the secretary of health and environment pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-171d, and amendments thereto, shall not apply to land-based sand and gravel pits or aggregate mining operations utilizing washwater ponds if the only water or wastewater directed to the dredge pit or washwater pond consists of the following:

(a) Dredge return flows;

(b) flows generated from aggregate classification; or

(c) flows from washing aggregate, if water used in such flows is returned to the dredge pit or washwater pond.