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Home My WebLink AboutNC0087009_Draft Permit_20171115Water Resources ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY November 15, 2017 Curtis S. Potter, County Manager/ County Attorney Washington County P.O. Box 1007 Plymouth, North Carolina 27962 Dear Mr. Rhodes: ROY COOPER GoVe17101 MICHAEL S RAGAN Seci etar7, LINDA CULPEPPER ActingDnector Subject: NPDES Permit - DRAFT Review Permit NCO087009 Washington County WTP 396 West Mill Pond Road, Roper Washington County In response to your request to renew the subject NPDES permit (dated July 17, 2017), the Division of Water Resources (DWR or the Division) hereby transmits this draft for your review and comment. Please review this document carefully to assure your understanding of the permit limits and monitoring conditions, and to correct errors, if any. Concurrent with this notification, the Division will solicit public comment on this draft by publishing a notice in newspapers having circulation in the general Washington County area, as required by the NPDES Program. Please provide your written comments, if any, to me via email Doe.corporon@ncdenr.gov], or write to my attention care of NCDEQ / DWR / NPDES Program no later than December 15, 2017, approximately 30 days after receiving this letter. Your written comments are welcome, but are not mandatory Renewal Summary — We understand that Washington County WTP has made no significant changes to treatment -system processes since last renewal. We note also that you do not currently discharge, but wish to retain this permit for the future. We have therefore updated your facility description and text in accord with your application and current WTP permitting guidance. Although monthly reporting is currently waved, per DWR's letter to you dated September 17, 2015, we have included text explaining the Electronic Discharge Monitoring program (eDMR) for your convenience. Division records show that you have successfully registered with the eDMR Program. Please be renunded that until the state's eDMR application is approved compliant with EPA's Cross -Media Electronic Reporting Regulation (CROMERR), all permittees must submit hardcopy of DMRs as backup to eDMR reporting — currently waved [see permit section A. (3)]. Following the mandatory 30 -day public comment period, the Division will review all pertinent comments and take appropriate action prior to issuing your NPD rmita�1 If you have questions concerning this draft, please e-mail me or call my direct line (919) 7-6394.// Joe R. 06rporon. L G. ES Enclosure: NPDES Permit NCO087009 (permit hc• NPDES Program Files ec- WaRO / SWPS; Robert Tankard (Draft and Fact Sheet) OCU, Maureen Kinney (Draft and Fact Sheet) ATB; Susan Meadows, Cindy Moore (Draft and Fact Sheet) Permit NCO087009 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES PERMIT TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) In compliance with the provisions of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1, other lawful standards and regulations promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, Washington County is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from the Washington County Water Treatment Plant (WTP) 396 West Mill Pond Road, Roper Washington County to receiving waters designated as Albemarle Sound within the Pasquotank River Basin in accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III and IV hereof. This permit shall become -effective , 2017. This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on December 31, 2022. Signed this day , 2017. Linda Culpepper, Acting Director Division of Water Resources By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission Page 1 of 8 Permit NCO087009 SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge are hereby revoked. As of this permit issuance, any previously issued permit bearing this number is no longer effective. Therefore, the exclusive authority to operate and discharge from this facility arises under the permit conditions, requirements, terms, and provisions included herein. Washington County is `hereby authorized to: 1. continue to operate [after notification] a water -softener brine and filter-rinsate wastewater treatment system [sodium cycle cationic ion -exchange (IE)] applied to produce potable water from groundwater sources utilizing • raw -water detention tank [25,000 -gal w/ pumps, three (3) each @350 gpm • IE filters [two (2) each] • backwash/regeneration tank [11,200 -gal w/ pumps, (two (2) each @ 36 gpm] • above -ground potable water storage tank [2 mil gallons w/ pumps (three (3) each @ 350 gpm] • chlorination / dechlorination • [currently no solids generated] • appurtenant piping [-28,400 tinier feet, 4 -in dia. force -main to outfall] • outfall with effluent diffuser [three (3) stream -sample locations] with potential to discharge • chloramines • ammomum • phosphate these facilities located at the Washington County WTP, 396 West Mill Pond Road, Roper, Washington County, and 2. after notifying the Washington Regional Office (WaRO) in writing 30 days in advance of resuming discharge to surface waters, to allow for facility inspection, as warranted, then 3. discharge from said treatment works, via —28,400 linear feet of force main terminating at Outfall 001, a location specified on the attached map [-300 feet offshore at a mean -water - depth of three (3) feet]; the outfall fitted with a 3 -inch -diameter Tideflex® diffuser, discharging into the Albemarle Sound [Stream Segment: 30], a waterbody currently classified SB within Subbasin 03-01-53 [HUC: 03010205] of the Pasquotank River Basin. Page 2 of 8 Permit NCO087009 PART 1 A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS [15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.] During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited, monitored 1 and reported 2 by the Permittee as specified below: EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS [Parameter Cores] LIMITS MONITORING' REQUIREMENTS Monthly Daily Average Maximum Measurement Frequencyyp Sample T e Sample Location 2 Flow 3 50050 2/Monthly Instantaneous E Total Residual Chlorine 4 50060 13 µg2 2/1\4onthly Grab E pH 00400 Not < 6.8 nor > 8.5 s. u. 2/Monthly Grab E Total Suspended Solids C0530 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L 2/Monthly Grab E Temperature 00010 Monthly Grab I & E Salinity 00480 Monthly Grab I & E Conductivity 00094 Monthly Grab I & E Dissolved Oxygen 00300 Monthly Grab I & E pH 00400 Monthly Grab I Turbidity 00070 Monthly Grab E Total Dissolved Solids C0520 Monthly Grab E Total Copper 01040 Monthly Grab E Total Fluonde 00951 —Monthly Grab E Total Chloride 00940 Monthly Grab E Total Iron 00980 Monthly Grab E Total Manganese 01055 Monthly Grab E Total Lead 01051 Monthly Grab E Total Zinc 01092 Monthly Grab E Ammonia Nitrogen 61574 Monthly Grab E Whole Effluent Toxicity 5 TGP3E Quarterly Grab E See Footnotes Pg 4: Page 3 of 8 Permit NCO087009 Footnotes: 1. Beginning on the effective date of this permit, the Permittee shall submit monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) electronically using the Division's eDMR application system [see Section A. (3.)]. 2. E = Effluent; I = Instream. Instream samples are required at three (3) locations relative to the diffuser: a. Location 1 (L1) = point 80 feet radius from diffuser b. Location 2 (L2) = point 180 feet radius east of diffuser. c. Location 3 (L3) = point 180 feet radius west of diffuser. 3. Instantaneous flow measurements shall include recording the duration of the discharge. 4. Monitoring and compliance is required only if chlorine and/or chlorine derivatives are added to the backwash and/or rinse water used regenerate softeners, or added in the effluent. The Division shall consider compliant all TRC effluent values reported below 50µg!L. However, the Permittee shall record and submit all values reported by a North Carolina -certified test method (including field certified), even if these values fall below 50µg/L. 5. Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Test, Chronic for saltwater (mysidopsis bahia) P/F @ 0.83% is required in the months of March, June, September, and December [see Section A. (2.)] Monitoring requirements will begin upon the permit effective date. Conditions The Permittee shall discharge no floating solids or foam other than trace amounts. All samples collected shall accurately represent discharge events. A. (2.) CHRONIC TOXICITY - MONITORING ONLY (QUARTERLY) [NCAC 02B.0500 et seq.] The permittee shall perform quarterly chronic toxicity tests using procedures described below to establish compliance with the permit condition. Sampling and analyses will be performed during the months of March, June, September, and December at an effluent concentration of 0.83 % [established by diffuser modeling] Effluent sampling shall be performed at the NPDES permitted final discharge outfall below all treatment processes All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered on the Effluent Discharge Monitoring Form (MR -1) for the months in which tests were performed, using the parameter code TGP3E for the pass/fail results and THP3E for the Chronic Value. Additionally, DWQ Form AT -4 (original) is to be sent to the following address: Attention North Carolina Division of Water Resources Water Sciences Section 1621 Mail Service Center Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1621 Completed aquatic toxicity test forms shall be filed with the Environmental Sciences Section no later than 30 days after the end of the reporting period for which the report is made. Test data shall be complete and accurate and include all supporting chemical/physical measurements performed in association with the toxicity tests, as well as all dose/response data. Total residual chlorine of the effluent toxicity sample must be measured and reported if chlorine is employed for disinfection of the waste stream. Page 4 of 8 Permit NC0087009 Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required, the permittee will complete the information located at the top of the aquatic toxicity (AT) test form indicating the facility name, permit number, pipe number, county, and the month/year of the report with the notation of "No Flow" in the comment area of the form. The report shall be submitted to the Environmental Sciences Section at the address cited above. Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required, then monthly monitoring will begin immediately. Upon submission of a valid test, this monthly test requirement will revert to quarterly in the months specified above. Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream, this permit may be re -opened and modified to include alternate monitoring requirements or limits. If the permittee monitors any pollutant more frequently than required by this permit, the results of such monitoring shall be included in the calculation & reporting of the data submitted on the DMR and all AT form submitted. NOTE. Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as minimum control organism survival, minimum control organism reproduction, and appropriate environmental controls, shall constitute an invalid test and will require immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later than the last day of the month following the month of the initial monitoring. USE OF A DIFFERENT TEST ORGANISM The permittee may request the use of a different test organism upon documentation that the alternate test organism would provide an equal or greater level of protection and is appropriate based on the characteristics of the discharge and receiving stream. Such documentation would consist of one of the following: 1. For saltwater classified streams, a fathead minnow may be assigned as the acute testing species if the salinity of the receiving stream at the point of discharge is <5 ppt throughout the tidally influenced cycle. This determination may be based on the best professional judgment of DWR staff or data collection provided by the permittee and approved by DWR staff. This evaluation should include vertical profiles of salinity/conductivity measurements at both high tide and low tide over several -24 -hr cycles. 2. Three (3) consecutive "side-by-side" tests with results indicating that the alternate test organism is as or more sensitive to the facility's effluent. Each test series would consist -of two separate toxicity tests conducted on the same sample of effluent with the length of exposure specified by the permit, the only difference between the tests being the organism used 3. An alternate plan developed by the permittee and approved by the Aquatic Toxicology Unit that demonstrates an equal level of protection is offered by the test organism. For items 2 and 3, it must also be demonstrated that viable and standardized culture techniques are available for that organism and standardized testing methodologies have been developed and validated. This demonstration should meet guidance provided by EPA in Section 6 of EPA -821-R-02-012, "Short Term Methods for Estimating the Acute Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms, Fifth Edition 2002." Requests to use a different test organism and supporting documentation should be sent to North Carolina Division of Water Resources, Water Sciences Section (at the address listed above). Page 5 of 8 Permit NCO087009 A. (3.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING - DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS [G.S. 143-215.1(b)] NOTE: Because this facility does not currently discharge to Waters of the State, they have been granted a reporting waiver until they notify the Division of their intent to resume discharging. Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) and program reports. The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted and became effective on December 21, 2015. NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part H of this permit (Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits): • Section B. (11.) Signatory Requirements • Section D. (2.) • Section D. (6.) • Section E. (5.) Reporting Records Retention Monitoring Reports 1. Reporting Requirements [Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (a)1 The permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet application. Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and submitted electronically using eDMR. The eDMR system allows permitted facilities to enter monitoring data and submit DMRs electronically using the internet. Until such time that the state's eDMR application is compliant with EPA's Cross -Media Electronic Reporting Regulation (CROMERR), permittees will be required to submit all discharge monitoring data to the state electronically using eDMR and will be required to complete the eDMR submission by printing, signing, and submitting one signed original and a copy of the computer printed eDMR to the following address: NC DEQ / Division of Water Resources / Water Quality Permitting Section ATTENTION: Central Files 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 If a permittee is unable to use the eDMR system due to a demonstrated hardship or due to the facility being physically located in an area where less than 10 percent of the households have broadband access, then a temporary waiver from the NPDES electronic reporting requirements may be granted and discharge monitoring data may be submitted on paper DMR forms (MR 1, 1. 1, 2, 3) or alternative forms approved by the Director. Duplicate signed copies shall be submitted to the mailing address above. See "How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below. Regardless of the submission method, the first DMR is due on the last day of the month following the issuance of the permit or in the case of a new facility, on the last day of the month following the commencement of discharge. Page 6 of 8 Permit NCO087009 Starting on December 21, 2020, the permittee must electronically report the following compliance monitoring data and reports, when applicable: Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports, Pretreatment Program Annual Reports; and Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 316(b) Annual Reports The permittee may seek an electronic reporting waiver from the Division (see "How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below). 2. Electronic Submissions In accordance with 40 CFR 122.41(1)(9), the permittee must identify the initial recipient at the time of each electronic submission. The permittee should use the EPA's website resources to identify the initial recipient for the electronic submission. Initial recipient of electronic NPDES information from NPDES-regulated facilities means the entity (EPA or the state authorized by EPA to implement the NPDES program) that is the designated entity for receiving electronic NPDES data [see 40 CFR 127.2(b)]. EPA plans to establish a website that will also link to the appropriate electronic reporting tool for each type of electronic submission and for each state. Instructions on how to access and use the appropriate electronic reporting tool will be available as well. Information on EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule is found at: http://www2.epa. ovg /compliance/final-national-pollutant- discharge-elimination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule. Electronic submissions must start by the dates listed in the "Reporting Requirements" section above. 3. How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting The -permittee may seek a temporary electronic reporting waiver from the Division. To obtain an electronic reporting waiver, a permittee must first submit an electronic reporting waiver request to theDivision. Requests for temporary electronic reporting waivers must be submitted in writing to the Division for written approval at least sixty (60) days prior to the date the facility would be required under this permit to begin submitting monitoring data and reports. The duration of a temporary waiver shall not exceed 5 years and shall thereupon expire. At such time, monitoring data and reports shall be submitted electronically to the Division unless the permittee re -applies for and is granted a new temporary electronic reporting waiver by the Division. Approved electronic reporting waivers are not transferrable. Only permittees with an approved reporting waiver request may submit monitoring data and reports on paper to the Division for the period that the approved reporting waiver request is effective. Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on the following web page: http://deq.ne.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr Page 7 of 8 Permit NCO087009 4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.) (d)1 All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person described in Part II, Section B. (I 1.)(a) or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part H, Section B. (11.)(b). A person, and not a position, must be delegated signatory authority for eDMR reporting purposes. For eDMR submissions, the person signing and submitting the DMR must obtain an eDMR user account and login credentials to access the eDMR system. For more information on North Carolina's eDMR system, registering for eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account, please visit the following web page: http://deq.ne.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr Certification. Any person submitting an electronic DMR using the state's eDMR system shall make the following certification [40 CFR 122.22]. NO OTHER STATEMENTS OF CERTIFICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED: "I certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations. " 5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D. (6.)] The permittee shall retain records of all Discharge Monitoring Reports, including eDMR submissions. These records or copies shall be maintained for a period of at least 3 years from the date of the report. This period may be extended by request of the Director at any time [40 CFR 122.41]. Page 8 of 8 -4, Bloom 7 t Effluent Force Main . ..... (4 -inch flows north) 'v - 4, I "A' moi J. A *SU 82 4a .kit 0 Town f Roper 11 Washington County WTP Roper, NC it Washington County Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Receiving Stream: Albemarle Sound Drainage Basin: Pasquotank fo� e'en arl 350 56' 10" N Sub -Basin: 03-01-53 Longitude: A �% .... .... ......... ............. . ...... SB Grid/Ouad: D32NE/Roper N. .. . ...... F-41 . ........... ..... ... ...... . .. ......... .................. 03010205 ........... . . ............. Outfall 001 (discharge under tidal conditions) es"n Grove --------- j32 — ------ o P�pe Sta C 40 US Hwy 64; R NC Hwy 32 -4, Bloom 7 t Effluent Force Main . ..... (4 -inch flows north) 'v - 4, I "A' moi J. A *SU 82 4a .kit 0 Town f Roper 11 Washington County WTP Roper, NC it Facility Location not to scale NPDE9 Permit NCO087009 No rth� I I Washington County I 4 1 Washington County Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Receiving Stream: Albemarle Sound Drainage Basin: Pasquotank Latitude: 350 56' 10" N Sub -Basin: 03-01-53 Longitude: 760 37' 03" W Stream Segment: 30 Stream Class: SB Grid/Ouad: D32NE/Roper N. HUC: 03010205 Facility Location not to scale NPDE9 Permit NCO087009 No rth� I I Washington County I 4 1