NC0002879_Draft Permit_20171018

Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
October 18, 2017
Mr. James R. Flechtner, P.E., Executive Director
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority
235 Government Center Drive
Wilmington, NC 28403
Dear Mr. Flechtner:
ROY COOPER
Governs
MICHAEL S REGAN
Secretai),
S JAY ZIMMERMAN
Duecmi
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NC0002879
Sweeney WTP
Class PC -1
New Hanover County
The Division has reviewed your request to renew the subject permit. Please review this draft
carefully to ensure your thorough understanding of the information, conditions, and requirements
it contains.
The draft permit includes the following significant changes from the existing permit:
➢ Section A. (5) has been added to require electronic submission of effluent data, and a
footnote has been added in Section A. (1). Federal regulations require electronic
submittal of all discharge monitoring reports (DMRs).
➢ Regulatory citations have been added to the permit.
➢ Outfall map has been updated.
➢ Language has been updated on the Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet based on current
NPDES permit formatting.
➢ Address on the cover sheet and Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet, and components list
on the Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet have been updated based on information
provided in the permit renewal application.
➢ The parameter code for turbidity monitoring has been updated in Section A. (1).
➢ The limit for Total Residual Chlorine has been changed to both a monthly average and
daily maximum per the current water treatment plant strategy.
➢ Limits for pH have been moved from the footnotes into the effluent table in Section
A. (1).
➢ Monitoring for Total Iron has been removed as there are no water quality standards for
iron in saltwater and the renewal application indicated that iron sulfate/ferrous sulfate do
not have the potential to be discharged.
➢ Limits have been added for Total Copper based on a reasonable potential to exceed water
quality standards.
➢ Total Suspended Solids limits of 20 mg/l and 30 mg/l have been removed as the stricter
limits of 10 mg/l and 15 mg/1 are now in effect based on the deadline provided in the
previous permit.
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
919 807 6300 919-807-6389 FAX
https•//deq.nc gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-resources-permits/wastewater-branch/npdes-wastewater-permits

➢ "Monitor & Report" has been added to Whole Effluent Toxicity Monitoring in the
effluent table in Section A. (1) per the current water treatment plant strategy.
➢ Footnotes in Section A. (1) have been updated.
Please note that the receiving stream is listed as an impaired waterbody on the North Carolina
303(d) Impaired Waters List. Addressing impaired waters is a high priority with the Division,
and instream data will continue to be evaluated. If there is noncompliance with permitted
effluent limits and stream impairment can be attributed to your facility, then mitigative measures
may be required.
With this notification, the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing
a notice in newspapers having circulation in the general New Hanover County area, per EPA
requirements. Please provide your comments, if any, to me no later than 30 days after
receiving this draft permit.
Following the 30 -day public comment period, the Division will review all pertinent comments
and take appropriate action prior to issuing a final permit. If you have questions concerning the
draft, please contact me at 919-807-6333, or via e-mail [[e-mail]].
Sincerely,
T�(� 11"�
Brianna Young
Compliance and Expedited Permitting Unit
cc: NPDES Files
ec: Wilmington Regional Office
WSS/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
Mr. Ben Kearns, ORC, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority [[e-mail]]

Permit NC0002879
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PF.RMTT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
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, the
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Sweeney WTP
407 Hilton Street
Wilmington
New Hanover County
to receiving waters designated as the Northeast Cape Fear River in the Cape Fear River Basin in
accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I,
II, IJI and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective.
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on November 30, 2022.
Signed this day.
S. Jay Zimmerman, P.G.
Director, Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 8

Permit NC0002879
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.
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate a conventional drinking water treatment plant with a discharge of filter -
backwash, re -wash, and clarifier and thickener supernatant wastewater. Wastewater is either reused
at the head works of the plant or discharged. This water treatment plant currently has a design
potable flowrate of 35 MGD and a maximum, monthly average wastewater discharge of 0.653
MGD. This facility is located at 407 Hilton Street in Wilmington in New Hanover County. Water
and wastewater treatment consists of:
• 750,000 gallon Equalization (EQ) Basin
• Four (4) 700 GPM pumps to fluidize solids from wash water in EQ Basin
• Clarifier splitter box (anionic polymer addition)
• Two (2) 142,000 gallon Westech Upflow Clarifiers (sodium hydroxide addition)
• Two (2) 400 GPM clarifier sludge pumps
• Two (2) 129,000 gallon gravity flow thickeners
2. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map into the Northeast
Cape Fear River [Stream Index: 18-74-(61)], a waterbody currently classified as SC -Swamp, PNA-
HQW waters [HUC: 03030007081 in the Cape Fear River Basin.
Page 2 of 8

Permit NC0002879
Part I.
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 filter backwash from outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited
and monitored' by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
(Parameter Code)
LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Daily Measurement Sample Sample
Maximum Frequency Type Location
Flow
50050
Continuous
Recording
Effluent
pH
00400
Not < 6.8 s.0 nor > 8 5 s.u.
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
Total Suspended Solids
00530
10.0 mg/1 715.0 mg/1
Weekly
Grab I
Effluent
Turbidity
00070
Monthly
Grab
Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine 2
50060
13 p /I
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
Aluminum
01105
Quarterly
Grab I
Effluent
Total Copper
01042
185 /1 2.90 /1
Quarterly
Grab 7
Effluent
Total Manganese
01055
Quarterly
Grab 7
Effluent
Total Zinc s
01092
Quarterly
Grab 7
Effluent
Total Fluoride 4
(00951)
Quarterly
Grab 7
Effluent
Total Nitrogens
00600
Quarterly
Grab 7
Effluent
Total Phosphorous
00665
Quarterly
Grab 7 1
Effluent
Whole Effluent Toxicity s
TGE3E
Monitor & Report
Quarterly
Grab 7 1
EfFluent
Footnotes*
1 The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the NC DWR's eDMR
application system [see A. (4)]
2. Limit and monitor only if the facility adds chlorine or chlorine derivatives to water that is eventually
discharged. The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 µg/l to be in
compliance with the permit. However, the permittee shall continue to record and submit all values
reported by a NC certified laboratory (including field certified), even if these values fall below 50 µg A.
3 Zinc should be monitored if the pernuttee adds zinc orthophosphate as a corrosion inhibitor prior to
backwashing.
4. Fluoride should be monitored if the permittee backwashes with fluoridated finished water.
5 TN is Total Nitrogen = TKN + NO3-N + NO2-N, where TKN is Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, NO3-N and
NO2-N are Nitrate and Nitrite Nitrogen, respectively
6 Acute Toxicity 24 -hr Pass/fail Monitoring: March, June, September, and December. Permittee
shall use mysid shrimp as the test organism unless another organism of equal or greater
sensitivity is deemed more appropriate based on the characteristics of the discharge and
receiving stream. See Special condition A. (2) for details.
7 A composite sample may be taken in lieu of a grab sample
All samples collected should be from a representative discharge event.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
Page 3 of 8

Permit NC0002879
A. (2.) ACUTE TOXICITY PASS/FAIL MONITORING ONLY (QUARTERLY)
[15A NCAC 02B .0500 et seq.]
The permittee shall conduct acute toxicity tests on a quarterly basis using protocols defined in the North
Carolina Procedure Document entitled "Pass/Fail Methodology For Determining Acute Toxicity In A
Single Effluent Concentration" (Revised -December 2010 or subsequent versions). The monitoring shall
be performed as a Mysid Shrimp (Mysidopsis Bahia) 24 hour static test. The effluent concentration at
which there may be at no time significant acute mortality is 90% (defined as treatment two in the
procedure document). The tests will be performed during the months of March, June, September,
and December. These months signify the first month of each three month toxicity testing quarter
assigned to the facility. Effluent sampling for this testing must be obtained during representative
effluent discharge and shall be performed at the NPDES permitted final effluent discharge 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 month in which it was performed, using the parameter code
TGE3E. Additionally, DWR Form AT -2 (original) is to be sent to the following address:
Attention: North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1621
Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Water 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.
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
Water 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 either these monitoring requirements or tests performed by the North Carolina
Division of Water Resources indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream, this permit may be re-
opened and modified to include alternate monitoring requirements or limits.
NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as mimmum control
organism survival and appropriate environmental controls, shall constitute an invalid test and will
Page 4 of 8

Permit NC0002879
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 <5ppt throughout the tidally
influenced cycle. This determination may be based on the best professional judgement 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 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 Toxicity 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.
A. (3.) PERMIT RE -OPENER: TMDL IMPLEMENTATION
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
The Division may, upon written notification to the Permittee, re -open this Permit in order to incorporate
or modify effluent limitations, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other permit conditions when
it deems such action is necessary to implement TMDL(s) approved by the US EPA.
A. (4.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF MONITORING REPORTS
[NCGS 143-215.1 (b)]
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 II of this
permit (Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits):
• Section B. (11.) Signatory Requirements
Page 5 of 8

Permit NC0002879
Section D. (2.) Reporting
Section D. (6.) Records Retention
Section E. (5.) 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 intemet. 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.
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.
Page 6 of 8

Permit NC0002879
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: htlps://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-24954/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 the
Division. 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:
htt-P:Hdeq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
I
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. (11.)(a) or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part II, Section
B. (I 1.)(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.nc.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:
U 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
Page 7of8

Permit NC0002879
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.)1
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

Cape Fear Pubic Utility Authority
Sweeney WTP
NPDES Permit NC0002879
Receiving Stream: NE Cape Fear River Stream Class: SC;Sw (PNA-HQW)
Stream Segment: 18-74-(61) Sub -Basin M 03-06-17
River Basin: Cape Fear HUC: 0303000708
County: New Hanover
N
SCALE
1:24,000
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Facility Location
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USGS Quad: Castle Hayne
34.256670, -77.947500