WQ0004122_Correspondence_20200713

DocuSign Envelope ID: C86E5FF5-09D7-4540-BB12-4lF30605A8FC
ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
Mr. Shederick Mole
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
July 13, 2020
NCDENR — Division of Parks and Recreation
280 State Park Road
Apex, NC 27502
Subject: Permit No.WQ0004122
Jordan Lake State Recreational Area
— Poplar Point
Wastewater Irrigation
Chatham County
Dear Mr. Mole,
Staff of the NC Division of Water Resources (DWR), Water Quality Regional Operations
Section (WQROS), Raleigh Regional Office (RRO) inspected the North Carolina Parks and
Recreation Division's Poplar Point Wastewater Surface Irrigation System, Permit # WQ0004122
on June 26, 2020. DWR thanks William Baker for his assistance during the inspection. The
purpose of the visit was to conduct a compliance inspection.
The current permit which was issued June 5, 2015 and expires October 31, 2020 was reviewed.
William Baker is designated as Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC) and Craig Autry is
designated as Backup-ORC.
The influent flow meter is a v notch weir type. It reportedly works well.
Much of the park system is closed due to Covid. Irrigation last occurred on June 10.
The three lagoons were as described in the permit. The concrete apron liners were well
maintained as were the lagoon banks and fencing. On the day of the inspection, freeboard in the
#1 (stabilization) lagoon was 3' 1", #2 (stabilization) lagoon was 3 feet and #3 (storage) lagoon
was 2' 8" feet. The residuals level in all the lagoons are checked annually. The lagoon levels are
maintained manually by operators. The ORC tries to maintain a 30 day residence time in lagoon
1 and an 18 day residence time in lagoon 2. The chlorinator was well maintained and working
properly at the time of inspection. The effluent flow meter was calibrated May 1, 2020 and is
calibrated annually.
Surface irrigation areas' vegetation and application equipment appeared well maintained and was
reportedly operating properly. The pumps and sprayheads were not tested during the inspection.
All 7 fields have been used and repaired as necessary. The ORC indicated that pressure gauge is
observed at time of irrigation to verify that no leaks are present. Low pressure/high flow rate
leads the operator to walk the zones to find the reason for pressure drop. Downed trees are
frequently cleared from the sprayfields. Underbrush and trees that could damage the pipe
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Raleigh Regional Office 13800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
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DocuSign Envelope ID: C86E5FF5-09D7-4540-BB1 2-41 F30605A8FC
network are removed as time permits. Fencing and signage is well maintained for all irrigation
areas. There were no evidence of ponding or runoff noted at irrigation areas. Flows are currently
well below the 47,431 gallons per day rate listed in permit. The system design indicates that the
current irrigation fields can manage that daily flow.
All the required operational records, maintenance logs, meter calibration records, copies of
reports, lab analyses, NDMRs, NDARs and GW-59s were in good order. All monitoring meets
permit requirements.
There was an exceedance of TDS in March 2019 in MW2 which sits at the foot of a facultative
lagoon. TDS levels in this well were in the 200 mg/1 range from 1990 until sampling stopped in
2007. When sampling resumed in 2011, levels had risen to the 400 range. It is possible the
lagoon is leaking wastewater into the ground. TDS levels in the groundwater do exceed TDS
levels in the effluent. TDS levels should be monitored with time.
TDS levels in MW3 were in the 100-200 range from 1990 to 2018 then began to rise to over 800
by March 2020. This data should also be monitored. The well is deep in the woods at the foot of
one of the sprayfields. There was no sign of damage or vandalism. The TDS levels in the
effluent that is applied is in the 150-250 range.
TDS levels in MW4 were in the 500 range in 1993 and have slowly dropped to the 400's. This is
a high range for typical groundwater. Cl has also historically been high in this well.
All the strainers, pumps, controls and floats in all 22 lift stations at Poplar Point, Crosswinds,
Park office, Ebenezer and White Oak have been replaced. Keen grinder pumps have been
installed in all lift stations. Power lines and ladders and other equipment have been replaced
where necessary. All lift stations are now equipped with backup power to run wireless
autodialers. The park now owns a mobile device that can pump water from a lift station
directly into the force main via quick connect plumbing installed during the rebuild process. It
will reduce the time spent pumping and hauling wastewater during lift station failure and repair
procedures.
This facility appears to be well run and in compliance with permit requirements.
If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact me at [phone] or via e-mail
at ray.miloshrAmcdenngov.
Sincerely,
Ray Milosh
S
M.ilbsl�,
t9a1 Specialist
Division of Water Resources, Water Quality
Regional Operations Section, Raleigh
Regional Office
Attachment: Compliance Inspection Report
cc: RRO-WQROS Files
DWR Central Files