WQCS00003_NOV-2020-DV-0345_20200826

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nn-Salem / Forsyth County
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er •Wastewater •Solid Waste
Administration, P.O. Box 2511, Winston-Salem, NC 27102
O: 336-727-8000, F: 336-727-8432, cityofws.org/utilities
August 26, 2020
Lon T. Snider, Regional Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources
450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
Re: Sanitary Sewer Overflow Civil Penalties Incident #202001566
Dear Mr. Snider:
NC Department of
Environmental Quality
Received
AUG 2 8 2020
Winston-Salem
Regional Office
This letter serves as the official response from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities (WSFC
Utilities) to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water
Resources Notice of Intent to Enforce Civil Penalty for the May 26, 2020 sanitary sewer
overflow (SSO), Incident #202001566, located at 4093 Green Haven Drive in Winston-Salem.
The incident was a direct result of residential grease, wipes and roots.
On May 26, 2020 at 3:00pm, an SSO occurred in a wooded outfall approximately 50 feet
downstream of an apartment complex. Upon arrival, our crews cleaned seven upstream lines
discovering very heavy amounts of wipes, as well as residential grease and roots. The SSO
lasted until 7:30pm that evening. Bypass pumps were set up at the site because the line
continued to surcharge. After cleaning, we CCTVed the lines and confirmed there was no
damage and no remaining deposits.
WSFC Utilities staff attributes the sanitary sewer overflow on May 26, 2020 to heavy amounts
of wipes and grease from nearby apartment complexes. Tree roots also contributed to the SSO.
Can the Grease and No Wipes in Pipes literature and promotional items were distributed to
homes near the spill site.
WSFC Utilities continues to make progress minimizing SSOs and has the proper programs in
place to continue our high level of performance. The FY2019-2020 budget included an increase
in preventative cleaning of the collection system and last year was our lowest year on record
CRy Council: Mayar Allen Jaines; Denise D. Adams, Mayar Pro Tampon, North Word; Dan Besse, Southwest Ward; Robert C. Clark, West Ward;John C. Larson,
South Ward; Jeff Macintosh, Northwest Ward; Morticia "Tee -Tee" Parma., Northeast Were; Annette Surplus East Ward; James Taylor, J,, Southeast Ward;
City Manager: Lee D. Garrity
County Cammissioneen David R. Plyler, Chair; Don Martin, Vice Chair; Fleming EI-Amin; Ted Kaplan; Richard V. Llnvllle;Tonya McDaniel; Gloria D. Whisenhunt;
Call 311 or 336-727-8000 -only Manager; Dudley Wads, Jr.
Wlostun-Salem/Forsyth County @flay CummRsinn: Randall S. Tuttle, Chair; L Wesley Curtis, J,, Vice Chair; Humid E. Day; Tom Griffin; Yvcn ne H. Hines;
[e-mail] Duane Long HughW.Jernigan; Chris Parker, Donald ft. Stewart; Charles Wilson; Allan Younger

for SSOs since the baseline year,1999. While we are required to clean 10% of the system each
year, a total of 393 miles were cleaned, which is 22% of the 1,780-mile gravity wastewater
collection system. Of those 393 miles, 303 miles (77%) in the system were proactively cleaned
by in-house and contracted crews. Our team has a system to schedule more frequent cleaning
for areas with higher incident levels.
In addition to this successful strategy, our new No Wipes in Pipes campaign is gaining
awareness with extensive coverage by local media. We are confident this outreach effort is
making an impact.
I hope this information is helpful with your investigation of Incident #202001566. If you require
additional information, please contact me at 336-747-7315.
Sincerely,
�m+w
Courtney Driver, P.E.
Utilities Director
cc: Michael Stover, P.E., Assistant Utilities Director -Operations
Kenny Atkins, Utilities Field Operations Manager
Antonio Martinez, ORC
File