NC0084573_Draft Permit_20210622

ROY COOPER t� �'
Governor 1,
DIONNE DELLI-GATTI
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Secretary
S.DANIEL SMITH NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
June 22, 2021
Donald Chamblee,Jr., Director of Public Works
Lincoln County
115 W Main Street
Lincolnton,NC 28092
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NC0084573
Lincoln County WTP
Grade I Physical Chemical WPCS
Lincoln County
Dear Permittee:
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:
1. Language has been updated in Section A. (1) and Section A. (3)to require electronic submission
of effluent data. Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring
reports(DMRs).
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2. Outfall map has been updated.
3. Language on the Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet has been updated, and language about
facility expansion has been added per information provided in the permit renewal application.
4. The components list has been added on the Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet.
5. The facility grade has been added in Section A. (1).
6. Added units of measure in Section A. (1).
7. Duration of discharge monitoring added in Section A. (1)per the current WTP guidance.
8. Turbidity monitoring has been reduced to monthly in Section A. (1)per current WTP guidance.
9. Updated the footnotes in Section A. (1).
10. Toxicity test in Section A. (1)and associated language in Section A. (2)have been updated per
current toxicity testing guidance.
11. Former Section A. (3) about the toxicity reopener has been removed as the facility has improved
compliance frequency over the last 3 years.
Please note that the receiving stream is listed as impaired for PCB fish tissue advisory on the North
Carolina 2018 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.
Q North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
D_E
512 North Salisbury Street 11617 Mall Service Center I Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
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mwr.nar.+.e.brorw\ /`*. 919.707.9000

The EPA approved NC 2015-2019 Water Quality Standard (WQS)Triennial Review includes new
chronic and acute dissolved metal standards for most metals. Further,the freshwater standards for
several metals are expressed as the dissolved form of the metals,and seven metals have hardness-
dependent equations. As a result,the NPDES Permitting Unit will need site-specific effluent hardness
data and instream hardness data,upstream of the discharge, for each facility monitoring these metals in
order to calculate permit limitations. Effluent hardness and instream hardness sampling,upstream of the
discharge,have been added to the permit at a monitoring frequency of quarterly. See Section A. (1)
Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements.
The NPDES standard conditions(Parts II, III, and IV)that are a part of the permit are not included in
this draft document(cover, map, and Part I). The conditions are the same as in your current permit
except that agency and division names have been updated. The latest version is available
at https://bit.ly/3k5NFaL and can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF file.
With this notification,the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing a
notice in newspapers having circulation in the general Lincoln 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 919-707-3619, or via e-mail [[e-mail]].
Sincerely,
(6114x-
Brianna Young
NPDES Compliance and Expedited Permitting Unit
cc: NPDES Files(Laserfiche)
Mooresville Regional Office
Wastewater Operator Certification Group
WSS/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
DWR/Public Water Supply

Permit NC0084573
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,
Lincoln County
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Lincoln County WTP
7674 Tree Farm Road
Denver
Lincoln County
to receiving waters designated as Lake Norman(Little Creek Arm) in sub-basin 03-08-32 of the
Catawba 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
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on March 31,2025.
Signed this day
S. Daniel Smith
Director,Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 9

•
Permit NC0084573
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility,whether for operation or discharge are hereby
revoked,and as of this 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.
Lincoln County
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate a conventional water treatment plant with a discharge of filter-backwash and
sludge supemate wastewater. This facility has a design potable flowrate of 3.99 MGD,with a
maximum,monthly average wastewater discharge of approximately 0.246 MGD. The facility is
located at 7674 Tree Farm Road in Denver in Lincoln County. Water and wastewater treatment
components consist of:
• Rapid mix
• Flocculation
• Sedimentation basins
• Multi-media filters
• Clearwells
• Thickeners
• Solids dewatering Huber Screw Press
• Chemical usage consists of:
o Alum
o Sodium hypochlorite
o Sodium hydroxide
o Fluoride
o Orthophosphate
o Sodium thiosulphate
2. Upon completion of facility expansion,operate a conventional water treatment plant with a
discharge of filter-backwash and sludge supemate wastewater. This facility will have a design
potable flowrate of 8.0 MGD,with a design wastewater discharge of 0.09 MGD. Water and
wastewater treatment components will consist of:
• Rapid mix
• Flocculation
• Sedimentation basins(1,000,000 gallons)
• Eight(8)multi-media filters
• Three(3) 1,000,000 gallon clearwells
• Two(2) 189,000 gallon thickeners
• Solids dewatering Huber Screw Press
Page 2 of 9

Permit NC0084573
• Chemical usage consists of:
o Alum
o Sodium hypochlorite
o Sodium hydroxide
o Fluoride
o Orthophosphate
o Sodium thiosulphate
3. Discharge from said treatment works via Outfall 001 at the location specified on the attached map
into Lake Norman(Little Creek Arm) [Stream Segment: 11-(75)], a waterbody currently classified
WS-IV,B; CA in sub-basin 03-08-32 [HUC: 030501011202] of the Catawba River Basin.
•
Page 3 of 9

Permit NC0084573
PART I.
A. (1) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B.0400 et seq., 15A NCAC 02B.0500 et seq.]
Grade I Physical Chemical WPCS [15A NCAC 08G .0302]
Beginning with the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is authorized
to discharge treated wastewater from Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored! by
the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Parameter Code Monthly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
Average Maximum Frequency Type Location
Flow(MGD) 50050 Monitor&Report Weekly Instantaneous Effluent
Duration of Discharge 81381 Monitor&Report Weekly Recorder Effluent
Total Suspended Solids C0530 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L 2/Month Grab Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine 2 50060 28 pg/L 2/Month Grab Effluent
pH 00400 >6.0 s.u.and<9.0 s.0 2/Month Grab Effluent
Turbidity(NTU) 00070 Monitor&Report Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Aluminum(pg/L) 01105 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Manganese(pg/L) 01055 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Fluoride(pg/L) 00951 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Copper(pg/L) 01042 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Hardness—Total as 00900 Monitor&Report QuarterlyGrab Effluent
[CaCO3 or(Ca+Mg)]s(mg/L) p
Hardness—Total as a 00900 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Upstream 5
[CaCO3 or(Ca+ Mg)] (mg/L)
Total Nitrogen(mg/L) C0600 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
(NO2+NO3+TKN)
Total Phosphorus(mg/L) C0665 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Whole Effluent Toxicity 6 TGP3B Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the NC DWR's eDMR
application system[see Section A. (3)].
2. The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 pg/L to be in compliance with the
permit.However,the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a North Carolina
certified laboratory(including field certified),even if these values fall below 50 pg/L.
3. Effluent hardness sampling should be performed in conjunction with testing for hardness dependent metals
(copper).
4. The Permittee shall sample instream hardness,upstream of the facility's discharge. The sample shall be
representative of the hardness in the receiving stream. If the Permittee is a member of the Monitoring
Coalition Program,sampling for instream hardness may be waived as long as the Monitoring coalition agrees
Page 4 of 9

Permit NC0084573
to sample hardness at the nearest upstream location,at a minimum frequency of quarterly,and the Permittee
has obtained approval from DWR-NPDES Permitting Unit that the upstream station being monitored by the
Coalition is representative of the receiving stream for this discharge.The Permittee is responsible for
submittinginstream hardness test results with itspermit renewal application package.If Coalition
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membership is cancelled or the Coalition terminates instream hardness sampling at the approved station,the
Permittee will immediately notify the Division and resume sampling for instream hardness,upstream of its
discharge.
5. Upstream=50 feet upstream of the discharge point.
6. Ceriodaphnia dubia pass/fail test at 0.63%effluent during the months of March,June,September,and
December[see Section A.(2)].
THERE SHALL BE NO DISCHARGE OF FLOATING SOLIDS OR VISIBLE FOAM IN
OTHER THAN TRACE AMOUNTS.
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Page 5 of 9

Permit NC0084573
A.(2) CHRONIC TOXICITY PASS/FAIL MONITORING(QUARTERLY)
[15A NCAC 02B .0500 et seq.]
The permittee shall conduct quarterly chronic toxicity tests using test procedures outlined in the"North
Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure,"(Revised December 2010, or subsequent
versions).
The effluent concentration defined as treatment two in the procedure document is 0.63 %. The testing
shall be performed as a Ceriodaphnia dubia 7-day pass/fail test. 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 electronically using
the Division's eDMR system for the month in which it was performed,using the parameter code
TGP3B. Additionally,DWR Form AT-1 (original) is to be sent to the following address:
North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,NC 27699-1621
Or,results can be sent to the email,[e-mail].
Completed Aquatic ToxicityTest Forms shall be filed with the Water Sciences Section no later than 30
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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
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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.
Page 6 of 9

Permit NC0084573
Should any test data from this monitoring requirement 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 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.
A. (3) ELECTRONIC REPORTING-DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS
[G.S. 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
• 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 internet. The eDMR system may be
accessed at: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr.
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 following address:
NC DEQ/Division of Water Resources/Water Quality Permitting Section
ATTENTION: Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
Page 7 of 9

Permit NC0084573
See"How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting"section below.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and
reported via the eDMR system no later than the last calendar day of the month following the completed
reporting period. 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, 2025, 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: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-24954/national-
pol lutant-discharge-el imination-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
Page 8 of 9

Permit NC0084573
in waiver request maysubmit monitoringdata
transferrable. Only permittees with an approved reporting wa ve eq
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.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Signatory Requirements f 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. (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.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:
"1 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.)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 9 of 9

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Receiving Stream: Norman Lake?? Stream Class:WS-IV, B;CA scale not shown V�414
Stream Segment: 11-(75) Sub-Basin#:03-08-32 V?
River Basin:Catawba HUC:030501011202 SCALE USGS Quad:Lake Norman North
County: Lincoln 1:24,000 35.52917°,-80.99250°