NC0024571_Inspection_20011107

ATA
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Michael F. Easley, Governor
Mr. Todd Powell, City Manager
City of Lumberton
PO Box 1388
Lumberton, NC 28359
November 7, 2001
SITEJECT: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
City of Lumberton
Wastewater Treatment Plant
NPDES Permit No. NC0024571
Robeson County
Dear Mr. Powell:
1111/a,
134/7
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D.
Acting Director
Division of Water Quality
Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Evaluation Inspection conducted October 24, 2001.
As part of the inspection a tour of the Wastewater Treatment Plant was conducted. All observations
and recommendations are in Part D. Summary of Findings/Comments of this inspection report. The
cooperation of Mr. Jon Locklear, Grade IV ORC was greatly appreciated. During the inspection a
copy of the NPDES Compliance Reminders were reviewed and left with Mr. Locklear. As a
reminder preservation of the Waters of the State can only be acquired through consistent NPDES
permit compliance.
Please review the attached report. If you or your staff have any questions do not hesitate
to contact me at 910-486-1541.
Sincerely,
Belinda S. Henson
Environmental Chemist
/bsh
Enclosures
cc: Mr. Jon Locklear, ORC, City of Lumberton
Central Files
FRO Files Fayetteville Regional Office
225 Green Street - Suite 714, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-5043
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone] Internet: www.enr.state.nc.us/ENR
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NPDES COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
North Carolina Division of Water Quality
Fayetteville Regional Office
Section A. National Data System Coding
Transaction Code: N NPDES NO. NC0005762 Date: 011024 Inspection Type: C
Inspector: S Facility Type: 1 Reserved:
Facility Evaluation Rating: 4 BI: N QA: N Reserved:
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected:
City of Lumberton WWTP
Entry Time/Date: 9:15am/011024 Permit Effective Date: 010101
Exit Time/Date: 2:30pm/0l 1024 Permit Expiration Date: 040731
Name(s), Title(s) of On -Site Representative(s):
Jon Locklear - (Certified Grade IV)-"ORC"
Karen Lewis - (Certified Grade III)"Laboratory Supervisor
Phone Number(s): [phone]
Name, Title and Address of Responsible Official:
Mr. Todd Powell, City Manager
PO Box 1388
Lumberton, NC 28359
Contacted: no
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection
(S = Satisfactory, M = Marginal, U = Unsatisfactory, N = Not Evaluated, N/A = Not Applicable)
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Mr. Powell
Page 3
November 7, 2001
Section D: Summary of Findings/Comments:
1. The facility has two (2) flygt and one (1) screw pumps and one (1) bypass pump which bring influent
flow into the plant. Under normal flow conditions one flygt pump is used during the week. The screw
and bypass pumps are used on the weekends when flows decrease. All pumps appeared to be
operational. The railings and the safety cage to the influent pump area were in need of repair. A
recommendation would be to repair these areas in the near future as part of maintaining the
wastewater treatment plant as per the NPDES permit. These areas were noted in the last report
dated March 2, 2001.
2. The two (2) automatic bar screens appeared to be operational. All screenings are disposed of through
the Robeson County Landfill.
3. The influent flow meter is a Milltronics OCM III. The flow meter was calibrated June 26, 2001 by Mr.
Harold Lovette, who is the City's Instrumentation Technician. The % error was documented at 1.36.
4. The influent and effluent sampler temperatures were adequate at 3 degrees C. The acceptable
temperature range of samples during storage and for stored samples are 1.0 - 4.4 degrees C.
5. The grit chamber appeared to be operational. All grit is disposed of through the Robeson County
Landfill.
6. The facility has backup power which will operate key areas in the plant when power outage occurs.
7. Four (4) aeration basins are on site and appeared to be operating adequately. Six (6) aerators and two
(2) mixers are located in each basin. At the time of the inspection, three (3) aerators were operating and
both mixers in each basin. Aerators are rotated every three (3) hours as per Mr. Locklear.
8. The facility has five (5) clarifiers. The sludge depths are as follows with a tank depth of 12 feet:
Clarifier # 1 - 4 feet
Clarifier #2 - not in service- noted in last report -has not appeared to cause noncompliance
Clarifier #3 - 4
Clarifier #4 - 3 'A feet
Clarifier #5 .- 3 feet.
9. The chlorine contact tank sludge depth was 1 %2 feet deep. The facility has no way to drain the tank to
clean it at this time but construction will begin within the next month to provide this added feature.
Chlorine gas (ton cylinders) are utilized for disinfection.
10. Sulfur Dioxide gas is added to the effluent for dechlorination purposes. The dechlorination feed system
was devised by facility staff and appears to operate at the present flows. A recommendation is to
evaluate the system to ensure compliance with the NPDES permit can be maintained to
accomodate higher flows when they occur.

Mr. Powell
Page 4
November 7, 2001
11. The facility has Tertiary filters which cannot be operated at this time with the flow capacity into the
plant.
12. The facility has two (2) aerobic digesters and one (1) holding tank for sludge disposal. The sludge
disposal is contracted out to "S & ME" and land applied under permit # WQ0000672. The City has a
total of 2102.95 acres in the permit.
13. All maintenance and operational records appeared to be adequate. The ORC log was complete. The
facility does not have the most recent "As Built Plans". A recommendation would be to contact
your engineering firm to acquire these plans.
14. The facility has a certified laboratory onsite which analyzes the following parameters: pH, Residual
Chlorine, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Dissolved Oxygen,
Conductivity and Temperature. All other parameters are analyzed by "Environmental Science
Corporation" through a contract with the laboratory "TBL". The Chronic Toxicity is analyzed by
"Meritech".
15. Laboratory records were reviewed for the months February and June 2001 and compared to Discharge
Monitoring Reports (DMRs) and they appeared to be accurately reported.
16. A compliance evaluation for the period September 2000 through August 2001 did not reveal any
monthly violations. A Notice of Violation was sent to the facility for a weekly Fecal Coliform violation
for the month of February 2001.
Please respond in writing to our office concerning items 1, 10 and 13 by December 10,
2001.

Name and Signature of Inspector Agency/Office/Telephone Date
Belinda S. Henson
' etc, co
Name and Signature of Reviewer
Paul E. Rawls
ii)
Action Taken
DENR/Fayetteville/[phone]
Agency/Office/Telephone Date
DENR/Fayetteville/[phone]
Regulatory Office Use Only
Compliance Status
Noncompliance
Compliance
Date
1

Section D: Summary of Findings/Comments
Brief Facility Description:
Continue to operate a 20 MGD WWTP consisting of influent pumps, mechanical bar screens (2),
grit removal, parshall flume and influent flow measurement, extended aeration basins (4),
secondary clarifiers (5), tertiary filters (supplemental treatment), aerobic digesters, sludge holding
tanks, lime addition, alum phosphorus removal facilities, chlorine disinfection and dechlorination.
FACILITY SITE REVIEW
es No N/A 1. Treatment units properly operated and maintained.
( )No N/A 2. Standby power or other equivalent provision provided.
eJ No N/A 3. Adequate alarm system for power or equipment failure available.
4. Sludge disposal procedures appropriate:
Ye No N/A a. Disposal of sludge according to regulations
Yes No N/A b. State approval for sludge disposal received.
Yes' No N/A 5. Sufficient sludge disposed of to maintain treatment process equilibrium.
es No N/A 6. The ORC and Backup Operator are officially designated with
NCDENR/DWQ Training and Certification Unit.
es No N/A 7. Adequate spare parts and supplies inventory maintained.
Lre) No N/A 8. Plant has general safety structures such as rails around or covers over
tanks, pits, or wells.
Yes No N/A 9. Plant is generally clean, free from open trash areas.
10. Screening:
Yes No ( 2) a. Manual
es� No N/A b. Mechanical
Yes©% N/A c. Buildup of debris
6tes% No N/A d. Screenings properly disposed of.
11. Grit Removal:
Yes Co) N/A a. Excessive organic content in the grit chamber
Yes (No) N/A b. Excessive odors
No N/A c. Grit properly disposed of.

Page 2
Yes
Yes
Yes
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Yes
No
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No
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No
N/A
N/A
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N/A.
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Yes ` N/A
Yes . N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes 1 N/A
Yes o N/A
Yes No
Yes No (Nl
Yes No
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/1
Yes No NIA
12. Primary clarifier:
a. Excessive gas bubbles
b. Black and odorous wastewater . .
c. Poor suspended solids removed
d. Excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier
e.. Weirs level
f Weir blockage
g. Evidence of short circuiting
h. Lack of adequate scum removal
i. Excessive.floating sludge
j. Broken sludge scraper.
13.. Trickling Filter:
a. Trickling filter ponding(indicating clogged media)
b. Leak at center column of trickling filter's distribution arms
c. - Uneven distribution of flow on trickling filtersurface
d. Uneven or discolored growth
e. Excessive sloughing of growth
f Odor
g. .Clogging of trickling filter's distribution arm orifices
h. Filter flies; worms, or snails.
14.
Activated Sludge Basins/Oxidation Ditches:
a: Dead spots
b. Failure of surface aerators
c. Air rising in clumps
d. Dark foam or bad color
e. Thick billows of white, , sudsy foam
f. Air rising unevenly
g. Excessive air leaks in compressed air piping.
15. Stabilization Ponds/Lagoons:
a. Excessive weeds including duckweed in stabilization ponds
b. Dead fish or aquatic organisms
c. Buildup of solids around influent pipe
d. Excessive scum on surface.

Page 3
Yes (No) N/A
N/A
Yes -)N/A
Yesy7 NIA
Yes &9 N/A
Yes N/A
des% No N/A
Yes N/A
Yes (W; N/A
Yes N/A
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No N/A
No N/A
No NIA
No N/A
No N/A
Yes a N/A
Yes ' N/A
Yes (Nb N/A
Ea No N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes No _ E'
Le No N/A
No N/A
• Yes No UT
) No N/A
•CYes No N/A
Cfes1 No N/A
Yes (% N/A
Yes 03 N/A
• Yes N/A
Yes N/A
16. Secondary Clarifier:
Excessive gas bubbles on surface
Level overflow weirs
Weir blockage
Evidence of short circuiting
Excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier
Pin floc in overflow
Effective scum rake
Floating sludge on surface
Excessive high sludge blanket
Clogged sludge withdrawal ports on secondary clarifier.
a.
b.
cd.
e.
f.
g•
h.
.1.
17. Filtration:
a. Filter surface clogging
b. Short filter run
c. Gravel displacement of filter media
d. Loss of filter media during backwashing
e. Recycled filter backwash water in excess of 5 percent
f. Formation of mudballs in filter media.
18.
Chlorination Unit:
a. Sludge buildup in contact chamber
b. Gas bubbles
c. Floating scum and/or solids
d. Adequate ventilation of chlorine feeding room and storage area
e. NIOSFI-approved 30 minute air'pack
f All standing chlorine cylinders chained in place e
g. All personnel trained in the use of chlorine
h. Proper chlorine feed, storage, and reserve supply.
19. Ultraviolet radiation disinfection present and in use.
L YI
20. Dechlorination:
a. Proper storage of sulfur dioxide cylinders
b. Adequate ventilation of sulfur dioxide feeding room
c. Automatic sulfur dioxide feed or feedback control operating
properly.
21. Aerobic Digester:
a. Excessive foaming in tank
b. Noxious odor
c. Mechanical aeration failure
d. Clogging of diffusers.
ra�{�e S

Page 4
22.
Yes No N I
Yes No N/A
Yes No
Yes No glA
Yes No ga)
Yes No /A)
Yes No
Yes No j7 )
No _ N/A
Anaerobic Digester:
a. Floating cover tilting
b. Gas burner operative
Sludge Drying and/or disposal:
a. Poor sludge distribution on drying beds
b. Vegetation in drying beds
c. Dry sludge remaining in drying beds
d. Dry sludge stored on site
e. Filtrate from sludge drying beds returned to front of plant
f. Sludge disposal through county landfill.
g. Sludge land applied.
24. Filter Press:
Yes No a. High level of solids in filtrate from filter presses or vacuum filters
Yes No N/A b. Thin filter cake caused by poor dewatering
Yes No N/A c. Sludge buildup on belts and/or rollers of filter press
Yes No N/A d. Excessive moisture in belt filter press sludge cake.
Yes N
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/A
25. Polishing Ponds or Tanks:
a. Objectionable odor, excessive foam, floating solids, or oil sheens on
water surface
b. Solids or scum accumulations in tank or at side of pond
c. Evidence of bypassed polishing ponds or tanks because of low
capacity.
26. Plant Effluent:
Yes NO N/A a. Excessive suspended solids, turbidity, foam, grease, scum, color, and
other macroscopic particulate matter present
Yes N/A b. Potential toxicity (dead fish, dead plant at discharge)
No N/A c. Outfall discharge line easily accessible.
27. Flow Measurement:
es, No N/A a. Proper placement of flow measurement device
Ye No N/A b. Flow meter calibrated
Yes (KO) N/A c. Buildup of solids in flume or weir
Yeses N/A d. Broken or cracked flume or weir
Yes Noe. Clogged or broken stilling wells
Yes N/A f. Weir plate edge corroded or damaged
Yes No N/A g. Flow measurement error less than 10%.

Page 5
28. Sampling: -
Ye No . N/A a. Sampling and analysis completed on parameters specified by permit
YesNo N/A b. Composite sample temperatures maintained at 4 degrees Celsius or
less (but above freezing) during sampling
Yes No N/A c. 'Contract laboratory used for sample analysis
Yes No N/A d. Effluent composite samples obtained are flow proportional.
I '
RECORD:KEEPING AND REPORTING
Yew No N/A 1. Records and reports maintained as required by permit.
No N/A 2. All required information available, complete, and current.
es No N/A 3. Records maintained for 3 years and all sludge records maintained for 5
years.
Ye No N/A 4. Analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs.
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/A
Sampling and 'analyses data adequate and include:
a. Dates, times, and location of sampling
b. Name of individual performing sampling
c. Results of analyses and d calibration
d. Dates of analyses
e. Name of person performing analyses.
b. Monitoring records adequate and include:
a. Monitoring charts kept for 3 years
b. Flowmeter calibration records kept for 3 years.
Yes) No N/A 7. The pH meter is calibrated daily with two buffers and checked with a
third buffer and properly documented.
(-,..)Le,No N/A 8. •Expiration dates of pH buffers adequate.
Yes 110 N/A 9. All thermometers used in NPDES permit reporting is calibrated
annually with an MIST certified thermometer or a traceable
thermometer annually and documented.
Yet No N/A 10. The following NPDES permit required parameters are analyzed on site:
pH, Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen and Chlorine Residual.

Page 6
Yes No N/A 11. The NPDES permit required parameter Total Chlorine Residual is
analyzed by approved method.
1 No N/A 12. BOD incubator temperature maintained at 20 +/- 1 Degrees Celsius
and the temperature maintained in a log for every day of operation.
No N/A 13. Fecal coliform incubator maintained at 44.5 +/- 0.2 Degree Celsius and
the temperature maintained in a log for every day of operation.
14. Plant records adequate and include:
p.Q No N/A a. 0 & M Manual
Yes No N/A b. "As -built" engineering drawings fo tO+o cl f o'i
Yes No N/A c. Schedules and dates of equipment maintenance repairs
Yes No N/A d. Equipment data cards.
Yes No 15. Permittee is meeting compliance schedule.
Yes) No N/A 16. DMRs complete and include all NPDES permit required parameters.
Yes No N/A 17. The facility has a permitted flow greater than 5 MOD and is required
to operate seven days per week 24 hours a day.
es No N/A 18. ORC visitation logs available and current.
E . No N/A 19. ORC certified at a level equal to or greater than the classification of
the wastewater facility.
CYes No N/A 20. Backup Operator certified at one level less than the classification of
the wastewater facility or greater.
Yes No N/A 21. Current copy of the complete NPDES permit on site.
No N/A 22. Facility description verified as contained in NPDES permit.
es) No N/A 23. Facility analyzes process control parameters for example: MESS,
MCRT, Settleable Solids and others that are applicable. So e,
Yes No N/A 24. Industrial Waste Surveys (IWS) sent to all possible Significant
Industrial Users (SIUs) within the last five years (especially new
industries).
Revised 7/16/01
by Belinda Henson

INSPECTION REPORT
UPDATE OPTION: TRX: 5IF KEY: NC0024571INSCEI 011024
SYSMSG: *** DATA ADDED SUCCESSFULLY ***
PERMIT--- NC0024571 REG/COUNTY-- 06 ROBESON
FACILITY-- LUMBERTON, CITY / WWTP LOC-- LUMBERTON
INS TYPE
CEI
NEXT PLANNED
INSPECTION INSPECTED BY:
DATE: 011024 HSB
REPORT INSPECTION DMR RESPONSE RECEIVED
DATE STATUS STATUS DUE DATE DATE
011101 C C 011130
COMMENTS:

dUg Of
December 6, 2001
J'umL toz
(Watez 5PL'ant rsu/2ezviaoz
Environmental Utility Services Department
Division of Water Quality
Belinda Henson, Environmental Chemist
225 Green Street, Suite 714
Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301
Re: Compliance Audit Evaluation Inspection Response
NPDSE Permit No. NC0024571
Dear Ms. Henson:
IDEC JI2001
I am writing your office concerning line items number (1), (10), and (13) pertaining to
your inspection conducted on October 24, 2001. Reference line item number (1) the
railing and safety cage to the influent was in need of repair. I made a recommendation to
Kenny Taylor, Executive Safety Director to come out to the plant to look at the ladder
and determine the repair by O.S.H.A. standards. Upon the inspection by Kenny Taylor,
Executive Safety Director he recommended to replace the cage. The purpose of the cage
is to prevent falls or fall arrest. I discussed the findings with Howard Revels, Director
and he indicated he would further discuss this issue with Mr. Taylor before removing or
repairing the ladder.
Reference line item numbers (10) the dechlorination feed system has been evaluated by
the JS Dismuke Company, Inc. James Kiles, JS Dismike Company Representative,
evaluated the dechlorination system on December 4, 2001. Mr. Kiles will beestimating
the cost to design system. Also, during construction or renovation of the chlorine contact
would be an opportunity to install this system.
Reference line item number (13) I discussed with Howard Revels, Director the
recommendation for as built plans for the Lumberton Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Howard Revels, Director will contact our engineering firm to inquire about these plans.
Box 1388, _CuirstEtton, d/ortfi eazotina 28359 • 910-671-3857 • 910-671-3889 • Jax 910-671-381.4

r'
Please review the letter of response. If you have any questions, please call me at (910)
671-3859.
Sincerely,
Jon Locklear, Wastewater Treatment Chief Operator
/scar
Cc: Howard Revels, Director
Jim Walters, Deputy Director
File