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Home My WebLink AboutNC0034860_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20211208ROY COOPER ELIZABETH S. RISER 5. DANIEL SMITH akre4 Nu Mr. Chip Swinnie, Plant Manager Schneider Mills, Inc. P.O. Box 519 Taylorsville, NC 28681 Dear Mr. Swinnie: 4ORTH CAROLINA £ni+fronnrrntaf Quality December 8, 2021 Subject: Compliance Bioassay Inspection Schneider Mills WWTP NPDES Permit No. NC0034860 Alexander County Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Inspection for the inspection conducted at the subject facility on December 7, 2021, by Ori Tuvia. Darren Webb's cooperation during the site visit was much appreciated. Please advise the staff involved with this NPDES Permit by forwarding a copy of the enclosed report. Due to the age of the blowers, it is recommended that the facility maintain a backup blower or have an emergency plan in place to obtain a blower in case one or both blowers fail. The report should be self-explanatory; however, should you have any questions concerning this report, please do not hesitate to contact Ori Tuvia at (704) 235-2190, or at ori.tuvia@ncdenr.gov Sincerely, DocuSigned by: A14CC681 AF27425... W. Corey Basinger Regional Supervisor Mooresville Regional Office Division of Water Resources Cc: NPDES, MRO Files (Laserfiche) North Carolina Drpartntent of Envlronmenial Quality I Division of Wider Resources hiaeresvdllektgiona1 Office 1616£a$t Center hwmue, Suite 301 I Mooresville, NorthCaraNna281i5 704.663.I649 United States Environmental Protection Agency E PA Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 Approval expires 8-31-98 Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS) Transaction Code 1 I 21 211IIIII NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection 1.51 3 1 NC0034860 111 121 21/12/07 117 Type 181 r i 1111 Inspector Fac Type 19 I S I 291 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I IIIIII IIIIIII 166 Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA Reserved 6711.0 I 70I4 I IN 1 72 I N ! I 731 I 174 79 1 1 1 1 1 1 1l80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Schneider Mills WWTP 1170 NC Hwy 16 N Taylorsville NC 28681 Entry Time/Date 09:30AM 21/12/07 Permit Effective Date 15/11/01 Exit Time/Date 11:OOAM 21/12/07 Permit Expiration Date 20/07/31 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/tles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Darren David Webb/ORC/828-632-8181/ Other Facility Data Name, Address of Responsible OfficialMtle/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Chip Swinnie,PO Box 519 Taylorsville NC 286810519/Plant Manager/828-632-8181/ No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports Progran Sludge Handling Dispo5 Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Wate Permit Self -Monitoring Laboratory Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) (See attachment summary) Name(s) and Signature(s) Ori ATuvia of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers /"®DocuSigned by: DWR/MRO WQ/704-663-1699/ Date 12/8/2021 \^---- BB057A2D6017198.. Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date W. Corey Basinger DWR/Division of Water Quality/704-235-2194/ EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. DocuSigned by: 12/8/2021 A14CC681AF27425... Page# 1 NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type 1 NC0034860 111 11 21/12/07 ' 17 18 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Page# 2 Permit: NC0034860 Inspection Date: 12/07/2021 Owner - Facility: Schneider Mills WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Permit (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new application? Is the facility as described in the permit? # Are there any special conditions for the permit? Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The subject permit expired on 7/31/2020. The permittee submitted a new application and is operating under the old permit while waiting on a new permit. Record Keeping Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? Is all required information readily available, complete and current? Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? Is the chain -of -custody complete? Dates, times and location of sampling Name of individual performing the sampling Results of analysis and calibration Dates of analysis Name of person performing analyses Transported COCs Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? Yes No NA NE ,E ❑ ❑ ❑ _.;,. ❑ ❑ ❑ ri ❑ ❑ ❑ M. ❑ ❑ ❑ rl ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The records reviewed during the inspection were organized and well maintained. DMRs, COCs, Calibration logs and ORC visitation logs were reviewed for the period July 2021 through September 2021. Page# 3 Permit: NC0034860 Inspection Date: 12/07/2021 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Owner - Facility: Schneider Mills WWTP Laboratory Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory? Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab? # Is the facility using a contract lab? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees? Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees? Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: On -site field analyses (dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, total residual chlorine) are performed under the Company's field laboratory certification #5012. Water Tech Labs (BOD, TSS, ammonia, nutrients) and R & A Laboratories, Inc. (toxicity and metals) have also been contracted to provide analytical support. Facillity purchased a new chlorine meter and needs to develop a chlorine curve. Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? 0 ❑ ❑ Is sample collected below all treatment units? ❑ 0 ❑ Is proper volume collected? 0 ❑ ❑ Is the tubing clean? 0 0 ❑ # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 0 0 0 degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type ❑ 0 0 representative)? Comment: The subject permit requires both composite and grab effluent samples. The Division approved a variance to collect time -based composite samples on 5/26/1998 provided that the flows do not vary by more than 30%. Upstream / Downstream Sampling Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, and sampling location)? Comment: Operations & Maintenance Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Comment: The ORC incorporates a comprehensive process control program with all measurements being properly documented and maintained on -site. Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 4 Permit: NC0034860 Inspection Date: 12/07/2021 Owner - Facility: Schneider Mills WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Bar Screens Type of bar screen a.Manual b.Mechanicai Are the bars adequately screening debris? Is the screen free of excessive debris? Is disposal of screening in compliance? Is the unit in good condition? Comment: Bar screenings are disposed at the Alexander County Landfill. Flow Measurement - Influent # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? YG3 No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The influent flow meter (Outfall 001) is calibrated twice per year and was last calibrated by ISI. The flows for Outfall 002 are based on the calculated backwash volume (3,150 gallons) and the number of backwash events per day. Aeration Basins Mode of operation Type of aeration system Is the basin free of dead spots? Are surface aerators and mixers operational? Are the diffusers operational? Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin's surface? Is the DO level acceptable? Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/I) Yes No NA NE Ext. Air Surface n o ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Aqueous lime and soda ash are added to maintain appropriate pH/alkalinity levels. The ORC also adds food (BOD)/nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) supplements and selective microorganisms to maintain the biological treatment process. Due to the age of the blowers, it is recommended that the facility maintain a backup blower or have an emergency plan in place to obtain a blower in case one or both blowers fail. Secondary Clarifier Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 5 Permit: NC0034860 Inspection Date: 12/07/2021 Owner - Facility: Schneider Mills WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier? ❑ ❑ ❑ Are weirs level? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of weir blockage? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is scum removal adequate? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the drive unit operational? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately'/4 of the sidewall depth) ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The permittee has done extensive work on the clarifier since the previous inspection. Pumps-RAS-WAS Are pumps in place? Are pumps operational? Are there adequate spare parts and supplies on site? Comment: Effluent Pipe Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: At the time of the inspection, the discharge appeared to be somewhat cloudy. Trace amounts of foam were observed at the discharge, but dissipated within 50 feet. Aerobic Digester Is the capacity adequate? Is the mixing adequate? Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank? # Is the odor acceptable? # Is tankage available for properly waste sludge? Comment: Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 6 Permit: NC0034860 Inspection Date: 12/07/2021 Owner - Facility: Schneider Mills WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Drying Beds Is there adequate drying bed space? Is the sludge distribution on drying beds appropriate? Are the drying beds free of vegetation? # Is the site free of dry sludge remaining in beds? Is the site free of stockpiled sludge? Is the filtrate from sludge drying beds returned to the front of the plant? # Is the sludge disposed of through county landfill? # Is the sludge land applied? (Vacuum filters) Is polymer mixing adequate? Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ 0 El El ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The dewatered sludges from the wastewater treatment system (drying beds) and water treatment system are transported to the Alexander County Landfill for disposal. Page# 7