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Home My WebLink AboutNC0024252_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20220613ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Director Brian Bradshaw City of Conover Post Office Box 549 Conover, NC 28613 SUBJECT: Compliance Bio-monitoring Inspection Conover Northeast WWTP NPDES Permit No. NC0024252 Catawba County Dear Mr. Bradshaw: NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality June 13, 2022 Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Bio-monitoring Inspection (CBI) Report for the inspection conducted at the subject facility on June 7, 2022, by Mr. Wes Bell of this Office. Please advise the facility's Operator -in -Responsible Charge (ORC) of our findings by forwarding the enclosed report. The results of the effluent chronic toxicity tests performed by the Division's Aquatic Toxicity Unit will be forwarded under separate cover. Should you have any questions concerning this report, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Bell at (704) 235-2192 or at wes.bell@ncdenr.gov. Enclosure: Inspection Report Cc: NPDES Program Files - Laserfiche DE Sincerely, DocuSigned by: Al4CC681 AF27425... W. Corey Basinger, Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Mooresville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Mooresville Regional Office 1610 East Center Avenue. Suite 301 1 Mooresville. North Carolina 28115 704.663.1699 United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA 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 IN I 2 IL I 21IIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection 3 I NC0024252 111 121 22/06/09 117 Type 181 B I IIIIIIIII1I Inspector Fac Type 191 S I 201 I IIIIII P6 Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA Reserved 67I2.0 I 70I4 I 711D I 72 I N I 731 I 74 751 I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 180 l Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES oermit Number) Northeast WWTP 3680 Hillview Dr Conover NC 28613 Entry Time/Date 09:OOAM 22/06/09 Permit Effective Date 16/12/01 Exit Time/Date 12:50PM 22/06/09 Permit Expiration Date 21/11/30 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Andrew Scott Andreas Evans//828-879-2131 / Londus Eric Williams/ORC/828-879-2131/ Other Facility Data Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Donald E Duncan,PO Box 549 Conover NC 286130549/City Manager/828-464-4808/ No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports Self -Monitoring Progran Sludge Handling DispoFacility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Wate Laboratory Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) (See attachment summary) Name(s) and Signature(s) Wes Bell of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date �Docusigned by: DWR/MRO WQ/704-663-1699 Ext.2192/ le&J, 6/13/2022 "-A61696D90CC3437... 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: 6/13/2022 "-A14CC681AF27425... Page# 1 NPDES yr/mo/day 31 NC0024252 111 121 22/06/09 I17 Inspection Type 18oil 1 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Page# 2 Permit: NC0024252 Inspection Date: 06/09/2022 Owner - Facility: Northeast WWTP Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new MODE application? Is the facility as described in the permit? • ❑ ❑ ❑ # Are there any special conditions for the permit? ❑ El • El Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The City implements a Division -approved Industrial Pretreatment Program. The Division received the City's permit renewal application documentation on 6/10/21. The last compliance evaluation inspection at this facility was performed by DWR staff on 12/16/2020. Record Keeping Yes No NA NE 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? • El El El Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? • El El El 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? • El El El Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? ■ El El El Page# 3 Permit: NC0024252 Inspection Date: 06/09/2022 Owner - Facility: Northeast WWTP Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Comment: The records reviewed during the inspection were organized and well maintained. Discharge Monitoring Reports (eDMRs) were reviewed for the period May 2021 through April 2022. No monitoring violations were reported. An effluent pH violation (daily minimum not achieved) was reported in October 2021. The Division has previously addressed this limit violation through the issuance of a Notice of Deficiency (NOD). The ORC and staff must ensure to report all effluent total residual chlorine (TRC) values down to the lowest standard verified on the TRC meter (annual curve verification). In addition, the ORC and staff must ensure the contracted laboratory meets the lowest detection levels for metals (copy of detection levels given to ORC during inspection). 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, TRC, temperature) are performed under the City's field laboratory certification #5904. Water Tech Labs, Pace Analytical Services and Meritech have been contracted to provide analytical support. The ORC and staff must ensure that the annual curve verification on the TRC meter is performed every twelve (12) months. Influent Sampling # Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected above side streams? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is sampling performed according to the permit? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The subject permit requires influent BOD and TSS composite sampling. This Office recommends verifying the sampler's aliquot volume weekly. Effluent Sampling Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Yes No NA NE Page# 4 Permit: NC0024252 Inspection Date: 06/09/2022 Owner - Facility: Northeast WWTP Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is proper volume collected? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the tubing clean? • ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type • ❑ ❑ ❑ representative)? Comment: The subject permit requires effluent composite and grab samples. This Office recommends verifying the sampler's aliquot volume weekly. Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, MODE and sampling location)? Comment: Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable MODE Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Comment: The wastewater treatment facility appeared to be properly operated and well maintained. Process control measurements and operation/maintenance activities were being documented and maintained on -site. The City has installed a new SCADA System (early in 2022) to assist the wastewater staff in treatment operations. Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual ❑ b.Mechanical • 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: The City is in the approval process (Division of Water Resources) for the construction of a new headworks facility. Grit Removal Type of grit removal Yes No NA NE Page# 5 Permit: NC0024252 Inspection Date: 06/09/2022 Owner - Facility: Northeast WWTP Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance Grit Removal Yes No NA NE a.Manual ❑ b.Mechanical • Is the grit free of excessive organic matter? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the grit free of excessive odor? • ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is disposal of grit in compliance? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: A contract company disposes of the screenings and grit at the 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? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ Comment: The City installed a new influent flow meter (bubbler type) in February 2022. The City has the flow meter calibrated annually and the last calibration was performed on 2/28/21 by Clearwater, Inc. Pump Station - Influent Yes No NA NE Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the wet well free of excessive grease? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all pumps present? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all pumps operable? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are float controls operable? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is SCADA telemetry available and operational? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The high level alarm (p_udible and visual) operated properly during the on -site test. Sequencing Batch Reactors Type of operation: Is the reactor effluent free of solids? Does minimum fill time correspond to the peak hour flow rate of the facility? Is aeration and mixing cycled on and off during fill? The operator understands and can explain the process? Yes No NA NE Quadraplex • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ Page# 6 Permit: NC0024252 Inspection Date: 06/09/2022 Owner - Facility: Northeast WWTP Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance Sequencing Batch Reactors Yes No NA NE Comment: The facility is equipped with four SBRs with three currently in service. A wasting pump is in the process of being repaired/replaced in the SBR not in service. The City is in the planning stapes of installing fine bubble diffusers and upgrading the motor/blower system for the SBRs. Filtration (High Rate Tertiary) Yes No NA NE Type of operation: Down flow Is the filter media present? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the filter surface free of clogging? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the filter free of growth? • ❑ El El Is the air scour operational? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the scouring acceptable? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the clear well free of excessive solids and filter media? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: All five sand filters were operational and in service. Disinfection -Liquid Is there adequate reserve supply of disinfectant? (Sodium Hypochlorite) Is pump feed system operational? Is bulk storage tank containment area adequate? (free of leaks/open drains) Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination? Comment: Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ De -chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system ? Liquid Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is storage appropriate for cylinders? El El • El # Is de -chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? • El El El Comment: Are the tablets the proper size and type? El El • El Are tablet de -chlorinators operational? El El • El Number of tubes in use? Comment: Page# 7 Permit: NC0024252 Inspection Date: 06/09/2022 Owner - Facility: Northeast WWTP Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance De -chlorination Yes No NA NE 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 • ❑ • ❑ Comment: The effluent appeared clear with no floatable solids or foam. DWR staff split effluent composite samples for chronic toxicity testing on 6/7/22 and 6/9/22. Solids Handling Equipment Is the equipment operational? Is the chemical feed equipment operational? Is storage adequate? Is the site free of high level of solids in filtrate from filter presses or vacuum filters? Is the site free of sludge buildup on belts and/or rollers of filter press? Is the site free of excessive moisture in belt filter press sludge cake? The facility has an approved sludge management plan? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The facility is equipped with a gravity belt thickenert (GBT) and WAS and thickened sludge storage tanks (both aerated). The GBT was operational; however, not in service. The GBT is operated three days per week. City staff transports thickened sludge (3 to 4 loads per week) to the Regional Compost Facility (located in Catawba County) for further treatment/disposal. City staff also transports sludge (4 loads per week) to the Regional Compost Facility from a dedicated thickener located at the City of Newton's WWTP. Standby Power Is automatically activated standby power available? Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source? Is the generator tested under load? Was generator tested & operational during the inspection? Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site? Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power? Is the generator fuel level monitored? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The backup generator is tested under load (automatically) once per week. City staff perform servicing and a contacted company (Rob Roy) performs any major repairs. The generator did not start doing the inspection; however, a battery was replaced and the generator was operation soon after the inspection. Page# 8 Permit: NC0024252 Inspection Date: 06/09/2022 Owner - Facility: Northeast WWTP Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance Standby Power Yes No NA NE Page# 9