HomeMy WebLinkAboutNCG551233_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20220804 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office 3800 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
919.791.4200
August 4, 2022
Ruth Melvin
3512 Delmar Drive
Durham, NC 27703
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Single Family Wastewater Treatment System
General NPDES Permit NCG550000
Certificate of Coverage NCG551233
Facility: 3512 Delmar Drive
Durham County
Dear Ms. Melvin:
On August 1, 2022, Stephanie Goss from the Raleigh Regional Office visited your single-family
residence (SFR) wastewater treatment system to evaluate compliance with the subject General
NPDES Permit. Your assistance during the inspection was greatly appreciated.
Our records indicate the treatment system consists of a septic tank, sub-surface sand filter, tablet
chlorinator with chlorine contact chamber and discharge pipe.
General NPDES Permit NCG550000 and Certificate of Coverage (COC) NCG551233 authorize
the discharge of domestic wastewater from your treatment system to receiving waters designated
as an unnamed tributary to Little Lick Creek classified a WS-IV, Nutrient Sensitive Waters
(NSW) in the Neuse River Basin. The authorized discharge is in accordance with the effluent
limits and monitoring requirements established within the General Permit. Findings during the
inspection were as follows:
1. Treatment system operation: The wastewater treatment system shall be maintained at all
times to prevent seepage of sewage to the surface of the ground.
2. Pumping the septic tank: You are required to inspect the septic tank at least yearly to
determine if solids must be removed or if other maintenance is necessary. Septic tanks should
be pumped out every five years or when the solids level is found to be more than 1/3 of the
liquid depth in the septic tank compartment, whichever is greater. A pumping company can
check the status periodically and determine when pumping is required. During the inspection,
you stated the septic tank was pumped out on July 2022. The General NPDES Permit requires
the permittee to retain records associated with sewage disposal activities for a period of at
least 5 years.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 79266385-8430-422A-847F-5785398CB4A4
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office 3800 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
919.791.4200
Page | 2
3. Chlorine tablets in the chlorinator: You are reminded that it is required that chlorine tablets
be maintained in the chlorinator to ensure proper disinfection of the discharged wastewater.
Chlorine tablets provide effective disinfection and prevent/limit harmful bacteria from
discharging to the environment. The product label for these tablets must indicate the tablets
are approved for wastewater use and not for swimming pools. Part 1, Section D (1) of
General NPDES Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to inspect the tablet chlorinator
weekly to ensure there is an adequate supply of tablets for continuous and proper operation.
Section D (4) requires the permittee to maintain all system components,
including...disinfection units...at all times and in good operating order. The inspector observed
chlorine tablets in the chlorinator. Please continue to ensure the correct type of tablets are
used and maintained in the chlorinator as required by the General NPDES Permit.
4. Analyzing the effluent: Part 1. C., Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements, within
General Permit NCG550000 requires a permittee to sample and analyze the effluent leaving
his/her treatment system prior to discharge annually. Parameters to be sampled and analyzed
include Flow, BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), Total Suspended Solids, Fecal Coliform,
Total Residual Chlorine, Total Nitrogen, Ammonia Nitrogen and Total Phosphorous. Within
30-days of receiving this letter, please let this office know if you have monitored your
effluent discharge within the last 12 months and provide this office with a copy of the lab
results if you have. If you have not monitored your effluent, then please collect a
representative sample of the effluent, have it analyzed by a certified commercial laboratory
and submit the results to this office no later than November 31, 2022. If, during this time,
you are unable to collect a representative sample of the effluent discharge due to insufficient
flow from the discharge pipe, then update this office with that information and continue to
monitor the discharge and if conditions for sampling become favorable, then arrange to
collect a sample. Failure to monitor the effluent discharge as required is a violation of
NPDES General Permit NCG550000.
5. Discharge outlet location. The permittee is required to conduct a visual review of the outfall
location at least twice each year (one at the time of sampling) to ensure that no visible solids
or other obvious evidence of system malfunctioning is observed. Any visible signs of a
malfunctioning system shall be documented, and steps taken to correct the problem. The
discharge pipe was not visible and accessible the day of the inspection. Please ensure the
outlet is always visible/maintained and cleared of vegetation, soil and leaves.
The wastewater treatment system should be periodically inspected to ensure the treatment
components are always maintained and in good operating order. You are also reminded to
maintain all monitoring data and associated maintenance records onsite for a minimum of
three years and available for inspection.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 79266385-8430-422A-847F-5785398CB4A4
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office 3800 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
919.791.4200
Page | 3
If you have questions or comments about this inspection or the requirements to take corrective
action (if applicable), then please contact via email at stephanie.goss@ncdenr.gov or 919-791-
4256.
Sincerely,
Vanessa E. Manuel Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Attachment(s): EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report
Cc: RRO/SWP Files
Laserfiche
DocuSign Envelope ID: 79266385-8430-422A-847F-5785398CB4A4
EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
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 NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type
1 N 52 NCG551233 22/08/02 C S31112171819 20
21 66
Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved-------------------
N67707172 73 74 75 80
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
POTW name and NPDES permit Number)
3512 Delmar Drive
3512 Delmar Dr
Durham NC 277039661
Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date
Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date
09:30AM 22/08/02 21/10/12
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Other Facility Data
09:45AM 22/08/02 25/10/31
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Ruth B Melvin,3512 Delmar Dr Durham NC 277039661//919-596-7744/Contacted
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Self-Monitoring Program Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Waters
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
(See attachment summary)
Name(s) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s)Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
Stephanie Goss DWR/RRO WQ/919-791-4200/
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
Page#1
8/4/2022
DocuSign Envelope ID: 79266385-8430-422A-847F-5785398CB4A4
NPDES yr/mo/day
22/08/02
Inspection Type
C3111218
1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
NCG551233 17
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 79266385-8430-422A-847F-5785398CB4A4
Permit:NCG551233
Inspection Date:08/02/2022
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
3512 Delmar Drive
Compliance Evaluation
Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE
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?
The effluent pipe was not visible.Comment:
Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE
Is composite sampling flow proportional?
Is sample collected below all treatment units?
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)?
Sampling has not been conducted.Comment:
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 79266385-8430-422A-847F-5785398CB4A4