WQ0004268_Wastewater Spill_20100219

February 19, 2010
Mr. Joel Shields
North Carolina DENR
E-mail: [e-mail]\
RE: Aliens, Inc. — Turkey
Wastewater Pipeline Break and Spill on February 15, 2010
Dear Mr. Shields:
As reported via a telephone call to you on the day that it occurred, Aliens, Inc: (Allens)
experienced a pipeline break within the new irrigation system (Rowan Road) that caused a spill
of wastewater on Monday, February 15, 2010. The purpose of this letter is to provide additional
details regarding the issue, forward photographs of the area, and describe the actions that have
been taken to repair the system and reduce the potential for reoccurrence.
At approximately 8:00 am on Monday, Aliens' wastewater operator, Reid Wells began the
pumps at the wastewater to pressurize the line. Totniny 'Langston was at the Rowan Road site at
the time. After about 15 minutes, there was still no water coming from the sprinkler heads. Reid
Wells drove the pipeline route to check for any problems along the route and did not see
anything. Tommy Langston and Reid Wells went back to the lagoon pumps to check at that end
and could not see any problems. At that point, they went back to the Rowan Road site and began
walking the line and found a separated joint in the irrigation header near the constructed drainage
ditch. Tommy Langston went back to the lagoon pumps immediately to shut them down. Reid
Wells shut the valves on both sides of the separated joint to isolate the break. The pumps were
stopped at about 9:00 am.
Because of the location of the joint separation,,wastewater was going directly into the drainage
ditch. After flowing through the ditch, the wastewater dispersed into the woods. The stream
(Six Runs Creek) was checked and Aliens staff could not see any evidence that the wastewater
made it to the: stream. There was fairly high flow rate in the Six Runs Creek at the time. The
wastewater meter measured approximately 58,000 gallons from when the pump was started at
8:00 am, but some of this wastewater was contained in the pipeline with the shutting of the
valves and the stopping of the pump.
Allens, Inc. I PO Box 250 305 E. Main Street I Siloam Springs, AR 72761

As you are aware, the approval to operate the RoWan Road site was provided by NCDENR last
week. Some irrigation was done on Friday, February 12th and there were some minor issues with
valves and lines that were scheduled for repair this week. The main lines and laterals in the
irrigation system had been tested also during the pipeline pressure test.
TA Loving was contacted to make repairs and some modifications to the system in vicinity of the
joint separation. The repairs have been made already, however, to further stabilize this joint
going forward, some additional changes will be made. The location of the joint will be moved
approximately 18 feet away from the drainage channel and the 45 degree turn will be changed to
two 22 degree turns. This work is expected to begin next week.
Several photographs, taken by Reid Wells on Monday, are attached showing the separated joint,
drainage ditch, and woods where the wastewater discharged too.
If you have any questions about this issue, please contact Reid. Wells or the undersigned at (479)
228-0102.
Sincerely,
Aliens, Inc.
4 Neediade
Laura J. Mushinski, CHMM
Director — Environmental Quality
cc: Jim Barber, NCDENR Jim.Barber(a�ncmail.net
Reid Wells, Allens — Turkey
Tommy Langston, -Aliens — Turkey
Martin Griess, Aliens — Turkey
Neelakandan Sathiyakumar, Allens
Allens, Inc. I PO Box 250 305 E. Main Street I Siloam Springs, AR 72761

Allens, Inc.
'PO Box 250 305 E. Main Street 1 Siloam Springs, AR 72761

Aliens, Inc. I PO Box 250 I 305 E. Main Street I Siloam Springs, AR 72761

Aliens, Inc. PO Box 250 305 E. Main Street Siloam Springs, AR 72761

Aliens, Inc. I PO Box 250 I 305 E. Main Street 1 Siloam Springs, AR 72161

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Allens, Inc. I PO Box 250 I 305
E. Main Street I Siloam Springs, AR 72761

Allens, Inc. I PO Box 250. 305 E. Main Street 1 Siloam Springs, AR 72761