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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0070289_CEI issued as NOV-2022-PC-0443_20220825ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Director Certified Mail # 7018 3090 0001 2322 8833 Return Receipt Requested Verlene Hoffecker Stones Throw Homeowners Association PO Box 690725 Charlotte, NC 28227-7013 NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality August 22, 2022 SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION Tracking Number: NOV-2022-PC-0443 Permit No. NC0070289 Ridgewood Farms at Stones Throw WWTP Cabarrus County Ms. Hoffecker: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Ridgewood Farms at Stones Throw WWTP on August 9, 2022. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0070289. A summary of the findings and comments noted during the inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report. The Compliance Evaluation inspection was conducted by Division of Water Resources staff from the Mooresville Regional Office. The following violation(s) were noted during the inspection: Inspection Area Description of Violation Record Keeping Annual Reports not being done. Permit Permit Violation of Part I, Section A. (3) of permit. Compliance Issue(s): Please note that in accordance with House Bill 1160, the Clean Water Act of 1999, it is required that the owner or operator of any wastewater treatment works or wastewater collection systems that treats or collects primarily domestic or municipal waste must provide an annual report to its users or customers and to the Department of Environmental Quality that summarizes the treatment works or collection system's performance over a 12-month period. NORTH CAPOLINA North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Mooresville Regional Office 1610 East Center Avenue. Suite 301 I Mooresville. North Carolina 28115 704.663.1699 Please also note that in accordance with your NPDES Permit NC0070289, Part I, Section A. (3.) The Permittee shall have a North Carolina Licensed Professional Engineer evaluate the structural integrity and operational efficiency of this facility to ensure the integrity of the treatment system. The assessment's details and conclusions must be submitted to both the NC DEQ Mooresville Regional Office and the NPDES program no later than October 31, 2020. Remedial actions should have already been taken to correct this problem and prevent further occurrences in the future. The Division of Water Resources may pursue enforcement action for this and any additional violations of State law. To prevent further action, please respond in writing to this office within 30 days upon your receipt of this Notice of Violation regarding your plans or measures to be taken to address the indicated violations and other identified issues, if applicable. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Roberto Scheller with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Mooresville Regional Office at 704-663-1699 or at Roberto.Scheller@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, DocuSigned by: A4.•1.aw H ;P444. ' for �F161FB69A2D84A3... W. Corey Basinger, Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Mooresville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENT Cc: WQS Mooresville Regional Office - Enforcement File NPDES Compliance/Enforcement Unit - Enforcement Fille L DNORTH CAPOLINA _E North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Mooresville Regional Office 1610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301 I 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 21IIIIII L NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection 3 I NC0070289 111 121 22/08/09 117 Type 18 i i IIIIIIIIIII Inspector Fac Type 19 I S I 201 IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIII I IIIIII P6 Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA Reserved 671 I 70I2 I 711 1 72 I N I 731 I 74 71 I I I I I I I I 180 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Ridgewood Farms at Stones Throw WWTP Olde Creek Trl Concord NC 28025 Entry Time/Date 10:OOAM 22/08/09 Permit Effective Date 20/04/01 Exit Time/Date 12:03PM 22/08/09 Permit Expiration Date 23/11/30 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Braden Joshua Cook/ORC/704-788-4164/ Other Facility Data Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Verlene Hoffecker,PO Box 690725 Charlotte NC 282277013//704-607-3506/ 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 Roberto Scheller sbpll 9wedcitor(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date ib S.d. 11 _ 8/19/2022 ryIw �U�, DWR/MRO WQ/707-235-2204/ "-91 C2A007838943E... Signature of Ma Andrew Pit naeolifdkhReviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date r�s' H P * WR/MRO WQ/704-663-1699 Ext.2180/ 8/24/2022 F161F969A2p84A3, EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page# 1 31 NPDES yr/mo/day NC0070289 111 121 22/08/09 117 Inspection Type 18 [j (Cont.) 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) The current NPDES Permit NC0070289 was issued on April 1, 2020 and expires November 30, 2023. The subject WWTP is permitted as 0.050 MGD, Grade II biological wastewater treatment facility. Review period from July 2021 through June 2022 was reviewed for compliance with permit limits. During the 12-month review period the following violations were reported: 08-2021 - NOV-2021-LV-0761 12-2021 - NOV-2022-LV-0134/LV-2022-0094 03-2022 - NOV-2022-LV-0030 05-2022 - NOV-2022-LV-0540 06-2022 - NOV-2022-LV-0526 A letter of Unpaid Civil Penalty Assessments was issued from the Raleigh Office dated February 23, 2022, for unpaid civil penalties LV-2021-0232 for $365.76 and LV-2021-0196 for $215.76. A third outstanding civil penalty, not mentioned in the letter, LV-2022-0094 for $615.76 is also unpaid. * Annual Reports are not being submitted as required by House Bill 1160 and the Clean Water Act. * In accordance with Part I, Section A. (3) of NPDES Permit NC0070289, the permittee shall perform an Engineering Assessmant on the structural intergrity of the wastwater treatment plant no later than October 31, 2020. As of the date of this inspection no report has been received by the Mooresville Regional Office. Because of the two violations noted above (*) this inspection is being issued as a Notice of Violation of permit conditions. The bulkhead between aeration basin and digester has been replaced allowing operators to waste out excess solids from aeration basin. At time of inspection effluent was clear with few visible suspended solids. There was no foam or floating solids at point of discharge. Page# 2 Permit: NC0070289 Inspection Date: 08/09/2022 Owner - Facility: Ridgewood Farms at Stones Throw WWT Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new El El • ❑ application? Is the facility as described in the permit? • El El El # Are there any special conditions for the permit? • El El El Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? • El El El Comment: The current NPDES Permit NC0070289 was issued on April 1, 2020 and expires November 30, 2023. Conditions under Part I, Section A. (3) for the current permit have not been reported to the Mooresville Regional Office; therefore, this inspection is issued as a Notice of Violation. Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? • El ❑ ❑ 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 El ❑ • ❑ operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? • El ❑ ❑ 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? ❑ • ❑ ❑ Comment: Annual Reports not being done. Page# 3 Permit: NC0070289 Inspection Date: 08/09/2022 Owner - Facility: Ridgewood Farms at Stones Throw WWT Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Bar Screens 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: Yes No NA NE • • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext. Air Type of aeration system Diffused 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) ❑ ❑ ❑ • Comment: Air difusers in aeration basin appeared to have been repaired and operatingproperly. 30-minute settability test of MLSS settled out at 850 ml/L. Secondary Clarifier Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? 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? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ • ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ Page# 4 Permit: NC0070289 Inspection Date: 08/09/2022 Owner - Facility: Ridgewood Farms at Stones Throw WWT Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Secondary Clarifier Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately'/4 of the sidewall depth) Comment: At time of inspection pin flock was going over weir. Pumps-RAS-WAS Are pumps in place? Are pumps operational? Are there adequate spare parts and supplies on site? Comment: Treatment unit is equipped with RAS-WAS air lift pumps. 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: Bulkhead between aeration basin and sludge wasting tank has been replaced. Yes No NA NE Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ Disinfection -Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are the tablets the proper size and type? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Number of tubes in use? 2 Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? ❑ ❑ El • Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? • El El El Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination? • El El El Comment: De -chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system ? Tablet Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? • El El El 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? 2 Page# 5 Permit: NC0070289 Inspection Date: 08/09/2022 Owner - Facility: Ridgewood Farms at Stones Throw WWT Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation De -chlorination Yes No NA NE Comment: 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: Flow Measurement - Effluent # 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? 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? Comment: Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE • ❑ • ❑ Page# 6