NC0088684_Renewal Application_20150304

NPDES PERMIT APPLICATION - SHORT FORM C - WTP
For discharges associated with water treatment plants
Mail the PP
complete application to:
P
N. C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality / NPDES Unit
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
NPDES Permit Number NC0088684
If you are completing this form in computer use the TAB key or the up - down arrows to move from one
field to the next. To check the boxes, click your mouse on top of the box. Otherwise,please print or type.
1. Contact Information:
Owner Name Daniel Jonathan Stowe Conservancy
Facility Name Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden RECEIVEDIDENRtDWR
Mailing Address 6500 South New Hope Road
MAS O4NRL
City Belmont Water Quality.
State / Zip Code NC 28012
Telephone Number [phone] Permitting Sectio'
Fax Number [phone]
e-mail Address [e-mail]
2. Location of facility producing discharge:
Check here if same as above IE
Street Address or State Road
City
State / Zip Code
County
3. Operator Information:
Name of the firm, consultant or other entity that operates the facility. (Note that this is not referring to the
Operator in Responsible Charge or ORC)
Name N/A
Mailing Address
City
State / Zip Code
Telephone Number ( )
Fax Number ( )
4. Ownership Status:
Federal 0 State 0 Private ® Public 0
Page 1 of 3 Version 5/2012

• NPDES PERMIT APPLICATION - SHORT FORM C - WTP
For discharges associated with water treatment plants
5. Type of treatment plant:
❑ Conventional (Includes coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation, usually followed by
filtration and disinfection)
❑ Ion Exchange (Sodium Cycle Cationic ion exchange)
❑ Green Sand Filter (No sodium recharge)
® Membrane Technology (RO, nanofiltration)
Check here if the treatment process also uses a water softener
6. Description of source water(s) (i.e. groundwater, surface water)
Well water
7. Describe the treatment process(es) for the raw water:
The raw water passes through a water softener and is then purified by a reverse osmosis system.
The purified water is used for irrigation and also supplies a high pressure misting system inside
a conservatory.
8. Describe the wastewater and the treatment process(es) for wastewater generated by the
facility:
The characteristics of the wastewater have been well-documented over the ten years in which the
existing NPDES discharge permit has been maintained in good standing. The wastewater is
ultimately delivered to a nearby creek via underground storm drainage.
9. Number of separate discharge points: 1
Outfall Identification number(s) 001
10. Frequency of discharge: Continuous 0 Intermittent
If intermittent:
Days per week discharge occurs: seven Duration: 4 hours
11. Plant design potable flowrate 0.00056 MGD
Backwash or reject flow 0.00029 MGD
12. Name of receiving stream(s) (Provide a map showing the exact location of each outfalls including
latitude and longitudes
UT Catawba Creek
13. Please list all water treatment additives, including cleaning chemicals or disinfection
treatments, that have the potential to be discharged.
Alum / aluminum sulfate Yes No X
Page 2 of 3 Version 5/2012

NPDES PERMIT APPLICATION - SHORT FORM C - WTP
For discharges associated with water treatment plants
Iron sulfate / ferrous sulfate Yes No X
Fluoride Yes No X
Ammonia nitrogen / Chloramines Yes No X
Zinc-orthophosphate or sweetwater CP1236 Yes No X
List any other additives below:
14. Is this facility located on Indian country? (check one)
Yes ❑ No El
15. Additional Information:
• Provide a schematic of flow through the facility, include flow volumes at all points in
the water treatment process. The plan should show the point[s] of addition for
chemicals and all discharges routed to an outfall [including stormwater].
• Solids Handling Plan
16. NEW Applicants
Information needed in addition to items 1-15:
• New applicants are highly encouraged to contact a permit coordinator with the
NCDENR Customer Service Center.
Was the Customer Service Center contacted? D Yes ® No
• Analyses of source water collected
• Engineering Alternative Analysis
• Discharges from Ion Exchange and Reverse Osmosis plants shall be evaluated using a
water quality model.
17. Applicant Certification
I certify that I am familiar with the information contained in the application and that to the
best of my knowledge and belief such information is true, complete, and accurate.
Pri' ed %e of Person Signing Title
f/il
�
App •- t Date
North aroliina Gen=r mute 143-215.6(b)(2)provides that Any person who knowingly makes any false statement representation,or certification in any application,
record,reps p.n,or other document files or required to be maintained under Article 21 or regulations of the Environmental Management Commission implementing that
Article,or who falsifies,tampers with,or knowingly renders Inaccurate any recording or monitoring device or method required to be operated or maintained under Article 21
or regulations of the Environmental Management Commission implementing that Article,shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed$25,000,or by
imprisonment not to exceed six months,or by both. (18 U.S.C.Section 1001 provides a punishment by a fine of not more than$25,000 or imprisonment not more than 5
years,or both,for a similar offense.)
Page 3 of 3 Version 5/2012

Permit NCO088684
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NPDES Permit NC0088684
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Schematic of Flow
RAW WATER SUPPLY WATER SOFTENER
3.8 GPM 3.8 GPM zzfr 51S,
400.
RO PRODUCT RO SYSTEM
2.5 GPM to SERVICE 3.8 GPM FEEDWATER
RO REJECT
1.3 GPM to STORM*
*RO Reject water flows through 'r500LF of storm drain before introduction to surface water at outfall.

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Botanical Garden
February 25, 2015
From: Peter Grimaldi
Director of Horticulture
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
6500 South New Hope Road
Belmont,NC 28012
To: N.C.Department of Environmental and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality/NPDES Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,NC 27699-1617
To whom it may concern:
Please accept the Garden's application to renew NPDES Permit No.NC0088684 via Short Form C—
WTP, attached hereto along with the necessary supporting documentation.
The reverse osmosis system at the Garden's Orchid Conservatory functions to purify the water supply for
hand irrigation and a high pressure fog system that maintains proper humidity in the greenhouse. Well
water supplies the purification system and wastewater is delivered to a nearby unnamed tributary of
Catawba Creek via underground storm drainage.
The Garden requests that two additional factors be considered in the permit review process including the
recent establishment of a significantly reduced flowrate as well as the Garden's proposal to reduce
monitoring frequencies while viable engineering alternatives are explored.
A new flowmeter was installed,calibrated and commissioned on May 16, 2014 with the approval of
NCDENR. The new flowmeter is installed directly off the RO system,whereas the original flowmeter
was installed further downstream in the storm drain at a point after other storm water is introduced into
the system. The average daily flow over the past eight months is 0.00029 MGD,whereas the existing
permit acknowledges 0.003552 MGD.The original flowmeter and historical flow data associated with the
permit in question capture an inflated flow volume that included water sources other than the RO reject
water. The reduced actual flow has motivated the Garden to explore engineering alternatives, most
especially the merits of a non-discharge permit to deliver wastewater to the ground surface via irrigation.

. • Engineering alternatives are desirable because the monitoring requirements established by the existing
NPDES permit present a financial burden to the Garden,which hereby proposes that measurement
frequencies across almost all parameters be considered for reduction.The Garden is bound to
environmental stewardship by its very mission and remains committed to maintaining its NPDES permit
in good standing,but wishes to identify cost-saving opportunities while engineering alternatives are
explored.The historical data has remained mostly static and wastewater characteristics present a
reasonably low potential to fluctuate and exceed environmental limitations. Reduced measurement
frequencies will make permit compliance more manageable for the Garden without undermining the
assurance that no environmental threat is created by the operation of the RO system.
Please consider the aforementioned scenarios along with our permit application and notify the Garden if
any additional information is required.
Sing- - ,
I� r ,
Pete 1 -
Director of Horticulture
2

NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Pat McCrory Donald R. van der Vaart
Governor Secretary
March 03, 2015
Peter Grimaldi,Dir. of Horticulture
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
6500 South New Hope Road
Belmont,NC 28012
Subject: Acknowledgement of Permit Renewal
Permit NC0088684
Gaston County
Dear Mr. Grimaldi:
The NPDES Unit received your permit renewal application on March 02, 2015. A member of the
NPDES Unit will review your application. They will contact you if additional information is required to
complete your permit renewal. You should expect to receive a draft permit approximately 30-45 days
before your existing permit expires.
If you have any additional questions concerning renewal of the subject permit, please contact Derek
Denard(919) 807-6307.
Sincerely,
W re h.Tftieolfo-rot'
Wren Thedford
Wastewater Branch
cc: Central Files
Mooresville Regional Office
NPDES Unit
1617 Mail Service Center,Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
,Location:512 N.Salisbury St Raleigh,North Carolina 27604 _
Phone:[phone]\Fax:[phone]/Customer Service:1-877-623-6748
Internet::www.ncwater.orq
An Equal OpportunityWfirmative Action Employer