WQCS00003_NOI_NOV2019DV0444_Response_#2_20191220

ton -Salem /Forsyth County
er •Wastewater • Solid Waste
Wastewater Division, 2799 Griffith Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
0: 336-727-8000, F: 336-659-4320, wsfcutilities.org e NC Department of
Environmental Quality
Received
a_
December 20, 2019 ,-" DEC 11211
_
Lon T. Snider, Regional Supervisory f
Winston-Salem
Lr.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Regional Office
.—..—..-..-
Division of Water Resources
450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
Re: Sanitary Sewer Overflow Civil Penalties Incident #201901604
This letter serves as the official response from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities (WSFC Utilities)
to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources Notice of
Intent to Enforce Civil Penalty for the September 26, 2019 sanitary sewer overflow (SSO), incident
#201901604, located behind 1604 Cranberry Hill Lane. The incident was a direct result of debris
(rags/wipes). WSFC Utilities continues to make progress in minimizing SSOs and has the proper
programs in place to continue our high level of performance.
On September 26, 2019 at approximately 2:30pm, WSFC Utilities was performing scheduled easement
maintenance when the crew discovered a manhole overflowing into Salem Creek. The easement crew
requested a jet truck to unstop the 12-inch sewer main. WSFC Utilities first responders were dispatched
to the spill at 2:33pm arriving at 2:50pm. The easement crew and first responders worked together and
were able to stop the spill at 5:15pm using a combination truck. Soil was turned and straw was
distributed throughout the area. A sewer jet was used to wash two sewer mains upstream of the
Blockage and two downstream sewer mains. A CCTV camera was used to verify that the pipe was clean
and clear of all debris.
WSFC Utilities staff attributes the sanitary sewer overflow on September 26, 2019 to heavy debris
(rags/wipes) in the pipe and believes it was from a nearby apartment complex. Grease and wipes
literature and promotional items were distributed to homes in the area. Increasing public outreach is
part of our new strategic plan and we will soon launch a "No Wipes in Pipes" campaign.
I hope this information is helpful with your investigation of Incident #201901604. If you require
additional information, please contact me at 336-747-7315.
S' cerely,
Courtney D ive , .E.
Utilities Director
RMNIMCary Council: Mayor Allen )oines; Vivian H. Burke, Mayor Pro Tempore, Northeast Ward; Denise D. Adams, North Ward; Dan Besse, Southwest Ward; RobertC. Clark,
West Ward; John C. Larson, South Ward; Jeff Macintosh, Northwest Ward; Annette Sclppio, east Ward; James Taylor,Jr., Southeast Ward; City Manager. Lee D. Garrity
County Commissioners: David R. Plyler, Chair, Don Martin, Vice Chair; Fleming El -Amin; Ted Kaplan; Richard V. Linville; Tonya McDaniel; Gloria D. Whisenhunt; County
Call 311 or 336-727-8000 Manager: Dudley Watts, Jr.
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utility Commission: Randall S. Tuttle, Chair, L Wesley Curtis, Jr., Vice Chair, Harold E. Day; Tom Griffin, Yvonne H. Hines; Duane Long;
[e-mail] Hugh W. Jernigan; Chas ParkerJames Ruffin; Donald R.Stoma, Allan Younger

cc:
Michael Stover, Assistant Utilities Director -Operations
Kenny Atkins, Utilities Field Operations Manager
Antonio Martinez, ORC
File