NC0021211_Permit Modification_20030131

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross, Jr., Secretary
Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
W. Victor R. Quick
City of Graham
Post Office Drawer 357
Graham. North Carolina 27253
Dear Mr. Quick:
NCDE11 JR
January 31, 2003
Subject: Permit Modification issuance
City of Graham WWfP
NPDES Permit No. NC0021211
Alamance County
Enclosed please find the modified permit. This permit modification is issued pursuant to the
requirements of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1 and the Memorandum of Agreement between
North Carolina and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency dated December 6, 1983.
Please note that the ammonia data showed reasonable potential to exceed the weekly average level.
Based upon the agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Division of Water
Quality. the Division is required to implement the ammonia limit. This requirement is based on Federal
Code 40 CFR 122.45(d).
If any parts, measurement frequencies or sampling requirements contained in this permit modification
are unacceptable to you, you have the right to an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within thirty
(30) days following receipt of this letter. This request must be in the form of a written petition.
conforming to Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General Statutes. and filed with the Office of
Administrative Hearings (6714 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-6714). Unless such
demand is made, this decision shall be final and binding.
Please take notice that this permit is not transferable. Part 11, E.4. addresses the requirements to be
followed in case of change in ownership or control of this discharge. This permit does not affect the legal
requirement to obtain other permits which may be required by the Division of Water Quality or permits
required by the Division of Land Resources, Coastal Area Management Act or any other Federal or Local
government permit that may be required.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this permit modification. please do not
hesitate to contact Christie Jackson at [phone], extension 538.
Sincerely.
Alan W. Klimek. P.E.
cc: Central Files
NPDES Unit Files
Mooresville Regional Office
EPA Region IV
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled / 10% post -consumer paper

Permit NCO021211
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
In compliance with the provision of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1, other lawful standards and regulations
promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission, and the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act, as amended, the
City of Graham
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Graham WWI"P
Gilbreath Road north of Swepsonville
Alamance County
to receiving waters designated as the Haw River in the Cape Fear River Basin in accordance with
effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III and IV
hereof.
This permit shall become effective March 1, 2003.
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on May 31, 2006.
Signed this day January 31, 2003.
Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission

Permit NC0021211
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
The City of Graham is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate an existing 3.5 MGD wastewater treatment facility
consisting of the following components:
➢ Mechanical bar screen
➢ Grit chambers
➢ Primary settling
➢ Extended aeration basin
➢ Final clarifiers
➢ Aerobic digesters
➢ Chlorination
➢ Sand filters
➢ Post aeration
➢ Lime stabilization unit
➢ Sludge storage
This facility is located at the Graham Wastewater Treatment Plant on
Gilbreath Road north of Swepsonville in Alamance County.
2. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached
map into the Haw River, classified C-NSW waters in the Cape Fear River
Basin.

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Permit NCO021211
A. (1) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS - FINAL
During the period on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration, the
Permittee is authorized to discharge from outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and
monitored by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT
CHARACTERISTICS
LIMITS,.
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Weekly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
T e
Sample Location1
Flow
3.5 MGD
Continuous
Recording
Influent or Effluent
BOD, 5 day, 20°C
(April 1 through October 31 2
12.0 mg/L
18.0 mg/L
Daily
Composite
Influent and Effluent
BOD, 5 day, 200C
November 1 through March 31 2
24.0 mg/L
36.0 mg/L
Daily
Composite
Influent and Effluent
Total Suspended Solids 2
30.0 mg/L
45.0 mg/L
Daily
Composite
Influent and Effluent
NH3 as N
(April 1 through October 31
4.0 mg/L
12.0 mg/L
Daily
Composite
Effluent
NH3 as N
November 1 through March 31
8.0 mg/L
24.0 mg/L
Daily
Composite
Effluent
Dissolved Oxygen 3
Daily
Grab
Effluent,
Upstream & Downstream
pH 4
Daily
Grab
Effluent
Temperature
Daily
Grab
Effluent,
Upstream & Downstream
Fecal Coliform
eometdc mean
200 / 100 ml
400/100 ml
Daily
Grab
Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine
Daily
Grab
Effluent
Conductivity
Daily
Grab
Effluent
Total Nitrogen
NO2+NO3+TKN
Monthly
Composite
Effluent
Total Phosphorus 5
2.0 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
Total Mercury
2/month
Composite
Effluent
Total Copper
Monthly
Composite
Effluent
Total Zinc
Monthly
Composite
Effluent
Chronic Toxicity 6
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
Notes:
1 Upstream = at Highway 54. Downstream = at NCSR 2158. Stream samples shall be grab samples
collected three times per week during June, July, August and September and once per week during
the remaining months of the year. See section A . (2) for details regarding the provisional waiver of
instream monitoring requirements.
2 The monthly average effluent BOD5 and Total Suspended Residue concentrations shall not exceed
150/6 of the respective influent value (85% removal).
4 The daily average dissolved oxygen effluent concentration shall not be less than 5.0 mg/L.
5 The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units.
6 Compliance shall be based upon a quarterly average of weekly samples.
7 Chronic Toxicity (Ceriodaphnico limit at 140/6 with testing in March, June, September and December
(see section A. (3)).
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

Permit NCO021211
SUPPLEMENT TO EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
A. (2) PROVISIONAL WAIVER OF INSTREAM MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Instream monitoring requirements in this NPDES permit shall be provisionally waived so long as the
Permittee remains a member of the Upper Cape Fear River Basin Association and the Association continues
to function as approved by the Division and Environmental Management Commission. If the Permittee does
not participate in the Association or if the Association ceases to function, the instream monitoring
requirements in this permit become effective immediately; and the Division may reopen this permit by
administrative letter to establish additional instream monitoring requirements it deems necessary to
adequately characterize the effects of the discharges on water quality in the receiving stream.
A. (3) CHRONIC TOXICITY PERMIT LIMIT (Quarterly)
The effluent discharge shall at no time exhibit observable inhibition of reproduction or significant mortality
to Ceriodaphnia dubia at an effluent concentration of 14 %.
The permit holder shall perform at a minimum, quarterly monitoring using test procedures outlined in the
"North Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure," Revised February 1998, or subsequent
versions or "North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test Procedure" (Revised -February
1998) or subsequent versions. The tests will be performed during the months of March, June, September
and December. Effluent sampling for this testing shall be performed at the NPDES permitted final effluent
discharge below all treatment processes.
If the test procedure performed as the first test of any single quarter results in a failure or ChV below the
permit limit, then multiple -concentration testing shall be performed at a minimum, in each of the two
following months as described in "North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test
Procedure" (Revised -February 1998) or subsequent versions.
The chronic value for multiple concentration tests will be determined using the geometric mean of the
highest concentration having no detectable impairment of reproduction or survival and the lowest
concentration that does have a detectable impairment of reproduction or survival. The definition of
"detectable impairment," collection methods, exposure regimes, and further statistical methods are specified
in the "North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test Procedure" (Revised -February 1998)
or subsequent versions.
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered on the Effluent Discharge
Monitoring Form (MR-1) for the months in which tests were performed, using the parameter code TGP3B
for the pass/fail results and THP3B for the Chronic Value. Additionally, DWQ Form AT-3 (original) is to be
sent to the following address:
Attention: NC DENR / DWQ / Environmental Sciences Branch
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1621
Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Environmental Sciences Branch no later than
30 days after the end of the reporting period for which the report is made.
Test data shall be complete, accurate, include all supporting chemical/physical measurements and all
concentration/response data, and be certified by laboratory supervisor and ORC or approved designate
signature. Total residual chlorine of the effluent toxicity sample must be measured and reported if chlorine is
employed for disinfection of the waste stream.
(continued on next page)

Permit NCO021211
A. (3) - CHRONIC TOXICITY PERMIT LIMIT (Quarterly)
(continued)
Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which toxicity monitoring is
required, the permittee will complete the information located at the top of the aquatic toxicity (AT) test form
indicating the facility name, permit number, pipe number, county, and the month/year of the report with the
notation of "No Flow' in the comment area of the form. The report shall be submitted to the Environmental
Sciences Branch at the address cited above.
Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required, monitoring will
be required during the following month.
Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the North Carolina Division of
Water Quality indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream, this permit may be re -opened and modified
to include alternate monitoring requirements or limits.
NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as minimum control
organism survival, minimum control organism reproduction, and appropriate environmental controls, shall
constitute an invalid test and will require immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later than the last
day of the month following the month of the initial monitoring.

Public
Notice
State Of
North Carolina
Environmental
Management
Inlit
1 Mail Se v ceECeat_
Raleigh, NC 17an Of699-1617
Noti .sue a NPDES t to
Wastewater Permit
On the basis of thorough
_...a .review and application
et NC lalle", -
143.21. Public law 92.50D
and other lawful standards
'. and -regulations, the North
Carolina Environmental
Management Commission i
proposes to issue a Nation- li
of Pollutant Discharge stem
Elimination
(NPDES)
to the per-
son(s)
r dis-
e
listed below ettec-
ne 45 days from the h da a of pub
this notice.
fis
ncommentsWritten
g the proposed Permit will
be accepted until 30 days
after the publish date of this
notice. All comments re-
consideredin the final de-
terminations regarding the
proposed permit. The Di-
rector of, h the NGDiviaide
at
Water Duality Y
to hold a public meeting for
the proposed permit should
The Division receive a sig-
nificant degree of public tm
terest.
' Copies of the draft permit
and other supporting infor-
mation on file used to de,
foramina conditions present
in the draft permit are
available upon request and
payment of the costs of re-
production. Mail comments
an at requests for mfor-
matlon to the NC Division
abo Water
taddressa
eor If Ms.
Valery Stephest
733.5083, extension
Please include the NPDES
permit number (attached)
in any communlcation.In-
terested persons may
lso
visit the Division of Water
Quality at 512 N. Sails
St., RaleigM1,
p78p4.if48 between the
hour Of
a an
5:00 to revewmferma-
lion on file.
NPDES Permit
iINC0021211 1204 East
Graham WWTP,
Gilbreath Streat, Graham,
NG 27253 has applied for a
mocifficatlon for a facility to.
cared in Alamance County
discharging treated
wastewater
the River
Cape Fear River e
n
,in. Currently BOD5.1,11-43,
cel-
dissolved oxygen, tecid
ilorm, cyanide and total
phosphorus are water qual-
I Imay limited.
Offset This
tii discharge
lions in this portion of the
receiving stream.
NPDES Permit
4NCO023876 71
South24
side WWTP,
Boy. Wood Road, Burling -
join' NC 27215 has 3PPlied
for: a modilicat»n for a fa-
cflity located m Alamance
County discharging treated
wastewater into Big.
Alamance Creek in the
Cape Fear River Basin.
cna
Currently BOD,
horus
andnitrocyanide asprewater
quality limited. This dis-
charge may affect tutdre at -
locations in this portion of
the receiving stream.
November 6, 2002~
0

7 fIDAVIT OF INSERTION OF ADVERTISTNHNT
The Times -News Publishing Company
Burlington, NC
Alamance County
I, LINDA GIBSON Legal Advertising Manager of the The Times -News Publishing
Co., do certify that the advertisement of NCDENR/DWQ/Budget Office
entitled Public Notice Of
North Carolina
Alamance County, Burlington, NC, in issues of November News; anewspaper -published in
Measuring" 113 LINES eared in The Times
�,� gt 6, 2002"
Legal Advertising Manager
Sworn to and subscribed before me this `p day of 72002
Notary Public
My commission expires �� 2�3
Lh-►: �) AEI �0 W)

CElity of ( a4am
P.O. Drawer 357
201 South Main Street
Graham, North Carolina 27253 _ 9 2002
Tel: [phone] / Fax: [phone] DEC
December 4, 2002
Ms. Christie R. Jackson
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit Modification
Permit NCO021211
Dear Ms. Jackson,
The City of Graham has reviewed the above referenced NPDES draft permit and
would like to make the following comments:
1. Weekly Average Limit for Ammonia. In the last three years of plant data, we
would have failed to meet the proposed weekly limit only one time. However,
several times we were close. As an extended aeration facility, our experience
with nitrogen removal has shown that we are totally dependent on our volume
of nitrifying bacteria. When, we have lost this bacteria- it takes several weeks
to re -grow them before permit compliance can be achieved. For this reason,
we desire not to have this weekly limit included in our permit.
2. Part III, Other Reauirements. Our draft permit package failed to include
'Other Requirements,' pretreatment program section. Thru conversations
with you, the City understands that no change will be made to this section.
Please inform us if there are any changes.
The City of Graham thanks you for the opportunity to comment on this draft
permit. Please contact us at 336.570.6721 if you have any questions or need additional
information.
Sincerely,
644 /,-) a-�/,
Victor R. Quick
City of Graham
Superintendant of Plants

RE: NC0021211 - Draft
Subject: RE: NCO021211 - Draft
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2002 14:23:08 -0500
From: "david lawson" <[e-mail]>
To: "Christie Jackson" <[e-mail]>
Hi Christie, just got around to reading your e-mail; fax might be better (at
least faster!). My fax number is 336.513.5502 at the plant or 336.570.6703
at City Hall.
Thanks!
David Lawson
-----Original Message -----
From: Christie Jackson [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2002 12:58 PM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: NCO021211 - Draft
Hi David -
I'm sorry for the slow response to your question about the pretreatment
language in parts 3 & 4 of this draft. It seems that I CAN'T e-mail
these pages to you. For whatever reason, they are not available
electronically at this time. I can, however, fax them or mail them to
you. Please let me know what you prefer, and give me your fax number or
correct mailing address. I will get them out ASAP. Again, I'm sorry
for the delay. Thanks for your cooperation with this.
Christie.
1 of 1 12/2/02 9:48 AN

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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
w
REGION 4
o Q
ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER
a; a
1+114
61 FORSYTH STREET
4
PRO,
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8960
November 26, 2002
Ms. Christie Jackson
NPDES Unit
Division of Water Quality
North Carolina Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
SUBJ: Review of NPDES Permit Modifications
Weekly Average Ammonia Limits
Dear Ms. Jackson:
In accordance with the EPA/NCDENR MOA, we have completed our review of the draft
permit modifications to include weekly average ammonia limits. The permits that were reviewed
and have no comment are listed below.
Facilitv
City of Gastonia WWTP
City of Graham WWTP
City of Fayetteville/Cross Creek WWTP
City of High Point/East Side WWTP
OWASA/Mason Farm WWTP
City of Asheboro WWTP
Town of Siler City WWTP
Johnston County Regional WWTP
City of Hickory/Henry Fork WWTP
City of Dunn/Black River WWTP
Town of Robbins WWTP
Town of Holly Springs WWTP
NPDES Permit No
NCO020184
-NC0021211`
NCO023957
NCO024210
NCO025241
NCO026123
NCO026441
NCO030716
NCO040797
NCO043176
NCO062855
NCO063096
Two draft permit modifications, Fuquay-Varina/Kenneth Creek WWTP (NC0028118) and
the City of Burlington/South Burlington WWTP (NC0023876) are not correct. The Fuquay-
Varina draft modification does not have the weekly average limit for the summer months in the
table and the Burlington draft modification does not have the summer and winter weekly average
limits in the table. This no comment letter is conditional for these two permits until the
appropriate corrections are made.
Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epa.gov
Recycled/Recyclable •Prinled with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% Poslconsumer)

We request that we be afforded an additional review opportunity only if significant
changes are made to the draft permit modification prior to issuance, or if additional significant
comments to this modification are received. Otherwise, please send us one copy of the final
permit modification when issued. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at
[phone] or at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
Mado n S. Dominy
NPDES & Biosolids Section
Permits, Grants and Technical Assistance Branch
Water Management Division

J0212J 1 - Draft
Subject: NC0021211 - Draft
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 12:57:39 -0500
From: Christie Jackson <christie.j ackson@ncmail. net>
Organization: NC DENR DWQ
To: [e-mail]
Hi David -
I'm sorry for the slow response to your question about the pretreatment
language in parts 3 & 4 of this draft. It seems that I CAN'T e-mail
these pages to you. For whatever reason, they are not available
electronically at this time. I can, however, fax them or mail them to
you. Please let me know what you prefer, and give me your fax number or
correct mailing address. I will get them out ASAP. Again, I'm sorry
for the delay. Thanks for your cooperation with this.
Christie.
1 of 1 11 /20/02 12:57 PN

City of Graham
&00 2( ZC
Subject: City of Graham
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 16:17:48 -0500
From: Jackie Nowell <[e-mail]>
Organization: NC DENR DWQ
To: Christie Jackson <[e-mail]>
Christie,
David Lawson of Graham called and he had questions about the draft
permit sent to him on the new NH3 limit. He indicated that there was
one pink sheet in the permit that had Parts 3 & 4 on it and he was
confused about the requirement on it. I could not really figure out
what he was talking about. His number is 336-570-6721, he just wants
some clarification.
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draft permit modification reviews
Subject: draft permit modification reviews
Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 10:55:48 -0500
From: John Giorgino <[e-mail]>
To: Christie Jackson <[e-mail]>
CC: Matt Matthews <[e-mail]>,
Kevin Bowden <[e-mail]>
M Christie,
Thank you for sending our unit the following draft permit modifications
for our review:
0020184
0024210
0023957
0021211
0026123
0063096
0025241
0028118
0040797
0062855
0023876
0026441
0030716
Concerning NCO026441: I noticed sections A(2) and A(3) were not attached
to the document.
Concerning NCO030716: IWC's are not calculated consistently with
permitted flows. I believe the problem lies with the 7Q 10. Our data
base has it listed at 184 and the permit has it at 170. Can you review
the calculations and forward the correct 7Q 10 for our records?
I have no comments with the other facilities at this time. Thanks for
allowing us to participate in the review process.
Best Regards,
John
John Giorgino
Aquatic Toxicology Unit
Office: 919 733-2136
Fax: [phone]
1 of 11/14/022:19 PN