WQCS00003_NOI_NOV2021DV0411_Response_20211015

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nn Salem /Forsyth County
N"tor •Wastewater • Sdid Waste
Administration, P.O. Box 2511, Winston-Salem, NC 27102
O: 336-727-8000, F: 336-727-8432, wsfcutilities.org
October 15, 2021
Lon T. Snider, Regional Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources
450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
Re: Sanitary Sewer Overflow Civil Penalties Incident #202101637
Dear Mr. Snider:
NC Department of
Environmental Quality
Received
OCT 18 2021
Winston-Salem
Regional Office
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 July 26, 2021 sanitary sewer overflow
(SSO), Incident #202101637, located at 2350 Cragmore Road in Winston-Salem. The incident
was a result of excessive roots in the line.
On July 26, 2021 at 4:40pm, an SSO occurred in the outfall on Cragmore Court, near 2350
Cragmore Road. Our first responders quickly determined that roots were blocking the flow and
washed the lines to remove the obstruction. Normal flow resumed within six hours.
The crew ran a hose across the creek to clear the lines completely and used potable water from
the jet -vac truck to dilute the creek. A diffuser was also deployed for eight hours and the spill
area was cleaned following standard protocol. Upstream and downstream mains were cleaned
and inspected by CCTV with no visual defects observed. This pipe segment has been added to
our existing chemical root contract and it has been updated to a 24-month frequency on our
pipe -cleaning schedule.
WSFC Utilities continues to make progress in minimizing SSOs and has the proper programs in
place to continue our high level of performance. Our comprehensive sanitary sewer evaluation
study has provided strategic cleaning and examination of our system to identify areas with the
CRy Council: May, Allen Jolrw; None D. Adams, Mayor Pro Tampere, North Wand; Barbara Hanes Burke, Northeast Ward; Arbon C Clark, West Ward;
John C. Larson, South Ward; Jeff Marlmosh, Northwest Ward; Kevin Mundy, Southwest Ward; Annette Salppk, East Ward; James Taykr, Jr, Southeast Ward;
City Manages lee 0. Gamty,
Courdy Commkikrwrs: David R. Plyler, Chair; Don Mason, Vice Chair; Fleming El -Amin; Ted Kaplan; Rkhard V. Lounge, Ton, a MtDumasl; Glerle D. Whisenhunt;
Call 311or336727-8000 cm,nt,Manager :Dudley Wants, J,
WNsfon-Salem/FerryM Caumy UtlM Comilaskn: Randall S. Tuole, Chair; L Waley Curtis, Jr., Vice Chair; Harold E. Day; Tom Griffin; Yvome H. Hayes;
[e-mail] cityofws.org Duane Lone; Hugh W.Jernigan; Chris Parker, Charles Wilson; Allen Younger

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greatest need for repair and replacement.
While we are required to clean 10% of the system each year, in FY 2020-2021, WSFC Utilities
cleaned more than 330 miles. This is 19% of the 1,783-mile gravity wastewater collection
system and 228 of those miles (69%) were proactively cleaned by in-house and contracted
crews. Our ongoing internal goal is to clean at least 20% of the entire gravity collection system,
with more frequent cleaning systematically scheduled for areas with higher incident levels.
I hope this information,is helpful with your investigation of Incident #202101637. If you require
additional information, please contact me at 336-747-7315.
Sincerely,
COm+�Vt
Courtney Driver, P.E.
Utilities Director
cc: Michael Stover, P.E., Assistant Utilities Director -Operations
Kenny Atkins, Utilities Field Operations Manager
Antonio Martinez, ORC
File

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