HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0030139_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20201211
December 11, 2020
Renita Chapman
White Oak Manor
188 Oscar Justice Rd.
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report
White Oak Manor- Rutherfordton
NPDES WW Permit No. NC0030139
Rutherford County
Dear Permittee:
The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the White Oak Manor-
Rutherfordton on 12/02/2020. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in
compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0030139. The
findings and comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection
report entitled "Compliance Inspection Report".
There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this
inspection report is not required.
If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to me at 828-296-4686 or via email at
mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov.
Sincerely,
Mikal Willmer, Environmental Specialist II
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report
Ec: LF
Jacob Hodge, ORC
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0E530C3E-2DD5-4BEE-B8A4-128D31871F4E
EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
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 NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type
1 N 52 NC0030139 20/12/02 C S31112171819 20
21 66
Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved-------------------
N67707172 73 74 75 80
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
POTW name and NPDES permit Number)
White Oak Manor- Rutherfordton
188 Oscar Justice Rd
Rutherfordton NC 28139
Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date
Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date
11:40AM 20/12/02 18/08/01
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Jacob William Hodge/ORC/828-248-5217/
Other Facility Data
12:45PM 20/12/02 23/07/31
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
William David Cable,PO Box 1167 Banner Elk NC 286041167//828-898-6277/Contacted
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports
Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Waters
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
(See attachment summary)
Name(s) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s)Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
Lauren E Armeni DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/
Mikal Willmer DWR/Division of Water Quality/828-296-4686/
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
Page#1
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0E530C3E-2DD5-4BEE-B8A4-128D31871F4E
12/11/2020
12/11/2020
12/11/2020
NPDES yr/mo/day
20/12/02
Inspection Type
C3111218
1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
Mikal Willmer and Lauren Armeni, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a compliance
evaluation inspection of the White Oak Manor WWTP on December 2, 2020. This inspection was
conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with
NPDES Permit No. NC0030139. Jacob Hodge, ORC, was present and assisted in the inspection.
Facility consists of a settling tank, aerated EQ tank, aeration basin with diffused air, rectangular
clarifier, tablet chlorinator and dechlor and sludge holding tank.
Settling tank: ORC stated flow can gravity feed directly to the aeration basin and bypass the EQ basin if
needed.
Aeration Basin: Settleability was 60% after 15 minutes and 50% after 30 minutes. Color of activated
sludge appeared healthy and no excessive foam was noted. DO with the aerators on was
approximately 6 mg/L. ORC stated the blowers run continuously and are alternated as needed. ORC
did not report any issues meeting permit limits with the current aeration cycle. Recommend
performing additional process control analyses to determine optimal aeration cycle to prevent sheering
floc, inhibiting BOD and nutrient removal and to help reduce electrical demands.
Secondary Clarifier: The secondary clarifier did have some floating solids near the effluent weir but did
not appear to be leaving the facility. The ORC indicated he removes these from the clarifier manually.
ORC indicated he wastes regularly. Clarifier design description does not sound optimal. A funneled wall
was placed approximately 4’ down in the 8’ clarifier reducing/partially inhibiting even settling.
Recommend monitoring sludge retention time. Popups can occur due to solids retention time and/or
due to a potential design/mechanical issue. If this is constantly occurring after adjusting WAS/RAS and
aeration, the structure of the secondary clarifier may need to be assessed.
Effluent weir box: ORC reports this does not back up even when he decants from the sludge holding
tank. There were several spots rusted through on the weir box at the time of the inspection but have
since been patched & painted.
Dechlor is down the hill by the creek. No visible solids were noted in the effluent discharge at the time
of the inspection.
Sludge Holding Tank: The concrete sludge holding tank is pumped as needed. At the time of the
inspection, there was a minor leak at the concrete joint of the tank. The joint has since been patched
and the entire tank has been painted inside and out.
NC0030139 17 (Cont.)
Page#2
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0E530C3E-2DD5-4BEE-B8A4-128D31871F4E
Permit:NC0030139
Inspection Date:12/02/2020
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
White Oak Manor- Rutherfordton
Compliance Evaluation
Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE
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?
Recommend monitoring solids depth in clarifier and setteability in the aeration basin.Comment:
Permit Yes No NA NE
(If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new
application?
Is the facility as described in the permit?
# Are there any special conditions for the permit?
Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public?
Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection?
No special conditions within the permit. Facility is rated under 30,000 gallons of flow a day.Comment:
Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE
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:
Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE
# 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:
Bar Screens Yes No NA NE
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?
Page#3
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0E530C3E-2DD5-4BEE-B8A4-128D31871F4E
Permit:NC0030139
Inspection Date:12/02/2020
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
White Oak Manor- Rutherfordton
Compliance Evaluation
Bar Screens Yes No NA NE
Is the unit in good condition?
Facility has a settling chamber before flow enters the EQ basin.Comment:
Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE
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?
Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately ¼ of the sidewall depth)
A couple of pop ups were noted in the secondary clarifier. See summary for details.Comment:
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/l)
DO was 6 mg/L with blowers on. Several of the diffusers were recently replaced. Two
blower motors onsite. ORC manually alternates the blowers. They currently run 24/7. See
summary for additional details.
Comment:
Standby Power Yes No NA NE
Is automatically activated standby power available?
Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source?
Page#4
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0E530C3E-2DD5-4BEE-B8A4-128D31871F4E
Permit:NC0030139
Inspection Date:12/02/2020
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
White Oak Manor- Rutherfordton
Compliance Evaluation
Standby Power Yes No NA NE
Is the generator tested under load?
Was generator tested & operational during the inspection?
Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site?
Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power?
Is the generator fuel level monitored?
White Oak Manor's generator also runs the WWTP. White Oak Manor maintenance staff
service and maintain the generator.
Comment:
Pumps-RAS-WAS Yes No NA NE
Are pumps in place?
Are pumps operational?
Are there adequate spare parts and supplies on site?
No area within the confines of the WWTP to store spare parts. ORC reports he has not had
issues requesting and obtaining supplies for repairs as needed.
Comment:
De-chlorination Yes No NA NE
Type of system ?Tablet
Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)?
Is storage appropriate for cylinders?
# Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers?
Comment:
Are the tablets the proper size and type?
Are tablet de-chlorinators operational?
Number of tubes in use?3
Comment:
Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE
Are tablet chlorinators operational?
Are the tablets the proper size and type?
Number of tubes in use?3
Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable?
Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup?
Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination?
Page#5
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0E530C3E-2DD5-4BEE-B8A4-128D31871F4E
Permit:NC0030139
Inspection Date:12/02/2020
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
White Oak Manor- Rutherfordton
Compliance Evaluation
Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE
Fecal numbers reported on DMRs indicate the level of chlorine is adequately disinfecting the
effluent.
Comment:
Page#6
DocuSign Envelope ID: 0E530C3E-2DD5-4BEE-B8A4-128D31871F4E
Certificate Of Completion
Envelope Id: 0E530C3E2DD54BEEB8A4128D31871F4E Status: Completed
Subject: Please DocuSign: NC0030139_CEI.ltr 12-11.docx, NC0030139_CEI_12-11.pdf
Source Envelope:
Document Pages: 7 Signatures: 4 Envelope Originator:
Certificate Pages: 2 Initials: 0 Mikal Willmer
AutoNav: Enabled
EnvelopeId Stamping: Enabled
Time Zone: (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
217 W. Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27699
Mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov
IP Address: 149.168.204.10
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Dec 11, 2020 | 09:51
Holder: Mikal Willmer
Mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov
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Mikal Willmer
mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov
Environmental Specialist
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
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Lauren Armeni
lauren.armeni@ncdenr.gov
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
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Daniel Boss
daniel.boss@ncdenr.gov
Environmental Specialist
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
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