NC0089052_Response to Notice_20230719

July 19, 2023
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office
450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
336-776-9800
Subject: Notice of Violation & Intent to Assess Civil Penalty
NOV Tracking#: NOV-2023-LV-0473
Zooland Family Campground WWTP
NPDES Permit #: NC0089052
3671 Pisgah Covered Bridge Road
Asheboro, NC 27205
Randolph County
Rojeana McDonald, ORC
Grade 4 = 27833
Subsurface = 1004645
Laboratory Analyst Class 1
Dear Jessie Barnes,
April 2023 DMR revealed Violations:
PERMIT VIOLATIONS:
1. 001 Effluent: BOD (CO310) 4/13/2023 (Limit Value: 7.5 mg/L Daily Max)
Reported Value: 4/13/2023 = 31.6 mg/L
2. 001 Effluent: Total Suspended Solids (CO530) 4/13/2023 (Limit Value: 45 mg/L Daily Max)
Reported Value: 4/13/2023 = 72.5 mg/L
3. 001 Effluent: BOD (CO310) 4/30/2023 (Monthly Ave: 5.0 mg/L)
Reported Ave. Value: 4/30/2023 = 11.08 mg/L)

Permit Changes: (April 1— October 31)
Easter Week was 4/6/2023 through 4/15/2023
Campers starting coming in to campground on 4/6/2023 (Thursday) for the Easter week Holiday and
the campground was completely full for Easter week and most all campers stayed till 4/11/2023; which
was an extra day of full capacity to the system. The Effluent flow increased significantly from 4/7/2023
(Friday) through 4/11/2023 (Tuesday). The daily flow for 4/8/2023 was 0.0081 MGD which exceeded
0.006 MGD (Monthly Average only). The Temperature of the aeration basin and throughout the plant
was only up to (19.0 C- 20.0 C) and with the higher daily extra flows caused less detention time to treat
the wastewater effectively before the sampling event on 4/13/2023. Several Campers stayed and new
ones arrived during the week of 4/6/2023 and 4/15/2023.
Therefore; Permit Change and Easter falling in the first week of April had a significant relevance on
the Violations. Low water Temperatures, Higher Flows and less detention time played a major role in
the higher numbers for BOD and TSS. I could have had the septic tanks pumped before the easter week
but the soundings in the septic tanks were (3"in first tank) and (6"in the second tank), not a lot in those
tanks.
The next sampling week (4/20/2023), the BOD and Total Suspended Solids dropped under all
permitted numbers, even though the temperature of the wastewater had not risen at all, but the
number of campers dropped significantly.
As for the Monthly Average BOD Exceedance: 4/30/2023
I had three sampling events in April that produced BOD numbers and one sampling event that was
(<2.0 mg/Q. All four sampling events averaged out to the 11.05 mg/L.
In Conclusion: Remedial actions have been taken with the increase in Temperature throughout the
system, due to increase in outside temperatures, (spring and summer coming on). There were no
bypasses or failure of equipment, just no temperature increases that would start the activated sludge
working effectively and too little detention time for the Holiday. The new owners were also aware that
an extra EQ tank has been recommended for several years, but I know they are wanting to expand
eventually.
The Month of May has no violations or upsets even with a holiday at the end of May. I will from now on
call my regional office when I receive any violation after getting the required permitted sample results.
If you have any questions, please contact me at 336-905-1718 or [e-mail].
Thank you,
Rojeana H. McDonald / ORC NC0089052
3427 Katina Drive Thomasville, NC 27360

To Jessie Barnes,
This is to inform you that I had major surgery on 7/11/2023 and was in the hospital. My Back-up
(Raeford Haltom) worked for me during my time away from the plant. I just got to come home
7/19/2023. 1 will be back to work 7/19/2023 with help on any lifting. I did not receive the violation e-
mail till 7/10/2023 but was unable to do any work from the hospital and I do not know if Ryan Rivers
sent anything in to the regional office? I will check with him. I hope you will accept this response
postmarked 7/19/2023 and I will also send an e-mail to you.
Thank you for your understanding,
Rojeana McDonald