NC0057720_Hidden_Lakes_Follow_Up_CEI_Letter_NOI_NOV2023PC0069_20230720

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
July 20, 2023
CERTIFIED MAIL # 7020 3160 0002 0860 6344
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Jones Estate Hidden Lakes, LLC
Attn: Kellen Buss, Director of Site Infrastructure
2310 Miami Blvd, Suite 238
Durham, NC 27703
Subject: NOTICE OF CONTINUING & ADDITIONAL VIOLATIONS and
RECOMMENDATION FOR ENFORCEMENT
NOV Tracking #: NOV-2023-PC-0069
Hidden Lakes Village Mobile Home Park WWTP
NPDES Permit #: NCO057720
Stokes County
Dear Mr. Buss:
On January 19, 2023, Division of Water Resources/Winston-Salem Regional Office (NCDWR/WSRO) staff
inspected the Hidden Lakes Village Mobile Home Park Wastewater Treatment Plant. This inspection
resulted in several violations as detailed in the table below:
PERMIT
VIOLATIONS:
1.
There is currently no bar screen installed or operational in the treatment system. Multiple system
components (including diffusers, blowers, chlorinator, and dechlorinator) are either not present or
insufficient. There is an uncontained leak in the pipe going from the post -chlorination tank to the
meter well. This is in violation of the subject permit condition Part 11, Section C, Paragraph 2.
2.
There are no adequate safeguards (including standby power) to prevent the discharge of untreated
or inadequately treated wastes during electrical power failures for the facility. This is in violation
of the subject permit condition Part 11, Section C, Paragraph 7.
3.
Data records prior to July 2022 were not available at the time of inspection. This is in violation of
Part 11, Section D, Paragraph 6.
4.
Records for the flow meter were not available on -site during the inspection. All records, including
those pertaining to installation, calibration, and maintenance, should be retained and readily
available on -site as stipulated in permit conditions Part 11, Section D, Paragraphs 3 and 6.
On May 22, 2023, NCDWR/WSRO staff conducted a follow-up inspection. This inspection reflected
continuing non-compliance, in addition to new violations, as detailed in the table below:
NORTH CAROL D E Q .
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North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office 1 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 1 Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
336.776.9800

PERMIT
VIOLATIONS:
1.
The bar screen, chlorinator, and dechlorinator are all still missing from the plant. Removal of these
processes, without adequate equivalent replacements, capable of providing comparable
treatment, was not authorized by the NCDWR as required by Part 11, Section E, Paragraph 2, of the
permit, as well as NC General Statute (NCGS) 143-215.1(a)(3). Furthermore, as noted in the
January 2023 inspection, it is also a violation of Part 11, Section C, Paragraph 2, of the permit. The
operator uses a single tube each for chlorination and dechlorination that is only leaning against the
wall of the component it has been placed in.
2.
There are still no adequate safeguards (including standby power) to prevent the discharge of
untreated or inadequately treated wastes during electrical power failures for the facility, in
violation of Part 11, Section C, Paragraph 7.
3.
Data records prior to July 2022 were still not available at the time of inspection, in violation of Part
11, Section D, Paragraph 6.
4.
The flow meter was installed in early 2022. The meter has been installed longer than a year and
still has not been calibrated. The operator stated that they cannot find someone to calibrate it. This
violates Part 11, Section D. Paragraph 3.
5.
Corrosion and disrepair of treatment units is a violation of Part 11, Section C, Paragraph 2, of the
permit, as detailed below:
a. The aeration basin has severe corrosion.
b. The air header and laterals are in very poor condition and were observed to provide insufficient
air diffusion throughout the tank.
c. The clarifiers have severe corrosion. The inlet/scum box on the southern clarifier is so
overgrown with weeds that have taken root in the scum layer that you cannot see the box. The
northern clarifier's inlet/scum box is visible but only about 50 percent of the original structure
remains due to corrosion, allowing the scum to flow right back into the clarifier.
d. The sludge holding tank has two large open holes in it just above the level of the current inlet
pipe. Sludge could flow out onto the ground, and possibly to the stream, if it reaches the level
of these holes.
You are reminded that in accordance with NC General Statute 143-215.6A, a civil penalty of not more than
twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) may be assessed by the Secretary of the Division of Water
Resources against any person who is required but fails to apply for or to secure a permit required by NCGS
143-215.1, or who violates or fails to act in accordance with the terms, conditions, ore requirements of
such permit.
As such you must take immediate steps to correct the violations noted above. Please reply in writing to
this notice within 10 days of receiving it. Your written response should detail the corrective actions you
have taken and/or plan to take to correct each of the listed violations. If you anticipate corrective actions
taking longer than 10 days, you must provide an estimated completion date for each corrective action
that takes longer than 10 days to complete. Failure to reply in writing, as directed, or to satisfactorily
correct the listed violations, may result in a recommendation by this office to proceed with the above -
mentioned enforcement procedures.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
RE;
QWinston-Salem Regional Office 1 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 1 Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
NORTH CAHOJNA 336.776.9800

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr. Boone by phone at 336.776.9690 or by email at
[e-mail]. Thank you for your time and immediate attention to these issues.
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by:
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Jennifer F. Graznak, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Winston-Salem Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Attachments:
1. Compliance Inspection Report
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
RE;
QWinston-Salem Regional Office 1 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 1 Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
NORTH CAROLINA 336.776.9800
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