WQCS00013_NOV-2023-DV-0266_20230801

NC Dept of
aUl -1 C1.3
C I A 11Y Raleigh Regional Office
-LIVE INSPIRED" -
July 27, 2023
Mr. Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
1628 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1628
CERTIFIED MAIL
Subject: Notice of Violation (NOV-2023-DV-0266)
Dear Mr. Vinson:
On July 17, 2023 the Town of Cary Utilities Department received a Notice of Violation (NOV)
letter dated July 5, 2023 from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality,
Division of Water Resources — Raleigh Regional Office for two sanitary sewer overflows
(SSO) that occurred on June 20 and June 25, 2023. The NOV letter identifies the June 20
SSO as an NOV and requests written response from Cary to provide additional information
within 15 business days from receipt of the letter. The written submittal will be considered by
NCDEQ and used to determine if a civil penalty will be assessed.
Incident #
Start Date
Duration
Location
Cause
Total
Total Volume
DWR
(min)
Volume
Surface Water
Action
Gal
Gal
202300949
3/4/2023
42
4000 Glenaire
Debris,
588
588
Notice of
Circle, Cary
Grease
Violation
202300975
3/17/2023
503
1900 Old Reedy
Equipment
160
160
Notice of
Creek Road, Cary
Failure
Deficiency
Cary takes pride in the operation and management of our 1,000 miles of wastewater collection
system. We are an award winning and progressive wastewater utility that has very few
reportable or large volume SSO. We place emphasis on responding quickly to sewer
emergencies to prevent and minimize any spills that impact our citizens, community, and
environment. We appreciate the opportunity to provide information on the recent sewer
overflows, our efforts, and justification for why additional enforcement action or civil penalty
should not be assessed to the Town of Cary.
INCIDENT # 202300949 — 4000 Glenaire Circle.
Sewer Overflow Cause - On June 20, 2023 at 12:50 PM, Cary staff conducting a routine
monthly inspection of the manhole found the manhole (SP76306091) overflowing. Cary
wastewater collection system staff immediately responded and removed the blockage at 1:32
PM. The sewer spill cause was identified as sanitary wipe, paper, and grease.
919.469.4000 1 carync.gov
PO Box 8005 Cary, NC 27512

OualilN
Sewer Spill Cleanup — The sewer spill flowed from the manhole into an adjacent unnamed
tributary to Swift Creek. Due to intermittent heavy rainfall, the creek was flowing at a fast pace
and there was little evidence of a spill in the creek or on the ground due to the rainfall.
Conductivity readings were collected to assess the stream and are included in Table 1.
Sewer Spill Assessment - The Town performed conductivity readings following the overflow
to assess the spill. The following table provides a summary of the data collected at the time
of the SSO. Due to intermittent heavy rain, there was heavy flow in the stream resulting in
low conductivity readings and little variation upstream and downstream of the spill. No fish kill
or visible impacts were identified following the spill and spill cleanup. Following removal of
the blockage, wastewater flow was monitored, and inflow and infiltration was not a
contributing factor.
Date/Time =>
June 20, 2023
1:35 PM
Location
Result S/cm
SSO entry point to creek
68
50' Upstream in creek
66
100' Downstream in creek
65
150' Downstream in creek
63
200' Downstream in creek
65
250' Downstream in creek
64
Table 1.
Corrective Actions — After clearing the blockage, the area sewer lines were hydraulicly
cleaned, video inspected. The manhole that spilled is inspected and cleaned as needed
monthly due to past debris buildup that serves an assisted living community. From this
incident, Cary has increased its inspection and cleaning to bi-weekly frequency to prevent
another spill. Cary contacted the assisted living management staff and relayed best
management practices for sanitary wipe and grease disposal. The assisted living
management will relay information to staff and residents to help reduce the volume of
materials that are flushed. Cary is also experimenting with a manhole sensor to monitor water
level and provide telemetry alarm function to notify staff in the event of a backup in the
manhole (SP76306091).
INCIDENT # 202300975 — 1900 Old Reedy Creek Road
Sewer Overflow Cause - On June 25, 2023, Cary staff while conducting routine pump station
inspections discovered an air release valve (ARV) on a temporary pump bypass force main
leaking. The force main and ARV are in place and were being used to support a planned
sewer interceptor rehabilitation project. The ARV was intermittently leaking during the pump
discharge cycle.
Sewer Spill Cleanup — No wastewater debris was associated with the leak, powdered lime
was applied to the ground around the ARV and the path the spill traveled to treat the soil.
CARY

Sewer Spill Assessment - The 160-gallon sewer spill entered Crabtree Creek and spill flow
path was ground absorbed. No fish kill or visible impacts were identified following the spill
and spill cleanup.
Corrective Actions — The ARV was immediately turned off with an isolation valve to stop the
spill. The ARV was removed and replaced with a new ARV. The sewer rehabilitation
contractor that is managing the bypass pumping operations is making regular daily
inspections of the pipeline and ARV to help prevent any additional leaks.
We appreciate the opportunity in being able to provide information on both unfortunate sewer
spills. We appreciate NC DEQ's consideration in evaluating these sewer spills, the cause,
and Cary's record and response to remediate and help ensure that a SSO reoccurrence does
not reoccur at these locations. If we can answer any questions or provide any additional
information, please feel free to contact Mr. Donald Smith, Wastewater Collection System
Manager at [phone].
Sincerely,
amie levels, P.E.
Utilities Director
Cc: Donald Smith, Wastewater Collection System Manager
Paul Campbell, Wastewater Collection System Operator
Attachments:
• NCDEQ Notice of Violation to issue Civil Penalty— NOV-2023-DV-00266
Collection System Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reporting Form — Incident #
202300949
Collection System Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reporting Form — Incident #
202300975
C"RY

NCDept of Enviioruncntal duality
DWR State of North Carolina
,��, � (� - 1 ([�',j Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional offi�llection System Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reporting Form
7lvislon of Water Resources Form CS-SSO
PART I:
This form shall be submitted to the appropriate DWQ Regional Office within five business days of the first knowledge of the
sanitary sewer overflow (SSO).
Permit Number: WQCS00013 (WQCS# if active, otherwise use WQCSD#)
Facility: Cary Collection System Incident #: 202300949
Owner: Town of Cary
City: Cary County: Wake Region: Raleigh
Source of SSO (check applicable): 0 Sanitary Sewer ❑ Pump Station / Lift Station
SPECIFIC location of the SSO (be consistent in description from past reports or documentation - i.e. Pump Station 6,
Manhole at Westall & Bragg Street, etc): 4000 Glenaire Circle, Cary NC 27511
Manhole #: SP76306091
Latitude (Decimal Degrees): 35.7772 Longitude (Decimal Degrees): -78.7872
Incident Started Dt: 06/20/2023 Time: 12:50 pm Incident End Dt: 06/20/2023 Time: 01:32 pm
(mm-dd-yyyy) (hh:mm AM/PM) (mm-dd-yyyy) (hh:mm AM/PM)
Estimated Volume of the SSO: 588 gallons Estimated Duration (Round to nearest hour): 0:42 hours
Describe how the volume was determined: Estimation based on visual observation of overflowing manhole
Weather conditions during the SSO event: Cloudy with intermittent rain showers
'Ad SSO reach surface waters? 0 Yes ❑ No ❑ Unknown Volume reaching surface waters (gals): 588
Surface water name: Unnamed Tributary to Swift Creek
Did the SSO result in a fish kill? [-]Yes QNo ❑ Unknown If Yes, what is the estimated number offish killed? 0
SPECIFIC cause(s) of the SSO:
0 Grease 0 Debris in line
24 hour verbal notification (name of person contacted ): Curtis R Tyree
0 DWR ❑ Emergency Mgmt Date (mm-dd-yyy): 06/21/2023 Time (hh:mm AM/PM): 09:10:00 am
If an SSO is ongoing, please notify the appropriate Regional Office on a daily basis until SSO can be stopped.
Per G.S. 143-215.1C(b), the responsible party of a discharge of 1,000 or more of untreated wastewater to surface waters
shall issue a press release within 24-hours of first knowledge to all print and electronic news media providing general
coverage in the county where the discharge occurred. When 15,000 gallons or more of untreated wastewater enters surface
waters, a public notice shall be published within 10 days and proof of publication shall be provided to the Division within 30
days. Refer to the reference statute for further detail.
The Director. Division of Water Resources, may take enforcement action for SSOs that are required to be reported to
Division unless it is demonstrated that:
1) the discharge was cause by sever natural conditions and there were no feasible alternative to the discharge; or
2) the discharge was exceptional, unintentional, temporary and caused by factors beyond the reasonable control of the
Permittee and/or owner, and the discharge could not have been prevented by the exercise of reasonable control.
Part II must be completed to provide a justification claim for either of the above situations. This information will be the basis
WHETHER OR NOT PART In IS COMPLETED, A SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED AT THE END OF THIS FORM
CS-SSO Form Page: 1

PART II:
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS FOR EACH RELATED CAUSE CHECKED IN PART I OF THIS FORM AND
INCLUDE THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION AS REQUIRED OR DESIRED
COMPLETE ONLY THOSE SECTONS PERTAINING TO THE CAUSE OF THE SSO AS CHECKED IN PART I
(In the check boxes below, NA = Not Applicable and NE = Not Evaluated)
A HARDCOPY OF THIS FORM SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE APPROPRIATE DWR REGIONAL OFFICE UNLESS IS
Grease
When was the last time this specific line (or wet well) was cleaned?
line last cleaned on 02/24/2021: manhole last cleaned on 05/15/2023
Do you have an enforceable grease ordinance that requires new or retrofit of grease 0 Yes ❑ No NA ❑ NE
traps/interceptors?
Have there been recent inspections and/or enforcement actions taken on nearby Yes 0 No E NA ❑ NE
restaurants or other nonresidential grease contributors?
Explain.
No enforcement actions taken against Glenaire. Cary Pretreatment provides education and works with the facility director
help mitigate debris from the facility.
Have there been other SSOs or blockages in this area that were also caused by Yes 0 No ❑ NA NE
grease?
When?
If yes, describe them:
Have cleaning and inspections ever been increased at this location? 0 Yes ❑ No NA ❑ NE
Explain.
This manhole is inspected and cleaned monthly due to ongoing issues with debris inside the manhole.
Have educational materials about grease been distributed in the past? 0 Yes ❑ No ❑ NA ❑ NE
When?
Quarterly
and to whom?
Ryan Ferguson
Explain?
Quarterly debris removal invoices are sent to Ryan Ferguson. Director of Facility Services for Glenaire. Cary Pretreatmen
works with Ryan to help minimize the amount of debris generated from their facility which accumulates in this manhole.
If the SSO occurred at a pump station, when was the wet well and pumps last
checked for grease accumulation?
CS-SSO Form Page: 2

Were the floats clean?
Yes ❑ No 7 NA D NE
Comments:
Debris in line
What type of debris has been found in the line?
Rags
Suspected cause or source of debris.
Suspected source of debris is Glenaire Retirement Community.
Are manholes in the area secure and intact?
When was the area last checked/cleaned?
05/15/2023
Have cleaning and inspections ever been increased at this location due to previous
problems with debris?
RYes DNo DNA ENE
R Yes ❑ No ❑ NA DNE
Explain:
This manhole is inspected and cleaned monthly due to ongoing issues with debris inside the manhole.
Are appropriate educational materials being developed and distributed to prevent futt W Yes ❑ No 17 NA D NE
similar occurrences?
Comments:
Cary Pretreatment works with Glenaire to help minimize the amount of debris generated from their facility which
accumulates in this manhole. This is ongoing.
System Visitation
ORC ❑ Yes
Backup 0 Yes
Name:
Ward Renfrow
Cart#
1003897
Date visited:
06/20/2023
Time visited:
01:15 PM
How was the SSO remediated (i.e. Stopped and cleaned up)?
A iet vac truck was used to clear the blockage. Lime was put down on the affected area.
CS-SSO Form Page: 3

As a representative for the responsible party, I certify that the information contained in this report is true and accurate to the
best of my knowledge.
Person submitting claim:
Robert S Garner
Date:
06/23//23 10:05 am
Signature:
exi S, —km
Title:
lD 23 1 2.�
Telephone Number: OH-- 4I 3 - o-q(i
Any addition information desired to be submitted should be sent to the appropriate Division Regional Office within five days of t
knowledge of the SSO with reference to the incident number (the incident number is only generated when electronic entry of th
form is completed, if used).
CS-SSO Form Page: 4

Dept of Environmental Quality State of North Carolina
DWK Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Resources
AUG ` 12023 Collection System Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reporting Form
^Mslon of Water Resources Form CS-SSO
PART
Raleigh Regional Office
This form shall be submitted to the appropriate DWQ Regional Office within five business days of the first knowledge of the
sanitary sewer overflow (SSO).
Permit Number: WQCS00013 (WQCS# if active, otherwise use WQCSD#)
Facility: Cary Collection
Owner: Town of Cary
City: Cary
Source of SSO (check applicable):
County: Wake
Region: Raleigh
1 Sanitary Sewer ❑ Pump Station / Lift Station
Incident M 202300975
SPECIFIC location of the SSO (be consistent in description from past reports or documentation - i.e. Pump Station 6,
Manhole at Westall & Bragg Street, etc): 1900 Old Reedy Creek Rd, Cary, NC, 27513
Manhole #: SP76505013, 76506006
Latitude (Decimal Degrees):
Longitude (Decimal Degrees):
Incident Started Dt: 06/25/2023 Time: 1:30 pm Incident End Dt: 06/25/2023 Time: 09:53 pm
(mm-dd-yyyy) (hh:mmAM/PM) (mm-dd-yyyy) (hh:mmAM/PM)
Estimated Volume of the SSO: 160
gallons Estimated Duration (Round to nearest hour): 8:23 hours
Describe how the volume was determined: Observation and estimate of discharge from leaking air release valve
Weather conditions during the SSO event: Clear, Sunny
SSO reach surface waters? 0 Yes ❑ No ❑ Unknown Volume reaching surface waters (gals): 160
Surface water name: Crabtree Creek (Crabtree Lake)
Did the SSO result in a fish kill? ❑ Yes QNo ❑ Unknown If Yes, what is the estimated number of fish killed?
SPECIFIC cause(s) of the SSO:
0 Other (Please explai
24 hour verbal notification (name of person contacted ): Zachary Thomas
[1 DWR ❑ Emergency Mgmt Date (mm-dd-yyy): 06/26/2023 Time (hh:mm AM/PM): 10:45:00 am
If an SSO is ongoing, please notify the appropriate Regional Office on a daily basis until SSO can be stopped.
Per G.S. 143-215.1 C(b), the responsible party of a discharge of 1,000 or more of untreated wastewater to surface waters
shall issue a press release within 24-hours of first knowledge to all print and electronic news media providing general
coverage in the county where the discharge occurred. When 15,000 gallons or more of untreated wastewater enters surface
waters, a public notice shall be published within 10 days and proof of publication shall be provided to the Division within 30
days. Refer to the reference statute for further detail.
The Director. Division of Water Resources, may take enforcement action for SSOs that are recluired to be reported to
Division unless it is demonstrated that:
1) the discharge was cause by sever natural conditions and there were no feasible alternative to the discharge; or
2) the discharge was exceptional, unintentional, temporary and caused by factors beyond the reasonable control of the
Permittee and/or owner, and the discharge could not have been prevented by the exercise of reasonable control.
Part II must be completed to provide a justification claim for either of the above situations. This information will be the basis
WHETHER OR NOT PART III IS COMPLETED, A SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED AT THE END OF THIS FORM
CS-SSO Form Page: 1

PART II:
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS FOR EACH RELATED CAUSE CHECKED IN PART I OF THIS FORM AND
INCLUDE THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION AS REQUIRED OR DESIRED
COMPLETE ONLY THOSE SECTIONS PERTAINING TO THE CAUSE OF THE SSO AS CHECKED IN PART I
(In the check boxes below, NA = Not Applicable and NE = Not Evaluated)
A HARDCOPY OF THIS FORM SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE APPROPRIATE DWR REGIONAL OFFICE UNLESS IS
Other (Please explain in Part II)
Describe:
A planned oroiect is currently underway with a contractor rehabilitating CarvLs gravity sewer pipeline upstream and into tl
North Cary Water Reclamation Facility influent pump station. By-pass pumps and a pipeline is in place to facilitate the
installation of cure in place pipelining. An air release valve on the bypass pipeline was periodically and intermittently
leaking near the influent pump station where the wastewater is being discharged to the water reclamation facility for
treatment.
Were adequate equipment and resources available to fix the problem?
RI Yes No ❑ NA ❑ NE
If Yes, explain:
The leaking air release valve was immediately turned off and a replacement air release valve was available for installatior
If the problem could not be immediately repaired, what actions were taken to lessen
the impact of the SSO?
Immediate action was taken.
Comments:
Contractor staff conduct inspections every 2-3 hours of the bvoass pipeline and air release valves. Cary water reclamatic
staff conduct site visits and inspection of the pump station every 4 hours. Regular inspections were being performed, but
with the short periodic and intermittent discharges of approximatelV 5 gallons per minute, it was not detected until a
discharge occurred while staff were onsite. SCADA records and observation of the discharge was used to determine the
start of the SSO and volume.
System Visitation
ORC Q Yes
Backup ❑ Yes
Name:
Donald Smith
Cert#
1001030
Date visited:
6/26/2023
Time visited:
9:30 am
CS-SSO Form Page: 2

How,was. the SSO remediated (i.e. Stopped and cleaned up)?
The SSO was stooped by turning off the leaking air release valve. Powdered activated lime was applied to the ground an
raked in to treat the affected soil. No solids were discharged from the air release valve. No fish kill or stream detriment ws
observed with the spill.
ms a representative for the responsible party, I certify that the information contained in this report is true and accurate to the
best of my knowledge.
Person submitting claim: Donald Bradley Smith Date: 06/26/23 03:00 pm
Signature:
Telephone Number: 'jiff — 4(,R —`{ cn 5--
Title: W &99,''- r C.-., C�2Citar S�)
eA
Any addition information desired to be submitted should be sent to the appropriate Division Regional Office within five days of f
knowledge of the SSO with reference to the incident number (the incident number is only generated when electronic entry of th
form is completed, if used).
CS-SSO Form Page: J

DocuSign Envelope ID: 7FCAE679-55F4-4A10-A588-20DEEE4CC236
NC DePt u{ Enviromnental
ROY COOPER
c,,,""
ELIZABETH S. BISER
RICHARD E. ROGFRS JR,
VR'It I
Certified Mail # 7020 3160 0000 4109 1345
Return Receipt Requested
Jamie Revels, Utilities Director
Town of Cary
PO Box 8005
Cary, NC 27512-8005
NORTH CA70i NA
Environmental Quality
July 05, 2023
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Tracking Number: NOV-2023-DV-0266
Sanitary Sewer Overflows - June 2023
Collection System Permit No. WQCS00013
Cary Collection System
Wake County
Dear Permittee:
!wii - 1. ?P,I
211eigb Realor"
The self -reported Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) 5-Day Report submitted by Town of Cary indicates violations of
permit conditions stipulated in the subject permit and North Carolina G.S. 143-215.1. Violations include failing to
effectively manage, maintain, and operate the subject collection system so that there is no SSO to the land or
surface waters and making an outlet to waters of the State for purposes of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(1), for which a
permit is required.
Specific incident(s) cited in the subject report include the following:
Total Vol
Total
Surface
Incident
Start Duration
Vol
Water
Number
Date (Mins)
Location
Cause
(Gals)
(Gals) DWR Action
202300949
6/20/2023 42
4000 Glenaire Circle,
Debris in line, Grease
588
588 Notice of Violation
Cary NC 27511
202300975
6/25/2023 42
1900 Old Reedy Creek Rd,
Equipment Failure
160
160 Notice of Deficiency
Cary NC 27513
Remedial actions, if not already implemented, should be taken to correct the above noncompliance. Please submit
a written response to this Notice of Violation. Your response is to be received by the regional office within 15

DocuSign Envelope ID: 7FCAE679-55F4-4A10-A588-20DEEE4CC236
business days following receipt of this violation. Please include any additional documentation about this incident(s)
in the response. The submittal will be considered in determining whether the Division will assess a civil penalty for
the cited violations.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Kevin Fowler with the Water Quality Section in the
Raleigh Regional Office at 919-791-4200 or via email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
Coocusign.e by:
Ualn sit f, hatn kd, 6r
B2916FGA632146F
Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Cc: Laserfische

NC Dept of Environmental Quality
AUG - 1 2023
Raleigh Regional Office
Operations Center
Donald Smith
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TOWN OF CARY-UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
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NCDEQ- Div of Water Resources
Mr. Scoff Vinson, Regional Supervisor
1628 MAIL SERVICE CENTER - WATER QUALITY - RRO
RALEIGH NC 27699-1628
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