NCG551610_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20231215

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office 3800 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
919.791.4200

December 15, 2023

Sarah P. Deguzman
106 Jasmine Place
Durham, NC 27712

Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Single Family Wastewater Treatment System
General NPDES Permit NCG550000
Certificate of Coverage NCG551610
Facility: 106 Jasmine Place
Durham County

Dear Ms. DeGuzman:

On November 28, 2023, Michael Hall from the Raleigh Regional Office visited your single-family
residence (SFR) wastewater treatment system to evaluate compliance with the subject General NPDES
Permit. The phone number listed for the permit does not appear to be accurate, and the inspector was
unable to contact you prior to performing the inspection. No one was at home at the time of the
inspection. The inspector left a packet of information regarding Single Family Treatment Systems and
the requirements of the General Permit at the residence. Please provide the inspector with an accurate
phone number and email, if available.

Our records indicate the treatment system consists of a septic tank, sub-surface sand filter, tablet
chlorinator with chlorine contact chamber, tablet dechlorinator, discharge pipe and a rip-rap apron for
post aeration.

General NPDES Permit NCG550000 and Certificate of Coverage (COC) NCG551610 authorize the
discharge of domestic wastewater from your treatment system to receiving waters designated as an
unnamed tributary to the Little River (classified water supply II, high quality waters, nutrient sensitive
waters) in the Neuse River Basin. The authorized discharge is in accordance with the effluent limits and
monitoring requirements established within the General Permit. The items below show what conditions
were noted at your facility:

Findings during the inspection were as follows:
1. Pumping the septic tank: You are required to inspect the septic tank at least yearly to
determine if solids must be removed or if other maintenance is necessary. Septic tanks
should be pumped out every five years or when the solids level is found to be more than
1/3 of the liquid depth in the septic tank compartment, whichever is greater. A
pumping company can check the status periodically and determine when pumping is
required. During the inspection, no one was home, and the inspector was unable to

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1611 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
919.707.9000

assess if the septic tank had been pumped recently or not. Within 30-days of receiving
this letter, please send a copy of the most recent receipt/invoice to this office showing
the date the septic tank was last checked and/or pumped out. If the septic tank has
not been serviced in the last 5 years, then contact a septic pumping company to inspect
and service your septic tank, as needed. The General NPDES Permit requires the
permittee to retain records associated with sewage disposal activities for a period of at
least 5 years.
2. Chlorine tablets in the chlorinator: You are reminded that it is required that chlorine
tablets be maintained in the chlorinator to ensure proper disinfection of the discharged
wastewater. Chlorine tablets provide effective disinfection and prevent/limit harmful
bacteria from discharging to the environment. The product label for these tablets must
indicate the tablets are approved for wastewater use and not for swimming pools.
Part 1, Section D (1) of General NPDES Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to
inspect the tablet chlorinator weekly to ensure there is an adequate supply of tablets for
continuous and proper operation. Section D (4) requires the permittee to maintain all
system components, including...disinfection units...at all times and in good operating
order. The inspector observed chlorine tablets in the chlorinator. Please continue to
ensure the correct type of tablets are used and maintained in the chlorinator as
required by the General NPDES Permit.
3. Dechlorination tablets: You are responsible for always having dechlorination tablets (if
a required part of your system) in place. The inspector did not observe any tablets in
the dechlorinator. As a result of the previous inspection conducted on May 22, 2019,
this office sent you an inspection letter dated June 5, 2019. In this letter, you were
notified that treatment tablets were missing or of the wrong kind, and you are
responsible for always having treatment tablets in place. Our files also indicate that you
had called the inspector, and he explained the purpose of the dechlorinator. Failure to
properly operate and maintain any component of your treatment system is a violation
of the General NPDES Permit. Within 30-days of receiving this letter, please let this
office know how you will comply with the permit requirement. Please ensure the
correct type of tablets are used and maintained in the dechlorinator as required by the
General NPDES Permit.
4. Analyzing the effluent: Part 1. C., Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements,
within General Permit NCG550000 requires a permittee to sample and analyze the
effluent leaving his/her treatment system prior to discharge annually. Parameters to be
sampled and analyzed include Flow, BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), Total
Suspended Solids, Fecal Coliform, Total Residual Chlorine, Total Nitrogen, Ammonia
Nitrogen and Total Phosphorous. Within 30-days of receiving this letter, please let this
office know if you have monitored your effluent discharge within the last 12 months,
and provide this office with a copy of the lab results if you have. If you have not
monitored your effluent, then please collect a representative sample of the effluent,
have it analyzed by a certified commercial laboratory and submit the results to this
office no later than February 28, 2024 If, during this time, you are unable to collect a
representative sample of the effluent discharge due to insufficient flow from the
discharge pipe, then update this office with that information and continue to monitor
the discharge and if conditions for sampling become favorable, then arrange to collect a
sample. Failure to monitor the effluent discharge as required is a violation of NPDES
General Permit NCG550000.

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1611 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
919.707.9000

5. Discharge outlet location. The permittee is required to conduct a visual review of the
outfall location at least twice each year (one at the time of sampling) to ensure that no
visible solids or other obvious evidence of system malfunctioning is observed. Any
visible signs of a malfunctioning system shall be documented, and steps taken to correct
the problem. The discharge pipe was visible and accessible the day of the inspection.
Please continue to ensure the outlet is always visible/maintained and cleared of
vegetation, soil and leaves.

Part II Section B.14 of General Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to “pay the annual
administering and compliance monitoring fee within thirty days after being billed by the Division.” The
annual fee ($60 per year) for the period January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016, was due by
January 5, 2017. This fee has not been paid and is overdue. Payment in the amount of $60 for the past
due invoice must be remitted to the Division as indicated on the attached Annual Permit Fee Invoice.

The wastewater treatment system should be periodically inspected to ensure the treatment
components are always maintained and in good operating order. You are also reminded to maintain all
monitoring data and associated maintenance records onsite for a minimum of three years and
available for inspection.

Within 30-days receipt of this letter, please submit a written response to this office indicating the
actions you will take or have taken to comply with or resolve the issues noted in items 1, 3, and 4
above. Pursuant to G.S. 143-215.6A, a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars
($25,000.00) may be assessed against any person who violates or fails to act in accordance with the
terms, conditions, or requirements of any permit issued pursuant to G.S. 143-215.1.

If you have questions or comments about this inspection or the requirements to take corrective action
(if applicable), then please contact Michael Hall at 919-791-4237, or [e-mail].

Sincerely,

Vanessa E. Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ

Attachment(s): EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report
Field Inspection Form
Annual Permit Fee Invoice Due January 5, 2016.

Cc: Laserfiche
12/15/2023