NCG550079_Email_20240530

A ASG Engineering
4140 Clemmons Road, Suite 102, Clemmons, NC 27012
tel: [phone] fax: [phone] email: [e-mail] web site: www.asgeng.com
June 3, 2009
Rose Pruitt
NCDENR-DWQ Winston-Salem Regional Office
Division of Water Quality, Surface Water Protection
.585 Waughtown Street
Winston-Salem,NC 27107
Sent pdf via email to [e-mail]
Re: NPDES General Permit NCG550000, Certificate of Coverage NCG550079, Forsyth
County, Richard Townsend, 1239 Pine Knolls Rd, Kernersville,Expires July 31,2012
Dear Ms. Pruitt:
Rick Townsend and his contractor, Jerry Sprinkle, neglected to inform you within 48 hours of
beginning operation of the sand filter constructed per Authorization to Construct NCG550079. I
am therefore notifying you of the switchover from the failed nitrification system occurred on or
about May 29, 2009.
I made three inspections during the construction, The contractor and I have several digital photos
of the installation, and we are currently working out a "punch list". I would like to coordinate my
final inspection with you at your convenience.
The construction was in general accordance with the plans and specifications except for two
areas:
1. Mr. Sprinkle elected to have the filter sand delivered in 12 cubic yard ten-wheel dump trucks
instead of the 20 cubic yard 18-wheeled dump trailers that I had envisioned. Since 40,CY was
required for the job, this was to be done in three full loads plus a portion of a fourth load.
Since the filter surface were designed 15% oversize, when I was notified of the partial load I
althoxize4-a reduction iz !e filter lentth to --'psi a e it v e ons _ acted filter areas are still
via � Min the &esi,.a _y . � �` f ' go 1 9,0W"0.sccton 1a cal,, ,
2. Mr. Sprinkle ordered the wrong sand for the job, and the error was not found until it was
installed. This is his second installation since the noted ATC criteria, both using this same
sand, distributed locally by Pope Sand and Gravel in Winston-Salem, and manufactured by B.
V. Hedrick Gravel and Sand Company, Lilesville,NC as "Premium Bunker Sand". Jerry's first
installation was completed in February, 2005 and is located at 908 Cedar Branch Trail,
Winston-Salem (Forsyth County), the construction was inspected by the Forsyth County
Health Department, and the issue with the sand was apparently never found.
PRACTICAL CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES IN NORTH CAROLINA AND VIRGINIA: COMMERCIAL&RESIDENTIAL SITE DEVELOPMENT
FOUNDATIONS-GRADING-DRAINAGE-STRUCTURAL-HYDROLOGY-CULVERTS-PONDS-TRANSPORTATION

Rose Pruitt Page 2 of 2 4.
The sand meets all of the ATC criteria except for effective size, being about 1/2 smaller. I
have discussed this issue at length with Julie Grzyb to obtain policy guidance, and my
understanding is that if I, as the engineer of record, approve the installation,then the State will
accept it. In order to justify this decision I have obtained effluent samples of the Cedar Branch
Trail system and had them analyzed. These results and comparison of related standards are as
follows:
Parameter Results TS-I Standard TS-II Standard
BOD5 8.95 mg/1 <15 mg/1 <10 mg/1
TSS 4.2 mg/1 <15 mg/1 <10 mg/1
Fecal Coliform <1 / 100 ml <10,000/ 100 ml <10,000/ 100 ml
Since the sand is smaller in size the surface area of the particles is larger, so in theory the
treatment ability of the filters should be enhanced. These test results support this theory.
My remaining concern is the potential for clogging, which of course correlates with the
expected life of the system. To address this issue I will be increasing my recommendations of
septic tank cleaning from 3 years to 2 years. At this point the issue becomes one of a
contractual nature between my client,Mr. Townsend, and his contractor,Mr. Sprinkle.
Please review your schedule and let me know when can inspect the system.
\\� C IApry////�,,i
Sincerely, .�� 4Y‘ R p
ASG ENGINEERING Q •aV'SS/p'
_;QQ y • q
SEAL _
N: '2190
ct-
Stephen Auffinger,P.E. '';.'ciwe
President fYi,y�N AUF�\�`���`
i,Irtll!Ir71!11111110`\
cc: Richard Townsend /V-c-W � + r3 i'at r , p,�ea1, Z.
Julie Grzyb FL _a
of ,,✓vyca.r ,�.
13
errfr / r
Jam.
JJ C

RE: Townsend Plans Page 1 of 2
I. , ,-
RE: Townsend Plans
Steve Auffinger [[e-mail]]
Sent: Thursday,May 21,2009 10:09 AM
To: Julie Grzyb [[e-mail]]
Attachments: Sand Gradation curves.xls(53 KB)
Julie,
Re: Townsend Property, COC NCG550079
Regarding our conversation yesterday afternoon, the sand that does not meet
specification, it is a "Premium Bunker Sand" . I've attached a spreadsheet
with chart of their last 5 gradations.
The installer, Jerry Sprinkle, claims that he installed-a lined single pass
filter with this same sand in February 2005 at 908 Cedar Branch Trail,
Winston-Salem. The installation was inspected by the Forsyth County Health
Department. You might want to check the records and monitoring of this.
installation to see if it is working properly.
We appreciate your quick response on this issue.
Steve Auffinger
ASG Engineering
336-778-1111
Original Message
From: Julie Grzyb [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 6:21 PM
To: Steve Auffinger
Subject: Re: Townsend Plans
This is fine. I will specify that a representative sample be taken
after chlorination/dechlorination in the ATC.
Julie
Steve Auffinger wrote:
> Julie,
> I just figured they'd use the outlet above the aeration pad to sample.
> Although the dechlorination is chemically instantaneous, the mixing action
> of the long corrugated pipe will provide a more representative sample for
> regulatory purposes. I've used additional sampling ports after the two
sand
> filters for trouble shooting.
> Let me know if this is OK or if I need to send you a letter.
> Steve Auffinger
Original Message
> From: Julie Grzyb [mailto:[e-mail]]
> Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 11:12 AM
> To: Steve Auffinger
https://mail.nc.gov/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&i d=RgAAAADL%2fiui1PMHLaQgWkua... 5/21/2009

RE: Townsend Plans Page 2 of 2
> Subject: Townsend Plans
k >
> Steve,
> I received the revised plans on Friday, 3/20/09. Everything looks
> fine except for the sampling point. The effluent must be sampled after
> chlorination and dechlorination. If you can just send a letter
> specifying where the sampling point will be moved in order to meet this
> requirement I will write it in on the plans and cite the letter. Sorry,
> I did not notice it until today.
> Sincerely,
> Julie Grzyb
Julie Grzyb
Environmental Engineer
NPDES West/ DWQ
N.C. Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
(919) 807-6389; fax (919) 807-6495
E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
https://mail.nc.gov/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAADL%2frmPMHLaQgWkua... 5/21/2009