WQ0000267_Removal of Moratorium_20240701

GATES COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
June 27, 2024
NCDENR —Washington Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington, NC 27889
Attention: Robert Tankard
Assistant Regional Supervisor
Subject: Gates County WWTP
Permit No. WQ0000267
Request for Removal of Moratorium
Dear Mr. Tankard:
RECEIVED/NCDENR/DWR
'JUL _1 2024
Water Quality
Regional Operations section
Washington Regional Office
In October 2022, the above Permitwas renewed forthe continued operation of the
original 15,000 GPD (old) Spray field and the (new) 40,000 GPD SBR Plant totaling
55,000 GPD of treatment capacity.
The new 40,000 gpd SBR Plantwas completed and certified foroperation in late 2018
and remained idle due to control issues until May 1, 2024, when the new SBR plant was
put into full operation. Flow was then diverted from the Old Spray field (on Honey Pot
Road), and routed to the new SBR Plant (on Will Ln). The SBR Plant has been in
continuous service since May 1, 2024, with one month of NDMR and NDAR data of full
compliance available for review. Gates County has applied for SBR funding for several
sewer projects in the Spring funding cycle. These projects are in jeopardy due to the
County being underthe current moratorium, two of which will eliminate NPDES Permits
and numerous Notice of Violations for two schools, and another will provide sewer to
Merchants Mill Pond State Park to expand its facilities.
The Notice of Sewer Moratorium letter issued November28, 2017 states, "the
moratorium will be rescinded when Gates County can demonstrate that it can
adequately treat its waste and has obtained written permission from the Division of
Water Resources suspending the moratorium."
Page 2

Gates County has metthese requirements and is asking thatthe moratorium issued
January 13, 2018 be rescinded immediately to allow Gates County to betterserve its
residents and schools, to create the opportunity to grow our rural communities, and to
allow the SRF loans to be considered for approval.
Respectfully su bmitted,
Brad Arnold ri-
Public Utility Director Gates County
CC: Ashley H. Stoop, MPH Health Director, Albemarle Regional Health Service
Gates County Board of Commissioner
Scott T. Sauer, County Manager
Leo Green Jr. PE, Green Engineering