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Home My WebLink AboutNC0044423_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20180807 (96) • t,.STATE a ..., ili'i, A• litrit ROY COOPER NORTH CAROLINA Governor Environmental Quality MICHAEL S.REGAN Secretary LINDA CULPEPPER ` J Interim Director RECEINPEDIDENVaJDW August 7, 2018 Y� AUG 14 2413 Mr. Donald Lusk Water ReSSectton Appalachian State University Permitting 265 Dale Street Boone, NC 28608 SUBJECT: Compliance Evaluation Inspection Appalachian State WTP NPDES Permit No. NC0044423 Watauga County Dear Mr. Lusk, On August 1, 2018, Kelli Park and Gary Hudson, of this office, met with Jeremy Johnson, operator in responsible charge (ORC), to perform a compliance evaluation inspection on the Appalachian State University (ASU) water treatment system. This type of inspection consists of two basic parts: an in-office file review and an on-site inspection of the treatment facility. The attached EPA inspection form notes the areas that were evaluated for this inspection. The findings and observations are outlined below: I. Permit The NPDES permit became effective April 1, 2017, and expires on March 31, 2021. The facility had a copy of the permit available during the inspection. II. Self-Monitoring Program A review of the monthly discharge monitoring reports (DMR) for the period January 2017 through August 2018 showed that the facility was not in compliance with all permit limits. These violations were previously addressed before this letter and can also be seen in the table below. D_E NORTH CAROLINA DepEnvironmental othrtml North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Winston-Salem Regional Office 1450 Hanes Mill Road,Suite 300 I Winston-Salem,North Carolina 27103 336.776.9800 Appalachian State University WTP,August 1,2018 ft Parameter Violation Date Violation Type Dissolved Oxygen November 2017 Daily Min. Not Reached Dissolved Oxygen September 2017 Daily Min. Not Reached Dissolved Oxygen August 2017 Daily Min. Not Reached Dissolved Oxygen July 2017 Daily Min. Not Reached Dissolved Oxygen June 2017 Daily Min. Not Reached Grab samples are taken at the effluent outfall into the ASU Lake to monitor water quality parameters. These samples ale immediately picked up, put on ice, and analyzed by Water Quality Labs in Banner Elk. Approximately 300m1 are sampled. III. Records/Reports The permit and visitation log are located on site and show visitation times and plant conditions. Chain of custody forms are in good order. All required monitoring was performed per the frequencies specified in the NPDES permit. Miss Park noted no data transcription discrepancies fronj bench sheets to DMRs in her documentation review. Water quality Labs maintains th documentation. IV. Flow Measurement The flow is measured instantaneously by the volume of water in the discharge from the clarifier. The volume is calculated by measuring the.difference in the height of the water in the clarifier. V. Operations and Maintenance The water treatment plant appeared to be well maintained and operated. The ORC and backup ORC are sufficiently qua ified to be running the plant. To help with the dissolved oxygen DMR violations the plant has been having, Mr. Johnson mentioned that they plan on adding dissolved air floatation to the treatment process. VI. Facility Site Review All components of the facility appeared to be functioning properly. The facility uses a membrane filter that is periodically backwashed into a clarifier. The residual chlorine is treated in the clarifier before discharging into the receiving lake. A pipe is lowered into the clarifier when it is time to discharge effluent. This is done on an as needed basis. VII. Effluent/Receiving Waters Effluent was not being discharged at the time of inspection. Effluent being discharged flows into ASU Lake (Norris Brach Reservoir) which flows into Norris Branch. Norris Branch is considered to be a water supply, undeveloped, high quality waters stream. It is also considered to be a critical area and trout stream. 2 Appalachian State University WTP,August 1,2018 A clear path needs to be cut and maintained to the effluent pipe. VIII. Sludge Maintenance and Handling Sludge is pumped from the clarifier once every two years due to low flow and the membrane filtration reducing the sludge. IX. Conclusions The compliance evaluation inspection is satisfactory. Mr. Johnson maintains and operates the facility in a good manner. His efforts to comply with the permit are appreciated. If you have any questions regarding the inspection or this report, please contact Kelli Park or me at (336) 776-9800. Sincerely, Sherri V. Knight, P.E. Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Division of Water Resources Attachments: BIMS EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report cc: Central Files WSRO ISP_D.ES Unit 3 , United States Environmental Protection Agency Form Approved EPA Washington,D C 20460 OMB No 2040-0057 Water Compliance Inspection Report Approval expires 8-31-98 Section A National Data System Coding(i.e,PCS) Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type 1 [ I 2 3 I NC0044423 111 12 I 18/08/01 117 18[2] 19 I S I 201 I 21111111 1111111111111111111111111 111111 1111 r Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA — -Reserved - — 67I l I 70 1 1 71 1 I 72 I �, 1 1 731 I I74 751 1 1 1 1 1 1 180 Section B Facility Data � Name and Location of Facility Inspected(For Industrial Users discharging to POTW,also include Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date POTW name and NPDES permit Number) 11 30AM 18/08/01 17/04/01 Appalachian State WTP Physical Plant DivisionExit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date Boone NC 28608 12 30PM 18/08/01 21/03/31 Name(s)of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data /// Jeremy Allen Johnson/ORC/828-262-3197/ Name,Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Larry Bordeaux,265 Dale St Boone NC 28608/Director/828-262-3190/ , No Section C Areas Evaluated During Inspection(Check only those areas evaluated) II Permit II Records/Reports • Self-Monitoring Program II Facility Site Review • Effluent/Receiving Waters Section D Summary of Finding/Comments(Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) (See attachment summary) Name(s)and Signature(s)of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date Gary Hudson Division of Water Quality//336-776-9694, Kelli A Park U. WSRO WQ//336-776-9689/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date _ vy,k, V EPA Form 3560-3(Rev 9-94)Previous editions are obsolete Page# 1 NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type 1 31 NC0044423 111 121 18/08/01 j 17 18 I_I C I Section D Summary of Finding/Comments(Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Page# 2 Permit NC0044423 Owner-Facility: Appalachian State WTP Inspection Date: 08/01/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit'? • 0 0 0 Is all required information readily available, complete and current'? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all records maintained for 3 years(lab reg required 5 years)' • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the chain-of-custody complete'? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Dates,times and location of sampling • Name of individual performing the sampling • Results of analysis and calibration II Dates of analysis N Name of person performing analyses • Transported COCs N Are DMRs complete do they include all permit parameters'? • ❑ ❑ 0 Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? • ❑ ❑ ❑ (If the facility is=or>5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator ❑ ❑ M ❑ on each shift'? Is the ORC visitation log available and current'? • 0 ❑ ❑ Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification'? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site'? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review'? ❑ ❑ E ❑ Comment _ Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less) Has the permittee submitted a new 0 ❑ NI ❑ application'? Is the facility as described in the permit'? • ❑ ❑ ❑ #Are there any special conditions for the permit'? ❑ • ❑ 0 Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? • 0 ❑ ❑ Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection'? M ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment. This facility has had multiple recent DO DMR violations. In efforts to fix this they are including dissolved air floatation processes. Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained'? ❑ • ❑ ❑ Page# 3 Permit: NC0044423 Owner-Facility. Appalachian State WTP Inspection Date 08/01/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Are the receiving water free of foam other thain trace amounts and other debris'? • ❑ ❑ 0 If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly'? • 0 0 0 Comment: Effluent goes into ASU Lakel which has sets of aeration pipes throughout lake to help with DO levels The path to the effluent needs to be maintained. Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional'? 0 0 I 0 Is sample collected below all treatment units'? 0 • 0 0 Is proper volume collected'? • 0 0 0 Is the tubing clean'? • 0 0 ❑ #Is proper temperature set for sample storage(kept at less than or equal to 6 0 degrees U 0 0 0 Celsius)'? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit(frequency,sampling type U ❑ 0 0 representative)'? Comment: grab samples picked up right after being taken and put on ice. Sampled at effluent pipe. • Page# 4