WQ0004270_Final Permit_20060622

Michael F. Easley, Governor
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North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director
Division of Water Quality
June 22, 2006
MR. ERNEST W. SUMNER, V.P.
A. B. CARTER INC.
P. O. Box 518
GASTONIA, NC 28053
Subject: Permit Renewal and Modification
Permit No. WQ0004270
A. B. Carter, Inc.
Wastewater Spray Irrigation
Gaston County
Dear Sumner:
In accordance with your application received February 10, 2006, we are forwarding herewith Permit No.
WQ0004270, dated June 22, 2006, to A.B. Carter, Inc. for the continued operation of the subject wastewater
treatment and spray irrigation facilities.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until May 31, 2011, shall void Permit No.
WQ0004270 issued May 30, 2001, and shall be subject to the conditions and limitations as specified therein.
Please pay particular attention to the monitoring requirements in this permit. Failure to establish an adequate
system for collecting and maintaining the required operational information will result in future compliance
problems.
This permit approves the continued operation of the subject wastewater treatment and spray irrigation
facilities for another five-year cycle. However, please take the time to review this permit thoroughly as some of
the conditions contained within have changed since the last issuance of this permit. Of particular interest are
the following permitting conditions:
➢ Condition IIIA. — This condition has been modified to delete the monitoring requirement for Total Coliform
and add the monitoring requirement for Fecal Coliform. This condition has also been modified to require
Total Residual Chlorine monitoring at the time of each irrigation event.
➢ Condition 111.5. — This condition has been modified to update the address to which the monitoring forms are
to be submitted.
➢ Condition V.I. — The groundwater monitoring requirement for Volatile Organic Compounds has been
suspended, Please note however that this requirement may be reactivated in the future if determined
necessary by the Division. This condition has also been modified to update the address to which the
monitoring forms are to be submitted.
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Aquifer Protection Section 1636 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1636 Phone [phone] Customer Service
Internct: http://h2o.enr.state.ne.us 2728 Capital Boulevard Raleigh, NC 27604 Fax [phone]
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Page 2
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit are unacceptable, you have the right to
request an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within thirty (30) days following receipt of this permit.
This request must be in the form of a written petition, conforming to Chapter 150B of the North Carolina
General Statutes, and filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings, 6714 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC
27699-6714. Unless such demands are made this permit shall be final and binding.
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Dennis R. Ramsey at (919)
715-6190 or [e-mail].
.Alan
cc: Gaston County Health Department
Lee Pennington, ORC, A.B. Carter, Inc.
Mooresville Regional Office, Aquifer Protection Section
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit
Aquifer Protection Central Files
LAU Files
W. Klimek, P.E.

W�10004270_.—
NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
1:71N 31IN 11
SPRAY IRRIGATION SYSTEM PERMIT
In accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of Chapter 143, General Statutes of North Carolina as amended, and
other applicable Laws, Rules, and Regulations
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO
A. B. Carter, Inc.
Gaston County
FOR THE
continued operation of a 5,000 gallon per day (GPD) spray irrigation treatment and disposal facility consisting of a
5,000 GPD extended aeration plant with a communitor, bar screen, aeration basin, clarifier, chlorine contact tank, a
0.235 million gallon (MG) storage lagoon, a 120 gallon per minute (GPM) irrigation pump and approximately 2 acres
of irrigation field to serve A. B. Carter, Inc., with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the
application received February 10, 2006, and in conformity with the project plan, specifications, and other supporting
data filed and approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and considered a part of this permit.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until May 31, 2011, shall void Permit No. WQ0004270
issued May 30, 2001, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
The spray irrigation facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated at all times so that there is no
discharge to the surface waters, nor any contamination of ground waters which will render them
unsatisfactory for normal use. In the event that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily, including the
creation of nuisance conditions or failure of the irrigation area to adequately assimilate the wastewater, the
Permittee shall take immediate corrective actions including those actions that may be required by the
Division of Water Quality (Division), such as the construction of additional or replacement wastewater
treatment and disposal facilities.
2. The issuance of this permit shall not relieve the Permittee of the responsibility for damages to surface or
groundwaters resulting from the operation of this facility.
3. The residuals generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed in accordance with General
Statute 143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the Division.
4. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is prohibited.

WQ0.49-4270 .___r
The following buffers shall be maintained.
a) 400 feet between wetted area and any residence or places of public assembly under separate
ownership,
b) 150 feet between wetted area and property lines,
c) 100 feet between wetted area and wells,
d) 100 feet between wetted area and drainage ways or surface water bodies,
e) 50 feet between wetted area and public right of ways,
f) 100 feet between wastewater treatment units and wells, and
g) 50 feet between wastewater treatment units and property lines.
Some of the buffers specified above may not have been included in previous permits for this waste
treatment and disposal system. These buffers are not intended to prohibit or prevent modifications, which
are required by the Division, to improve performance of the existing treatment facility. These buffers do,
however, apply to modifications of the treatment and disposal facilities which are for the purpose of
increasing the flow that is tributary to the facility. These buffers do apply to any expansion or
modification of the spray irrigation areas and apply in instances in which the sale of property would cause
any of the buffers now complied with, for the treatment and disposal facilities, to be violated. The
applicant is advised that any modifications to the existing facilities will require a permit modification.
II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. The Permittee shall employ a certified wastewater treatment plant operator to be in responsible charge
(ORC) of the wastewater treatment facilities. The operator must hold a certificate of the type and grade at
least equivalent to or greater than the classification assigned to the wastewater treatment facilities by the
Water Pollution Control System Operator Certification Commission, The Permittee must also employ a
certified back-up operator of the appropriate type and grade to comply with the conditions of 15A NCAC
8G .0200. The ORC of the facility must visit each Class I facility at least weekly and each Class II, III,
and N facility at least daily, excluding weekends and holidays, and must properly manage and document
daily operation and maintenance of the facility and must comply with all other conditions of 15A NCAC
8G .0200.
A suitable year round vegetative cover of Fescue and Bermuda grass shall be maintained in the spray
irrigation fields and at no time be allowed to reach a height greater than 9 inches.
4. Irrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or when the ground is in a condition that will
cause runoff.
Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent wastewater runoff from the spray field.
The facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated as a non -discharge system to prevent the
discharge of any wastewater resulting from the operation of this facility.
The rate of application onto the spray irrigation areas shall not exceed a cumulative loading of 26 inches
over any 12-month period. The instantaneous application rate shall be such that ponding or runoff of
applied wastewater does not occur.
No type of wastewater other than that from A. B. Carter, Inc. shall be sprayed onto the irrigation area.
9. No traffic or equipment shall be allowed on the disposal area except while installation occurs or while
normal maintenance is being performed.
2

__._._._._.L,_,.Q0004270
10. Public access to the land application sites shall ° be controlled during active site use. Such controls may
include the posting of signs showing the activities being conducted at each site.
11. Freeboard in the storage lagoon shall not be less than two feet at any time.
12. Spare parts shall be provided for the pump in the holding basin so that continuous operation of the
facilities can be maintained.
III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, soil or plant tissue analyses) deemed necessary by
the Division to insure surface and ground water protection will be established and an acceptable sampling
reporting schedule shall be followed.
2. Adequate records shall be maintained by the Permittee tracking the amount of wastewater disposed, These
records shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following information:
a. date of irrigation,
b. volume of wastewater irrigated,
c. field irrigated,
d. length of time field is irrigated,
e. continuous weekly, monthly, and year-to-date hydraulic (inches/acre) loadings for each field,
£ weather conditions, and
g. maintenance of cover crops.
Influent flow shall be continuously monitored and daily average flow values shall be reported on Form
NDMR. Flow may be estimated from water use records provided water use is metered. Daily average
values shall be calculated by dividing monthly flow volume by the number of days in the month.
4. The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Permittee at the point prior to irrigation
every February, August and November for the following parameters:
BODS
Fecal Coliform
Sodium Adsorption Ratio by Calculation
TSS Sodium
NH3 as N Magnesium
PH Calcium
In addition, Total Residual Chlorine shall be monitored at the time of each irrigation event.
Three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition III 2) on Form NDAR-1
and three (3) copies of all effluent monitoring data (as specified in condition III 3 and III 4) on Form
NDMR-1 shall be submitted on or before the last day of March, September and December. All
information shall be submitted to the following address:
Division of Water Quality
Information Procession Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617

IV.
A representative annual soils analysis (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis) shall be conducted on each spray
field and the results maintained on file by the Permittee for a minimum of five years. The Standard Soil
Fertility Analysis shall include, but is not necessarily limited to, the following parameters:
Acidity
Calcium
Copper
Magnesium
Cation Exchange Capacity
7. Noncompliance Notification:
Manganese
Percent Humic Matter
PH
Exchangeable Sodium Percentage
Base Saturation (by calculation)
Potassium
Sodium
Zinc
Phosphorus
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Mooresville Regional Office, telephone number (704) 663-
1699, as soon as possible, but in no case more than 24 hours or on the next working day following the
occurrence or first knowledge of the occurrence of any of the following:
a. Any occurrence at the wastewater treatment facility which results in the treatment of significant
amounts of wastes which are abnormal in quantity or characteristic, such as the dumping of the
contents of a sludge digester, the known passage of a slug of hazardous substance through the facility;
or any other unusual circumstances.
b. Any process unit failure, due to known or unknown reasons, that render the facility incapable of
adequate wastewater treatment such as mechanical or electrical failures of pumps, aerators,
compressors, etc.
c. Any failure of a pumping station, sewer line, or treatment facility resulting in a by-pass directly to
receiving waters without treatment of all or any portion of the influent to such station or facility.
d. Any time that self -monitoring information indicates that the facility has gone out of compliance with
its permit limitations.
Persons reporting such occurrences by telephone shall also file a written report in letter form within five
(5) days following first knowledge of the occurrence. This report must outline the actions taken or
proposed to be taken to ensure that the problem does not recur.
GROUNDWATER REQUIREMENTS
Monitor wells BG-2 (MW-19), SWMUl-MW-2 (MW-20) and BG-1 (MW-21) shall be sampled every
February and August for the following parameters:
Water Level pH
Chloride Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Fecal Coliform Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
Nitrate (NO3) Total Ammonia (NH3-N)
Sulfate Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
Volatile Organic Compounds — In August only, upon receipt of notification from the Division to
resume monitoring for VOCs, using one of the following:
(A) Standard Method 6230D, PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less
(B) Standard Method 621 OD, PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less
(C) EPA Method 8021, Low Concentration, PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less
(D) EPA Method 8260, Low Concentration, PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less
(E) Another method with prior approval by the Chief of the Aquifer Protection Section

Any method used must meet the following qualifications:
(1) A laboratory must be DWQ certified to run any method used.
(2) The method used must, at a minimum, include all the constituents listed in Table VI1I of
Standard Method 6230D.
(3) The method used must provided a PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less which must be supported by
laboratory proficiency studies as required by the DWQ Laboratory Certification Unit. Any
constituents detected above the MDL but below the PQL at 0.5 ug/L must be qualified
(estimated) and reported.
If any volatile organic compounds are detected by the methods listed, then the Mooresville Regional
Office Aquifer Protection Supervisor, telephone number [phone], must be contacted immediately
for further instructions regarding any additional follow-up analyses required. The results of all initial and
follow-up analyses must be submitted simultaneously.
The measurement of water levels must be made prior to sampling for the remaining parameters. The depth
to water in each well shall be measured from the surveyed point on the top of the casing.
The measuring points (top of well casing) of all monitoring wells shall be surveyed to provide the relative
elevation of the measuring point for each monitoring well.
If TOC concentrations greater than 10 mg/1 are detected in any downgradient monitoring well, additional
sampling and analysis must be conducted to identify the individual constituents comprising this TOC
concentration. If the TOC concentration as measured in the background monitor well exceeds 10 mg/l,
this concentration will be taken to represent the naturally occurring TOC concentration. Any exceedances
of this naturally occurring TOC concentration in the downgradient wells shall be subject to the additional
sampling and analysis as described above.
All reports and documentation (GW-1, GW-30 and GW-59) shall be mailed to the following address:
Division of Water Quality
Information Procession Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
The results of the sampling and analysis must be received on Form GW-59 (Groundwater Quality
Monitoring: Compliance Report Form) on or before the last working day of the month following the
sampling month. The data of all groundwater sampling analyses required by the permit conditions must be
reported using the most recent GW-59 form along with attached copies of the laboratory analyses. The
updated forms can be downloaded at the following website: http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/agLv.htrnl
Any additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be provided.
2. The COMPLIANCE BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations in 15A NCAC 2L,
Groundwater Classifications and Standards. The Compliance Boundary for the disposal system
constructed prior to December 31, 1983 is established at either (1) 500 feet from the waste disposal area,
or (2) at the property boundary, whichever is closest to the waste disposal area. An exceedance of
Groundwater Quality Standards at or beyond the Compliance Boundary is subject to immediate
rernediation action in addition to the penalty provisions applicable under General Statute 143-
215.6A(a)(1).
3. In accordance with 15A NCAC 2L, a REVIEW BOUNDARY is established around the disposal systems
midway between the Compliance Boundary and the perimeter of the waste disposal area. Any exceedance
of standards at the Review Boundary shall require remediation action on the part of the permittee.

4. No land application of waste activities shall be undertaken when the seasonal high water table is less
than three feet below land surface. Verification of the water table elevation can be confirmed by water
level readings obtained from the monitor well(s) near the site or auger boring(s), which must be done
within 24 hours prior to application of wastewater. Any open borings must be properly filled with native
soil prior to application in order to decrease the chance of waste contaminating the groundwater.
V. INSPECTIONS
1. Adequate inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be provided by the Permittee to insure proper
operation of the subject facilities.
2. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the wastewater treatment and disposal facilities to prevent
malfunctions and deterioration, operator errors and discharges which may cause or lead to the release of
wastes to the environment, a threat to human health, or a nuisance. The Permittee shall keep an inspection
log or summary including at least the date and time of inspection., observations made, and any
maintenance, repairs, or corrective actions taken by the Permittee. This log of inspections shall be
maintained by the Permittee for a period of three years from the date of the inspection and shall be made
available upon request to the Division or other permitting authority.
3. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division may, upon presentation of
credentials, enter and inspect any property, premises or place on or related to the disposal site or facility at
any reasonable time for the purpose of determining compliance with this permit; may inspect or copy any
records that must be maintained under the terms and conditions of this permit, and may obtain samples of
groundwater, surface water, or leachate.
VI. GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. This permit shall become voidable unless the facilities are constructed in accordance with the conditions of
this permit, the approved plans and specifications, and other supporting data.
2. This permit is effective only with respect to the nature and volume of wastes described in the application
and other supporting data.
3. This permit is not transferable. In the event there is a desire for the facilities to change ownership, or there
is a name change of the Permittee, a formal permit request must be submitted to the Division accompanied
by an application fee, documentation from the parties involved, and other supporting materials as may be
appropriate. The approval of this request will be considered on its merits and may or may not be
approved.
4. Failure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit may subject the Permittee to an
enforcement action by the Division in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6A to 143-
215.6C.
The issuance of this permit does not exempt the Permittee from complying with any and all statutes, rules,
regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed by other government agencies (local, state, and federal)
which have jurisdiction, including but not limited to applicable river buffer rules in 15A NCAC 2B .0200,
erosion and sedimentation control requirements in 15A NCAC Ch. 4 and under the Division's General
Permit NCG0100000, and any requirements pertaining to wetlands under 15A NCAC 2B .0200 and 2H
.0500.
A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject project must be retained by the Permittee for the
life of the project.
2

The annual administering and compliance fee must be paid by the Permittee within thirty (30) days after
being billed by the Division. Failure to pay the fee accordingly may cause the Division to initiate action to
revoke this permit.
The Permittee, at least six (6) months prior to the expiration of this permit, shall request its extension.
Upon receipt of the request, the Commission will review the adequacy of the facilities described therein,
and if warranted, will extend the permit for such period of time and under such conditions and limitations
as it may deem appropriate.
Permit issued this the 22nd day of June, 2006.
NORTH C OLINA E ONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
;Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0004270

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