WQ0000488_Final Permit_19981008

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Wayne McDevitt, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
October 8, 1998
Mike Seigh, Superintendent
Vista Point Recreation Area
280 State Park Road
Apex, North Carolina 27502
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NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Subject: Permit No. WQ0000488
N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation
Vista Point State Recreation Area
Wastewater Spray irrigation
Chatham 'County
Dear Mr. Seigh:
In accordance with your application received April 30, 1998, we are forwarding herewith Permit No.
WQ0000488, dated September 17, 1998 for the continued operation of the subject wastewater treatment and
spray irrigation facilities.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until October 7, 2003, shall void Permit No.
WQ0000488 issued January 14, 1994, and shall be subject to the conditions and limitations as specified
therein. We considered the request for reduction in the freeboard requirement and believe that an engineering
design problem must exist which does not allow the 17,378 gallon dose (0.4 inches on 1.6 acres) from the
64,000 gallon storage tank. An engineering solution is more appropriate than reducing the permit requirement.
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 I50B of the North Carolina
General Statutes, and filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings, P.O. Drawer 27447, Raleigh, NC
27611-7447. Unless such demands are made this permit shall be final and binding. If you need additional
information concerning this matter, please contact Joe Pearcet (9/733-_083 extension 544.
S
.,
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E.
cc: Chatham.County Health Department
Raleigh Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Raleigh Regional Office, Groundwater Section
Bob Cheek, Groundwater Section, Central Office
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
PO Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] Fax[phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/10% post -consumer paper

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
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
N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation
Chatham County
continued operation of a 2,350 GPD spray irrigation treatment and disposal facility consisting of 1,056 linear
feet of 8 -inch gravity sewer, approximately 3,370 linear feet of 3 -inch diameter force main, a 40 GPM pump
station with dual pumps and high water alarm, a 210,000 gallon capacity facultative lagoon with 1 hp floating
mechanical aerator, a 64,000 gallon capacity storage lagoon, a chlorine contact tank with gas chlorinator, a 68
GPM irrigation pump station with dual pumps and auto -timer shut-off controls, approximately 1.6 acres of
irrigation area and all associated irrigation piping, sprinklers and appurtenances to serve Vista Point State
Recreation Area, with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the application received April
30, 1998, and in conformity with the project plan, specifications, and other supporting data subsequently 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 October 7, 2003, shall void Permit No.
WQ0000488 issued January 14, 1994, 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.
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_
5. 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 drainageways 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.
H. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. Upon classification of the facility by the Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification
Commission (WPCSOCC), 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 WPCSOCC. The Permittee must also
employ a certified back-up operator of the appropriate type and grade to comply with the
conditions of 15A NCAC 8A .0202. The ORC of the facility must visit each Class I facility at
least weekly and each Class H, III, and IV 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 8A.0202.
A suitable year round vegetative cover shall be maintained.
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.
6. 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 application rate shall not exceed a cumulative loading of 20.8 inches per year.
8. No type of wastewater other than that from Vista Point State Recreation Area shall be sprayed
onto the irrigation area.
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9. No traffic or equipment shall be allowed on the disposal area except while installation occurs or
while normal maintenance is being performed_
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 lagoon shall not be less than two feet at any time.
1. 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,
f. weather conditions, and
g. maintenance of cover crops.
3. The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Permittee at the point prior to
irrigation every March, July and November for the following parameters:
BODS TSS
Fecal Coliform pH
NH3 as N
4. Three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition III 2) on Form
NDAR-1 shall be submitted on or before the last day of the following month. Three (3) copies of
all effluent monitoring data (as specified in condition III 3) on Form NDMR-1 shall be submitted
on or before the last day of the following month. All information shall be submitted to the
following address:
NC Division of Water Quality
Water Quality Section
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
Post Office Box 29535
Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535
5. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Raleigh Regional Office, telephone number
[phone], 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:
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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.
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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 remediation action in addition to the penalty provisions applicable under
General Statute 143-215.6A(a)(1).
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.
V. INSPECTIONS
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.
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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 ander 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.
5. The issuance of this permit does not preclude 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.
6. A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject project must be retained by the
Permittee for the life of the project.
7. 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 as specified by 15A NCAC 2H.0205 (c)(4).
8. 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,)Eighth day of October, 1998
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-,/,A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0600488
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