WQ0005690_Final Permit_19920512

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Management
512 North. Salisbury Street - Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
James G. Martin, Governor
William W. Cabey, Jr., Secretary
George T. Everett, Ph.D
Director
March 12, 1992
Mr. John Davis
Director of Maintenance
Gaston County Board of Education
Post Office Box 1397
Gastonia, North Carolina 28053
Subject: Permit No. WQ0005690
Gaston County Board of Education
Tryon Elementary School
Subsurface Disposal System
Gaston County
Dear Mr. Davis:
In accordance with your application received October 4, 1991, we are forwarding herewith Permit
No. WQ0005690, dated March 12, 1992, to the Gaston County Board of Education for the construction
and operation of a 6,630 GPD low pressure pipe subsurface wastewater disposal system.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until February 28, 1997, 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.
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit are unacceptable to you, you have
the right to request an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within 30 days following receipt of this
permit. This request must be in the form of a written petition, conforming to Chapter 150B of 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.
Regional Offices
Asheville Fayetteville Mooresville Raleigh Washington Wilmington Winston-Salem
704/251-6708 9191486-1541 704/663-1699 9191733-2314 919/946-6481 9191395-3900 919/761-2351
Pollution Prevention Pays
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer

Mr. John Davis
Director of Maintenance
Gaston County Board of Education
March 12, 1992
Page 2
One set of approved plans and specifications is being forwarded to you. If you need additional
information concerning this matter, please contact Mr. Dana J. Bolden at 919/ 733-50$3.
Gaston County Health Department
Mooresville Regional Office, Water Quality
Mooresville Regional Office, Groundwater
Groundwater Section, Jack Floyd
Training and Certification Unit
H.L. Moorefield, P.E., Frank C. Cockinos & Associates, Incorporated
Facilities Assessment Unit

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
SUBSURFACE DISPOSAL 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
Gaston County Board of Education
Gaston County
FOR THE
construction and operation of a 6,630 GPD subsurface wastewater disposal system consisting of an
existing 12,000 gallon septic tank, an existing sand filter, an exiting wet well (former sand filter
recirculation well) to be equipped with dual 70 GPM pumps and high water alarms, approximately 1,500
linear feet of three force main, and a 5,705 ft2 subsurface disposal area (8,558 linear feet of eight inch
wide disposal trenches) to serve Tryon Elementary School with no discharge of wastes to the surface
waters, pursuant to the application received October 4, 1991 and in conformity with the project plan,
specifications, and other supporting data subsequently filed and approved by the Department of
Environment, Health and Natural Resources and considered a part of this permit.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until February 28, 1997, and shall be
subject to the following specified conditions and limitations:
SIU : �m E
1. Upon completion of construction and prior to operation of this permitted facility, a
certification must be received from a professional engineer certifying that the permitted
facility has been installed in accordance with this permit, the approved plans and
specifications. Mail the Certification to the Permits and Engineering Unit, P.O. Box
29535, Raleigh, NC 27626-0535,
2. The Mooresville Regional Office, phone no. [phone], shall be notified at least
forty-eight (48) hours in advance of backfilling of the installed facilities so that an in-place
inspection can be made. Such notification to the regional supervisor shall be made during
the normal office hours from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday,
excluding State Holidays.
3. In the event that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily, including the creation of
nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall take immediate corrective action, including those
as may be required by this Division, such as construction of additional or replacement
wastewater treatment or disposal facilities.

4. 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.
5. This permit shall become voidable if the soils fail to adequately absorb the wastes and may
be rescinded unless the facilities are installed, maintained, and operated in a manner which
will protect the assigned water quality standards of the surface waters and ground waters.
6. Adequate measures shall be taken to divert stormwater from the disposal area and prevent
wastewater runoff from the subsurface disposal field.
7. The sludge generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed of in accordance with
General Statute 143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the North Carolina Division of
Environmental Management.
8. A usable reserve area shall be maintained for wastewater disposal. The reserve area shall
have the capability of accommodating the average daily flow of the facility being served
without exceeding the loading rates of the reserve area while meeting all required buffer
requirements. The plans indicate the playground as the repair area. Should this repair area
ever be utilized for wastewater disposal , you may be required to severly restrict or
discontinue play activities.
9. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is
prohibited.
10. The following buffers shall be maintained:
a) 100 feet between disposal area and any public or private water supply including
wells
b) 100 feet between disposal area and "SA and SB" classified surface waters
c) 50 feet between disposal area and any stream, lake, river or natural drainageway
d) 50 feet between disposal area and property lines
e) 10 feet between disposal area and surface water interceptor drains or diversions
(upslope)
f) 25 feet between disposal area and surface water interceptor drains or diversions
(downslope) and groundwater drainage systems.
11. A leakage test shall be performed on the septic tank and dosing tank to insure that any
exfiitration occurs at a rate which does not exceed twenty (20) gallons per twenty-four (24)
hour per 1,000 gallons of tank capacity. The engineer's certification will serve as proof of
compliance with this condition.
1. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, the Permittee shall
employ a certified wastewater treatment plant operator to be in responsible charge of the
wastewater treatment facilities. The operator must hold a certificate of the type and grade at
least equivalent to the classification assigned to the wastewater treatment facilities by the
Certification Commission. Once the facility is classified, the Permittee must submit a letter
to the Certification Commission which designates the operator in responsible charge within
thirty days after the wastewater treatment facilities are 50% complete.
3. The application rates to the disposal field shall not exceed 0.15 GPD/f(2
2

4. The facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated as a non -discharge system tc
prevent the discharge of any wastewater resulting from the operation of this facility.
5. No traffic or equipment shall be allowed on the disposal area except while installation
occurs or while normal maintenance is being performed.
6. A suitable cover shall be maintained on the LPP field(s) and the field(s) shall be routinely
mowed. The clippings shall be periodically removed to prevent the build-up of thatch.
u 1� 1: ►, :►� : '1: ► : 1 1: u
- -1. Any monitoring deemed necessary by the Division of Environmental Management to insure
surface and ground water protection will be established and an acceptable sampling
reporting schedule shall be followed.
2. The low pressure lines shall be maintained as necessary (including purging of the lines and
pressure testing) in order to ensure that they remain free of obstructing materials and that
the pressure head on the laterals remains within the design specifications. The highest and
lowest laterals on each subfield shall be checked (and adjusted as necessary) annually to
ensure that the pressure heads are within the approved specifications. If adjustments are
necessary to the highest and lowest laterals, the remaining laterals in that subfield shall also
be checked and adjusted to the approved specifications. Adequate records showing all
maintenance shall be maintained by the Permittee. These records should include but are not
limited to the following:
Items _Inspection Frenuency
a) Individual dosing pump operation Monthly
b) Individual field rotation Monthly
c) High water alarms Monthly
d) Residual pressure on highest and
lowest lateral on each subfield Annually
3. Three copies of all operation and maintenance records (as specified in condition III 2) shall
be submitted on or before January 31 of the following year to the following address:
NC Division of Environmental Management
Water Quality Section
Facility Assessment Unit
PO Box 29535
Raleigh, NC 27626-0535
4. A record shall be maintained of all residuals removed from this facility. This record shall
include the name of the hauler, permit authorizing the disposal or a letter from a
municipality agreeing to accept the residuals, date the residuals were hauled, and volume of
residuals removed.
5. Noncom l�iange Notifigation:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Mooresville Regional Office, telephone no.
[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:
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 basin or tank; the known passage of a slug of
hazardous substance through the facility; or any other unusual circumstances.
3

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 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 15 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.
OWN l► I I ,: ' :
1. Any groundwater quality monitoring as deemed necessary by the Division of
Environmental Management shall be provided
V. IN-SPECT.IONS
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 of Environmental Management or other permitting authority.
3. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division of Environmental
Management may, upon presentation of credentials, enter and inspect any property,
premises or place on or related to the disposal site and facility at any reasonable time for the
purpose of determining compliance with this permit; may inspect or copy any records that
must be kept under the terns and conditions of this permit; or may obtain samples of
groundwater, surface water, or leachate.
1. This permit shall become voidable unless the facilities are constricted in accordance with
the conditions of this permit, the approved plans, 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.
4

3. This permit is not transferable. In the event there is 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 of Environmental Management 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. A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject project must be retained by the
applicant for the life of the project.
5. 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 15 NCAC 2H .0205
(c)(4).
6. Failure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit may subject the
Permittee to an enforcement action by tae Division of Environmental Management in
accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6A to 143-215.6C.
7. The subject wastewater treatment and disposal facilities shall be connected to an operational
publicly owned wastewater collection system within 180 days of its availability to the
subject facilities, if the subject wastewater treatment or disposal facilities are in
noncompliance with the terms and conditions of this non -discharge permit or the governing
statutes or regulations.
Prior to the initiation of these connection activities, appropriate approval must be received
from this Division.
8. 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.
9. 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 12th day of March, 1992
CAROLINA
e T. Ev rett,
Division of E q viron
By Authority the
Permit Number WQ0005690
MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
agement
ital Management Commission
6

Permit No. WQ0005690
March 12, 1992
Engineers Certification
I, , as a duly registered Professional Engineer in the State of North
Carolina, having been authorized to observe (periodically, weekly, full time) the construction of the
Project
Project Name
Location
for the
Permittee hereby state that, to the best of my abilities, due care and diligence was used in the observation
of the construction such that the construction was observed to be built within substantial compliance and
intent of the approved plans and specifications.
Signature - . Registration No.
Date

NORTH
SITE LOCATION
TRYON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
GASTON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
PO
LAW ENGINEERING
r= U RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLI
DRAWN: Frank C. Cockinos DATE: 07/08/91
DFT CHECK: FDS SCALE: NTS
ENG CHECK: Fns JOB NO. J6494A

4W
RATING SCALE FOR CLASSIFICATION OF FACILITIES
Name of Plant: O
Owner or Contact Person:
Mailing Address: Pc2i, dny l ^:L
County: Telephone: Toy/ fNK -00 Y
NPDES Permit No. NCOO Nondisc. Per. NO.
lssueDa#eExpiration Date:
Existing Fagility New Facility
Rated By: ,�/c�P✓1 _ Date:
Reviewed (Train. & Cert.) Reg. Office
Reviewed (Train. & Cert.) Central Office
ORC Grade
Plant Class: (circle one) Q
ITEM POINTS
(1) Industrial Pretreatment Units and/or
2
Industrial Pretreatment Program
2
(see definition No. 33)
4
(2) DESIGN FLOW OF PLANT IN GPD
B
(not applicable to non -contaminated cooling waters, sludge
handling facilities for water purification plants, totally
(4) PRIMARY TREATMENT UNITS
closed cycle systems (dei. No. 11), and facilities
(a) Septic Tank (see definition no. 43) ..............
consisting only of Item (4) (d) or Items (4) (d) and {11) (cjJ.�
0 - 20.000 ..........................
(�
20,001 - 50,000 ..........................
2
50,001 -- 100,000 ..........................
3
100,001 - 250,000 ..........................
4
250,001 •- 500,000 ..........................
5
500,001 --1,000,000 ..........................
a
1,000,001 -- 2,000,000 ........................
10
2,000,001 (and up) - rate 1 point additional for each
2
200,000 gpd capacity up to a
maximum of 30
Design Flow (gpd) : 6 d G10
(3) PRELIMINARY UNITS (see definition no. 32)
(a) Bar Screens ................................
1
or
(b) Mechanical Screens, Static Screens or
Comminuting Devices ........................
2
(c) Grit Removal ...............................
1
or
(d) Mechanical or Aerated Grit Removal ...........
2
(e) Flow Measuring Device .......................
1
or
(Q Instrumented Flow Measurement ..............
2
(g) Preaeration................................
2
(h) Influent Flow -Equalization ...................
2
(i) Grease or Oil Separators - Gravity ..........
2
Mechanical ..........
3
Dissolved Air Flotation.
B
(J) P►echlorination ..............................
5
(4) PRIMARY TREATMENT UNITS
Q
(a) Septic Tank (see definition no. 43) ..............
(b) Imhoff Tank ..................................
5
(c) Primary Clarifiers ...... ... .............
5
(d) Settling Ponds or Settling Tanks for Inorganic
Non-toxic Materials (sludge handling facilities
for water purification plants, sand, gravel,
stone, and other mining operations except
recreational activities such as gem or gold
minimi......................................
2
Ill IV Total Points
(5) SECONDARY TREATMENT UNITS
(a) Carbonaceous Stage
(i)Aeration - High Purity Oxygen System .....
Diffused Air System .......... .
Mechanical Air System (fixed,
floating or rotor) ..............
Separate Sludge Reaeration _ ... .
(ii) Trickling Filter
High Rate ...................
Standard Rate ...............
Packed Tower ...............
(iii) Biological Aerated Filter or Aerated
Biological Filter ......................
(iv) Aerated Lagoons ..................... .
(v) Rotating Biological Contactors ..........
(vi) Sand Filters -
intermittent biological .... .
recirculating biological .... .
(vri) Stabilization Lagoons ...................
(viii)Ciarifier ..............................
(ix) Single stage system for combined
carbonaceous removal of BOD and
nitrogenous removal by nitrification
(see def. No. 12) (Points for this item
have to be in addition to items (5) (a)
(i) through (5) (a) (viu) .................
(x) Nutrient additions to enhance BOD
removal..... ..............
(xi) Biological Culture ('Super Bugs") addition
to enhance organic compound removal .... _
(b) Nitrogenous Stage
(i) . Aeration - High Purity Oxygen System .... .
Diffused Air System ...........
Mechanical Air System (fixed,
floating, or rotor) ...... ......
Separate Sludge Reaeration .... .
(ii) Trickling Filter -
High Rate ..............
Standard Rate ........... .
Packed Tower... ........
(iii) Biological Aerated Filter or Aerated
Biological Filler .........................
(iv) Rotating Biological Contactors ............
(v) Sand Filter -
intermittent biological ....... .
recirculating biological ....... .
(vi) Clarifier........... .....................

ar
(6) TERTIARY OR ADVANCED TREATMENT UNIT
{a)
Activated Carbons Beds -
10
without carbon regeneration ..................
5
with carbon regeneration . ......... ........
15
(b)
Powdered or Granular Activated Carbon Feed -
5
(c)
without carbon tegeneration .................
5
with carton regeneration ....................
15
(c)
Air Stripping .......................'. ..
5
(d)
Denitrification Process (separate process) .....
10
(e)
Electnodalysis .... .. ..................
5
{f}
Foam Separation ........ .... . ..............
5
{9)
lion Exchange ................................
5
(h)
Land Application of Treated Effluent
2
(i)
(see definition no. 22b) (not applicable for
5
sand, gravel, stone and other similar mining
2
U7
operations)
(i) on agriculturally managed sites (See def.
10
(k)
No. 4) ...........+ .......................
10
(ii) by high rateinfiltration on non -agriculturally
10
(8) SLUDGE DISPOSAL (including incinerated ash)
managed sites (includes rotary distributors
(a) Lagoons ........................................
2
and similar fixed nozzle systems) ...........
4
(iii) by subsurface disposal (includes low pressure
(see definition 22a)
pipe systems and gravity systems except at
-where the facility holds the land app. permit ...
plants consisting of septic lank and nitrifica-
-by contracting to a land application operator who
tionlines only) .................. _ ........ .
(i)
microscreens ... . ............ . .................
5
{j}
Phosphorus Remo,ral by Biological Processes
not hold the permit for the wastewater treatment
(See def- No. 26) ............................
20
(k)
Polishing Ponds - without aeration .......
2
Landfilled (burial) ............................ 1
with aeration ..........
5
(1)
Post Aeration - cascade ..............
0
5
diffused or mechanical ...
5
(m) Reverse Osmosis ...............................
5
(n)
Sand or Mixed -Media Fillers - low rate ...........
2
Radiation ...................•...••.
high rate ..........
5
(o)
Treatment processes for removal of metal or
cyanide....................................
15
(p)
Treatment processes for removal of toxic
materials other than metal or cyanide .........
15
f SLUDGE TREATMENT
(a)
Sludge Digestion Tank - Heated ...............
10
Aerobic ...............
5
Unheated .............
3
(b)
Sludge Slabilization (chemical or thermal) .......
5
(c)
Sludge Drying Beds - Gravity .................
2
Vacuum Assisted .......
5
(d)
Sludge Elutriation .............................
5
(e)
Sludge Conditioner (chemical or thermal) ........
5
(f)
Sludge Thickener (gravity) ......................
5
(g)
Dissolved Air Flotation Unit
(not applicable to a unit rates as (3) (ij .........
8
(h)
Sludge Gas Utilization (including gas storage) ....
2
(i)
Sludge Holding Tank - Aerated ................
5
Non-aerated ............
2
U7
Sludge Incinerator - (not including activated
carbon regeneration) ..
10
(k)
Vacuum Fitter, Centrifuge or Filter Press or other
similar dewatering devices ....................
10
(8) SLUDGE DISPOSAL (including incinerated ash)
(a) Lagoons ........................................
2
(b)
Land Application (surface and subsurface)
(see definition 22a)
-where the facility holds the land app. permit ...
10
-by contracting to a land application operator who
holds the land application permit ................
2
-land application of sludge by a contractor who does
not hold the permit for the wastewater treatment
facility where the sludge,is generated .........
10
(c)
Landfilled (burial) ............................ 1
5
(9) DISINFECTION
5
(a)
Chlorination .............................
5
(b)
Dechlorination ........................
5
(c)
Ozone ..............................
5
(d)
Radiation ...................•...••.
(10) -CHEMICAL ADDITION SYSTEM (S) {See definition No. 9)
(not applicable to chemical additions rated as item
(3) {j), (5) (a) (xi), (6) (a), (6) (b), (7) (b). (7) (e),
(9) (a), (9) (b), or (9) (c) 5 points each: List:
(11) MISCELLANEOUS UNITS
(a) Holding Ponds, Holding Tanks or Settling Ponds
for Organic or Toxic Materials Including wastes
from mining operations containing nitrogen and/or
phosphorous compounds in amounts significantly
greater than is common lot domestic wastewater .......... 4
(b) Effluent Flow Equalization (not applicable to storage
basins which are inherent in land application systems). 2
(c) Stage Discharge (not applicable to storage basins
inherent in land application systems ........................ .............. 5
(d) Pumps.»....»...__»_.-----.._
(e) Stand -By Power
(f) Thermal Pollution Control Device:_» ................ ..... 3
TOTAL POINTS
CLASSIFICATION
Class L_-- 5 - 25 Points
Class Il.. »_ .,._ ._ .. . » __ 26- 50 Points
Class 51- 65 Points
Class tV... _ __ 66- Up Points
Facilities having a rating of one through four points, inclusive,
do not require a certified operator. Classification of all other
facilities requires a comparable grade operator in responsible
charge.
Facilities having an activated sludge process will be assigned
a minimum classification of Class If.
Facilities having treatment processes for the removal of metal
or cyanide will be assigned a minimum classification of Class If.
Facilities having treatment processes for the biological removal
of phosphorus will be assigned a minimum classification of Class
Ill.
In -plant processes and related conttat equipment which are an
integral part of industrial production shall not be considered waste
treatment. Likewise, discharges of wastewater from residences
having a design flow of 1,000 gpd or less, shall not be subject to
rating.
ADDITIONAL MM N