WQ0019471_Final Permit_20010112

Mr. Greg Edney, Town Manager
Town of West Jefferson
Post Office Box 490
West Jefferson, North Carolina 28694
Subject:
Dear Mr. Edney:
Michael F. Easley
Governor
Sherri Evans -Stanton, Acting Secretary
Department of Environment and Naturat Resources
January 12, 2001
Permit No. WQ0019471
Town of West Jefferson
Conjunctive Use
Reclaimed Water Utilization System
SRF Project Number C370716-02
SRG Project Number E-SRG-T-00-0092
Kerr T. Stevens
Division of Water Quatity
r
In accordance with your application received October 23, 2000, we are forwarding
herewith Permit No. WQ0019471, dated January 12, 2001, to The Town of West Jefferson for
the construction and operation of the subject wastewater treatment reclaimed water utilization
system.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until January 31, 2006 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.
The conjunctive use permit application and supporting documentation has been evaluated
by the Division, and it has been determined that flow equalization at the West Jefferson
wastewater treatment facility is not required to meet the limitations of Section III.2 in Permit No.
WQ0019471. Accordingly, this permit is issued pursuant to T15A:2H:0219(p), with the
inclusion of condition VI.3.
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.
*A
Customer Service 1 800 623-7748 Construction Grants & Loans Section 1633 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1633 [phone]
FAX: [phone] Internet Address: www.ncgi.net

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 the approved plans and specifications. Mail the
Certification to the Non -Discharge Branch, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
27699-1617. (Engineer's Certification Form is attached.)
One set of approved plans and specifications is being forwarded to you. If you need
additional information concerning this matter, please contact Cecil G. Madden, Jr., P.E. at (919)
715-6203.
Sincerel�,
err T. Stevens
CC" Ashe County Health Department
Asheville Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Asheville Regional Office, Groundwater Section
Groundwater Section, Central Office
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
Daniel Blaisdell, P.E.
Amy Simes, P.E.
DMU
SRF
SRG

NORTH CAROLINA
I
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
CONJUNCTIVE USE RECLAIMED WATER UTILIZATION 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
THE TOWN OF WEST JEFFERSON
ASHE COUNTY
For the
construction and operation of a 380 GPD reclaimed water utilization system consisting of two (2)
38 GPM reuse pumps, a 119 gallon hydropneumatic tank, turbidimeter, solenoid control valve,
piping to drain contaminated water back to the head of the plant with NPDES Permit No.
NCO020451; supplemental, enclosed vessel, ultra violet disinfection with six (6) lamps, irrigation
line with drip emitters on 0.51 acres of land adjacent to the WWTP site, associated yard pipe, site
work and electrical work to serve the Town of West Jefferson with no discharge of wastes to the
surface waters, pursuant to the application received October 23, 2000, 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 January 31, 2006, and shall be
subject to the following specified conditions and limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
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, and other supporting materials. If this project is to be completed in phases
and partially certified, you shall retain the responsibility to track further construction
approved under the same permit, and shall provide a final certificate of completion once
the entire project has been completed. Mail the Certification to the Non -Discharge
Permitting Unit, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617,

2. The Winston-Salem Regional Office, telephone number [phone], shall be notified
at least forty --eight (48) hours in advance of operation 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. The reclaimed water utilization 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.
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. 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.
6. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is
prohibited.
7. The following buffers shall be maintained:
a) 100 feet between wetted areas and water supply wells,
b) 100 feet between wetted areas and waters classified as SA,
c) 25 feet between wetted areas and surface waters not classified as SA,
d) 100 feet between wastewater treatment units and wells,
e) 50 feet between reclaimed water storage/irrigation ponds and property lines, and
f) 50 feet between wastewater treatment units and property lines.
8. Public access to the irrigation sites shall be controlled during active site use. Such
controls may include the posting of signs showing the activities being conducted at each
site. A sign shall be posted in plain sight showing these activities.
II. 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
8G .0202. The ORC of the facility must visit each Class I facility at least weekly and
each Class II, 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 8G .0202. Once the facility is
classified, the Permittee must submit a letter to the WPCSOCC which designates the
operator in responsible charge within thirty days after the wastewater treatment facilities
are 50% complete.
3. A suitable, year-round vegetative cover shall be maintained on the irrigation areas.
4. Irrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or when the ground is in a
condition that will cause runoff.
5. Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent wastewater runoff from the spray field.
C. 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.
7. The application rate shall not exceed a cumulative loading of 10 inches over any twelve
(12) month period at an instantaneous application rate not to exceed 0.05 inches per hour.
8. No type of wastewater other than that from Town of West Jefferson shall be sprayed onto
the irrigation area.
9. All wastewater shall either be rerouted to the headworks of the West Jefferson wastewater
treatment facility or discharged in strict accordance with the conditions of the facility's
existing NPDES permit should the limit for fecal coliform (daily maximum concentration
of 25 per 100 ml) or turbidity (instantaneous maximum of 10 NTU) be exceeded, until
such time that the levels have stabilized below these maximum levels.
III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
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
a
0
c
As an indicator of proper operation and maintenance, the facility shall produce an effluent
in compliance with the following limitations:
Parameter
Flow
BOD_, (5-day, 20°C)
NH3 as N
TSS
Fecal Coliform
Turbidity
Monthly Average a
380 GPD
10 mg/I
4 mg/l
5 mg/1
14 per 100 ml b
Daily (Instantaneous) Maximum
15 mg/1
6 zmg/l
10 mg/1
25 per 100 ml
10 NTU
Monthly averages for all but fecal coliform shall be the arithmetic mean of all samples
collected during the reporting period.
Monthly average for fecal coliform shall be the geometric mean of all samples collected
during the reporting period.
Daily maximum shall be the maximum value of all samples collected during the reporting
period.
The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored, by the Permittee, at the point prior to
discharge to the 0.51 acre drip irrigation for the following parameters:
Parameter
Flow
Turbidity
BOD5 (5-day, 20°C)
NH3 as N
TSS
Fecal Coliform
Settleable Matter
NO3
TDS
TOC
Chloride
Sampling, Point
Influent or Effluent
Effluent
Effluent
Effluent
Effluent
Effluent
Effluent
Effluent
Effluent
Effluent
Effluent
Sampling Frequency,
As Used
Continuous
* 2/Month
*2/Month
*2/Month
*2/Month
Daily
* *Triannually
*'Triannually
**Triannually
**Triannually
Tyne of Sample
Recording
Composite
Composite
Composite
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
The effluent pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units.
* 2/1\4onth sampling frequency only during the months of April through October. During
the remainder of the year, these parameters shall be monitored monthly.
* * Triannually sampling shall be conducted during March, July, and November.
If Groundwater sampling indicates or predicts problems with the compliance with Groundwater
Standards, this permit will be modified to include additional and/or more restrictive limitations.

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 and time of irrigation,
b. volume of wastewater irrigated,
C. zone irrigated,
d. length of time zone is irrigated,
e. continuous weekly, monthly, and year-to-date hydraulic (inches/acre) loadings for
each zone,
1. weather conditions, and
g. maintenance of cover crops.
4. Three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition 1112) on
Form NDAR-1 and three (3) copies of all effluent monitoring data (as specified in
condition III 3 and 1114) 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
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
5. A maintenance log shall be maintained at this facility including but not limited to the
following items:
a. Daily sampling results including residual chlorine, settleable matter, and dissolved
oxygen in the aeration basin and at the clarifier weir.
b. Visual observations of the plant and plant site.
C. Record of preventative maintenance (changing of filters, adjusting belt tensions,
alarm testing, diffuser inspections and cleanings, etc.).
d. Date of calibration of flow measurement device.
e. Date and results of power interruption testing on alternate power supply.
6. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Winston-Salem Regional Office, telephone
number (336) 771--4640, 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 Iimitations.
Persons reporting such occurrences by telephone shall also file a written report in letter
forn 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.
IV. GROUNDWATER REQUIREMENTS
1. Groundwater monitoring wells not in use shall be properly sealed and capped according
to 15A NCAC 2C .0113(a) in case they are put back into use in the future.
2. The compliance boundary and review boundary for wastewater disposal systems are
specified by 15A NCAC 2L. For systems utilizing reclaimed water, 15A NCAC 2H
.0219(k) specifies that both the compliance boundary and review boundary shall be
established at the property line. An exceedance of groundwater quality standards at or
beyond the compliance boundary is subject to immediate remediation action in addition
to the penalty provisions under North Carolina General Statute § 143-215.6A(a)(1).
3. Any groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be
provided.
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.

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 issued pursuant to TI5A:2H:0219(p) for the construction and operation of
a reclaimed water utilization facility without flow equalization. In the event that
non-compliance with any permit limitation results from the absence of flow equalization,
this permit may be administratively reopened, and a requirement for the construction of a
flow equalization basin may be incorporated into the permit.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject project must be retained by the
Permittee for the life of the project.
8. The annual administering and compliance fee must be paid by the Permittee within thirty
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).

9. The Permittee, within 90 days following issuance of this permit, shall request
modification of NPDES Permit No. NCO020451 issued to the West Jefferson wastewater
treatment facility. The modification shall amend the existing NPDES permit to allow the
conjunctive use of reclaimed water as provided for in this permit.
10. This permit in no way negates, precludes, or invalidates the most recent reissuance of
NPDES Permit No. NCO020451, and the Permittee shall continue to comply with all
conditions provided for therein.
Permit issued this 12th day of January, 2001
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
f l Stevens,`DIr for `U
,XSion of Water Qualiv
Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Number WQ0019471

Permit No. WQ0019471
Non -Discharge Permit
Town of West Jefferson
ENGINEER'S 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 Conjunctive Use Reclaimed Wastewater System serving the Town of
West Jefferson, located in Ashe County, hereby state that to the best of my abilities, due care and
diligence was used in the observation of the following construction:
A 380 GPD reclaimed water utilization system consisting of two (2) 38 GPM reuse pumps, a 119
gallon hydropneumatic tank, turbidimeter, solenoid control valve, piping to drain contaminated
water back to the head of the plant with NPDES Permit No. NCO020451; supplemental, enclosed
vessel, ultra violet disinfection with six (6) Iamps, irrigation line with drip emitters on 0.51 acres
of land adjacent to the WWTP site, associated yard pipe, site work and electrical work to serve
the Town of West Jefferson with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the
application received October 23, 2000, and in conformity with the project plan, specifications,
and other supporting data subsequently filed and approved by the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
I certify that the construction of the above referenced project was observed to be built within
substantial compliance and intent of the approved plans and specifications.
Signature
Date
Registration No.
Mail this Certification to the DENR/DWQ
Non Discharge Permit Unit
Water Quality Section
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617