WQCSD0059_Response to Notice_20181115

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CITY OF SALUDA
NORTH CAROLINA
Thursday, November 15, 2018
G. Landon Davidson, P.G.
Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources
NCDEQ
Attn: Mikal Wilmer
2090 U.S. 70 Highway
Swannanoa NC, 28778
NOV-2018-DV-0326, 0327, 0328
Dear Landon Davidson and Mikal Wilmer,
I am in receipt of the Notice of Violation for three SSO self reported by the City of Saluda. This
letter is intended to serve as the required response to the Notice of Violation. As mentioned in
the 5-day report of the SSO, Hurricane Michael unexpectedly brought 9 inches of rain to Saluda
NC. This rainfall amount is based on local rain gauges. Water flooded main street, laurel drive
and Ozone Drive during this rain event. It was a phenomenal storm. Especially phenomenal in
the fact, forecasts showed it would pass to the southeast of the city. Forecasts indicated we
were to receive less than 2 inches. With that said, rain should not inflow into our system.
Rainfall totals should have little impact on our flows. The City of Saluda recognizes that during
certain rain events we are receiving heavy inflow into specific sections of our system.
The City of Saluda is working and dedicated to eliminating inflow into the sewer system. In
order to accomplish this, three active corrective and remedial actions are constantly underway
in the City of Saluda.
1. The City is currently in process with the USDA of working on 13 sewer and water
projects. The sewer projects are replacing existing undersized and aged sewer lines on
Florida Street, Poplar street and Hart Street. These three streets directly flow into the
trunk lines which ultimately are part of these three SSO’s. The projects are anticipatedto
be completed by the end of 2019. These projects should help with reducing inflow, but
MAYOR
Fred Baisden
CITY MANAGER
Jonathan Cannon
COMMISSIONERS
Mark Oxtoby
Paul C. Marion
Stan Walker
Leon Morgan
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will not be sufficient to eliminate the inflow. One project will completely replace the US
176 lift station listed in incident # 201803059. This should have a significant impact on
this lift stations ability to keep up with flows even during storm events.
2. Staff frequently walk sewer lines and perform routine inspections. Points of concern
which can be addressed are repaired as quickly as possible. Large sections of line which
need to be replaced or repaired are marked on a list which is provided every month to
the Board of Commissioners. These concerns are discussed frequently at Board
meetings and are at the forefront of budgeting discussions.
3. Staff targets maintenance and preparations of areas of know problems to ensure lines
are cleaned and cleared. These areas are specifically checked before and after storms.
These may include jetting, hand clearing manholes and checking equipment including
generators.
The City of Saluda realizes that replacement of large portions of our sewer system is probably
the most effective and only realistic way to completely capture control of the inflow problems
in the city. Budgetary constraints prohibit the ability for the city to replace all of the sewer
system at this time. Even so, the measures listed above are a concerted effort to do as much as
the city can possibly do to reduce and capture control of the inflow in the sewer system.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Cannon
City Manager
Office: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.cityofsaludanc.com
Address:
6 E. Main St.
PO Box 248
Saluda NC, 28773