WQCS00017_NOV-2019-DV-0116 Response_20190226

TWO VERS
U T I L I T I E S
We are TRU to our customers!
U.S. Postal Service
Certified Mail: #7017 2680 0000 7742 5815 po'sti
February 26, 2019
Mr. W. Corey Basinger, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Mooresville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
610 East Center Avenue; Suite 301
Mooresville, NC 28115
RE: NOTICE OF VIOLATION & INTENTTO ISSUE CIVIL PENALTY
Tracking No.: NOV-2019-DV-0116
Sanitary Sewer Overflows —January 2019
Collection System Permit No. WQCS00017
Gastonia Collection System (Two Rivers Utilities)
Gaston County
Dear Mr. Basinger:
The City of Gastonia's Two Rivers Utilities (TRU) is in receipt of the referenced Notice of Violation & Intent to
Issue Civil Penalty for a self -reported sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) occurring in January 2019. The intent of
this correspondence is to provide additional information regarding the cause of the SSO and actions taken to
prevent recurrence of such event.
The SSO reported is identified below:

Please find additional information below for the self -reported SSO:
Incident Number 201900282—Behind 4712 Maplecrest Drive
• The SSO was not intentional.
• Cause: Pipe failure (separation/settlement at joint)
• Total Volume: 36,000 gallons
• Total Volume Reaching Surface Waters: 36,000 gallons
• Duration: The sewer overflow was reported on January 30, 2019 at 7:OOpm and ended on January
31, 2019 at 1:OOam. The emergency response crew responded immediately. Once the repair was
made and the SSO ceased, the site was cleaned and pulverized lime was applied. The total SSO
duration time was 360 minutes.
• Impacts to Public Health: There were no known or reported impacts to public health.
• Fish Kills: There were no known or reported fish kills.
• Money Saved by Non -Compliance: No expense was saved by non-compliance. TRU has dedicated
crews that clean and inspect sewer lines as part of our preventative maintenance program. The SSO
required action that resulted in the expenditure of funds for the emergency response.
• Actions Taken to Prevent Recurrence: This line segment was last inspected in August 2018 and was
found to be in good condition. Once the SSO was reported and the break was discovered, the
emergency response crew made an immediate repair on the pipe segment utilizing a repair
coupling. A permanent repair, which will include a segment of pipe replacement, is currently being
planned and scheduled.
Although there were no identified fill kills, no known negative impacts to public health, and no closures of
recreational areas due to the self -reported SSO, TRU remains sensitive to environmental and public risks
associated with SSOs and committed to protecting the environment and natural resources. TRU has an
active inspection program and personnel that is trained and certified to perform preventative and corrective
maintenance to our system. We continue to make advancements to improve all programs relating to the
care and maintenance of the wastewater collection system.
Thank you for consideration of the information provided herein. If I can provide any additional information,
or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via phone at [phone] or email me at
brianp([e-mail].
Sincerely ,
6 Potocki, PE
Assistant Director of Public Utilities
cc: Joe Albright, Director of Public Utilities
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