NC0058742_Inspection_20190903

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
LINDA CULPEPPER
Director
Mr. Shannon V. Becker, President
Aqua North Carolina, Inc.
202 Mackenan Court
Cary, North Carolina 27511
Dear Mr. Becker:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
3 September 2019
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Country Valley WWTP
NPDES Permit No. NCO058742
Catawba County
Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Evaluation Inspection Report for the inspection conducted at the subject facility on
August 27, 2019, by Mr. Wes Bell of this Office. Please inform the facility's Operator -in -Responsible Charge (ORC) of our
findings by forwarding a copy of the enclosed report.
The report should be self-explanatory; however, should you have any questions concerning this report, please do
not hesitate to contact Mr. Bell at [phone] or at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by:
A14CC681 AF27425...
W. Corey Basinger, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Enclosure:
Inspection Report
D Q
� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Mooresville Regional Office 1 610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301 1 Mooresville, North Carolina 28115
NORTH CAROLINA
Da"MoM a enWmn�bl mwnq 704,663.1699

United States Environmental Protection Agency
Form Approved.
EPA Washington, D.C. 20460
OMB No. 2040-0057
Water Compliance Inspection Report
Approval expires 8-31-98
Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS)
Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type
1 IN I 2 15 I 3 I NCO058742 111 12 I 19/08/29 I17 18 I S I 19 I G I 201 I
211111 1 1 I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I f6
Inspection
Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ---------------------- Reserved -------------------
67
2.0 70 71 [.. I 72 73 L_LJ74 751 I I I I I I I80
u u
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
Entry Time/Date
Permit Effective Date
POTW name and NPDES oermit Number)
09:27AM 19/08/29
15/05/01
Country Valley WWTP
Ole Country Ln
Exit Time/Date
Permit Expiration Date
Newton NC 28658
11:25AM 19/08/29
20/04/30
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
Other Facility Data
John Allen Martin/ORC/704-489-9404/
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Shannon V Becker,202 Mackenan Ct Cary NC 27511/President/919-653-5570/
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports
Self -Monitoring Program Sludge Handling Disposal Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Waters
Laboratory
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
(See attachment summary)
Name(s) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
EDocuSigned by: 9/3/2019
Wes Bell MRO WQ//704-663-1699 Ext.2192/
e�
�PiY 2 r6
A61696D90=43T
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
W. Corey Basinger Division of Water Quality//704-2'
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
DocuSigned by:
' 9/3/2019
Page#
A14CC681AF27425...

NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type
NCO058742 I11 121 19/08/29 117 18 JCJ
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
Page#

Permit: NCO058742
Inspection Date: 08/29/2019
Owner - Facility: Country Valley WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Permit
Yes No NA NE
(If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new
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0
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application?
Is the facility as described in the permit?
0
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# Are there any special conditions for the permit?
M
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Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public?
0
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Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection?
0
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Comment: The last compliance evaluation inspection by DWR staff was performed on 6/13/16.
Record Keeping
Yes No NA NE
Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit?
0
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Is all required information readily available, complete and current?
0
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Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)?
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Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs?
0
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Is the chain -of -custody complete?
0
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Dates, times and location of sampling
Name of individual performing the sampling
Results of analysis and calibration
Dates of analysis
Name of person performing analyses
Transported CM
Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters?
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Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ?
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(If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator
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on each shift?
Is the ORC visitation log available and current?
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Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification?
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Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification?
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Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site?
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Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review?
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0
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Comment: The records reviewed during the inspection were organized and well maintained.
Discharge
Monitoring Reports (eDMRs) were reviewed for the period July 2018 through June 2019. No
effluent limit violations were reported and all monitorina freauencies were correct.
Laboratory
Yes No NA NE
Page# 3

Permit: NCO058742 Owner - Facility: Country Valley WWTP
Inspection Date: 08/29/2019 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Laboratory
Yes No NA NE
Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory?
0
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Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab?
0
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# Is the facility using a contract lab?
0
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# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees
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0
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Celsius)?
Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees?
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0
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Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees?
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0
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Comment: On -site field analvses (dissolved oxvaen. oH. temDerature. total residual chlorine) are
performed under Aqua NC's laboratory certification #5035. Water Tech Labs (all permit
parameters except field) has also been contracted to provide analytical support.
The ORC must ensure to do initial and post calibration checks on the dissolved oxygen
meter.
Effluent Sampling
Yes No NA NE
Is composite sampling flow proportional?
0
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Is sample collected below all treatment units?
0
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Is proper volume collected?
0
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Is the tubing clean?
0
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# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees
0
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Celsius)?
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type
0
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representative)?
Comment: The subject permit requires composite and grab effluent samples.
Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, and 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
sampling location)?
Comment:
Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE
Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable ❑ ❑ ❑
Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable?
Comment: The wastewater treatment facility appeared to be properly operated and well maintained.
Process control measurements were being documented and maintained on -site.
The facility's telemetry -type alarm system functioned properly during the on -site test.
Page# 4

Permit: NCO058742
Inspection Date: 08/29/2019
Owner - Facility: Country Valley WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Bar Screens
Yes No NA NE
Type of bar screen
a.Manual
b.Mechanical
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Are the bars adequately screening debris?
0❑
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Is the screen free of excessive debris?
0
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Is disposal of screening in compliance?
0
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Is the unit in good condition?
0
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Comment: Screenings are transported to the Hwy. 150 WWTP's dumpster and ultimately disposed at
the County Landfill by a contracted company
Equalization Basins
Yes No NA NE
Is the basin aerated?
0
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Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment?
0
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Is the basin free of excessive grease?
0
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Are all pumps present?
0
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Are all pumps operable?
0
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Are float controls operable?
0
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Are audible and visual alarms operable?
0
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# Is basin size/volume adequate?
0
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Comment:
Aeration Basins
Yes No NA NE
Mode of operation
Ext. Air
Type of aeration system
Diffused
Is the basin free of dead spots?
0 ❑
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Are surface aerators and mixers operational?
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0
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Are the diffusers operational?
0 ❑
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Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process?
0 ❑
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Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin's surface?
0 ❑
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Is the DO level acceptable?
0 ❑
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Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/1)
0 ❑
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Page# 5

Permit: NCO058742
Inspection Date: 08/29/2019
Aeration Basins
Owner - Facility: Country Valley WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Yes No NA NE
Comment: Soda ash is added on an as -needed basis to maintain appropriate alkalinitv/DH levels.
The 30-minute settleability test was 970 ml/L with a clear supernate at the time of the
inspection. The ORC/Permittee must ensure that an adequate sludge wasting program is
implemented (via process control program, etc.) to maintain an appropriate solids inventory
and sludge age in the aeration basins.
Secondary Clarifier
Yes No NA NE
Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater?
0
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Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier?
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0
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Are weirs level?
0
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Is the site free of weir blockage?
0
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Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting?
0
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Is scum removal adequate?
0
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Is the site free of excessive floating sludge?
0
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Is the drive unit operational?
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0
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Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)?
0
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Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc?
0
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Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately'/4 of the sidewall depth)
0
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Comment:
Disinfection -Tablet
Yes No NA NE
Are tablet chlorinators operational?
0
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Are the tablets the proper size and type?
0
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Number of tubes in use?
2
Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable?
0
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Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup?
0
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Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination?
0
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Comment:
Flow Measurement - Effluent
Yes No NA NE
# Is flow meter used for reporting?
0
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Is flow meter calibrated annually?
0
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Is the flow meter operational?
0
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(If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter?
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0
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Page# 6

Permit: NCO058742
Inspection Date: 08/29/2019
Owner - Facility: Country Valley WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE
Comment: The flow meter was last calibrated/verified by the ORC/Aqua NC staff on 6/10/19. The
V-notch weir was replaced following the previous inspection.
Following discussions with the ORC regarding flow meter calibrations, this Office is
concerned with the level of training and lack of instrumentation (proper staff gauges, etc.)
used to perform these calibrations. The Permittee must ensure that all Aqua staff involved
with flow meter calibrations are properly trained and equipped to do these calibrations.
De -chlorination
Yes No NA NE
Type of system ?
Tablet
Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)?
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0
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Is storage appropriate for cylinders?
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0
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# Is de -chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers?
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0
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Comment:
Are the tablets the proper size and type? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Are tablet de -chlorinators operational? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Number of tubes in use? 3
Comment:
Effluent Pipe
Yes No NA NE
Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained?
0
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Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris?
0
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If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly?
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0
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Comment: The effluent appeared clear with no floatable solids or foam. The receiving stream did not
appear to be negatively impacted.
Aerobic Digester
Yes No NA NE
Is the capacity adequate?
0
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Is the mixing adequate?
0
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Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank?
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# Is the odor acceptable?
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# Is tankage available for properly waste sludge?
0
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Comment: Wastewater solids are removed on an as -needed basis by a contracted company (currently
Rick's Septic Tank Service).
Standby Power
Is automatically activated standby power available?
Yes No NA NE
■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Page# 7

Permit: NC0058742
Inspection Date: 08/29/2019
Owner - Facility: Country Valley WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Standby Power
Yes No NA NE
Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source?
0
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Is the generator tested under load?
0
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Was generator tested & operational during the inspection?
0
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Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site?
0
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Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power?
0
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Is the generator fuel level monitored?
0
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Comment: The generator is exercised (automatically) weekly and placed under load (by CIRC) monthly.
Aqua NC contracts a company (currently Palmer Generator) to service the generator.
Page# 8