SDTF9501_CMP_20190411

From:Andrew Blethen
To:Harrison, Troy
Cc:Jennifer Greene
Subject:[External] 4/11/19 Site Visit Troy Norris Rd, Watauga County
Date:Friday, April 12, 2019 11:10:10 AM
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Troy,

I just want to follow up with our phone conversation from yesterday regarding Mike Garlock’s
dewatering facility on Troy Norris Road, Watauga County. As we discussed I arrived at the site at
approximately 4:30. I met the adjoining property owner, Michael Broom. He informed me that his
neighbor had witnessed another spill the evening of April 10 and had taken pictures. I asked Mr.
Broom to try and obtain copies of the pictures to send to us. While on his property I walked the
creek from the pond to the point where we noted the iron bacteria is surfacing on our last site visit
of March 14, 2019. I also walked up the slope approximately 75 feet from the creek to look for
evidence of another spill. I did not see any visible signs of water (standing, pooling, flowing or
wetness) from the dewatering site upslope in the drainage way.

Next I went to the dewatering plant. There were several Triple T employees on the site. I first spoke
with Taylor. He indicated that he primarily drove the pump trucks and that in addition to bringing
sewage to the site he also has been taking several loads of the “water” to the treatment facility that
serves “The Ponds” development in Foscoe, Watauga County. Taylor suggested that I speak with
Aaron who “ran the site”.

Aaron indicated that he has been running the plant for the past two months. He explained that the
water that is separated from the sludge goes to one of two 4,000 galling holding tanks. The first tank
doses the surface drip system permitted on the site and that any overflow went to a second 4,000
gallon tank and then to the 6,000 gallon tank to be transported to the wastewater treatment facility
at “The Ponds”. He told me that he was at the facility the evening of April 10 and did not notice any
type of spill or discharge from the site that day.

I then proceeded to inspect the site. I first began with walking over the drip emitter lines to the
North of the plant. I noted that the system control panel at the dosing tank did not have power and
that the “pump” switch was in the off position. No effluent was noted on the ground surface in that
treatment zone. Next I looked at the black, plastic culvert that runs from the sludge holding sites
under the road to the hill that leads down to Mr. Broom’s property. I noted a small stream of water
coming out from the pipe and running down the drainage way for about 75 feet down the hill. At
this point the flow dissipated and stopped. The water standing below the pipe did have a “greenish”
tint to it and smelled of wastewater.

Finally I walked over the surface drip dispersal filed to the South of the plant. The control panel for
the dosing tank had power but the “pump” switch was in the off position. No effluent was noted in
the surfacing in the dispersal field. I spoke with Aaron and informed him that it did not appear that
the drips fields were in use. He was unaware as to why and restated that it was his understanding
that water from facility was being actively sent to the drip system for treatment. I also made him
aware of the water discharging from the culvert.

I have attached a number of pictures of the facility as observed yesterday and of the path the spill
from March 8 meets with the creek on Mr. Broom’s property. As stated before I did not see any
visible signs that water from the facility had recently reached the creek on Mr. Broom’s property.
However I should say that the April 10 and 11 were sunny days and a small discharge could have
dried up by the time I visited the site.

Please let me know if have questions or need further clarification. We will be glad to assist in any
manner possible.

Andy

Andrew Blethen, MPA, REHS
Environmental Health SupervisorAppalachian District Health Department(828) 264-4995 Ext [e-mail]

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