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Home My WebLink AboutNC0028975_TA_20191125 November 25, 2019 Jonathan Cannon, City Manager City of Saluda PO Box 248 Saluda, NC 28773-0248 SUBJECT: Technical Assistance Inspection Report Saluda WWTP NPDES WW Permit No. NC0028975 Polk County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Saluda WWTP on 11/13/2019. This inspection was conducted due to the recent sewer-line moratorium and effluent DO exceedances. Comments and recommendations noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 828-296-4686 or via email at mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Mikal Willmer, Environmental Specialist Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report EC: WQS-ARO Server LF G:\WR\WQ\Polk\Wastewater\Municipal\Saluda WWTP 28975\Inspections\Inspect. Nov. 13, 2019\20191125_NC0028975_TA DocuSign Envelope ID: 807033EC-7AC3-4FCE-BB71-CE3B0DB5D346 EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 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 N 52 NC0028975 19/11/13 D S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Saluda WWTP Pearson Falls Rd Saluda NC 28773 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:00AM 19/11/13 18/11/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Trevor Clyde McMinn/ORC/828-691-7191/ Other Facility Data 11:00AM 19/11/13 23/07/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Rodney A Gibson,PO Box 248 Saluda NC 287730248//828-749-2581/Contacted Yes Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Self-Monitoring Program Sludge Handling Disposal Effluent/Receiving Waters 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 Mikal Willmer DWR/Division of Water Quality/828-296-4686/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page#1 DocuSign Envelope ID: 807033EC-7AC3-4FCE-BB71-CE3B0DB5D346 11/25/2019 11/25/2019 NPDES yr/mo/day 19/11/13 Inspection Type D3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Mikal Willmer, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a Technical Assistance Inspection of the Saluda WWTP on November 13, 2019. This inspection was conducted due to the recent moratorium and issues maintaining effluent DO. Trevor McMinn, Bobby Kramer (KACE Environmental), Kevin Queen and Jonathan Cannon (Saluda) were present and assisted in the inspection. Overall the facility is being maintained in compliance. Effluent DO minimums were not met for several months as facility staff made operational adjustments to address the new permit requirement. The flow exceedances experienced in 2018 and early 2019 are due to I&I within the collection system (discussed in detail in the April 2019 CS CEI). The excessive flows have not caused continued treatment issues to date; however, until the major sources of I&I can be addressed, plant performance should be closely monitored. See below for observations and recommendations noted during the inspection. Debris: Debris continue to cause problems with pumps at the facility. KACE and City staff discussed several options to help reduce debris. The City is still considering a mechanical system at the headworks and potentially netting to reduce leafy debris in the fall. Solids: Staff report they have trouble wasting sludge adequately due to debris clogging pumps. This is potentially contributing to old sludge age and solids build up. Until this can be resolved, solids levels should be maintained at appropriate levels to prevent solids from exiting the clarifiers during heavy flow events. Blowers: Only two of the three blowers are operational. This makes maintaining adequate DO levels in the AB difficult during warmer months. Additionally, due to issues with the current electrical panel, the two operable blowers are not running efficiently. City Staff currently have plans to have the electrical panel repaired. Effluent DO: An airline has been added post chlorination that runs off the current blowers for the AB. It was noted, during the inspection, that supplying air to the effluent to maintain required DO levels significantly decreases air to the diffusers in the AB, directly affecting treatment during warmer months. It is recommended the third blower be repaired. Flow Meter: The most recent flow meter calibration indicated the percent error from true value was >10% as found. It is recommended City or KACE staff periodically manually check the actual flow in between calibrations to ensure accuracy. If the meter is consistently drifting >10% between calibrations, this may be an indication the meter needs to be replaced. Additionally, please carefully review the moratorium letter dated October 21, 2019 and the relevant statute. Paragraph three of the letter indicates what steps need to be taken to come into compliance with the rule. NC0028975 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 807033EC-7AC3-4FCE-BB71-CE3B0DB5D346 Permit:NC0028975 Inspection Date:11/13/2019 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Saluda WWTP Technical Assistance Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Comment: Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new application? Is the facility as described in the permit? # Are there any special conditions for the permit? Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? Permit was recently renewed. No special conditions or compliance schedules listed within the permit. Effluent DO limits were recently added to the permit. See summary for details. Comment: Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier? Are weirs level? Is the site free of weir blockage? Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? Is scum removal adequate? Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? Is the drive unit operational? Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately ¼ of the sidewall depth) Solids hauling has been increased to twice a year; however, solids continue to build up within the center-well. The ORC, Mr. McMinn indicated solids build-up quickly within the facility. See summary for additional details and observations. The blanket, at the time of the inspection, was approximately 3/4's the depth of the clarifier. No solids appeared to be flowing over the weir. Comment: Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext. Air Type of aeration system Diffused Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 807033EC-7AC3-4FCE-BB71-CE3B0DB5D346 Permit:NC0028975 Inspection Date:11/13/2019 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Saluda WWTP Technical Assistance Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Is the basin free of dead spots? Are surface aerators and mixers operational? Are the diffusers operational? Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin’s surface? Is the DO level acceptable? Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/l) DO levels are being maintained; however, only two of the three blowers are in operation.Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? Tubing is covered to prevent growth and damage.Comment: Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 807033EC-7AC3-4FCE-BB71-CE3B0DB5D346 Certificate Of Completion Envelope Id: 807033EC7AC34FCEBB71CE3B0DB5D346 Status: Completed Subject: Please DocuSign: 20191125_NC0028975_TA.ltr.docx, 20191125_NC0028975_TA.insp.pdf Source Envelope: Document Pages: 5 Signatures: 2 Envelope Originator: Certificate Pages: 2 Initials: 1 Mikal Willmer AutoNav: Enabled EnvelopeId Stamping: Enabled Time Zone: (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) 217 W. Jones Street Raleigh, NC 27699 Mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov IP Address: 149.168.204.10 Record Tracking Status: Original Nov 25, 2019 | 13:59 Holder: Mikal Willmer Mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov Location: DocuSign Signer Events Signature Timestamp Mikal Willmer mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov Environmental Specialist North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Security Level: Email, Account Authentication (None) Signature Adoption: Drawn on Device Using IP Address: 149.168.204.10 Sent: Nov 25, 2019 | 14:01 Viewed: Nov 25, 2019 | 14:01 Signed: Nov 25, 2019 | 14:02 Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure: Not Offered via DocuSign G. Landon Davidson landon.davidson@ncdenr.gov Asheville Regional Office, Regional Supervisor DEQ, Division of Water Resources, Water Quality Regional Operatoins Security Level: Email, Account Authentication (None) Signature Adoption: Uploaded Signature Image Using IP Address: 149.168.204.10 Sent: Nov 25, 2019 | 14:02 Viewed: Nov 25, 2019 | 14:21 Signed: Nov 25, 2019 | 14:21 Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure: Not Offered via DocuSign In Person Signer Events Signature Timestamp Editor Delivery Events Status Timestamp Agent Delivery Events Status Timestamp Intermediary Delivery Events Status Timestamp Certified Delivery Events Status Timestamp Carbon Copy Events Status Timestamp Witness Events Signature Timestamp Notary Events Signature Timestamp Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps Envelope Sent Hashed/Encrypted Nov 25, 2019 | 14:02 Certified Delivered Security Checked Nov 25, 2019 | 14:21 Signing Complete Security Checked Nov 25, 2019 | 14:21 Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps Completed Security Checked Nov 25, 2019 | 14:21 Payment Events Status Timestamps