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Home My WebLink AboutNC0021369_Follow-up_20191201 December 1, 2019 Tim Barth, Town Manager Town of Columbus PO Box 146 Columbus, NC 28722 SUBJECT: Follow-up Compliance Inspection Report Columbus WWTP NPDES WW Permit No. NC0021369 Polk County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Columbus WWTP on 11/21/2019. This inspection was conducted to determine what steps have been taken and are planned to bring the system back into compliance with permit no. NC0021369. The findings and comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report entitled "Compliance Inspection Report". Please continue to keep the Asheville Regional Office apprised of improvements and corrective actions as they occur. Should you have any questions about the inspection or compliance with the upcoming permit, do not hesitate to contact me at 828-296-4686 or via email at Mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Mikal Willmer, Environmental Specialist II Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS EC: WQS-ARO Server LF DocuSign Envelope ID: 23977A06-628D-42B9-819D-A25D641EA720 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 NC0021369 19/11/21 C 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) Columbus WWTP 355 Levi Rd Columbus NC 28722 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:00AM 19/11/21 14/03/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Christopher C Cochran/ORC// Other Facility Data 11:30AM 19/11/21 18/07/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Robert K Rosseter,515 Forest Ave Landrum SC 293569406//864-848-5527/Contacted 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 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: 23977A06-628D-42B9-819D-A25D641EA720 12/2/2019 12/2/2019 NPDES yr/mo/day 19/11/21 Inspection Type C3111218 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 compliance evaluation inspection of the Columbus WWTP on November 21, 2019. This inspection was conducted to determine what steps have been take and are currently underway to the bring the facility back into compliance since the inspection on March 25, 2019. Chris Cochran was present and assisted in the inspection. The ORC continues to operate the facility to the extent current conditions will allow. Observations noted during the inspection are below. Headworks: New refrigerated sampler ordered for influent sampling. Facility staff are still looking to replace screens on the screw auger. Aeration Basin: A special condition has been added to the draft permit requiring a wastewater management plan be created and submitted within 180 days of the finalized permit’s effective date. The facility still has limited treatment capacity within the AB due to the amount of solids within the basin. At the time of the inspection, Mr. Cochran reported the solids depth had been checked within the basin. There are approximately 9' of solids at the center of the basin leaving approximately 2' of vertical space for treatment. The Town currently plans to have the basin dredged and have the solids placed in geotubes for disposal in a landfill. One of the floating aerators is still inoperable. Sheet Pile Wall: Staff discovered the supernatant drains to the facility’s wet well and is pumped back to the headworks. The Town has contracted with their engineering firm (Municipal Engineering Services Company) to assess the sheet-pile wall. The assessment and recommendations will need to be submitted as part of the wastewater management plan. It is recommended the Town have a plan in place, should the sheet pile wall fail before a long-term solution is implemented. Digester: Synagro land applied solids for the Town of Columbus earlier this year, allowing the ORC to waste as needed. The WWTP will test a screw press at the beginning of December as a potential long-term solids management option. There is also the potential for using geo-tubes and hauling to a nearby landfill. Chlorine: Facility is looking to request modification of disinfectant from chlorine gas to liquid chlorine. Effluent sampler: A refrigerated sampler has also been ordered for effluent sampling. Floor Drain: Staff routed the drain to the facility to prevent the discharge of chemicals to the environment. The ARO acknowledges steps are being taken to bring the system back into compliance. NC0021369 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 23977A06-628D-42B9-819D-A25D641EA720 Permit:NC0021369 Inspection Date:11/21/2019 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Columbus WWTP Compliance Evaluation 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 is currently in draft phase. The facility classification has been corrected as well as the facility description. A special condition has been added to the permit. See summary for details. Comment: Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 23977A06-628D-42B9-819D-A25D641EA720 Certificate Of Completion Envelope Id: 23977A06628D42B9819DA25D641EA720 Status: Completed Subject: Please DocuSign: 20191201_NC0021369_FollowUp.ltr.docx, 20191201_NC0021369_FollowUp.pdf Source Envelope: Document Pages: 4 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 Dec 2, 2019 | 12:35 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: Dec 2, 2019 | 12:36 Viewed: Dec 2, 2019 | 12:36 Signed: Dec 2, 2019 | 12:36 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: Dec 2, 2019 | 12:36 Viewed: Dec 2, 2019 | 12:44 Signed: Dec 2, 2019 | 12:44 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 Dec 2, 2019 | 12:36 Certified Delivered Security Checked Dec 2, 2019 | 12:44 Signing Complete Security Checked Dec 2, 2019 | 12:44 Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps Completed Security Checked Dec 2, 2019 | 12:44 Payment Events Status Timestamps