WQ0002161_NOV-2019-PC-0681 Response_20191204

ENVIRONMENTAL - WATER SUPPLY - WASTEWATER
CONNER CONSULTING, LLC
1 284 WINDY RIDGE ROAD, CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA 27517
PHONE: [phone]
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December 4, 2019
Mr. Rick Bolich
Assistant Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations
1628 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1628
Re: Notice of Violation — 2019-PC-0681
Carolina Friends School
Wastewater Drip Irrigation
4809 Friends School Road
Durham, North Carolina 27705
Orange County
Permit: WQ0002161
Dear Mr. Bolich:
On behalf of Carolina Friends School, this letter is an initial response to the Notice of Violation
NOV-20189-PC-0681. Three items were noted in the violation letter and are addressed below.
Item # Response
II. Performance Standards - Ammonia levels are exceeding permit limits.
This problem has recently come to light as the EZ Treat systems have been
installed in North Carolina and other states. To resolve the high ammonia
levels we are proposing to install a chemical feed pump and timer to dose 25%
caustic in the recirculating tank to boost pH from 6.5 to 7 to 7 to 8. This ph
adjustment will allow nitrogen bacteria to function and break down the
ammonia. We can also change the recirculation time and change the amount of
effluent circulating. Schedule for action - work can be completed within 60
days.
2. The audible alarm was not working on the dripfield dosing tank.
Action taken McFarland Septic Company is scheduled to replace alarm during
the second or third week of December 2019. We also recognized that one or

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more solenoids in Drip Field A are stuck open. This is likely the cause of the
uneven dosing on Drip Field A and B. This problem will be fixed along with
the alarm repair.
VI General Conditions .... wastewater flow amount shall not exceed permit
limits at no time....
Recent maintenance on the iron removal filter on the drinking water system
will result in less backwash water sent to the wastewater treatment plant.
Another alternative is to completely disconnect the backwash water from
discharging to the plant. The backwash water could be discharged to a
sediment retention basin near the tennis courts.
Inflow numbers are higher than permitted daily flow on several months;
however, the water processed at the wastewater plant has not exceeded permit
limits. This indicates that several water usage situations are not resulting in
actual influent generation (e.g. — construction of new buildings, gardening,
irrigation of sports fields, and leaks). We contend that the wastewater system
is handling the actual influent as evidenced by the excellent condition of the
drip fields.
Please call with questions and comments.
Sincerely yours,
Chad Leinbach
Operator in Responsible Charge
cc: Mark Shanahan, Carolina Friends School
Tony Whitaker, Civil Consultants