WQ0035706_NORR-2019-LV-0685_20200116

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality |Division of Water Resources - Washington Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall, Washington, North Carolina 27889
252-946-6481

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
LINDA CULPEPPER
Director

January 16, 2020
CERTIFIED MAIL 7018 1830 0000 9509 9208
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Ben Stikeleather - County Manager
Currituck County
153 Courthouse Rd. – Suite 302
Currituck, NC 27929-0039

Subject: Notice of Regulatory Requirements NORR-2019-LV-0685
Groundwater Quality
Moyock Regional WWTP
Permit No. WQ0035706
Currituck County

Dear Mr. Stikeleather:

Permit No. WQ0035706 was issued by the Division on April 30, 2019 for the continued
operation of the wastewater treatment and disposal system serving the above referenced facility.
A review of the permit and Groundwater Monitoring Reports showed that total ammonia in
Monitoring Wells MW-1, MW-2 and MW-3 were above the groundwater standard.

The Division of Water Resources has reason to believe that Currituck County is responsible for
activities resulting in noncompliance with North Carolina law. Currituck County is producing
wastewater effluent with concentrations above the Groundwater Quality Standard for total
ammonia (1.5 mg/L). The self-reported sample reports for the above referenced wells have
elevated concentrations of total ammonia. This letter is to formally notify you of violations of
15A NCAC 2L (Groundwater Quality Standards) and to advise you of what you are required to
do to correct these violations in accordance with 15A NCAC 2L .0106 (d).

According to 15A NCAC 2L .0106 (d) (1) the permittee shall demonstrate through predictive
calculations or modeling, that natural site conditions, facility design and operational controls will
prevent a violation of standards at the compliance boundary. Alternately, the person may submit
a plan for alteration of existing site conditions, facility design or operational controls that will
prevent a violation at the compliance boundary, and implement that plan upon its approval by the
Secretary.

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality |Division of Water Resources - Washington Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall, Washington, North Carolina 27889
252-946-6481

Mr. Ben Stikeleather
January 16, 2020
Page 2 of 2

If contaminants are detected at or beyond the compliance boundary, the permittee shall respond
in accordance with the requirements of 15A NCAC 2L .0106 (f). The permittee shall assess the
cause, significance and extent of the violation of standards and submit the results of the
investigation, and a plan and propose a schedule for corrective action to the Division. The
permittee shall implement the plan as approved.

Also, according to 15A NCAC 2L .0106 (f) an initial response is required to be conducted prior
to or concurrent with the assessment required in 15A NCAC 2L .0106 (d). The permittee shall
abate, contain, or control the migration of contaminants. The permittee shall remove, treat or
control the primary pollution source. The site assessment shall be in accordance with 15A NCAC
2L .0106 (g) and the corrective action shall be in accordance with 15A NCAC 2L .0106 (h).

We request that you respond to this notice within fifteen working days from its receipt. In your
response, please confirm that Currituck County intends to comply with the above requirements.

We appreciate your attention and prompt response in this matter. If you have questions, please
do not hesitate to call Robert Tankard at [phone] or Randy Sipe at [phone].

Sincerely,

Robert Tankard
Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Operations Section
Washington Regional Office

cc: Laserfiche