NC0084387_Draft Permit_20200212

February 12, 2020

Ms. Jacqueline A Jarrell
Charlotte Water
5100 Brookshire Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28216-3371
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NC0084387
Lee S. Dukes WTP
Grade I Physical Chemical WPCS
Mecklenburg County

Dear Ms. Jarrell:

The Division has reviewed your request to renew the subject permit. Please review this draft carefully to
ensure a thorough understanding of the information, conditions, and requirements it contains.

The draft permit includes the following significant changes from the existing permit:
1. The permit map and supplement to cover page was updated for the following:
a. The correct stream index number is 11-115-(1.5).
b. The correct stream classification is WS-IV.
2. The facility classification Grade I Physical Chemical was added to the effluent page.
3. Concurrent sampling with WET test samples is no longer required.

Review of the application noted that John C. Huber, Chief of Operations, signed the renewal application.
Please note that our database does not list Mr. Huber as having signature authority. You can update this
permit affiliation by completing the Delegation of Signature Authority form.

The NPDES standard conditions (Parts II, III, and IV) that are a part of the permit are not included in
this draft document (cover, map, and Part I). The conditions are the same as in your current permit
except that agency and division names have been updated. The latest version is available at
https://bit.ly/2BZ4xxx and can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF file.

With this notification, the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing a
notice in newspapers having circulation in the general Mecklenburg County area, per EPA requirements.
Please provide your comments, if any, to me at the address below no later than 30 days after
receiving this draft permit.

Following the 30-day public comment period, the Division will review all pertinent comments and take
appropriate action prior to issuing a final permit.

Ms. Jarrell
February 12, 2020
Page 2 of 2

If you have questions concerning the draft, please contact me at 919-707-3618, or via e-mail at
[e-mail].

Sincerely,
Derek Denard, Environmental Specialist
NPDES Compliance and Expedited Permitting
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ

cc: NPDES File

ec: MRO / Cory Basinger [[e-mail]]; Wes Bell [[e-mail]]
WSS/Aquatic Toxicology Branch, Hannah Headrick [[e-mail]]
Wastewater Operator Certification Group ([e-mail])
MRO / PWS / Clinton Cook [[e-mail]]
Charlotte Water / David M Banick [[e-mail]]; Gabe Sasser [[e-mail]]
Richard Farmer [[e-mail]]
NPDES Permit NC0084387

Page 1 of 7
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT

TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
(NPDES)

In compliance with the provisions of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1, other lawful standards
and regulations promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina Environmental Management
Commission, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, the

Charlotte Water

is hereby authorized to discharge treated wastewater from a facility known as
Lee S. Duke, Jr. Water Treatment Plant (WTP)
7980 Babe Stillwell Farm Road, Huntersville
Mecklenburg County

to receiving waters designated as McDowell Creek, within the Catawba River Basin, in accordance with
effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other applicable conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III,
and IV hereof.

The permit shall become effective May 1, 2020.

This permit and the authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on February 28, 2025.

Signed this day _______________.

S. Daniel Smith, Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
NPDES Permit NC0084387

Page 2 of 7
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET

All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge are hereby
revoked, and as of this issuance, any previously issued permit bearing this number is no longer effective.
Therefore, the exclusive authority to operate and discharge from this facility arises under the permit
conditions, requirements, terms, and provisions described herein.
Charlotte Water

is hereby authorized to:

1. continue to operate a conventional technology water treatment plant [coagulation, flocculation,
sedimentation, and filtration] with discharge of wastewaters from media filter backwash and
sedimentation basins with a design potable flowrate of 25.31 MGD and a maximum, monthly
average wastewater discharge of 0.605 MGD, with water and wastewater treatment consisting of;

• three (3) stages of flocculation
• two (2) sedimentation basins
• chlorination equipment
• two (2) filters
• three (3) 9 MG clearwells
• an equalization basin
• a clarifier
• dechlorination equipment
• a sludge thickener
• a residuals storage lagoon
• chemical usage consists of
o powdered activated carbon
o aluminum sulfate
o ferrous sulfate
o chlorine
o polymer
o potassium permanganate
o fluoride
o lime
o liquid linear phosphate
o sodium bisulfite

located at the Lee S. Duke, Jr. Water Treatment Plant (WTP), 7980 Babe Stillwell Farm Road,
Huntersville, Mecklenburg County; and

2. discharge from said treatment works via Outfall 001 at a location specified on the attached map,
into McDowell Creek [Stream Segment 11-115-(1.5)], currently a Class WS-IV waterbody
within Subbasin 03-08-33 [HUC: 030501011401] of the Catawba River Basin.
NPDES Permit NC0084387

Page 3 of 7
PART I
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 seq.]
Grade I Physical Chemical Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G .0302]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the
Permittee is authorized to discharge filter backwash via Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited
and monitored by the Permittee as specified below:

EFFLUENT
CHARACTERISTIC
[PARAMETER CODES]
LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
1
Monthly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Location
Flow (MGD) 50050 Monitor & Report Continuous Recording Effluent
Total Suspended Solids (mg/L) CO530 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L Weekly Grab Effluent
pH (su) 00400 Not < 6.0 or > 9.0
standard units Weekly Grab Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine 2 (µg/L) 50060 28 µg/L 2 Weekly Grab Effluent
Turbidity (NTU) 00070 Monitor & Report Weekly Grab Effluent
Total Aluminum (µg/L) 01105 Monitor & Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Fluoride (µg/L) 00951 Monitor & Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Phosphorous (TP) (mg/L) CO665 Monitor & Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
TKN 3 (mg/L)
NO3-N + NO2-N 3 (mg/L)
TN 3 (mg/L)
00625
00630
CO600
Monitor & Report
Monitor & Report
Monitor & Report
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Grab
Grab
Grab
Effluent
Effluent
Effluent
Chronic WET Testing 4 TGP3B Monitor & Report Quarterly Grab Effluent

Footnotes:

1. The Permittee shall submit Discharge Monitoring Reports electronically using NC DWR’s eDMR application
system. See Condition A. (3.).
2. The Division shall consider TRC effluent values reported below 50 µg/L to be compliant with the
permit. However, the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a North
Carolina-certified laboratory method (including field certified), even if these values fall below 50µg/L.
3. For a given wastewater sample, TN = TKN + NO3-N + NO2-N, where TN is Total Nitrogen, TKN is Total
Kjeldahl Nitrogen, and NO3-N and NO2-N are Nitrate and Nitrite Nitrogen, respectively.
4. Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing - testing of Ceriodaphnia dubia shall be performed as 7-day pass/fail,
monitoring only, test at 37% effluent concentration, during January, April, July and October [See A. (2.)].

Comments:

• Samples shall be taken at the outfall but prior to mixing with the receiving waters.
• There shall be no discharge of floating solids or foam in other than trace amounts.

NPDES Permit NC0084387

Page 4 of 7
A. (2.) CHRONIC TOXICITY PASS/FAIL MONITORING (QUARTERLY)
[15A NCAC 02B .0500 et seq.]

The permittee shall conduct quarterly chronic toxicity tests using test procedures outlined in the “North Carolina
Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure,” (Revised December 2010, or subsequent versions).

The effluent concentration defined as treatment two in the procedure document is 37%. The testing shall be
performed as a Ceriodaphnia dubia 7-day pass/fail test. The tests will be performed January, April, July and
October. These months signify the first month of each three-month toxicity testing quarter assigned to the
facility. Effluent sampling for this testing must be obtained during representative effluent discharge and shall be
performed at the NPDES permitted final effluent discharge below all treatment processes.

All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered electronically using the
Division’s eDMR system for the month in which it was performed, using the parameter code TGP3B.
Additionally, DWR Form AT-1 (original) is to be sent to the following address:

North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1621

Or, results can be sent to the email, [e-mail].

Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Water Sciences Section no later than 30 days after
the end of the reporting period for which the report is made.

Test data shall be complete and accurate and include all supporting chemical/physical measurements performed in
association with the toxicity tests, as well as all dose/response data. Total residual chlorine of the effluent toxicity
sample must be measured and reported if chlorine is employed for disinfection of the waste stream.

Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required,
the permittee will complete the information located at the top of the aquatic toxicity (AT) test form indicating the
facility name, permit number, pipe number, county, and the month/year of the report with the notation of “No
Flow” in the comment area of the form. The report shall be submitted to the Water Sciences Section at the address
cited above.

Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required, then monthly
monitoring will begin immediately. Upon submission of a valid test, this monthly test requirement will revert to
quarterly in the months specified above.

Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the North Carolina Division of Water
Resources indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream, this permit may be re-opened and modified to
include alternate monitoring requirements or limits.

NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as minimum control organism
survival, minimum control organism reproduction, and appropriate environmental controls, shall constitute an
invalid test and will require immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later than the last day of the month
following the month of the initial monitoring.

NPDES Permit NC0084387

Page 5 of 7
A. (3.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) and program
reports. The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted and became effective on December
21, 2015.

NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part II of this
permit (Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits):

• Section B. (11.) Signatory Requirements
• Section D. (2.) Reporting
• Section D. (6.) Records Retention
• Section E. (5.) Monitoring Reports

1. Reporting Requirements [Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (a)]
The permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR’s Electronic
Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet application.

Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and
submitted electronically using eDMR. The eDMR system allows permitted facilities to enter
monitoring data and submit DMRs electronically using the internet. The eDMR system may be
accessed at: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr.

If a permittee is unable to use the eDMR system due to a demonstrated hardship or due to the facility
being physically located in an area where less than 10 percent of the households have broadband
access, then a temporary waiver from the NPDES electronic reporting requirements may be granted
and discharge monitoring data may be submitted on paper DMR forms (MR 1, 1.1, 2, 3) or
alternative forms approved by the Director. Duplicate signed copies shall be submitted to the
following address:

NC DEQ / Division of Water Resources / Water Quality Permitting Section
ATTENTION: Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617

See “How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting” section below.

Regardless of the submission method, the first DMR is due on the last day of the month following
the issuance of the permit or in the case of a new facility, on the last day of the month following the
commencement of discharge.

Starting on December 21, 2020, the permittee must electronically report the following compliance
monitoring data and reports, when applicable:

• Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports;
• Pretreatment Program Annual Reports; and
• Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 316(b) Annual Reports.

NPDES Permit NC0084387

Page 6 of 7
The permittee may seek an electronic reporting waiver from the Division (see “How to Request a
Waiver from Electronic Reporting” section below).

2. Electronic Submissions
In accordance with 40 CFR 122.41(l)(9), the permittee must identify the initial recipient at the time
of each electronic submission. The permittee should use the EPA’s website resources to identify the
initial recipient for the electronic submission.
Initial recipient of electronic NPDES information from NPDES-regulated facilities means the entity
(EPA or the state authorized by EPA to implement the NPDES program) that is the designated entity
for receiving electronic NPDES data [see 40 CFR 127.2(b)].
EPA plans to establish a website that will also link to the appropriate electronic reporting tool for
each type of electronic submission and for each state. Instructions on how to access and use the
appropriate electronic reporting tool will be available as well. Information on EPA’s NPDES
Electronic Reporting Rule is found at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-
24954/national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule
Electronic submissions must start by the dates listed in the “Reporting Requirements” section above.
3. How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting
The permittee may seek a temporary electronic reporting waiver from the Division. To obtain an
electronic reporting waiver, a permittee must first submit an electronic reporting waiver request to
the Division. Requests for temporary electronic reporting waivers must be submitted in writing to
the Division for written approval at least sixty (60) days prior to the date the facility would be
required under this permit to begin submitting monitoring data and reports. The duration of a
temporary waiver shall not exceed 5 years and shall thereupon expire. At such time, monitoring data
and reports shall be submitted electronically to the Division unless the permittee re-applies for and is
granted a new temporary electronic reporting waiver by the Division. Approved electronic reporting
waivers are not transferrable. Only permittees with an approved reporting waiver request may
submit monitoring data and reports on paper to the Division for the period that the approved
reporting waiver request is effective.

Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on
the following web page:

http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr

4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.) (d)]
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person described in Part II,
Section B. (11.)(a) or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part II,
Section B. (11.)(b). A person, and not a position, must be delegated signatory authority for eDMR
reporting purposes.

For eDMR submissions, the person signing and submitting the DMR must obtain an eDMR user
account and login credentials to access the eDMR system. For more information on North
NPDES Permit NC0084387

Page 7 of 7
Carolina’s eDMR system, registering for eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account, please visit
the following web page:

http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr

Certification. Any person submitting an electronic DMR using the state’s eDMR system shall make
the following certification [40 CFR 122.22]. NO OTHER STATEMENTS OF CERTIFICATION
WILL BE ACCEPTED:

"I certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my
direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel
properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or
persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information,
the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete. I
am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the
possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations."

5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D. (6.)]
The permittee shall retain records of all Discharge Monitoring Reports, including eDMR
submissions. These records or copies shall be maintained for a period of at least 3 years from the
date of the report. This period may be extended by request of the Director at any time [40 CFR
122.41].

77
77
73
Scale 1:24,000
FacilityLocation
NPDES Permit NC0084387NorthMecklenburg County
Charlotte WaterLee S. Dukes Water Treatment Plant (WTP)7980 Babe Stillwell Farm Road, Hunterville 28078
Receiving Stream:Stream Segment :Drainage Basin:Latitude:State Grid/USGS Quad:
Stream Class:Sub-Basin:HUC:Longitude:
McDowell Creek11-115-(1.5)Catawba35° 25' 42"Lake Norman S
WS-IV03-08-33
030501011401 81° 53' 17"
McDowell Creek [flows south]
Lake Norman
ApproximateFacility Boundary
Babe Stillwell Farm Rd Outfall 001[flows south]
Not to Scale