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Home My WebLink AboutNC0082716_Inspection_20200318EPA 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 NC0082716 20/03/18 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) Wolf Laurel WWTP Puncheon Fork Rd Mars Hill NC 28754 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 04:00PM 20/03/18 16/02/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Richard Morgan Swilling/ORC/828-697-0063/ Other Facility Data 05:00PM 20/03/18 20/09/30 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number James Landry,125 Valley View Cir Mars Hill NC 28754//828-689-4597/Contacted No 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 Daniel J Boss DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4658/ 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: 6FA9A6B5-E95C-4CA1-9B5E-D6B365C5F514 3/23/2020 3/23/2020 NPDES yr/mo/day 20/03/18 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) I (Daniel Boss) conducted a compliance evaluation inspection of the Wolf Laurel WWTP on 3/18/2020. I met with Richard Swilling (ORC) for the inspection. The facility was not treating the wastewater optimally at the time. The effluent was somewhat turbid, and the clarifier sludge-judge measurement and mixed liquor settleability test confirmed that while most of the solids are settling quickly, some fine particulates are not settling well and causing turbidity. Mr. Swilling attributed this to the seasonal change in temperatures. The structure of the plant is somewhat corroded. It's difficult to assess how great the need for refurbishment of the plant is though, since only a small portion of the structure is visible and above ground. This facility does not have a flow meter and it is required by the permit to have continuous flow monitoring. The ORC is currently using instantaneous flow measurement for reporting. This permit needs to be renewed by 9/30/2020 and I recommend requesting a change to instantaneous flow measurement requirements during the permit renewal, since this facility is permitted for less than 30,000 gpd of flow and it is not required to perform any composite sampling. NC0082716 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 6FA9A6B5-E95C-4CA1-9B5E-D6B365C5F514 Permit:NC0082716 Inspection Date:03/18/2020 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Wolf Laurel 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? Comment: Pump Station - Influent Yes No NA NE Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? Is the wet well free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Is SCADA telemetry available and operational? Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? Comment: Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual b.Mechanical Are the bars adequately screening debris? Is the screen free of excessive debris? Is disposal of screening in compliance? Is the unit in good condition? Comment: Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 6FA9A6B5-E95C-4CA1-9B5E-D6B365C5F514 Permit:NC0082716 Inspection Date:03/18/2020 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Wolf Laurel WWTP Compliance Evaluation Equalization Basins Yes No NA NE Is the basin aerated? Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment? Is the basin free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Are audible and visual alarms operable? # Is basin size/volume adequate? Comment: Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext. Air Type of aeration system Diffused 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) Settleability was 26% in 30 minutes. Only 5% of clear water in the settleometer after 30 minutes though. 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? Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 6FA9A6B5-E95C-4CA1-9B5E-D6B365C5F514 Permit:NC0082716 Inspection Date:03/18/2020 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Wolf Laurel WWTP Compliance Evaluation Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately ¼ of the sidewall depth) Difficult to measure the sludge blanket. It was probably quite low, about 2' out of 10' depth. However the wastewater in the clarifier was quite turbid to within 1' of the surface of the clarifier. Comment: Aerobic Digester Yes No NA NE Is the capacity adequate? Is the mixing adequate? Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank? # Is the odor acceptable? # Is tankage available for properly waste sludge? Comment: Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Number of tubes in use?2 Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? Comment: De-chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system ?Tablet Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? Is storage appropriate for cylinders? # Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? Comment: Are the tablets the proper size and type? Are tablet de-chlorinators operational? Number of tubes in use?2 Comment: Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: 6FA9A6B5-E95C-4CA1-9B5E-D6B365C5F514 Permit:NC0082716 Inspection Date:03/18/2020 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Wolf Laurel WWTP Compliance Evaluation Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? This facility does not have a flow meter. The ORC is using instantaneous flow measurement for reporting. Comment: Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 6FA9A6B5-E95C-4CA1-9B5E-D6B365C5F514