The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutNC0057151_Inspection_20200324EPA 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 NC0057151 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) Mars Hill WWTP NC Hwy 213 W Mars Hill NC 28754 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 02:00PM 20/03/18 16/03/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Jason Roy Riddle/ORC/828-689-2301/ Other Facility Data 03:00PM 20/03/18 20/09/30 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number John L Chandler,PO Box 368 Mars Hill NC 287540368//828-206-2386/Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit 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: C8267AC4-00AD-439B-A486-038EF8BEAA16 3/25/2020 3/25/2020 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 Mars Hill WWTP on 3/18/2020. I met with Jason Riddle (ORC) for the inspection. Overall the WWTP seemed to be well maintained and operated. The only significant operational issue is a low rate of settleability for the mixed liquor. The 3/23/2020 measured mixed liquor settleability was 82% which is rather high, and the sludge blanket in the first clarifier was quite high at 8.5' out of 12' of depth. There is a second clarifier which could be adjusted to receive more of the mixed liquor and could bring down the sludge blanket in the first clarifier. The ORC logbook should be signed every day by either the ORC or backup ORC. I recommend recording more information/events in the ORC logbook such as dates of sampling, measured process control parameters, and operational changes. NC0057151 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: C8267AC4-00AD-439B-A486-038EF8BEAA16 Permit:NC0057151 Inspection Date:03/18/2020 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Mars Hill 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? Settleability and sludge blankets are measured for process control.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? The permit renewal application is due 3/30/2020.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: Grit Removal Yes No NA NE Type of grit removal a.Manual b.Mechanical Is the grit free of excessive organic matter? Is the grit free of excessive odor? # Is disposal of grit in compliance? The mechanism for grit removal is simply a channel that slows the flow. This is pumped out annually and disposed. Comment: Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: C8267AC4-00AD-439B-A486-038EF8BEAA16 Permit:NC0057151 Inspection Date:03/18/2020 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Mars Hill WWTP Compliance Evaluation 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) DO was 2.2 mg/L, according to the probe at the facility. This facility has an automatic blower system that runs off the measured DO by the probe with a target DO of 2.0 mg/L. Settleability measured in the aeration basin on 3/23/2020 was 82% in 30 min. 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? Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately ¼ of the sidewall depth) The sludge blanket was quite high in the first clarifier at probably 8.5' out of 12' of depth. The second clarifier had a sludge blanket <1.0' but it received very little flow. More flow could be sent to the second clarifier to lower the blanket in the first 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? Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: C8267AC4-00AD-439B-A486-038EF8BEAA16 Permit:NC0057151 Inspection Date:03/18/2020 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Mars Hill WWTP Compliance Evaluation Aerobic Digester Yes No NA NE Comment: Disinfection-Liquid Yes No NA NE Is there adequate reserve supply of disinfectant? (Sodium Hypochlorite) Is pump feed system operational? Is bulk storage tank containment area adequate? (free of leaks/open drains) 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 ?Liquid 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? Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? Verified that sample collection is set to flow proportional on the sampler control menu.Comment: Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: C8267AC4-00AD-439B-A486-038EF8BEAA16 Permit:NC0057151 Inspection Date:03/18/2020 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Mars Hill 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: Standby Power Yes No NA NE Is automatically activated standby power available? Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source? Is the generator tested under load? Was generator tested & operational during the inspection? Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site? Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power? Is the generator fuel level monitored? The generator is turned on once per month. It is not tested under load. The generator did run under load however, due to a power outage in June of 2019 and was successful. Comment: Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: C8267AC4-00AD-439B-A486-038EF8BEAA16