HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0024252_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20200325 (2)United States Environmental Protection Agency
Form Approved.
EPA Washington, D.C. 20460
OMB No. 2040-0057
Water Compliance Inspection Report
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 IN 1 2 u 3 I NCO024252 111 121 20/03/13 I17 18 LC] I 19 I s I 20L]
21111I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I r6
Inspection
Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ---------------------- Reserved -------------------
67
2.0 701d I 71 I„ I 72 I r., I 71 I 74 79 I I I I I I I80
L—I ty L-1 I I
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
Entry Time/Date
Permit Effective Date
POTW name and NPDES permit Number)
09:35AM 20/03/13
16/12/01
Northeast WWTP
3680 Hillview Dr
Exit Time/Date
Permit Expiration Date
Conover NC 28613
01:20PM 20/03/13
21/11/30
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
Other Facility Data
Brian Robert Bradshaw/ORC/828-464-4808/
William Paul Huffman//828-465-2279 /
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Donald E Duncan,PO Box 549 Conover NC 28613/City Manager/828-464-4808/
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit 0 Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports
Self -Monitoring Progran 0 Sludge Handling Dispo: Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Wate
Laboratory
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
Wes Bell sgnedby: DWR/MRO WQ/704-663-1699 Ext.2192/ 3/25/2020
Be&
E�D`Ilc6L
96D90=43T
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax N eP9'"1igned by: Date
H uft 3.25.2020
Andrew Pitner DWR/MRO WQ/704-663-1699 Ext.2180/ L1"-.� �'
F161FB69A2D84A3...
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
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NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type
NCO024252 I11 12I 20/03/13 117 18 i c i
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
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Permit: NCO024252 Owner -Facility: Northeast WWTP
Inspection Date: 03/13/2020 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Permit
Yes
No
NA
NE
(If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new
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application?
Is the facility as described in the permit?
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# Are there any special conditions for the permit?
0
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Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public?
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Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection?
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Comment: The City implements an approved Industrial Pretreatment Program.
The last compliance evaluation inspection at the facility was performed by
DWR staff on
-1-1/11M-7
Record Keeping
Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit?
Is all required information readily available, complete and current?
Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)?
Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs?
Is the chain -of -custody complete?
Dates, times and location of sampling
Name of individual performing the sampling
Results of analysis and calibration
Dates of analysis
Name of person performing analyses
Transported COCs
Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters?
Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ?
(If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operatc
on each shift?
Is the ORC visitation log available and current?
Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification?
Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification
Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site?
Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review?
Yes No NA NE
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Permit: NCO024252 Owner -Facility: Northeast WWTP
Inspection Date: 03/13/2020 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Comment: The records reviewed during the inspection were organized and well maintained. Discharge
Monitoring Reports (eDMRs) were reviewed for the period February 2019 through January
2020. A monthly average effluent ammonia violation was reported in September 2019. The
Division has separately addressed this limit violation through the issuance of a NOV.
The February, March, November and December 2019 eDMRs will be revised to include
upstream monitoring data, metals values (with the correct units of measurement) and flow
values (during holidays) for all applicable above -noted months. .
Laboratory
Yes
No
NA NE
Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory?
0
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Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab?
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# Is the facility using a contract lab?
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# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees
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Celsius)?
Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees?
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Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees?
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Comment: On -site field analvses (dissolved oxvaen. DH. temDerature. total residual chlorine) are
performed under the City's field laboratory certification #5334. Water Tech Labs and R&A
Labs have also been contracted to provide analytical support.
The facility staff use the temperature measuring device on the dissolved oxygen (DO)
meter
to read the effluent (multiple times throughout the month) and upstream/downstream
temperatures. The facility staff must ensure that the temperature measuring device on the
DO meter is verified annually against a NIST traceable thermometer. The DO meter must
read within 0.5 degrees Celsius of the NIST traceable thermometer (Reference: NC
Wastewater/Groundwater laboratory certification approved procedure for the analyses of
Dissolved Oxygen).
Influent Sampling Yes No NA
NE
# Is composite sampling flow proportional? 0 ❑ ❑
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Is sample collected above side streams? 0 ❑ ❑
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Is proper volume collected? 0 ❑ ❑
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Is the tubing clean? ❑ ❑ 0
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# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees N ❑ ❑
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Celsius)?
Is sampling performed according to the permit? 0 ❑ ❑
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Comment: The subject permit requires influent BOD and TSS composite samples. The ORC and staff
must ensure that the aliauot volume is verified monthly (at minimum) and documented.
Effluent Sampling
Is composite sampling flow proportional?
Yes No NA NE
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Permit: NCO024252 Owner -Facility: Northeast WWTP
Inspection Date: 03/13/2020 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Effluent Sampling
Yes
No
NA
NE
Is sample collected below all treatment units?
0
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Is proper volume collected?
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Is the tubing clean?
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# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees
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Celsius)?
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type
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representative)?
Comment: The subject permit requires composite and grab effluent samples. The facility has been
Previously approved to collect time -based composite samples. The ORC and staff must
ensure that the aliquot volume is verified monthly (at minimum) and documented.
Upstream / Downstream Sampling
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, an(
sampling location)?
Comment:
Operations & Maintenance
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?
Yes No NA NE
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Yes No NA NE
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Comment: The wastewater treatment facility appeared to be properly operated and well maintained.
Process control measurements were being documented and maintained on -site.
The facility is equipped with a telemetry -type alarm system for specific alarm conditions
(high water, blower failure, etc.).
Bar Screens
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?
Yes No NA NE
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Comment: The bar screens will remove large debris: however, smaller debris was observed in the
SBRs. The City should continue to investigate upgrades to the screening system including
the installation of a fine screening system.
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Permit: NC0024252
Inspection Date: 03/13/2020
Grit Removal
Type of grit removal
Owner -Facility: Northeast WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Yes No NA NE
a.Manual
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b.Mechanical
Is the grit free of excessive organic matter?
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Is the grit free of excessive odor?
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# Is disposal of grit in compliance?
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Comment: Screenings and grit are disposed (by a contracted company)
at a permitted landfill.
Pump Station - Influent
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:
Flow Measurement - Influent
# 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?
Yes No NA NE
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Comment: The flow meter is calibrated annuallv and was last calibrated on 12/9/19 by Clearwater.
Sequencing Batch Reactors
Yes
No
NA NE
Type of operation:
Is the reactor effluent free of solids?
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Does minimum fill time correspond to the peak hour flow rate of the facility?
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Is aeration and mixing cycled on and off during fill?
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The operator understands and can explain the process?
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Comment: All four SBR trains were operational and in service. The SBRs are in continuous fill mode.
Page# 6
Permit: NC0024252
Inspection Date: 03/13/2020
Owner -Facility: Northeast WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Filtration (High Rate Tertiary)
Yes
No
NA
NE
Type of operation:
Down flow
Is the filter media present?
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Is the filter surface free of clogging?
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Is the filter free of growth?
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Is the air scour operational?
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Is the scouring acceptable?
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Is the clear well free of excessive solids and filter media?
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Comment: All five tertiary filters were operational and in service.
Disinfection -Liquid
Yes
No
NA
NE
Is there adequate reserve supply of disinfectant?
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(Sodium Hypochlorite) Is pump feed system operational?
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Is bulk storage tank containment area adequate? (free of leaks/open drains)
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Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable?
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Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup?
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Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination?
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Comment:
De -chlorination
Yes No
NA
NE
Type of system ?
Liquid
Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)?
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Is storage appropriate for cylinders?
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# Is de -chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers?
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Comment:
Are the tablets the proper size and type? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
Are tablet de -chlorinators operational? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
Number of tubes in use?
Effluent Pipe
Yes
No
NA
NE
Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained?
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Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris?
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If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly?
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Permit: NC0024252
Inspection Date: 03/13/2020
Owner -Facility: Northeast WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE
Comment: The effluent appeared clear with no floatable solids or foam. The receiving stream did not
appear to be negatively impacted.
Standby Power
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?
Yes
No
NA
NE
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Comment: The backuD aenerator is tested weekly (bv City staff) and Dlaced under load auarterlv (at a
minimum). A contracted company services the generator annually. The generator will
power all critical treatment processes except tertiary filters and sludge thickener and pumps.
The facility staff must ensure to document all operation/maintenance activities performed on
the generator.
Solids Handling Equipment
Yes
No
NA NE
Is the equipment operational?
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Is the chemical feed equipment operational?
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Is storage adequate?
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Is the site free of high level of solids in filtrate from filter presses or vacuum filters?
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Is the site free of sludge buildup on belts and/or rollers of filter press?
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Is the site free of excessive moisture in belt filter press sludge cake?
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The facility has an approved sludge management plan?
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Comment: The facilitv is eauiDDed with two sludae storaae tanks (WAS and thickened sludae) and a
gravity belt sludge thickener. The thickener was operational: however, not in service during
the inspection. The thickener is placed into operation on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Thickened sludge is transported (by City staff) to the Regional Compost facility in Catawba
County for final treatment/disposal. The City also transports a select number of loads from
a dedicated gravity sludge thickener located at the City of Newton's WWTP for disposal at
the Regional Compost facility.
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