NC0025861_Draft Permit_20200408

STATE q'
ROY COOPER =
Governor .'
MICHAEL S.REGAN .!mr* ,,.
Secretary ewes.
S.DANIEL SMITH NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quali
ty
Q ty
April 8,2020
Kevin L.Krouse
City of Lowell
101 W.First Street
Lowell,NC 28098
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NC0025861
Lowell WWTP
Grade III Biological WPCS
Gaston County
Dear Mr.Krouse:
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:
➢ Section A.(4)and Footnote#1 in Section A. (1.)has been updated regarding electronic submission of
effluent data.Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports(DMRs).
➢ Section A. (3)has been updated regarding monitoring requirements for Total Mercury.
With this notification,the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing a notice in
newspapers having circulation in the general Gaston County area,per EPA requirements.Please provide your
comments,if any,to me 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.If you have questions concerning the draft,please contact me at the telephone
number listed at the bottom of this page,or via e-mail [[e-mail]].
Sincerely,
Sydney Carpenter
NPDES Compliance and Expedited Permitting
ec: NPDES File [Laserfiche]
Mooresville Regional Office [Laserfiche]
D..... E Q North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 11617 Mall Service Center I Raleigh,North Carolina 27699 1617
/' 919.707.9000

NPDES Permit NC0025861
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 provision 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,
City of Lowell
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Lowell Wastewater Treatment Plant
98 Saxony Drive
Lowell
Gaston County
to an unnamed tributary designated as an effluent channel to the South Fork of the Catawba River in the
Catawba River Basin in accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other
conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III, and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on January 31, 2025.
Signed this day
S. Daniel Smith, Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 7

NPDES Permit NC0025861
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge are hereby
revoked. As of this permit 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 included herein.
The City of Lowell
is hereby authorized to:
Continue to operate an existing 0.6 MGD wastewater treatment plant. This facility is located at the
Lowell WWTP (98 Saxony Drive, Lowell) in Gaston County. Wastewater treatment includes the
following components:
• Influent pump station with 3 pumps
• Bar Screens
• High water alarms
• Aeration basins
• Three (3)blowers
• Headers and diffusers
• Clarifier
• Chlorine contact chamber
• Sulfur gas de-chlorination system
• Aerobic sludge digester
• Sludge drying beds, and
• Flow measuring device
1. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map into an unnamed
tributary designated as an effluent channel to the South Fork of the Catawba River, currently
classified WS-V waters [Stream Index: 11-129-(15.5)] in sub-basin 03-08-35 [HUC: 0305010206]
in the Catawba River Basin.
Page 2 of 7

NPDES Permit NC0025861
PART I
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B.0400 et seq., 15A NCAC 02B.0500 et seq.]
Grade III Biological 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 from outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored' by the Permittee as
specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly Weekly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
[eDMR Codes] Average Average Maximum Frequency Type Location
Flow [50050] 0.6 MGD Continuous RecordingInfluent or
Effluent
BOD,5-day,(20°C)2(mg/L) [C0310] 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L 3/Week Composite Influent&
Effluent
Total Suspended Solids2 (mg/L) [C0530] 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L 3/Week Composite Influent&
Effluent
NH3 as N(mg/L) [C0610] Monitor&Report 3/Week Composite Effluent
Fecal Coliform(geometric mean) [31616] 200/100 ml 400/100m1 3/Week Grab Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine(TRC)3 (Ng/L) [50060] 28 pg/L 3/Week Grab Effluent
Temperature(°C) [00010] Monitor&Report 3/Week Grab Effluent
pH [00400] >6.0 and <9.0 standard units 3/Week Grab Effluent
Total Nitrogen(NO2+NO3+TKN)4 (mg/L) [C0600] Monitor&Report Quarterly Composite Effluent
Total Phosphorus(TP)(mg/L) [C0665] Monitor&Report Quarterly Composite Effluent
Chronic Toxicity5 [TGP3B] See Footnote 4 Quarterly Composite Effluent
Total Mercury6(ng/L) [COMER] Monitor&Report 6 Grab Effluent
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the Division's eDMR system.
[see A. (4)]
2. The monthly average effluent BOD5 and Total Suspended Solids concentrations shall not exceed 15% of the
respective monthly average influent value(85%removal).
3. The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 µg/L to be in compliance with this
permit. However,the Permittee shall record and submit all values reported by a North Carolina certified
laboratory(including field certified),even if these values fall below 50 µg/L.
4. 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.TP is Total
Phosphorus.
5. Chronic Toxicity(Ceriodaphnia dubia)Pass/Fail limit at 0.74%with testing conducted in February,May,
August& November. [see A. (2)]
6. See A. (3) for details regarding the mercury analysis. EPA Method 1631E must be used for Total Mercury
sampling&analysis.
All samples collected should be from a representative discharge event.
THERE SHALL BE NO DISCHARGE OF FLOATING SOLIDS OR VISIBLE FOAM IN OTHER THAN TRACE
AMOUNTS.
Page 3 of 7

NPDES Permit NC0025861
A. (2.) CHRONIC TOXICITY PERMIT LIMIT (QUARTERLY)
[15A NCAC 02B.0200 et seq.]
The effluent discharge shall at no time exhibit observable inhibition of reproduction or significant mortality to
Ceriodaphnia dubia at an effluent concentration of 0.74%.
The permit holder shall perform at a minimum, quarterly monitoring using test procedures outlined in the"North
Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure,"(Revised December 2010,or subsequent versions)
or"North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test Procedure"(Revised December 2010,or
subsequent versions).The tests will be performed during the months of February,May,August and
Novemeber. 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.
If the test procedure performed as the first test of any single quarter results in a failure or ChV below the
permit limit,then multiple-concentration testing shall be performed at a minimum, in each of the two
following months as described in"North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test
Procedure"(Revised-December 2010,or subsequent versions).
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered electronically using the
Division's eDMR system for the months in which tests were performed,using the parameter code TGP3B for the
pass/fail results and THP3B for the Chro 6.- ue. Additionally,DWR Form AT-3 (original) is to be sent to the
ag �
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,accurate, include all supporting chemical/physical measurements and all
concentration/response data,and be certified by laboratory supervisor and ORC or approved designate signature.
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, monitoring will be
required during the following month. Assessment of toxicity compliance is based on the toxicity testing quarter,
which is the three-month time interval that begins on the first day of the month in which toxicity testing is required
by this permit and continues until the final day of the third month.
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.
Page 4 of 7

NPDES Permit NC0025861
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.
A. (3.) EFFLUENT MERCURY ANALYSIS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
The Permittee shall provide one effluent mercury analysis,using EPA Method 1631E,in conjunction with the
next permit renewal application. The analysis should be taken in the first six months of calendar year 2024. Any
additional effluent mercury measurements conducted from the effective date of this permit and up to the
application date shall also be submitted with the renewal application.
If the result of the mercury analysis is not provided with the application,the application may be returned as
incomplete and the Permittee considered non-compliant.
A. (4.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS
[NCGS 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)1
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 intemet. 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
Page 5 of 7

NPDES Permit NC0025861
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.
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(1)(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/20 1 5/10/22/2015-24954/national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-
system-npdes-el ectronic-reporting-ru 1 e
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.
Page 6 of 7

NPDES Permit NC0025861
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. SiQnatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.)(b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.) (d)l
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 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.)1
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].
Page 7 of 7

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NC0025861 - City of Lowell WWTP
Facility
Latitude: 35° 16' 10" N USGS Quad: Mount Holly Location
Longitude: 81°04'55" W Stream Class: WS-V
Receiving Stream: UT to S Fork Catawba River
Sub-Basin: 03-08-35 Not& Gaston County
Map not to scale