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Home My WebLink AboutWQ0013398_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20130307Compliance Inspection Report Permit: WQ0013398 Effective: 01/21/10 Expiration: 05/31/15 owner: 904 Georgetown Treatment Plant LLC SOC: Effective: Expiration: Facility: Sandpiper Bay WWTF County: Brunswick 7407 Hermitage Ln Region: Wilmington Sunset Beach NC 28468 Contact Person: Sunny Wright Title: Contract ORC Phone: 910-880-4178 Directions to Facility: System Classifications: SI, WW2, Primary ORC: Sunny Wright Secondary ORC(s): On -Site Representative(s): Related Permits: Inspection Date: 03/07/2013 Entry Time: 10:30AM Primary Inspector: James B Bushardt Secondary Inspector(s): Amanda L Gaines Reason for Inspection: Routine Permit Inspection Type: Reclaimed Water Facility Status: Compliant Not Compliant Question Areas: Certification: 28813 Phone: 910-253-9728 Exit Time: 11:30AM Phone: 910-796-7215 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Treatment Flow Measurement -Effluent Treatment Flow Measurement -Influent Miscellaneous Questions Treatment Flow Measurement -Water Treatment Treatment Barscreen Use Records Treatment Activated Sludge Treatment Sludge Storage/Treatment Treatment Clarifiers Treatment Flow Measurement Treatment Return pumps Storage Standby Power (See attachment summary) Page 1 of 6 Permit: WQ0013398 Owner - Facility: 904 Georgetown Treatment Plant LLC Inspection Date: 03/07/2013 Inspection Type : Compliance Evaluation Reason for Visit: Routine Inspection Summary: A facility compliance inspection was conducted on March 7, 2013. The writer and Amanda Gains met with Tim Tilma, 904 Georgetown WWTP manager, and operators Sunny Wright and Wilbur Williams. The effluent was clear and odorless (3 NTU turbidity). The plant was in fair shape and deemed compliant. However, it was determined after the inspection that the permittee has selected an unnapproved method of sludge disposal. The sludge was reported to be removed by a septage hauler (Mr. Daniel Long) and that Mr. Long was disposing the sludge (as septage) into the West Brunswick WWTP septage receiving station. Management staff at the West Brusnwick facility do not allow sludge to be disposed at the septage receiving facility. It is likely that the sludge is not being characterized and may not be stabilized for pathogens.lt is recommended that you enter a contract a permitted sludge contractor for having the 904 Georgetown plant placed on the sludge contractor's permit as a permitted source. The contractor will require you to provide a sludge characterization and a method of sludge pathogen and vector attraction reduction stabilization will have to be determined. Most permittees with package plants use hydrated lime stabilization. Once you provide the sludge contrctor with the needed laboratory results, the sludge contractor will have to have their permit modified. The Division has up to 90 days to process the permit modification. Therefore, it is suggested that you begin this action immediately to abate future effluent limit noncompliance as well as noncompliance with Permit Condition I11.10. The following issues are noted with recommendations: Pine tree limbs are hanging over the plant. It is recommended that the limbs be trimmed away from the plant to abate pine needles falling into the plant. They can cause pump wear and uneven clarifier weir flow. The generator shut down approx 30 seconds after actuation. It is suggested that the generator be serviced and that weekly generator actuations be conducted with the generator under load. The EQ tank does not have an audible alarm. It is recommended that an audible alarm be provided or as a better fix, it is recommended that the EQ tank be connected to an autodialer for notifing the operator of high tank levels. It was noticed that the five day holding pond did not have a freeboard marker. Permit Condition 111.13 requires the 5 day holding pond to have a freeboard marker. Permit Condition IV.6 requires the freeboard to be measured weekly and records maintained for 5 years. The freeboard marker should not penetrate the clay liner. It is recommended that a freeboard marker be provided in the 5 day holding pond and that the permittee begin to maintain these records. The plant's main control box exhibited exterior corrosion, the box was not sealed and can allow insects and small animals internal access, the switch gear is corroded, and the controller does not allow the operator much flexiblity regarding blower(s) operation. A new, modern control box should be considered for replacement. It is recommended that the permittee's (new) sludge hauler periodically remove grease from the golf course restaurant grease trap and from the off -site pumping station. The Division's database was checked and it was confirmed that Mr. Tim Tilma is the permittee. Mr. Tilma's name will be added to the permit upon the next permit renewal action. A follow-up compliance inspection will be performed within a few months. The following items will be checked: Trim pine tree limbs that are capable of dropping needles into the plant. The generator and transfer switch will be checked. The EQ tank alarms will be checked. Page 2 of 6 Permit: WQ0013398 Owner - Facility: 904 Georgetown Treatment Plant LLC Inspection Date: 03/07/2013 Inspection Type : Compliance Evaluation Reason for Visit: Routine The 5 day pond freeboard marker and freeboard records will be checked. The permittee will be requested to provide a letter to the inspector from a residuals land application permittee that indicates the 904 Georgetown wwtp is listed on a sludge permit as a permitted sludge source or that a permit modification has been submitted to the Division for adding the 904 Georgetown WWTP as a sludge source. Page 3 of 6 Permit: WQ0013398 Inspection Date: 03/07/2013 Owner - Facility: 904 Georgetown Treatment Plant LLC Inspection Type : Compliance Evaluation Reason for Visit: Routine Type Yes No NA NE Infiltration System ❑ Lagoon Spray, LR ❑ Activated Sludge Spray, LR ❑ Single Family Spray, LR ❑ Activated Sludge Drip, LR ❑ Activated Sludge Spray, HR ❑ Recycle/Reuse ❑ Single Family Drip ❑ Reuse (Quality) Treatment Yes No NA NE Are Treatment facilities consistent with those outlined in the current permit? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Do all treatment units appear to be operational? (if no, note below.) 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Treatment Flow Measurement -Influent Yes No NA NE Is flowmeter calibrated annually? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Is flowmeter operating properly? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Does flowmeter monitor continuously? ❑ ❑ ❑ Does flowmeter record flow? ❑ ❑ ❑ Does flowmeter appear to monitor accurately? ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Treatment Flow Measurement -Water Use Records Yes No NA NE Is water use metered? ❑ 1:10 ❑ Are the daily average values properly calculated? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Comment: Treatment Flow Measurement -Effluent Yes No NA NE Is flowmeter calibrated annually? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is flowmeter operating properly? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Does flowmeter monitor continuously? ❑ ❑ ❑ Does flowmeter record flow? ❑ ❑ ❑ Does flowmeter appear to monitor accurately? ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Standby Power Yes No NA NE Is automatically activated standby power available? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Page 4 of 6 Permit: WQ0013398 Owner - Facility: 904 Georgetown Treatment Plant LLC Inspection Date: 03/07/2013 Inspection Type : Compliance Evaluation Reason for Visit: Routine Is generator tested weekly by interrupting primary power source? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is generator operable? ❑ ❑ ❑ Does generator have adequate fuel? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The generator shut down approx 30 secs into actuation. The transfer switch functioned properly. Generator service is needed. Treatment Barscreen Yes No NA NE Is it free of excessive debris? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is disposal of screenings in compliance? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are the bars spaced properly? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the unit in good condition? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ Comment: Unit is functional but rust Treatment Activated Sludqe Yes No NA NE Is the aeration mechanism operable? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the aeration basin thoroughly mixed? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the aeration equipment easily accessed? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is Dissolved Oxygen adequate? ❑ ❑ ❑ Are Settleometer results acceptable? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is activated sludge an acceptable color? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Treatment Clarifiers Yes No NA NE Are the weirs level? ❑ ❑ ❑ Are the weirs free of solids and algae? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the scum removal system operational? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the scum removal system accessible? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the sludge blanket at an acceptable level? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the effluent from the clarifier free of excessive solids? ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Solids build-uD in the chlorine contact basin was noticed. These solids. at some time within the past, overflowed the clarifier weir. The solids should be removed from the chlorine contact basin, stabilized for pathogens and handled by a licensed sludge disposal contractor in accordance a DWQ land application permit. Treatment Return pumps Yes No NA NE Are they in place? ❑ ❑ ❑ Are they operational? ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The right -side clarifier water level was approx 6 inches above the surface skimmer, making it non-functional. The operator is manually skimming floating solids (mainly grease). The clarifier should be adjusted to make skimmer operable. It should be noted that the filtered effluent was clear during the inspection. Page 5 of 6 Permit: WQ0013398 Owner - Facility: 904 Georgetown Treatment Plant LLC Inspection Date: 03/07/2013 Inspection Type : Compliance Evaluation Reason for Visit: Routine Treatment Sludge Storacte/Treatment Is the aeration operational? Is the aeration pattern even? If required, are Sanitary "Ts" present in tankage? Comment: The permittee is usina a septaae hauler to dispose of sludae in an unnawroved manner. Mr Yes No NA NE ❑❑❑■ ❑❑❑■ ❑❑■❑ Daniel Long was reported to have been hauling sludge from the facility to the West Brunswick WWTP Septage Transfer station for disposal. The writer informed plant management & this disposal option is deemed to be not allowable by Brunswick County Utility Management staff. Mr. Long will no longer be allowed to dispose of sludge at the West Brunswick facility. It is recommended that you proceed to get the 904 Georgetown WWTP covered as a permitted source on a licensed sludge disposal contractor's permit. Typically, it will take DWQ up to 90 days to process a modification to a sludge permit. It is suggested that you begin this action immediately. A follow-up compliance check will be neccessary because of noncompliance with Permit Condition I11.10. Page 6 of 6