WQCS00011_NOV-2020-DV-0196 Response_20200514

C'DeptQfEnvironmentoI Quality
y
ROCKY MOUNT �U�
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE 2020
THE CENTER OF IT ALL
Raleigh Regional office
May 14, 2020
Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
13800 Barrett Drive,
Raleigh, NC 27609
Subject: Notice of Violation & Intent to Issue Civil Penalty
Tracking No.-NOV 2020-DVOI 96
Collection System Permit No. WQCS00011
Dear Mr. Vinson,
I received the Notice of Violation from the DWR dated May 01, 2020 regarding the sanitary sewer
overflow (SSO) events that occurred between January and March 2020. The city of Rocky Mount takes
these incidents very seriously and continues to take steps to minimize the potential for such overflows
within our sewer collection system.
With regards to the referenced overflow events, it is worth noting that six of the ten incidents occurred
between February 6-8, 2020 and were due to inflow/infiltration resulting from intensive rainfall in our
region. Incidents 202000144 dated 1 /23/2020 and 202001070 dated 3/24/2020 resulted from issues
beyond our control. The former was due to rags and other debris from an undetermined source blocking
the sewer line and the latter resulted from the cleaning of rags from a private sewer line at an apartment
complex which resulted in the blocking of the city's line. The two remaining incidents dated 1/14/2020
and 3/25/2020 occurred on River Side Drive. The River Side Drive location is one of the lower points
in the city's collection system and has proven problematic in the past, during high intensity rain events.
It is for this reason that the city has embarked on several capital projects with specific focus on
increasing flow capacity at this location and to reduce inflow/infiltration across our entire sewer
collection system in general. The actions detailed below reinforces the city's desire and total
commitment towards resolving sanitary sewer overflows in a concerted and expeditious manner.
January 27, 2020- Purchase order was issued to AMLINER East in the amount of $2,358,958.70
to rehabilitate approximately 9,480 linear feet of the 27-inch Beech Branch sewer outfall from
the Wastewater Treatment Plant to Seven Bridges Road. The existing coal tar epoxy corrugated
metal gravity line has been a source of significant inflow/infiltration which reduces system
capacity. The line will be rehabilitated using the cured in place method. Additional work includes
rehabilitation or replacement of existing manholes. This outfall serves residential and industrial
[phone] / 331 S. Franklin St, PO Box 11B0, Rocky Mount, NC 27802-1180 / www.rockymountnc.gov

customers in the northern end of the city and accounts for approximately 30% of the flows to the
Wastewater Treatment Plant. The relining of the pipe is currently in progress and is anticipated
to be substantially completed in March 2021. It should also be noted that the city has allocated an
additional $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 to address the second phase of this project which will
include the remaining section of the line from Seven Bridges Road to Highway 301.
October 30, 2019-Purchase Order was issued to Step Construction Inc. in the amount of
$624,000 for the replacement of two screw pumps at the Highway 97 Lift Station. This lift
station is downstream of Riverside Drive and receives approximately 65% of the flows to the
Wastewater Treatment Plant. The pumps to be replaced were operating at a reduced pumping
capacity of 2-3 million gallons per day. The new pumps are each rated at 10 million gallons per
day and it is anticipated that this will significantly reduce incidents of sanitary sewer overflows
at the River Side Drive location. The project is currently in progress and is anticipated to be
substantially completed in September 2020.
March 20, 2019- Frazier Engineering completed a flow monitoring report that investigated four
(4) sites in the city's wastewater collection system. The purpose of the flow monitoring was to
determine the average daily flow, diurnal peaking factors and wet weather responses within the
Old Mill Road Pump Station Basin. This basin is upstream of Riverside Drive. City engineering
staff continues to evaluate the report with the intention of addressing the noted infiltration
concerns along the downstream portion of the Basin. The system geometry is also being
evaluated for hydraulic improvement opportunities.
April 29, 2019- The Wooten Company (TWC) completed a pump runtime analysis on 32 pump
stations in the sewer system. The goal of the analysis was to provide a preliminary evaluation of
the pump stations to determine issues based on pump runtimes and to determine how close
pump stations are to reaching design capacity. As a result of this exercise, the city identified
four (4) priority pump stations requiring rehabilitation work to improve pumping capacity.
These stations are listed in the FY 21-25 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) as follows:
Pump Station Location
Fiscal Year
Cost allocated
Johnson Street
2021
1,000,000
Old Mill Road
2022
1,500,000
Shnsburg
2023
1,000,000
Arbor Lane
2023
1
1 nnn nnn
Please be assured that the city of Rocky Mount is working with great care and perseverance to reduce
the number of sanitary sewer overflows in the collection system and this effort will remain a top
priority into the foreseeable future. As you can see, we are taking the necessary steps to address the
integrity of our entire collection system and our hope is that the Division of Water Resources will
favorably consider these efforts as you deliberate on any further actions regarding these incidents.

If you have any questions, or require any additional information regarding our efforts, please do not
hesitate to contact Brenton Bent, Director of Water Resources at 252-972-1299 or email at
Brenton.benturockmountnc.gov
Sincerely,
4� '/9
Rochelle D. Small -Toney
City Manager