NC0032662_Draft Permit_20200617

ROY COOPER ,,
•
Governor t,,, •r , .I.
MICHAEL S.REGAN
Secretary
S.DANIEL SMITH NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
June 17, 2020
Mr.Jason Brown
City of Claremont
P.O. Box 446
Claremont,NC 28610-0446
Subject: DRAFT NPDES PERMIT NC0032662
North WWTP
Grade II Biological WPCS [15A NCAC 08G.0302]
Catawba County
Dear Mr.Brown:
Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the draft permit for your facility. Please review the draft very
carefully to ensure thorough understanding of the conditions and requirements it contains. Your
permit is among several in the Catawba River Basin that the Division has targeted for expedited
renewal.
This draft contains the following changes from the existing permit:
• Regulatory citations for permit requirements have been added throughout the permit.
• The outfall description on the supplement to cover page has been updated to include
the outfall location's 12-digit HUC.
• The language in section A.(2.) has been updated include instructions for electronic
submission of toxicity results.
• The language in section A.(3.)has been updated to be consistent with the finalization
of federal requirements for electronic reporting.
• Ammonia Nitrogen(NH3-N) Monitoring—In the current permit you monitor NH3-
N and have and have a year round effluent limit of 6 mg/L(monthly average) and
18 mg/L (weekly average). Monitoring is required at the same frequency year
round, but there is no current limit during winter months (November—March).
Ammonia is the only toxicant limited differently for summer and winter months per
DWR policy.
Recent review by Division staff has noted that 15A NCAC 2B .0404(c) requires
that winter waste load allocations for oxygen consuming waste be no less stringent
than 2 times the summer waste load limit. To meet this rule requirement winter
limits for NH3-N are being added to the permit.
In accordance with the rule and results from the mass balance review,the winter limit
can be set by doubling the summer limit. Based on this, the new winter monthly
average limit is 12 mg/L. The Division has historically set NH3-N limits no higher
than 35 mg/L. Winter NH3-N limits for the permit will be set at 35 mg/L for the
weekly average.
• Footnote 6 was added to the effluent table to clarify summer and winter months.
Q North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
7H D E
�,-;-)/ 512 North Salisbury Street 11617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
D•Parbnent /.' 919.707.9000

The NPDES standard conditions(Parts II, III, and IV)that are a part of the permit are not
included in this draft document (cover, map, and Part I). The conditions are the same as in your
current permit. The latest version is available at https://bit.ly/2BZ4xxx and can be viewed online
or downloaded as a PDF file.
With this notification,the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing
a notice in newspapers having circulation in the general Catawba 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 via email at [[e-mail]] or call 919-707-9125.
Sincerely,
.44e."3 Lae__
Emily DelDuco
Environmental Specialist II
NPDES Program
cc: NPDES files
ec: Mooresville Regional Office
Page 2 of 2

Permit NC0032662
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 provisions 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 Claremont
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at
Claremont North WWTP
3076 Centennial Boulevard
Claremont, NC
Catawba County
to receiving waters designated as Mull Creek within 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 July 31, 2025.
Signed this day
S. Daniel Smith
Director,Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 8

Permit NC0032662
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility,whether for operation or discharge are hereby revoked,and as of this
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 described
herein.
City of Claremont
is hereby authorized to:
1. continue operating a 0.100 MGD dual-train domestic wastewater treatment facility consisting of
0.040 MGD
• bypass screen
• diffused aeration basin
• final clarifier
• aerobic digester
0.060 MGD
• mechanical aeration basin
• final clarifier
• aerated sludge holding tank
both trains share:
• flow-splitter box(headworks)
• Gas chlorination
• Chlorine contact chamber
• Dechlorination
• flow recording device
located at the Claremont North WWTP, 3076 Centennial Boulevard in Claremont, Catawba County;
and
2. discharge from said wastewater treatment works via Outfall 001, at a location specified on the
attached map, to Mull Creek [stream segment 11-76-4], a waterbody currently classified WS-IV
within sub basin 03-08-32 of the Catawba River Basin.
Page 2 of 8

Permit NC0032662
PART I
A. (1) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et eq.]
Grade II Biological WPCS [15A NCAC 08G .0302]
During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until connection to the
McLin Creek WWTP' or expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge through Outfall 001.
Such discharges shall be limited and monitored2 by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT EFFLUENT LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
CHARACTERISTICS
Monthly Weekly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
[Parameter Codes] Average Average Maximum Frequency Type Location3
50050 Flow MGD 0,100 Continuous Recordin Influent or
[ ] ( ) g Effluent
[50060] Total Residual Chlorine
(TRC)4 28 pg/L4 2/Week Grab Effluent
[31616] Fecal Coliform
(geometric mean) 200/100 ml 400/100 ml Weekly Grab Effluent
[00310] BOD,5 day,20°C5 30 mg/L 45 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent&
Influent
[50530] Total Suspended Solids 30 mg/L 45 mg/L WeeklyComposite
Effluent&
(TSS)5 g g p Influent
[00300] Dissolved Oxygen Daily Average>_5.0 mg/L Weekly Grab Effluent
[00010] Temperature(°C) Weekly Grab Effluent
[00400] pH Not<6.0 nor>9.0 standard units Weekly Grab Effluent
[00610] NH3 as N (summer)6 6 mg/I 18 mg/I Weekly Composite Effluent
[00610] NH3 as N (winter)6 12 mg/I 35 mg/I Weekly Composite Effluent
[01042] Total Copper(pg/I) Quarterly Composite Effluent
[01092] Total Zinc(pg/I) Quarterly Composite Effluent
[00625] Total Nitrogen(NO2+
NO3+TKN)(mg/I) Quarterly Composite Effluent
[00665] Total Phosphorus(mg/I) Quarterly Composite Effluent
[TGP3B] Chronic Toxicity' Quarterly Composite Effluent
[50010] Temperature, °C Weekly Grab U,D
[00300] Dissolved Oxygen(mg/I) Weekly Grab U,D
[COMER]Total Mercury5 1/5 years Grab Effluent
Units:MGD=million gallons per day;ml=milliliter;mg/L=milligrams per liter; µg/L=micrograms per liter
Footnotes:
1. See Special Condition A.(5).
2. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using NC DWR's eDMR system. See
Special Condition A.(3).
3. Sample Locations: U—Upstream at NCSR 1715;D—Downstream at NCSR 1716.
4. Total Residual Chlorine(TRC)The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50µg/L to be
in compliance with the permit.However,the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a
North Carolina-certified laboratory(including field certified),even if these values fall below 50 µg/L.
5. BOD5/TSS-Monthly average effluent concentrations for Biochemical Oxygen Demand(BOD5)and TSS shall
not exceed 15%of the respective influent values(i.e.85%removal is required).
6. Summer=April 1 through October 31;Winter=November 1 through March 31.
7. Chronic Toxicity(Ceriodaphnia)at 13%;quarterly during January,April,July,October[see Section A.(2.)].
8. See Special Condition A.(4).
The Permittee shall discharge no floating solids or foam visible in other than trace amounts.
Page 3 of 8

Permit NC0032662
A. (2) CHRONIC TOXICITY PERMIT LIMIT (QUARTERLY)
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
The effluent discharge shall at no time exhibit observable inhibition of reproduction or significant
mortality to Ceriodaphnia dubia at an effluent concentration of 13 %.
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
January, April,July, and October. 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 Divisions eDMR system for the months in which tests were performed, using the parameter code
TGP3B for the pass/fail results and THP3B for the Chronic Value. Additionally, DWR Form AT-3
(original) is to be sent to the following address:
Attention: North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
1623 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1623
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
Page 4 of 8

Permit NC0032662
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.
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) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORT
[G.S. 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)
l
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 internet. 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
ATTENTION: Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
See"How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below.
Page 5 of 8

Permit NC0032662
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/2015/10/22/2015-24954/national-po l lutant-discharge-
elim ination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule
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.
Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on
the following web page:
Page 6 of 8

Permit NC0032662
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Signatory 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. (1 l.)(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 cert , 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].
A.(4)MERCURY ANALYSIS
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
The Permittee shall provide one effluent mercury analysis, using EPA Method 1631 E, in conjunction
with the next permit renewal application. The analysis should be taken within 12 months prior to the
application date. 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 results of the mercury analysis is not provided with the application, the application may be
returned as incomplete and the Permittee considered non-compliant.
A. (5.) CONNECTION TO MCLIN CREEK WWTP
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
After obtaining an Authorization to Construct for the expansion of the McLin Creek WWTP
(NC0081370)to 0.8 MGD and completion of rerouting all wastewaters received at the North WWTP
to the McLin Creek WWTP the permittee shall submit a request to rescind the permit and the outfall
shall be permanently closed or removed.
Page 7 of 8

Permit NC0032662
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Claremont North WWTP—NC0032662 Facility Location (not to scale)
City of Claremont—Catawba County "-
Receiving Stream: Mull Creek Stream Class: WS-IV
Drainage Basin: Catawba River Basin Sub-Basin: 03-08-32
Permitted Flow: 0.1 MGD HUC: 03040101 N r.
State Grid/USGS Quad: E 14 NW/Newton,NC
Latitude 35°43'21" N Longitude 81°09'18" W
Page 8 of 8