NC0088684_Draft Permit_20200724

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
Ms. Elena Potter
Daniel Jonathan Stowe Conservancy
6500 S New Hope Road
Belmont, NC 28012
Dear Ms. Potter:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
July 22, 2020
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NCO088684
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden WTP
Grade PCNC Physical Chemical WPCS
Gaston County
The Division has reviewed your request to renew the subject permit. Please review this draft carefully to
ensure your thorough understanding of the information, conditions, and requirements it contains.
The draft permit includes the following significant changes from the existing permit:
1. Language has been updated in Section A. (1) and Section A. (5) to require electronic submission
of effluent data. Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring
reports (DMRs).
2. Outfall map has been updated.
3. Language on the Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet has been updated.
4. A components list has been added on the Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet.
5. The facility grade has been added in Section A. (1).
6. Monitoring for flow, pH, and total dissolved solids has been increased to 2/Month in Section
A. (1) per current water treatment plant guidance.
7. Duration of discharge monitoring has been added in Section A. (1) per current water treatment
plant guidance.
8. Monitoring for turbidity has been increased to monthly in Section A. (1) per current water
treatment plant guidance.
9. Limits have been added for total copper and total zinc in Section A. (1) based on a reasonable
potential to exceed water quality standards. A compliance schedule has been added as Section A.
(4) to address these new limits.
10. Monitoring for total hardness, and associated footnotes, have been added in Section A. (1) per
the current water treatment plant strategy.
11. Updated the footnotes in Section A. (1).
12. Toxicity language in Section A. (2) has been updated.
13. The discharge alternatives evaluation as Section A. (3) has been updated.
Whole Effluent Toxicity test results submitted during the past three years have demonstrated that the
Water Treatment Plant's effluent is showing potential for causing aquatic toxicity in the receiving
D E Ql� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
5 _ 512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
NORTH CAROLINA
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stream. As a result, the Daniel Jonathan Stowe Conservancy shall perform a Discharge Alternatives
Evaluation as described in Section A. (3) of this permit. This evaluation is being requested to determine
whether there are any economical and technologically feasible alternatives available to the Daniel
Jonathan Stowe Conservancy to comply with all NC Water Quality Standards. The permittee will be
given approximately one permit cycle to evaluate and document possible treatment/discharge
alternatives to eliminate aquatic toxicity. The evaluation shall be submitted with the permittee's next
permit renewal application and will be carefully reviewed by the Division and the results will be used in
the development of a compliance schedule or possible variance request for the Daniel Jonathan Stowe
Conservancy.
Please note that the receiving stream is listed as an impaired waterbody for PCB fish tissue advisory on
the North Carolina 303(d) Impaired Waters List. Addressing impaired waters is a high priority with the
Division, and instream data will continue to be evaluated. If there is noncompliance with permitted
effluent limits and stream impairment can be attributed to your facility, then mitigative measures may be
required.
The EPA approved NC 2015-2019 Water Quality Standard (WQS) Triennial Review includes new
chronic and acute dissolved metal standards for most metals. Further, the freshwater standards for
several metals are expressed as the dissolved form of the metals, and seven metals have hardness -
dependent equations. As a result, the NPDES Permitting Unit will need site -specific effluent hardness
data and instream hardness data, upstream of the discharge, for each facility monitoring these metals in
order to calculate permit limitations. Effluent hardness and instream hardness sampling, upstream of the
discharge, have been added to the permit at a monitoring frequency of quarterly. See Section A. (1)
Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements.
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
except that agency and division names have been updated. 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 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 919-707-3619, or via e-mail [[e-mail]].
Sincerely,
r�
Brianna Young
Compliance and Expedited Permitting Unit

cc: NPDES Files
Mooresville Regional Office
Wastewater Operator Certification Group
WSS/Aquatic Toxicology Branch

Permit NCO088684
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, the
Daniel Jonathan Stowe Conservancy
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden WTP
6500 South New Hope Road
Belmont
Gaston County
to receiving waters designated as an unnamed tributary to Catawba River (Lake Wylie) 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 August 31, 2025.
Signed this day
S. Daniel Smith
Director, Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 9

Permit NCO088684
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.
Daniel Jonathan Stowe Conservancy
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane technology water treatment system with
discharge of wastewaters consisting of RO concentrate and softener regeneration. This water
treatment plant currently has a design potable flowrate of 0.0038 MGD and a maximum, monthly
average wastewater discharge of 0.00262 MGD. This facility is located at the Daniel Stowe
Botanical Garden, 6500 South New Hope Road in Belmont in Gaston County. Water and wastewater
treatment consists of:
• Water softener
• Reverse osmosis system
2. Discharge from said treatment works via Outfall 001 at a location specified on the attached map, into
an unnamed tributary to Catawba River (Lake Wylie) [Stream Segment: 11-(123.5)], a waterbody
currently classified WS-V, B in subbasin 03-08-37 [HUC: 030501011502] of the Catawba River
Basin.
Page 2 of 9

Permit NCO088684
PART
A. (1) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
Grade PCNC Physical Chemical WPCS [15A NCAC 08G .0302]
During the period beginning on the Permit effective date and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is
authorized to discharge backwash wastewater from reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment system and
similar wastewaters from outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited, monitored and reported' by the
Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
Parameter Code
EFFLUENT LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample Type
Sample
Location
Flow(MGD) 50050
Monitor& Report
2/Month
Instantaneous
Effluent
Duration of Discharge (Hours) 81381
2/Month
Instantaneous
Effluent
pH 00400
>_ 6.0 s.u. and <— 9.0 s.u.
2/Month
Grab
Effluent
Total Dissolved Solids (mg/L) 70295
500 mg/L
2/Month
Grab
Effluent
Conductivity(pmhos/cm) 00094
Monitor& Report
Monthly
Grab
Effluent
Turbidity(NTU) 00070
Monitor& Report
Monthly
Grab
Effluent
Total Copper2 01042
7.88 pg/L
10.47 pg/L
Monthly
Grab
Effluent
Total Zinc2 01092
126.7 pg/L
125.7 pg/L
Monthly
Grab
Effluent
Total Nitrogen (mg/L) C0600
Monitor& Report
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Total Phosphorus(mg/L) C0665
Monitor&Report
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Hardness —Total as 00900
CaCO3or Ca + M m /L
Monitor& Report
p
Quarter) y
Grab
Effluent
Whole Effluent Toxicity TGP38
Monitoring
Monitor& Report
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Footnotes-
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the NC DWR's eDMR
application system [see Section A. (5)].
2. See Section A. (4) for compliance schedule.
3. Chronic toxicity Pass/Fail monitoring using Ceriodaphnia dubia at 90 % effluent during the months of
March, June, September, and December [see Section A. (2)].
All samples must be collected from a typical discharge event.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
Page 3 of 9

Permit NCO088684
A. (2) CHRONIC TOXICITY PASS/FAIL MONITORING (QUARTERLY)
[15A NCAC 02B .0500 et seq.]
The permittee shall conduct quarterly chronic toxicity tests using test procedures outlined in the "North
Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure," (Revised December 2010, or subsequent
versions).
The effluent concentration defined as treatment two in the procedure document is 90 %. The testing
shall be performed as a Ceriodaphnia dubia 7-day pass/fail test. The tests will be performed during the
months of March, June, September, and December. 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.
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered electronically using
the Division's eDMR system for the month in which it was performed, using the parameter code
TGP3B. Additionally, DWR Form AT-1(original) is to be sent to the 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 and accurate and include all supporting chemical/physical measurements
performed in association with the toxicity tests, as well as all dose/response data. 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 permttee 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, then
monthly monitoring will begin immediately. Upon submission of a valid test, this monthly test
requirement will revert to quarterly in the months specified above.
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 9

Permit NCO088684
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) DISCHARGE ALTERNATIVES EVALUATION:
[15A NCAC 02H .0105]
The Permittee shall assess potential alternatives to eliminate Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) test failures.
This evaluation shall assess the feasibility of all the following alternatives.
1. Connect discharge to a WWTP: Determine whether the wastewater can be discharged to a wastewater
treatment plant. Approval or disapproval from the plant operator should be acquired.
2. Obtain a Non -discharge permit: Eliminate the surface water discharge by obtaining a non -discharge
permit for spray irrigation, infiltration, or subsurface disposal (on -site drainfield, infiltration gallery,
injection wells).
3. Install Wastewater Treatment: Install improved wastewater treatment to enable the facility effluent to
consistently pass the WET test. If this is not technically feasible or cost prohibitive, please explain and
provide estimated costs.
4. Use Alternative Water Treatment Source: Obtain drinking water from another source (nearest
County, City, or Town or other wells) so the discharge or toxicity problem is eliminated.
5. Use Alternative Water Treatment Method: Install alternative and/or innovative water treatment
methods or operational improvements that do not produce toxic wastewaters. For example, install a
recycle iron/manganese filtration system with no discharge or combine discharge with WWTP or
cooling water effluents.
6. Discharge to a Larger waterbody/Perform a dilution model: Relocate the facility's discharge to a
larger receiving waterbody to eliminate or reduce toxic impacts to the receiving waterbody given the
increased dilution. If applicable, perform a dilution model to receive allowance for stream dilution in
WET test.
7. Combination of Alternatives: Employ any combination of the alternatives listed above that would
result in eliminating or decreasing toxicity until a more feasible solution becomes available.
The evaluation shall include a present value of costs analysis for all technologically feasible options as
outlined in the Division's "Engineering Alternatives Analysis Guidance Document." This Document can be
found at: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-quality-permitting/npdes-
wastewater/npd es-permitting-0.
This evaluation is being requested to determine whether there are any economical and technologically
feasible alternatives available to the Permittee to address aquatic toxicity in the plant effluent. Based upon
the evaluation, please identify viable alternatives and present an implementation schedule and project
timeline for the preferred alternative. The Permittee shall submit the Discharge Alternatives Evaluation to the
Division along with the submission of their next permit renewal application (due 18 months after permit
effective date) to:
Page 5 of 9

Permit NCO088684
NC DENR / Division of Water Resources / Water Quality Permitting
NPDES, Wastewater Branch
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
A. (4) SCHEDULE OF COMPLIANCE (OUTFALL 001)
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
Within one year from the effective date of the permit the Permittee shall submit to the Division of
Water Resources a Corrective Action Plan summarizing the actions or strategy to be taken to achieve
compliance with the Total Copper and Total Zinc limits at Outfall 001. Specific dates for completion
or implementation of each action shall be included.
2. Within two years from the effective date of the permit submit a report to the Division summarizing
actions taken in accordance with the Corrective Action Plan.
3. Within three years from the effective date of the permit submit a report to the Division summarizing
actions taken in accordance with the Corrective Action Plan.
4. Within four years from the effective date of the permit submit a report to the Division summarizing
actions taken in accordance with the Corrective Action Plan.
5. Achieve compliance with Total Copper and Total Zinc limits specified in Section A. (1) within five
years of the permit effective date.
Upon approval of the Corrective Action Plan by the Division, the report and actions become an
enforceable part of this permit. Any modifications to the schedule shall be requested to the Division at
least ninety (90) days before the deadline. Modifications to the schedule in excess of four months will be
subject to public notice.
The Corrective Action Plan and reports shall include the owner's name, NPDES permit number and
Permittee contact person, and shall be submitted to:
(1) NCDEQ /Division of Water Resources (2) NCDEQ /Division of Water Resources
NPDES Compliance and Expedited Permitting Mooresville Regional Office
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301
Mooresville, NC 28115
A. (5) ELECTRONIC REPORTING - DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS
[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 NPDESPermits):
• Section B. (11.) Signatory Requirements
• Section D. (2.) Reporting
Page 6 of 9

Permit NC0088684
• 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 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.
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.
Page 7 of 9

Permit NC0088684
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: httys://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-
24954/national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-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:
http://deg.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. (I 1.)(a) or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part II,
Section B. (I 1.)(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:
httv://deg.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:
Page 8 of 9

Permit NCO088684
"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 offines and imprisonment for knowing violations. "
5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D. (6.)l
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 9 of 9

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