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Home My WebLink AboutNC0064416_Inspection_20200723EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 Approval expires 8-31-98 Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS) Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type 1 N 52 NC0064416 20/07/23 C S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Cullasaja WWTP 1371 Cullasaja Club Dr Highlands NC 28741 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 01:15PM 20/07/23 17/10/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Mark Fredrick Teague/ORC/828-293-9396/ Other Facility Data 02:30PM 20/07/23 22/08/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Gary Clark,1371 Cullasaja Dr Highlands NC 28741//828-529-2190/8285262163 Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Self-Monitoring Program Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) (See attachment summary) Name(s) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s)Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date Lauren E Armeni DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ Daniel J Boss DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4658/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page#1 DocuSign Envelope ID: D83AE724-CD16-440B-874A-B30175238886 7/29/2020 7/29/2020 7/29/2020 NPDES yr/mo/day 20/07/23 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) On 7/23/2020 I (Daniel Boss) and Lauren Armeni conducted a compliance evaluation inspection of the Cullasaja WWTP. We met with Mark Teague (ORC) for the inspection. Overall, the plant seemed to be operating well and the equipment is in good condition. There is a minor issue with the tertiary filtration system. Mr. Teague says he needs to keep a filter bypass valve cracked open to prevent overflows from the tertiary filtration system during the backwash cycle. Mr. Teague ran the backwash cycle during our inspection and it seemed to operate fine, although I could see the possibility of an overflow in the event of any line/filter clogging. I would like Mr. Teague to verify that during normal operation significant wastewater quantity does not flow through the filter bypass line with the valve cracked open. Composite sampling is not being performed from the correct location. The composite samples are being taken from the chlorine contact chamber. The effluent samples must be taken past all treatment processes. NC0064416 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: D83AE724-CD16-440B-874A-B30175238886 Permit:NC0064416 Inspection Date:07/23/2020 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Cullasaja WWTP Compliance Evaluation Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Comment: Equalization Basins Yes No NA NE Is the basin aerated? Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment? Is the basin free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Are audible and visual alarms operable? # Is basin size/volume adequate? The influent no longer comes into the equalization basin, but instead it enters into the aeration basins. This change was made to lessen the smell from the WWTP. The equalization basin receives backwash water from the tertiary filters. Comment: Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext. Air Type of aeration system Diffused Is the basin free of dead spots? Are surface aerators and mixers operational? Are the diffusers operational? Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin’s surface? Is the DO level acceptable? Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/l) Measurements from aeration basin: DO- 1.1 mg/L, pH- 6.8, settleable solids 49% at 20 minutes. Comment: Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier? Are weirs level? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: D83AE724-CD16-440B-874A-B30175238886 Permit:NC0064416 Inspection Date:07/23/2020 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Cullasaja WWTP Compliance Evaluation Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the site free of weir blockage? Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? Is scum removal adequate? Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? Is the drive unit operational? Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately ¼ of the sidewall depth) Because of the structure of the plant, we could not measure the sludge blanket of the clarifier. We could only stand on a catwalk about 12 feet above the clarifier. The clarifier had duckweed on the surface, but nothing else could be seen from our vantage point. The effluent from the clarifier looked fairly clear. Comment: Filtration (High Rate Tertiary)Yes No NA NE Type of operation:Down flow Is the filter media present? Is the filter surface free of clogging? Is the filter free of growth? Is the air scour operational? Is the scouring acceptable? Is the clear well free of excessive solids and filter media? The valve allowing bypass of the tertiary filters was cracked open. Mr. Teague says that he leaves it that way to prevent overflow of the system during the filter backwash cycle. Comment: Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Number of tubes in use? Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? The chlorinator precedes the tertiary filters and the chlorine contact chamber is after the tertiary filters. Comment: De-chlorination Yes No NA NE Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: D83AE724-CD16-440B-874A-B30175238886 Permit:NC0064416 Inspection Date:07/23/2020 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Cullasaja WWTP Compliance Evaluation De-chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system ?Tablet Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? Is storage appropriate for cylinders? # Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? Comment: Are the tablets the proper size and type? Are tablet de-chlorinators operational? Number of tubes in use?1 Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? Effluent sampling needs to be conducted beyond all treatment processes.Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? The flow meter was calibrated in May of 2020.Comment: Standby Power Yes No NA NE Is automatically activated standby power available? Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source? Is the generator tested under load? Was generator tested & operational during the inspection? Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site? Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: D83AE724-CD16-440B-874A-B30175238886 Permit:NC0064416 Inspection Date:07/23/2020 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Cullasaja WWTP Compliance Evaluation Standby Power Yes No NA NE Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power? Is the generator fuel level monitored? The on-site generator isn't working, but there is a portable generator at the WWTP that is working. Comment: Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: D83AE724-CD16-440B-874A-B30175238886