WQCS00003_NOV-2020-DV-0345_20200821

Winston-Salem /Forsyth County
UWatti I ities
er •Wastewater • SDIId Waste
Administration, P.O. Box 2511, Winston-Salem, NC 27102
O: 336-727-8000, F: 336-727-8432, cityofws.org/utilities
August 21, 2020
Lon T. Snider, Regional Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources
450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
Re: Sanitary Sewer Overflow Civil Penalties Incident #202001505
Dear Mr. Snider:
NC Department of
Environmental Quality
Received
AUG 2 4 2020
R' Winston-Salem
Regional Office
This letter serves as the official response from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities to the
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources Notice of
Intent to Enforce Civil Penalty for the May 21, 2020 sanitary sewer overflow (SSO), Incident
#202001505, located at 4561 Cooper Road near Muddy Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in
Winston-Salem. The incident was a result of inflow and infiltration caused by severe natural
conditions.
Normal precipitation at Winston-Salem Airport for the month of May is 3.27 inches. In May
2020, 6.56 inches fell and 4.34 inches of that was during the May 19-22 storm event. Rain
began falling on May 19 and did not subside until May 22. Gage height information for Abbotts
Creek (Lexington) and the Yadkin River (Yadkin College) indicate up to 15.6 and 19.3 feet in
stream level rise during the rainfall period. This heavy rain caused Muddy Creek to flood well
outside of its banks.
On May 21, 2020 at approximately 2:00pm, during the storm event, Utilities Field Operations
was notified that a manhole near Muddy Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant was submerged in
floodwater. Due to a substantial increase in inflow and infiltration, wastewater overflowed the
sewer main, rose up out of the manhole and mixed with the floodwaters. By 7:30am the next
day, after the rain stopped and the creek subsided, the flow of wastewater returned to normal.
Lily Council: Mayor Allen Iolnee; Denise D. Adams, Mayor Pro Tempere, North Wad; pan Besse, southwest Ward; Robert C. Clark, West Ward; John C. Larson,
s' South Ward;leff MaNn[osh, Northwest Ward; Morticia -Pae-Tee Furman, Northeast Ward; Annatte stipple, East Ward; James Taylor, In, Southeast Ward;
City Manager. Lee D. Garrity
County Commissioners: David R. Plyler, Chair; pan Martin, Vice Chair; Fleming El -Amin; Ted Kaplan; Richard V. Linville; Tonya McDaniel; Glada D. Whisenhunt;
Call 311 or 336-727-8000 CountyManager.pudleyWith, J,
Winston Salem/Forryth County Utility Commtssion: Randall S. Tuttle, Chair; L Wesley Curtis, In, Vice Chair; Herold E. Day; Tom Griffin; Yvonne H. Hines;
[e-mail]0 puanelong;HughW.Jemigan;ChrisParker;DonaldR.5teVoMAllanYounger

it was determined by our investigation that severe natural conditions were the cause of this
sanitary sewer overflow. WSFC Utilities continues to make progress in minimizing SSOs and has
the proper programs in place to continue our high level of performance.
I hope this information is helpful with your investigation of Incident #202001505. If you require
additional information, please contact me at 336-747-7315.
Sincerely,
Courtney Driver, P.E.
Utilities Director
cc: Michael Stover, Assistant Utilities Director -Operations
Kenny Atkins, Utilities Field Operations Manager
Antonio Martinez, ORC
File