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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWQCS00003_NOV-2020-DV-0345_20200821 (2)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; cilylink@rityofws.or0 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