WQ0000193_Staff Report_20200903

DocuSign Envelope ID: 43103FAO-1 B02-4E2A-899D-6CD8C0345B24
State of North Carolina
®r- Division of Water Resources
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Environmental Staff Report
Quality
To: ❑ NPDES Unit ® Non -Discharge Unit Application No.: WQ0000193
Attn: Erick Saunders Facility name: Bald Head Island WWTF
From: Helen Perez
Wilmington Regional Office
Note: This form has been adapted from the non -discharge fg acili , staff report to document the review of both non -
discharge and NPDES permit applications and/or renewals. Please complete all sections as they are applicable.
I. GENERAL AND SITE VISIT INFORMATION
1. Was a site visit conducted? ® Yes or ❑ No
a. Date of site visit: 09/02/2020
b. Site visit conducted by: Helen Perez
c. Inspection report attached? ❑ Yes or ® No
d. Person contacted: David Suther and their contact information: (910) 448 - 0624 ext.
e. Driving directions: Bald Head Island
2. Discharge Point(s): N/A
Latitude: Longitude:
Latitude: Longitude:
3. Receiving stream or affected surface waters: N/A
Classification:
River Basin and Subbasin No.
Describe receiving stream features and pertinent downstream uses:
II. PROPOSED FACILITIES: NEW APPLICATIONS - N/A
1. Facility Classification: (Please attach completed rating sheet to be attached to issued permit)
Proposed flow:
Current permitted flow:
2. Are the new treatment facilities adequate for the type of waste and disposal system? ❑ Yes or ❑ No
If no, explain:
3. Are site conditions (soils, depth to water table, etc.) consistent with the submitted reports? ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, please explain:
4. Do the plans and site map represent the actual site (property lines, wells, etc.)? ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, please explain:
5. Is the proposed residuals management plan adequate? ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, please explain:
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 43103FA0-1B02-4E2A-899D-6CD8C0345B24
6. Are the proposed application rates (e.g., hydraulic, nutrient) acceptable`? ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, please explain:
7. Are there any setback conflicts for proposed treatment, storage and disposal sites? ❑ Yes or ❑ No
If yes, attach a map showing conflict areas.
8. Is the proposed or existing groundwater monitoring program adequate? ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, explain and recommend any changes to the groundwater monitoring program:
9. For residuals, will seasonal or other restrictions be required? ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If yes, attach list of sites with restrictions (Certification B)
Describe the residuals handling and utilization scheme:
10. Possible toxic impacts to surface waters:
11. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only):
III. EXISTING FACILITIES: MODIFICATION AND RENEWAL APPLICATIONS
1. Are there appropriately certified Operators in Charge (ORCs) for the facility? ® Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
ORC: David Suther
Certificate #:1006813
Certificate #: 27326 Backup ORC: Nathan Lindsay
2. Are the design, maintenance and operation of the treatment facilities adequate for the type of waste and disposal
system? ® Yes or ❑ No
If no, please explain:
Description of existing facilities:
A 300, 000 gallon per day (GPD) reclaimed water generation, conjunctive reclaimed water utilization, high -rate
infiltration and non -conjunctive reclaimed water utilization facility consisting of the:
operation of the reclaimed water generation system consisting of. a 223, 000 gallon aerated flow equalization basin served
by a 449 cubic feet per minute (CFM) blower; a screw type mechanical bar screen with bag compactor; three 155, 000
gallon SBRs served by 382 CFM blowers, three dissolved oxygen (DO) sensors, and three pH sensors; a flow meter; a 28,
000 gallon post equalization/ aeration basin with three submersible pumps each rated at 139 GPM and one floating
aerator; four 40 horsepower (hp), and one 30 hp blower; two Aqua Disk filters each with a surface area of 215.2 square
feet and a hydraulic loading rate up to 3 gallons per minute per square foot (GPM/ ft'); a backwash pump station with two
submersible pumps each rated at 50 GPM; an alkalinity feed system with an 18 GPM air -operated double diaphragm
polypropylene pump to transfer chemical from the totes to a 500 gallon magnesium hydroxide storage tank
served by two 0.4 GPM chemical metering pumps and a 2 horsepower (hp) mixer; an alum feed system
with an 18 GPM air -operated double diaphragm polypropylene pump to transfer chemical from the totes to
a 500 gallon liquid alum storage tank served by two 0. 4 GPM chemical metering pumps; two duplex pumps
for carbon feed source; 35 linear feet of 10 -inch diameter ductile iron plant effluent recycle force main; a
336,000 gallon aerobic digester with three compartments each with a floating aerator; an ultraviolet (UV)
light disinfection system with a redundant back- up system; a secondary tablet chlorine disinfection unit; an
effluent pump station with two submersible pumps each rated at 556 GPM; an 8 -inch magnetic flow meter;
and all associated piping, valves, controls, and appurtenances;
A 400, 000 GPD conjunctive reclaimed water utilization system consisting of: a 52. 2 acre conjunctive utilization area;
and all associated piping, valves, controls, and appurtenances; the continued operation of a 250,000 GPD non -conjunctive
reclaimed water utilization system consisting of. a 46. 3 acre non -conjunctive utilization area; and all associated piping,
valves, controls, and appurtenances;
A reclaimed water distribution line consisting of. approximately 1, 200 linear feet LF) of 10 -inch force main; and all
associated piping, valves, controls, and appurtenances; the continued operation of the following reclaimed water storage
structures: Pond 6; Conservation Pond; Irrigation Pond; Pond 7; and all associated piping, valves, controls, and
appurtenances;
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A 3. 43 acre conjunctive utilization area (Site C-2); and all associated piping, valves, controls, and appurtenances;
Timber Creek lift station consisting of an influent pump station with two submersible pumps each rated at 700 gallons per
minute (GPM); and all associated piping, valves, controls, and appurtenances; and the continued operation of the high -
rate infiltration facilities consisting of Pond 4 with an area of 0. 32 acres and a loading rate of 5. 43 GPD/ ft2; Pond 5 with
an area of 1. 38 acres and a loading rate of 5. 43 GPD/ft2 and all associated piping, valves, controls, and appurtenances
Proposed flow: 300,000 GPD
Current permitted flow: 300,000 GPD
Explain anything observed during the site visit that needs to be addressed by the permit, or that may be important
for the permit writer to know (i.e., equipment condition, function, maintenance, a change in facility ownership,
etc.) N/A
3. Are the site conditions (e.g., soils, topography, depth to water table, etc) maintained appropriately and adequately
assimilating the waste? ® Yes or ❑ No
If no, please explain:
4. Has the site changed in any way that may affect the permit (e.g., drainage added, new wells inside the compliance
boundary, new development, etc.)? ❑ Yes or ® No
If yes, please explain:
5. Is the residuals management plan adequate? ® Yes or ❑ No
If no, please explain:
6. Are the existing application rates (e.g., hydraulic, nutrient) still acceptable? ® Yes or ❑ No
If no, please explain:
7. Is the existing groundwater monitoring program adequate? ® Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, explain and recommend any changes to the groundwater monitoring program:
8. Are there any setback conflicts for existing treatment, storage and disposal sites? ❑ Yes or ® No
If yes, attach a map showing conflict areas.
9. Is the description of the facilities as written in the existing permit correct? ® Yes or ❑ No
If no, please explain:
10. Were monitoring wells properly constructed and located? ® Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, please explain:
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11. Are the monitoring well coordinates correct in BIMS? ® Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, please complete the following (expand table if necessary):
Monitoring Well
Latitude
Longitude
O l 11
O I //
O / //
O I It
O / //
O I /I
O l lI
O I it
O l lI
O I II
12. Has a review of all self -monitoring data been conducted (e.g., DMR, NDMR, NDAR, GW)? ® Yes or ❑ No
Please summarize any findings resulting from this review:
Provide input to help the permit writer evaluate any requests for reduced monitoring, if applicable.
10/17 - NOD monthly TN
12/17 - NOD 2 daily Ammonia
03/18 - NOV daily fecal, TSS
04/18 - NOV daily BOD, Ammonia
05/20 - NOD daily Ammonia
Review of GW-59s — MW #1, 5 and 7 have had a sporadic ammonia exceedance and MW #3 has had 3 ammonia
exceedances during the permit cycle. All MWs have had some TDS exceedances typical of an island environment.
WIRO continues to monitor the ammonia exceedances trend.
13. Are there any permit changes needed in order to address ongoing BIMS violations? ❑ Yes or ® No
If yes, please explain:
14. Check all that apply:
❑ No compliance issues
® Notice(s) of violation
❑ Current enforcement action(s) ❑ Currently under JOC
❑ Currently under SOC ❑ Currently under moratorium
Please explain and attach any documents that may help clarify answer/comments (i.e., NOV, NOD, etc.) See #12
If the facility has had compliance problems during the permit cycle, please explain the status. Has the RO been
working with the Permittee? Is a solution underway or in place? N/A
Have all compliance dates/conditions in the existing permit been satisfied? ® Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, please explain:
15. Are there any issues related to compliance/enforcement that should be resolved before issuing this permit?
❑ Yes ®No❑N/A
If yes, please explain:
16. Possible toxic impacts to surface waters: N/A
17. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only): N/A
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 43103FA0-1B02-4E2A-899D-6CD8C0345B24
IV. REGIONAL OFFICE RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Do you foresee any problems with issuance/renewal of this permit? ❑ Yes or ® No
If yes, please explain:
2. List any items that you would like the NPDES Unit or Non -Discharge Unit Central Office to obtain through an
additional information request:
Item Reason
3. List specific permit conditions recommended to be removed from the permit when issued:
Condition
Reason
Condition I.1 Operating
Agreement
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed April 21, 2017 and attached to
current permit.
4. List specific special conditions or compliance schedules recommended to be included in the permit when issued:
Condition Reason
5. Recommendation: ❑ Hold, pending receipt and review of additional information by regional office
❑ Hold, pending review of draft permit by regional office
❑ Issue upon receipt of needed additional information
® Issue
❑ Deny (Please state reasons: )
/—DocuSigned by:
6. Signature of report preparer:
Signature of regional supervisor:
Date: 9/3/2020
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DocuSign Envelope ID:43103FA0-1B02-4E2A-899D-6CD8C0345B24
V. ADDITIONAL REGIONAL STAFF REVIEW ITEMS
This staff report is being prepared for the renewal of Permit W00000193. There have been no changes to the facility
since the last issued permit. This facility is permitted for 300,000 GPD and averaged 180,000-220,000 GPD during
the summer months and 75,000 GPD during the winter in 2019. Effluent disposal consists of conjunctive and non -
conjunctive reclaim water utilization on the Bald Head Island Club facility and two high -rate infiltration ponds, ponds
#4 and #5. The facility does not have a 5-day upset pond. Instead, effluent that does not meet reclaimed standards is
directed to the high rate infiltration ponds for disposal.
The 3.43 acre conjunctive utilization area (Site C-2), listed as a modification of the current permit, has been
constructed and in operation. Condition I.1, the Operating Agreement between the Village of Bald Head Island, the
Bald Head Island Club and the Bald Head Island Villas Association, was submitted as a Memorandum of
Understanding dated April 21, 2017.
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