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Home My WebLink AboutNC0030783_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20140115 A� NCDENR North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Resources Water Quality Programs Pat McCrory Thomas A. Reeder John E. Skvarla, III Governor Director Secretary January 24, 2014 Jeff Church Caldwell County Schools 1914 Hickory Blvd Lenoir,NC 28645 SUBJECT: Compliance Sampling Inspection Baton Elementary School WWTP Permit No: NCO030783 Caldwell County Dear Mr. Church: On January 15, 2014, I conducted a Compliance Sampling Inspection at the Baton School wastewater facility. Jerry Younce with Water tech Labs and Steve Soots with Caldwell County Schools were present during the inspection. Their time and efforts are appreciated. The facility appeared to be in compliance with permit NC0030783. The main treatment component of this wastewater system is a buried sand filter. The main delivery components of this wastewater system are two pump stations. The influent pump station, which pumps the wastewater from the building to the septic tank, may need cleaning at the end of the school year. This pump station had some debris in the wet well and on the floats; it is suggested that school staff be reminded not to dispose of rags, feminine hygiene etc. type of products down the toilets. The effluent pump station, which pumps the treated wastewater to the stream, may need a light bulb for the visual alarm. Please refer to the enclosed inspection report for more detailed observations and comments. If you or your staff have any questions, please call me at 828-296-4500. Sincerely, Linda Wiggs Environmental Senior Specialist Asheville Regional Office Enc.-Inspection Report cc: Water Tech Labs(e-copy) Steve Soots(e-copy) Central Files Asheville Files G:\WQ\SWP\Caldwell\Wastewater\Minors\Baton Elementary 30783\CSI.01-2014.Ltr.doc Water Quality Regional Operations—Asheville Regional Office 2090 U.S.Highway 70,Swannanoa,North Carolina 28778 Phone:828-296-4500 FAX:828-299-7043 Internet:http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wgtws An Equal Opportunity\Affirmative Action Employer United States Environmental Protection Agency Form Approved. EPA Washington,D.C.20460 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 INI 2 15I 31 NCO030783 111 121 14/01/15 117 18I S I 19I S I 201 I Remarks 211 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 116 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ---------------------------Reserved---------------------- 67 I 169 70131 711 I 721 N I 73I I 174 751 I I I I I I 1 80 Section B: Facility Data I_I_I Name and Location of Facility Inspected(For Industrial Users discharging to POTW,also include Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date POTW name and NPDES permit Number) 01:25 PM 14/01/15 10/03/01 Baton Elementary School 1400 Baton School Rd Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date Granite Falls NC 28630 02:10 PM 14/01/15 15/02/28 Name(s)of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data Name,Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Jeff Church,1914 Hickory Blvd Lenoir NC 28645//828-728-8407/8287280012 No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Operations&Maintenance 0 Facility Site Review Section D: Summary of Find in /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 Linda S Wiggs ARO WQ//828-296-4500 Ext.4653/ 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 NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type (cant. 1 3 I NCO030783 111 12, 14/01/15 117 18 I S 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments(Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Inspector met with Jerry Younce and Steve Soots; both are doing a good job and their efforts with this system are appreciated. This is an old, high maintenance system requiring plenty of attention. Because the sandfilter bed is buried, keeping this system viable is dependent on the maintenance of the septic tank and pump stations. Refer to the question section for specific suggestions. Effluent Sample Results: Fecal Coliform - 140 colonies/100ml Total Suspended Solids - <6.2 mg/I BOD - <2 mg/I Page# 2 Permit: NCO030783 Owner-Facility: Baton Elementary School Inspection Date: 01/15/2014 Inspection Type: Compliance Sampling Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? ■ 0 0 0 Does the facility analyze process control parameters,for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge I] ❑ ■ Judge, and other that are applicable? Comment: Pump Station - Influent Yes No NA NE Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? ■ ❑ 0 ❑ Is the wet well free of excessive grease? ■ ❑ 0 0 Are all pumps present? ■ n n n Are all pumps operable? ■ n n n Are float controls operable? ■ fl El 0 Is SCADA telemetry available and operational? 0 ❑ ■ ❑ Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? ■ ❑ 0 ❑ Comment: This pump station carries the wastewater from the school to the septic tank. There was some floating debris in the wet well. The county personnel stated they have spoken with the school about not flushing certain items. The floats were slightly caked with debris. It is suggested this pump stations residuals be monitored with a sludge judge type of device and be cleaned out as necessary or at least when the septic tank is pumped. The county is having to replace/rebuild the pumps - every other year. Keeping debris from reaching the pump station as well as maintenance and pump run time set up will help to extend the life of the pumps. Septic Tank Yes No NA NE (If pumps are used) Is an audible and visual alarm operational? ❑ ❑ ■ Is septic tank pumped on a schedule? ■ Are pumps or syphons operating properly? 0 ❑ ■ ❑ Are high and low water alarms operating properly? rl ❑ ■ Comment: The tank is pumped every other year and is due this year. A sludge judge type device could be used to determine solids level in the tank. It is suggested that the solids level be checked monthly and in each chamber. However, the lids are extremely heavy, please make sure the manpower is available to lift the lids safely. Sand Filters (Low rate) Yes No NA NE (If pumps are used) Is an audible and visible alarm Present and operational? El 0 ■ 0 Is the distribution box level and watertight? 0 ❑ 0 ■ Page# 3 Permit: NCO030783 Owner-Facility: Baton Elementary School Inspection Date: 01/15/2014 Inspection Type: Compliance Sampling Sand Filters (Low rate) Yes No NA NE Is sand filter free of ponding? ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ Is the sand filter effluent re-circulated at a valid ratio? I] ❑ ■ #Is the sand filter surface free of algae or excessive vegetation? ❑ ❑ ■ #Is the sand filter effluent re-circulated at a valid ratio? (Approximately 3 to 1) ❑ ❑ ■ Comment: This sand filter is covered, therefore cannot be evaluated except via effluent samples. The distribution lines are the old terra cotta type and are likely leaking and not properly distributing the wastewater. It appears there is not a distribution box, only a large septic tank with chambers. Since this system is buried, the only means of determining proper operation are the effluent samples, which do indicate compliance. Disinfection - UV Yes No NA NE Are extra UV bulbs available on site? 0 ❑ ■ ❑ Are UV bulbs clean? n n n ■ Is UV intensity adequate? ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ Is transmittance at or above designed level? rl ❑ fl ■ Is there a backup system on site? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is effluent clear and free of solids? ■ Comment: Extra lights are not kept onsite, which is ok since they are kept at the school or ORC maintenance building. This UV system appears to just have indicator lights and the remainder of the system is enclosed. The ORC determines if the UV system is working by Fecal Coliform samples. Since these samples are only taken twice a month, this may not be a reliable means of determining the system operations. However, the ORC has worked out a system of cleaning/replacing the bulbs to stay on top of the Fecal Coliform numbers. There is an old tablet chlorinator set up in the tank preceeding the UV building which could be used in an emergency. Although, there is not a dechlorination unit in place. Pump Station - Effluent Yes No NA NE Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all pumps present? ■ n n n Are all pumps operable? ■ n n n Are float controls operable? ■ ❑ 0 ❑ Is SCADA telemetry available and operational? fl ❑ ■ rl Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? fl ■ rl ❑ Page# 4 Permit: NC0030783 Owner-Facility: Baton Elementary School Inspection Date: 01/15/2014 Inspection Type: Compliance Sampling Pump Station - Effluent Yes No NA NE Comment: The visual alarm did not illuminate. Please fix the visual alarm. The county is having to replace/rebuild the pumps - every other year. This could be an indication that the pumps are working too hard, it would be worth evaluating this pump station to see if there is a means to extend the life of the pumps. The pump station is reported as being fairly old. If this pump station were to fail, the school would be in an "emergency pump and haul situation". Page# 5