NC0049867_NOV-2020-LV-0745_20201022

Town of Clevelaild WQF10S
302 East Main Street
P.O. Box 429
Cleveland, NC 27013
[phone]
October 26, 2020
NCDEQ
Attention: W. Corey Basinger
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Mooresville Regional Office
610 East Center Ave, Suite 301
Mooresville, NC 28115
SUBJECT: NOV-2020-LV-0745
Dear Mr. Basinger:
Sample Location Parameter Date Limit Value Reported Value Type
001 Effluent Coliform,Fecal MF,MFC Broth 8-1-2020 400 742.79 Wkly. Geo Mean
On October 20, 2020, the Town of Cleveland received a violation notice as described above. This
incident occurred because of confusion with the DMR Report monitoring requirement location
identification and abnormally higher than normal results which our operator was getting as opposed to
the past results.
When our operator started with the Town, the system did not have a SOP for sampling and collection
and when he was previously collecting samples from June 2&h- July 23`d he was getting higher fecal
coliform numbers than in the past. This led him to believe he was collecting at the wrong location. While
reviewing the Permit, it stated three different locations as E=Effluent U=Upstream D=Downstream. He
assumed that the E would be the Effluent at the Chlorine Contact Chamber, since he was previously
collecting samples at the correct location, the discharge end of the Parshall flume. However, he was
getting a higher number count than the past results indicated. This decision was based on the
probability that there may be a reoccurrence of fecal bacteria occurring after the Sulfur Dioxide injection
and within the piping from CCC/S02 injection point and the final discharge point which is approximately
40 ft of piping.
The two samples which were 550 MPN/100 and 980 MPN/100 were collected at CCC which was the
wrong location, as he found out after speaking with Mr. Roberto Scheller in reference to the fecal hits.
Since this confusion, he has been working on developing a SOP for sample collection and testing as well
as identification markers site specific sample locations.

There was major confusion when our operator first took on the Town's Facility Operations. Under
normal circumstances, he says he would have contacted the State first for an on -site visit, however, due
to the COVID 19 the Department was not coming on site visits.
The Town wishes to thank Roberto Scheller for his help.
Sincerely,
Patrick Phifer
Mayor
cc: Commissioner Gerald Osborne