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Home My WebLink AboutNC0067318_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20161024EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. 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 N 52 NC0067318 16/10/24 C S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Nantahala School NCSR 1412 Topton NC 28781 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 09:55AM 16/10/24 12/12/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Michael J. Ladd/ORC/828-360-6401/ Other Facility Data 10:25AM 16/10/24 17/11/30 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Chris Baldwin,PO Box 1029 Franklin NC 287341029//828-524-3314/8285245938 Contacted Yes Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self-Monitoring Program Sludge Handling Disposal Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Waters Section D: Summary of Finding/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 Daniel J Boss ARO WQ//828-296-4658/ Mikal Willmer ARO WQ//828-296-4686/ 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 16/10/24 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Inspectors Mikal Willmer and Dan Boss with the Asheville Regional Office (ARO) conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the Nantahala School's wastewater treatment system on October 24, 2016. Tracy Tallent with Macon County Schools and Michael Ladd (ORC) were present and assisted in the inspection. Mr. Boss suggested the addition of an alarm for the 2000 gallon EQ basin may be beneficial in instances of excess flow. Overall the plant appeared to be well operated and maintained and in compliance with all permit conditions. Records reviewed before the inspection showed sampling was in compliance with current permit limits. The Nantahala School is currently not registered for eDMR. Inspectors reminded Mr. Tallent eDMR registration is required by December 21, 2016. Mikal Willmer emailed Mr. Tallent information about the process for registering and using the eDMR system. NC0067318 17 (Cont.) Page#2 Permit:NC0067318 Inspection Date:10/24/2016 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Nantahala School Compliance Evaluation Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Regularly analyze mixed liquors and monitor DO. Mixed liquors can range from 1500 to 3500 mg/L. Settleability is generally 25 to 40 %. Comment: Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new application? Is the facility as described in the permit? # Are there any special conditions for the permit? Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? Comment: Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? Is all required information readily available, complete and current? Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? Is the chain-of-custody complete? Dates, times and location of sampling Name of individual performing the sampling Results of analysis and calibration Dates of analysis Name of person performing analyses Transported COCs Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? Page#3 Permit:NC0067318 Inspection Date:10/24/2016 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Nantahala School Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? Mr. Tallent keeps a copy of the permit and all files in the maintenance office. There is currently no enclosed building within the treatment plant fence, however, the school offices are nearby. Comment: Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual b.Mechanical Are the bars adequately screening debris? Is the screen free of excessive debris? Is disposal of screening in compliance? Is the unit in good condition? Debris from bar screen is disposed within a trash bin located inside the fence of the treatment plant. A grinder pump is also utilized before aeration to reduce solids. Additional solids are settled out in the polishing tank. Comment: Equalization Basins Yes No NA NE Is the basin aerated? Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment? Is the basin free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Are audible and visual alarms operable? # Is basin size/volume adequate? The EQ basin gravity feeds into the aeration basin. Currently there are no pumps or alarms present. Inspector Dan Boss suggested considering alarms for incoming flow. The plant only has one aeration basin for treatment. Comment: Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext. Air Type of aeration system Diffused Is the basin free of dead spots? Are surface aerators and mixers operational? Page#4 Permit:NC0067318 Inspection Date:10/24/2016 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Nantahala School Compliance Evaluation Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Are the diffusers operational? Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin’s surface? Is the DO level acceptable? Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/l) The plant was not in operation during the inspection. Solids were just recently pumped. Michael Ladd (ORC) stated aeration automatically turns on every 15 minutes at night and every 30 minutes during the day. Solids are pumped about every two months. Comment: Sand Filters (Low rate)Yes No NA NE (If pumps are used) Is an audible and visible alarm Present and operational? Is the distribution box level and watertight? Is sand filter free of ponding? Is the sand filter effluent re-circulated at a valid ratio? # 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) Pumps and alarms were tested during the inspection. Mr. Ladd manually raised floats to show pumps and alarms were working. Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? The flow measurements are based on water meter readings for the school.Comment: Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? The effluent pipe was accessible and well maintained. Plant discharges about 18 times a day. Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Page#5 Permit:NC0067318 Inspection Date:10/24/2016 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Nantahala School Compliance Evaluation Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? Permit requires grab samples.Comment: Standby Power Yes No NA NE Is automatically activated standby power available? Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source? Is the generator tested under load? Was generator tested & operational during the inspection? Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site? Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power? Is the generator fuel level monitored? The generator is exercised and checked weekly by school maintenance.Comment: Page#6