WQ0003090_NOV-2020-DV-0477_20201229

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
December 29, 2020
CERTIFIED MAIL 7018 1130 0000 1608 2507
RETURN RECEIPT REOUESTED
Mr. William Doerfer, Town Manager
Town of Liberty
P.O. Box 1006
Liberty, North Carolina 27298
Subject: Notice of Violation and Intent to Enforce (NOV-2020-DV-0477)
Town of Liberty - Wastewater Surface Irrigation
Permit No. WQ0003090
Randolph County
Dear Mr. Doerfer:
Mr. Tremaine Fike, ORC, reported the following incidents to staff of the North Carolina Division
of Water Resources, Winston Salem Regional office, NCDEQ-DWR-WSRO, during the month of
October and November:
Incident Incident Type Start Time End Time Volume
Number (gallons)
202002761
Bypass from lift
10/12/2020
10/12/2020
250
station
7:03 AM
7:08 AM
202002762
Bypass from
10/12/2020
10/20/2020
1,176,000
chlorine contact
7:15 AM
11:30 AM
chamber
202002850
Bypass from
10/29/2020
11/24/2020
1,872,850
chlorine contact
10:58 AM
1:15 PM
chamber
202002939
Bypass from lift
11/12/2020
11/12/2020
31,500
station
11:15 AM
6:15 PM
20203367
Bypass from
11/27/2020
12/10/2020
1,269,000
chlorine contact
11:31 AM
11:16 AM
chamber
202003467
Bypass from
12/15/2020
12/29/2020
1,008,00
chlorine contact
7:15 AM
2:20 PM
chamber
gepartm¢nt ¢} Enaimnm¢ntal quall�
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office 1 450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300 1 Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
336,776.9800

Mr. Fike reported that the wastewater bypassing the chlorine contact chamber did reach surface
waters, discharging to the Rocky River. Please be aware that bypass events are a violation of
Permit Condition III.12 which states that diversion or bypassing of untreated or partially
treated wastewater from the treatment facilities is prohibited. Inflow and infiltration have been
identified as the cause of at least twenty-nine (29) other bypass events occurring at the subject
facility that have been previously reported to this office since July 10, 2013.
Additionally, freeboard has been out of compliance for the months of September, October, and
November of 2020. This exceedance is a violation of Permit Condition III.13, which states
that freeboard in the lagoon shall not be less than one and one half (1.5) feet at any time.
The Division of Water Resources may pursue enforcement action for this and any additional
violations of State law. If you wish to present an explanation for the violations cited, provide
additional information related to those items, or if you believe there are other factors which should
be considered, please send such information to me in writing within ten (10) days following
receipt of this Notice. Any additional information received will be reviewed, and if an
enforcement action is deemed appropriate, that information will be forwarded to the Director with
the enforcement package for their consideration. Your written response should be sent to my
attention at the address shown on the letterhead. As a reminder, NC General Statutes provide for
penalties up to $25,000 per day per violation for violation of state environmental laws and
regulations.
If you or your staff have any questions concerning this Notice, please contact me at (336) 776-
9800 or lon.snider2ncdenr.gov.
Sincerely,
DocuSiTgned<by:
Lun l JM�ff
1_"49E225C94EA...
Lon T. Snider, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ-WSRO
cc: Tremaine Fike - Town of Liberty (Electronic Copy)
Randolph County Environmental Health (Electronic Copy)
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