WQCS00203_Corrective Action Plan Request_20210215

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ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH NORTH CAROLINA
Director j5Rw0YtlMm#Rt421 Quality
February 15, 2021
CERTIFIED MAIL: 7018 2290 0001 8295 9519
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Daniel Hilburn, Mayor
Town of Lake Waccamaw
PO Box 145
Lake Waccamaw, NC
28450-0145
SUBJECT: Corrective Action Plan to Address Sanitary Sewer Overflows
Collection System Permit No. WQCS00203
Lake Waccamaw Collection System
Columbus County
Dear Mayor Hilburn:
In response to reported Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs), our office has conducted a review of the Town's
reported sewer spill history. That review of 92 incidents dating back to April 2002 indicates the following
locations have had numerous spills with most if not all related to rainfall events of varying severity via
Inflow & Infiltration (I&I).
• The manhole at Dale's Seafood has been a location where seventeen (17) spills have occurred
dating back to August 2012 with seven (7) reported during 2020 which were the first reports since
October 2015.
• The manhole at the end of Mt. Zion Road has been a location where eight (8) spills have occurred
dating back to July 2013 with seven (7) reported during 2020, thus it seems to be a new location
having issues.
As the above shows the Town's sewer collection system has struggled with hydraulic capacity issues in
these two separate sewer basins leading to sewer overflows. While most volumes reported are small, the
incidents do constitute violations of the subject permit and the Clean Water Act. The number of incidents
indicate an ongoing issue that needs both investigation and resolution.
127 Cardinal Drive Extension, Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
Phone: [phone]\ Internet: www.deg.nc.gov

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To that end, please provide the most recent copy of a Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Study (SSES) or similar
engineering reports that have investigated sources of I&I within theTown's gravity sewer system including
from private systems and a hydraulic evaluation of pump stations serving its sewer basins. The
information should provide a summary of the findings and recommendations or actions needed to address
them. If specific actions are recommended, then please provide information as to where the Town stands
in performing them. Should such a report not be available, please provide what information is available
and provide a deadline for when the Town will contract with a qualified consulting firm to perform a SSES.
If the violations are of a continuing nature, not related to operation and/or maintenance problems, and
you anticipate remedial construction activities, then you may wish to consider applying for a Special Order
by Consent. Having a SSES performed could be an initial action item in such an Order.
Please provide the requested information within 45 days of vaur receipt of this letter.
If you have any questions concerning this matter or to apply for an SOC, please contact Dean Hunkele of
the Wilmington Regional Office at 910-796-7215 or via email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
TDocuSiggnned by: yx
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Tom Tharrington, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Wilmington Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Cc: WQS Wilmington Regional Office— Hunkele
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127 Cardinal Drive Extension, Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
Phone: [phone]\ Internet: www.deg.nc.gov