NC0026573_NOV-2020-LV-0924 Response_20210216

February 16, 2021
Daniel Boss, Asst. Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
NCDEQ-Division of Water Resources
Asheville Regional Office
2090 US Highway 70
Swannanoa, NC 28778
Subject: Notice of Violation: NOV-2020-LV-0924
Dear Mr. Boss,
I have reviewed the permit violations referenced in NOV-2020-LV-0924 for the
Permit # NC0026573 November 2020 DMR. Specifically, Limit Exceedance Violations
were for weekly effluent BOD & Solids on 11/14/2020 and monthly effluent BOD &
Solids on 11/30/2020. After reviewing and discussing this with staff, it was determined
that these violations were the result of heavy rainfall associated with a hurricane moving
through western NC.
Burke county NC and surrounding areas were impacted by tropical storm Eta
dumping over 6.5 inches of rain late on Wednesday Nov l l th and early Thursday Nov
12th causing heavy flooding and storm damage. A State of Emergency was declared from
this event. Plant staff recorded 2.86 inches of rainfall on Wednesday Nov 1 lth and had to
open its peak storage basins to alleviate high flow from infiltration. On Nov 12th an
additional 3.70 inches of rainfall was recorded at the facility with much higher amounts
of influent flow. As a result, the facility experienced hydraulic overloading due to
excessive flow from infiltration with all available basins full or online. Staff tried to
mitigate parameter averages by sampling over Veteran's Day holiday in anticipation of
elevated BOD & TSS averages for the week. However, the plant still suffered from upset
conditions and the following day's results were high as well. The plant was back in
compliance by Friday Nov 13th as flows subsided. Linda Wiggs from NCDEQ was
contacted via voicemail and email on Friday Nov 13th concerning the violations. The
Telephone [phone] East Union St. Post Office Box 3448
www.ci.morganton.nc.us Morganton, NC 28655 Morganton, NC 28680-3448

discharge resulting from the excessive rainfall infiltrating the sewer system was a severe
natural condition as there was no feasible alternative to the discharge.
If there are any questions please call 828-438-5276.
Brad Boris
Water Resources Director
Telephone [phone] East Union St. Post Office Box 3448
www.ci.morganton.nc.us Morganton, NC 28655 Morganton, NC 28680-3448