NC0024236_incident 202101045 5 day report_20210323

March 23, 2021
Kinston
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NC DWQ-Washington Regional Office
Attn: Robert Bullock
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington, NC 27889
2009
Re: Bypass of denitrification filters, March 16, 2021. Incident #202101045
Dear Mr.Bullock:
On March 16, 2021, the City of Kinston had to bypass part of its treatment process (the denitrification
filters). High flows and rain continue to hinder our recovery from our recent past bypasses of the filters.
Flows have remained high for weeks and they finally began to effect plant operations All basins
remained in service. With flows around 20 MGD, we began to experience pin flocking from our
clarifiers and at 6:14 pm, we had to start bypassing the filters. As you are aware, the filters are the last
stage of treatment prior to UV disinfection and final discharge to the Neuse River.
The State (Mr. Bullock) was notified the following morning around 8:00 am.
Average influent flows fluctuated between 9-17.5 MGD over the event with a rainfall total of 2.25
inches.
Total gallons wasted from the clarifiers from March 14- March 20, 2021 is 339,298.
All filters were put back on line at 9:20 am, Thursday, March 18, 2021.
Daily composite effluent TSS results for the event are as follows:
• March 15, 2021: <2.5 mg/L
• March 16, 2021: <2.5 mg/L
• March 17, 2021: 43.2 mg/L
• March 18, 2021: 5.1 mg/L
• March 19, 2021: <2.5 mg/L
• March 20, 2021: <2.5 mg/L
The March 15-20, 2021weekly average limit value of 45 mg/L was not exceeded. The average for the
week was 24.15 mg/L.
The City continues to work at reducing the factors that attributed to this event. The high rain led to
Johnnie Mosley Regional Water Reclamation Facility
2101 Becton Farm Rd
Kinston, North Carolina 28501 Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

higher flow with inflow and infiltration making it worse. We continue to work on the collection system
to reduce inflow & infiltration levels.
We continue to see flow increases at both the Briery Run and Forrest Street Lift Stations that discharge
to the plant, but the largest increase remains with Forrest Street. There are three sewer outfalls that
flow to Forrest Street, the Adkin Branch, Sunshine Street and Neuse Outfalls. With the vast majority of
these outfalls still flooded from previous rain events, crews have not been able to smoke test and flow
monitor these outfalls to identify sources of inflow that are contributing to this type of event. The
Forrest Street sewershed includes almost 10 square miles that does not flow through any lift stations,
making it difficult to pinpoint inflow/infiltration issues.
Solids within the basin remain constant with where we should be at this time of year Unfortunately the
consistently high flows have kept our clarifiers at near capacity and unable to settle out properly. Under
normal conditions, flows average 3-5 MGD a day with sludge levels 4- 6 ft. in the clarifiers. With the
continued inflow and infiltration from these constant rain events, flows have doubled and tripled
therefore pushing more solids into the clarifiers. We simply have not been able to waste and process
enough of those solids out under these conditions
If I can be of any further assistance, please call me at 252-939-3375 or email at
[e-mail].
Since
Kenneth R. Stevens, Jr.
Johnnie Mosley RWRF Superintendent
C:
Rhonda Barwick- Director of Public Services
Steve Miller- Assistant Director of Public Services
File
Johnnie Mosley Regional Water Reclamation Facility
2101 Becton Farm Rd
Kinston, North Carolina 28501 Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]