NCG550697_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20210324

March 24, 2021

Certified Mail # 7017 2680 0000 2235 9271
Return Receipt Requested

Moriah Swick 8 Vinson Place Durham, NC

Subject: NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Tracking Number: NOV-2021-PC-0204
Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Single Family Wastewater Treatment System
General NPDES Permit NCG550000
Certificate of Coverage NCG550697
Facility: 290 & 299 Zane Trail
Person County

Dear Ms. Swick:

On March 3, 2021, Stephanie Goss from the Raleigh Regional Office visited your single-family residence
(SFR) wastewater treatment system to evaluate compliance with the subject General NPDES Permit. At
the time of the inspection, the renter of the house informed Ms. Goss that the owners do not live at the
property and he was unable to assist during the inspection. Ms. Goss was not contacted via telephone at a
later time.

Our records indicate the treatment system consists of a septic tank, sub-surface sand filter, tablet
chlorinator with chlorine contact chamber and discharge pipe.

General NPDES Permit NCG550000 and Certificate of Coverage (COC) NCG550697 authorize the
discharge of domestic wastewater from your treatment system to receiving waters designated as Hyco
Lake, classified a WS-V, Class B waters in the Roanoke River Basin. The authorized discharge is in
accordance with the effluent limits and monitoring requirements established within the General Permit.

Findings during the inspection were as follows:

1. NCG550000 Ownership Change Form: According to Person County deed of records, Lance and
Moriah Swick own the residence and property located at 290 & 299 Zane Trail in Leasburg, North
Carolina. As the property owner, you are also the owner of the existing single-family wastewater
treatment system, which treats the domestic wastewater from the residence and releases the
effluent to the receiving waters indicated above. Because the treatment system makes an outlet to

Moriah Swick, NCG550697
March 23, 2021 Page 2 of 3

waters of the state, it is an activity for which the subject permit is required. In the inspection letter
dated March 21, 2017, this office notified you of the requirement to complete and submit the
Ownership Change Form. By failing to submit the NPDES Certificate of Coverage Ownership
Change Form, you have operated a treatment works without a permit. To comply with North
Carolina General Statute § 143-215.1(a), which requires a person to obtain a permit to make an
outlet into the waters of the state, you will need to complete and submit the attached NCG550000
Ownership Change Form to the Division. If you have any questions regarding change in permit
ownership or completing the form, then please contact Stephanie Goss at 919-791-4256.

2. Treatment system operation: The wastewater treatment system shall be maintained at all times
to prevent seepage of sewage to the surface of the ground.

3. Pumping the septic tank: You are required to inspect the septic tank at least yearly to determine
if solids must be removed or if other maintenance is necessary. Septic tanks should be pumped
out every five years or when the solids level is found to be more than 1/3 of the liquid depth in the
septic tank compartment, whichever is greater. A pumping company can check the status
periodically and determine when pumping is required. Within 30-days of receiving this letter,
please send a copy of the most recent receipt/invoice to this office showing the date the septic
tank was last checked and/or pumped out. The General NPDES Permit requires the permittee to
retain records associated with sewage disposal activities for a period of at least 5 years.

4. Chlorine tablets in the chlorinator: You are reminded that it is required that chlorine tablets be
maintained in the chlorinator to ensure proper disinfection of the discharged wastewater. Chlorine
tablets provide effective disinfection and prevent/limit harmful bacteria from discharging to the
environment. The product label for these tablets must indicate the tablets are approved for
wastewater use and not for swimming pools. Part 1, Section D (1) of General NPDES Permit
NCG550000 requires the permittee to inspect the tablet chlorinator weekly to ensure there is an
adequate supply of tablets for continuous and proper operation. Section D (4) requires the
permittee to maintain all system components, including...disinfection units...at all times and in
good operating order. The inspector did not observe any chlorine tablets in the chlorinator.
Please ensure the correct type of tablets are used and maintained in the chlorinator as required
by the General NPDES Permit.

5. Discharge outlet location. The permittee is required to conduct a visual review of the outfall
location at least twice each year (one at the time of sampling) to ensure that no visible solids or
other obvious evidence of system malfunctioning is observed. Any visible signs of a
malfunctioning system shall be documented and steps taken to correct the problem. The discharge
pipe was visible and accessible the day of the inspection. Please continue to ensure the outlet is
always visible/maintained and cleared of vegetation, soil and leaves.

6. Analyzing the effluent: Part 1. C., Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements, within
General Permit NCG550000 requires a permittee to sample and analyze the effluent leaving
his/her treatment system prior to discharge annually. Parameters to be sampled and analyzed
include Flow, BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), Total Suspended Solids, Fecal Coliform and
Total Residual Chlorine. Within 30-days of receiving this letter, please let this office know if you

Moriah Swick, NCG550697
March 23, 2021 Page 3 of 3

have monitored your effluent discharge within the last 12 months, and provide this office with a
copy of the lab results if you have. If you have not monitored your effluent, then please collect a
representative sample of the effluent, have it analyzed by a certified commercial laboratory and
submit the results to this office no later than June 1, 2021. If, during this time, you are unable to
collect a representative sample of the effluent discharge due to insufficient flow from the
discharge pipe, then update this office with that information and continue to monitor the discharge
and if conditions for sampling become favorable, then arrange to collect a sample.] Failure to
monitor the effluent discharge as required is a violation of NPDES General Permit
NCG550000.

Please periodically inspect the wastewater treatment system to ensure the treatment components are
always maintained and in good operating order. You are also reminded to maintain all monitoring data
and associated maintenance records onsite for a minimum of three years and available for inspection.

This inspection report is being issued as a Notice of Violation because you are operating a treatment
system without an NPDES permit.

Within 30-days receipt of this letter, please submit a written response to this office indicating the
actions you will take or have taken to comply with or resolve the issues noted in items 1-4 and 6 above.

If you have questions or comments about this inspection or the requirements to take corrective action (if
applicable), then please contact Stephanie Goss via email at [e-mail] or 919-791-
4256.

Sincerely,

Vanessa E. Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ

Attachment(s): EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report
NCG550000 Ownership Change Form

cc: RRO/SWP Files
Laserfiche

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