NC0071323_Draft Permit_20210405

ROY COOPER ' � '?
Governor •r J r
DIONNE DELLI-GATTI �
Secretory
S.DANIEL SMITH NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
April 5,2021
Ken Deaver
Etowah Sewer Company
c/o Kace Environmental,Inc.
2905 Wood Road
Mooresboro,NC 28114
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NC0071323
Etowah Sewer Company WWTP
Grade II Biological WPCS
Henderson County
Dear Mr. Deaver:
Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the Draft NPDES permit renewal for your facility. Please review
this draft carefully to ensure thorough understanding of the requirements and conditions it contains. We
understand from your renewal application that there have been no significant changes to the treatment
system.There are a few changes in the draft from the existing permit. These changes are summarized
below.
• Regulatory Citations—Language has been added where necessary in the permit to provide
regulatory citations for permit requirements.
• Electronic Reporting—Permit language has been added to be consistent with the finalization of
federal requirements for electronic reporting.
• Corrected Outfall Coordinates—The draft permit has been updated to correct the coordinates for
the discharge outfall location.
• Permitted Flow Levels- 15A NCAC 02T.0118,"Demonstration of Future Wastewater Treatment
Capacities,"was adopted by the Environmental Management Commission to ensure that
wastewater treatment systems do not exceed their hydraulic treatment capacities. This Rule
specifies that publicly-owned facilities exceeding 80%of their hydraulic treatment capacity must
conduct evaluations of future wastewater treatment needs.
While this rule does not apply to your facility,we have noted several months where your monthly
average flow has exceeded 80%of design capacity. In the month of Feb 2020 the WWTP
exceeded 100%of the monthly permitted flow,and one day of that month the daily flow was
more than double the permitted flow for the WWTP. This poses a risk that your facility will
become noncompliant with its effluent limitations. We urge you to evaluate the cause[s] for these
high flows and take the necessary steps to keep your facility in compliance. Operating at such a
high percentage of design flow is not sustainable,and increases wear on the treatment
components. We encourage you to contact staff in our Asheville Regional Office concerning
your efforts to address potential flow issues.
Q North
North CarolinaSalisbury DepartmentStreet1 of1617 Environmental
Service Center Quality I Division of Water Resou27rces
512 Raleigh.North Carolina 699 1617
AICA CAROL NA
D_�
owa t0... 919.707.9000

Ken Deaver
Etowah Sewer Company WWTP-Draft Permit
Page 2
The NPDES standard conditions(Parts II,III,and IV)that are a part of the permit are not included in this
draft document(cover,map,and Part I).The conditions are the same as in your current permit.The latest
version of the standard conditions is available at https://bit.ly/3k5NFaL and can be viewed online or
downloaded as a PDF file.
Concurrent with this notification the Division is publishing a notice in a newspaper having general
circulation in the Henderson County area solicitingpublic comments on this draftpermit. Please provide
any written comments you may have to me no later than 30 days after receipt of this draft permit.
Following the 30-day public comment period,the Division will review all pertinent comments and take
appropriate action prior to issuing a final permit.If you have questions concerning this draft permit,
please call me at(919)707-3629 or contact me by email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
afb
Bradley Bennett
Compliance and Expedited Permitting Unit
cc: NPDES Files-electronic
Asheville Regional Office/Water Quality—electronic
Operator Certification Program/Maureen Kinney—electronic

Draft Permit NC0071323
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
In compliance with the provisions of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1, other lawful standards
and regulations promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina Environmental Management
Commission,and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act,as amended,the
Etowah Sewer Company
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Etowah Sewer Company WWTP
Off U.S. Highway 64
Etowah
Henderson County
to receiving waters designated as the French Broad River in the French Broad River Basin
withmonitoring q
in accordance effluent limitations, requirements,and other conditions set forth in Parts
I,II,III and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on November 30,2025.
If the permittee intends to continue discharging at the facility beyond the term of this permit, a renewal
application must be submitted no later than June 30,2025(180 days before the expiration of this permit)
Signed this day
S. Daniel Smith,Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 8

Draft Permit NC0071323
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility,whether for operation or discharge are hereby
revoked. As of this permit issuance, any previously issued permit bearing this number is no longer
effective. Therefore,the exclusive authority to operate and discharge from this facility arises under the
permit conditions, requirements,terms, and provisions included herein.
The Etowah Sewer Company
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate an existing 0.125 MGD wastewater treatment facility consisting of the
following components:
• Influent lift station
• Bar Screen
• Flow equalization chamber with flow control box
• Dual train aeration basins
• Dual train clarifiers
• Tablet feed chlorinators
• Chlorine contact chamber
• Tablet feed dechlorinators
• Effluent flow meters
• Sludge holding chamber
The facility is located at the Etowah Sewer Company WWTP,off U. S. Highway 64 in Etowah, in
Henderson County.
2. After receiving an Authorization to Construct(ATC)permit from the Division of Water Resources
and submitting an acceptable Engineer's Certification Form to the Division of Water Resources at
completion of the construction,begin operating new facilities sufficient to treat 0.50 MGD of
wastewater.
3. Discharge from said treatment works into the French Broad River,classified WS-IV,B waters in
hydrologic unit 060101050404 of the French Broad River Basin, sub basin 04-03-02.
Page 2 of 8

Draft Permit NC0071323
PART I
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS—FINAL
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
Grade II Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G.0302]
During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expansion above
0.125 MGD or expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from outfall 001. Such discharges
shall be limited and monitored) by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
eDMR Code Average Maximum Frequency Type Location
Flow 50050 0.125 MGD Continuous Recording Influent or
Effluent
BOD,5-day(20°C) C0310 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
Total Suspended Solids C0530 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
NH3 as N C0610 Monitor&Report Weekly Composite Effluent
Fecal Coliform(geometric mean) 31616 200/100 ml 400/100 ml Weekly Grab Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine2 50060 28 pg/L 2/Week Grab Effluent
Temperature(°C) 00010 Monitor&Report Weekly Grab Effluent
Total Nitrogen(NO2+NO3+TKN) C0600 Monitor&Report Semi-Annually Composite Effluent
Total Phosphorus C0665 Monitor&Report Semi-Annually Composite Effluent
pH 00400 >_6.0&<_9.0 standard units Weekly Grab Effluent
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the NC DWR's eDMR system[see A.(3)].
2. The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 µg/L to be in compliance with the
permit. However,the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a North Carolina
certified laboratory(including field certified),even if these values fall below 50 µg/L.
There shall be no discharge of floatingsolids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
Page 3 of 8

Draft Permit NC0071323
A. (2.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS—FINAL
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
Grade II Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G.0302]
During the period beginning upon expansion above 0.125 MGD and lasting until expiration, the
Permittee is authorized to discharge from outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and
monitored) by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
eDMR Code Average Maximum Frequency Type Location
Flow 50050 0.5 MGD Continuous RecordingInfluent or
Effluent
BOD,5-day(20°C) C0310 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
Total Suspended Solids C0530 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
NH3 as N C0610 Monitor&Report Weekly Composite Effluent
Fecal Coliform(geometric mean) 31616 200/100 ml 400/100 ml Weekly Grab Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine2 50060 28 pg/L 2/Week Grab Effluent
Temperature(°C) 00010 Monitor&Report Weekly Grab Effluent
Total Nitrogen(NO2+NO3+TKN) C0600 Monitor&Report Semi-Annually Composite Effluent
Total Phosphorus C0665 Monitor&Report Semi-Annually Composite Effluent
pH 00400 z 6.0&<_9.0 standard units Weekly Grab Effluent
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the NC DWR's eDMR system[see A.(3)].
2. The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 µg/L to be in compliance with the
permit.However,the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a North Carolina
certified laboratory(including field certified),even if these values fall below 50 µg/L.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
Page 4 of 8

Draft Permit NC0071323
A.(3.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports(DMRs)and
program reports.The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted and became effective on
December 21, 2015.
NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part II of this
permit(Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits): •
• Section B.(11.) Signatory Requirements
• Section D.(2.) Reporting
• Section D.(6.) Records Retention
• Section E.(5.) Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements[Supersedes Section D.(2.)and Section E.(5.)(all
The permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's Electronic
Discharge Monitoring Report(eDMR)internet application.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s)shall be summarized for each month and
submitted electronically using eDMR. The eDMR system allows permitted facilities to enter
monitoring data and submit DMRs electronically using the internet. The eDMR system may be
accessed at: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr.
If a permittee is unable to use the eDMR system due to a demonstrated hardship or due to the
facility being physically located in an area where less than 10 percent of the households have
broadband access,then a temporary waiver from the NPDES electronic reporting requirements may
be granted and discharge monitoring data may be submitted on paper DMR forms(MR 1, 1.1,2, 3)
or alternative forms approved by the Director. Duplicate signed copies shall be submitted to the
following address:
NC DEQ/Division of Water Resources/Water Quality Permitting Section
ATTENTION: Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
See"How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting"section below.
Regardless of the submission method,the first DMR is due on the last day of the month following
the issuance of the permit or in the case of a new facility,on the last day of the month following the
commencement of discharge.
Starting on December 21,2025 the permittee must electronically report the following compliance
monitoring data and reports,when applicable:
• Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports;
• Pretreatment Program Annual Reports;and
• Clean Water Act(CWA)Section 316(b)Annual Reports.
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Draft Permit NC0071323
The permittee may seek an electronic reporting waiver from the Division(see"How to Request a
Waiver from Electronic Reporting"section below).
2. Electronic Submissions
In accordance with 40 CFR 122.41(1)(9),the permittee must identify the initial recipient at the time
of each electronic submission. The permittee should use the EPA's website resources to identify
the initial recipient for the electronic submission.
Initial recipient of electronic NPDES information from NPDES-regulated facilities means the entity
(EPA or the state authorized by EPA to implement the NPDES program)that is the designated
entity for receiving electronic NPDES data[see 40 CFR 127.2(b)].
EPA plans to establish a website that will also link to the appropriate electronic reporting tool for
each type of electronic submission and for each state. Instructions on how to access and use the
appropriate electronic reporting tool will be available as well. Information on EPA's NPDES
Electronic Reporting Rule is found at:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-24954/national-pollutant-discharge-
elimination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule
Electronic submissions must start by the dates listed in the"Reporting Requirements" section
above.
3. How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting
The permittee may seek a temporary electronic reporting waiver from the Division. To obtain an
electronic reporting waiver,a permittee must first submit an electronic reporting waiver request to
the Division. Requests for temporary electronic reporting waivers must be submitted in writing to
the Division for written approval at least sixty(60)days prior to the date the facility would be
required under this permit to begin submitting monitoring data and reports. The duration of a
temporary waiver shall not exceed 5 years and shall thereupon expire. At such time,monitoring
data and reports shall be submitted electronically to the Division unless the permittee re-applies for
and is granted a new temporary electronic reporting waiver by the Division. Approved electronic
reporting waivers are not transferrable. Only permittees with an approved reporting waiver request
may submit monitoring data and reports on paper to the Division for the period that the approved
reporting waiver request is effective.
Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on
the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Signatory Requirements[Supplements Section B.(11.)(b)and Supersedes Section B.(11.)(al
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person described in Part
II, Section B. (11.)(a)or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part II,
Section B. (11.)(b). A person,and not a position,must be delegated signatory authority for eDMR
reporting purposes.
For eDMR submissions,the person signing and submitting the DMR must obtain an eDMR user
account and login credentials to access the eDMR system. For more information on North
Page 6 of 8

Draft Permit NC0071323
Carolina's eDMR system,registering for eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account,please visit
the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
Certification. Any person submitting an electronic DMR using the state's eDMR system shall
make the following certification[40 CFR 122.22]. NO OTHER STATEMENTS OF
CERTIFICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED:
"I certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my
direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel
properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or
persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the
information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief true, accurate,
and complete.I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information,
including the possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations."
5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D.(6.)1
The permittee shall retain records of all Discharge Monitoring Reports,including eDMR submissions.
These records or copies shall be maintained for a period of at least 3 years from the date of the report. This
period may be extended by request of the Director at any time[40 CFR 122.41].
Page 7 of 8

Draft Permit NC0071323
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Etowah Sewer Company Facility
Etowah Sewer Company WWTP Location • '
Receiving Stream: French Broad River Stream Class: WS IV;B
River Basin: Henderson Sub-Basin: 04-03-02 (not to scale)
Latitude: 35°19'13" Longitude: 82°34'52"
Stream Segment 6-(47.5) HUC#: 060101050404 NPDES Permit: NC0071323
Grid/Quad: FBSE/Horse Shoe NORTH
Page 8 of 8