NC0025321_Staff Comments_20210427

Weaver, Charles
From: Willmer, Mikal
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2021 9:33 AM
To: Weaver, Charles; Sledge, Bob
Cc: Davidson, Landon
Subject: Waynesville Summary
Hey All,
Summary below of the past several years of the WWTP and CS. If you need more detail just let me know.
Waynesville CS & WWTP: The collection system is aging and the issues at the WWTP, due to I&I from the collection
system and failing infrastructure, have increased significantly over the past several years. The system currently receives
flow from three other jurisdictions in addition to the Town of Waynesville. WWTP components have reached or are
reaching the end of their useable life, electrical is outdated and solids management is currently inadequate.
2016/2017: Increase in permit limit violations. The Town requested a TA in 2017 to help assess any potential solutions to
the cause of the exceedances. It was discovered part of the issue was due to interferences from the collection system.
2018: NPDES Permit limit violations continued and McGill & Associates were contracted to further assess the
wastewater treatment plant. Discussion of upgrades and a potential SOC also began in mid to late 2018. The ARO
conducted a compliance evaluation inspection and the facility was found to be non -compliant. The ARO also began
receiving increased reports of SSOs immediately upstream of the WWTP. This coincided with an extremely wet year for
western north Carolina. Repairs were made to the manhole and a locking lid was installed. This section of the main
trunk line has several significant bends and at the time the inability to handle flow was attributed to this. The area was
surveyed with intentions of realigning the main trunk line. The Town was budgeting to realign the line in FY19; however,
this did not occur.
2019: The WWTP had two bypasses. Permit violations continued and the Town formally submitted their SOC application
on August 14, 2019 outlining treatment unit replacement, upgrades and overall improvements to the WWTP. Only one
SSO was reported from the collection system in 2019. The Town indicated they budgeted to have an I&I study
conducted as part of the effort to improve the collection system in conjunction with the SOC. McGill was contracted and
began an I&I study in September of 2019 to target the largest problem areas of the system.
2020: SSOs increased upstream of the previous manhole repair during heavy rain events and several bypasses occurred
at the WWTP due to I&I. The Town approved a 10 year CIP for the collection system in October that includes
incremental replacement of areas identified in the I&I study from 2019. On December 31, 2020 the SOC went into
effect. It is set to expire on July 1, 2024. As part of the SOC, the Town has committed to ongoing and concurrent efforts
to improve the collection and reduce I&I. They are also required by the SOC to submit semi-annual progress reports to
the ARO and Central Office to show progress is being made to improve the collection system.
2021: The first SOC milestone information was submitted with the CIP, I&I study and current I&I reduction efforts. The
AtoC application for the WWTP was also submitted in April 2021.
The Division does acknowledge the significant issues facing the collections system and WWTP. The Town continues to be
issued violations and fines for any SSOs from the collection system or Bypasses at the WWTP in addition to stipulated
penalties outlined in the SOC. We also note that the collection system improvements will be ongoing and extend out
past the 2024 deadline of the SOC. If improvement is not seen in execution of repairs or flow reductions, additional
enforcement action will be taken as warranted.
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Mika! Willmer
Environmental Specialist II — Asheville Regional Office
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
NCDEQ — Division of Water Resources
828 296 4686 office
828 989 7675 mobile
[e-mail]
2090 U.S. Hwy. 70
Swannanoa, N.C. 28778
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