NC0037508_Biomonitoring Inspection_20100122

Beverly Eaves Perdue
Governor
ATA
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Coleen H. Sullins
Director
January 22, 2010
Dennis L. Brobst
Moore County Public Utilities Director
P. O. Box 1927
Carthage, NC 28327
Subject: , COMPLIANCE BIOMONITORING INSPECTION (CBI)
Moore County Water Pollution Control Plant
NPDES Permit No. NC0037508
Moore County
Dear Mr. Brobst:
Dee Freeman
Secretary •
Enclosed you will find a copy of the Compliance Biomonitoring Inspection (CBI) report for
the inspection that was conducted .during the week of December 14, 2009 at the Moore County
Water Pollution Control Plant, accompanied by Brant Sikes (ORC), Donovan • Dennis (Plant
Operator), and Janna Scherer (Laboratory Supervisor). As part of this inspection, a tour of the
Wastewater Treatment Plant was conducted. The Compliance Biomonitoring Inspection included
sampling for the below listed chemistries and for Whole Effluent Toxicity to evaluate the biological
effect of the facility's discharge on the test organisms. All observations are in Section D. Summary
of Findings/Comments. Using the Moore County wastewater treatment plant 24=hour composite
sampling equipment, Dale Lopez (DWQ Fayetteville Regional Office) collected and poured the Plant
Outfall 001 Whole Effluent Toxicity samples for the December 15 and December 18 Chronic
Ceriodaphnia dubia multiple -dilution toxicity test. The "truesplit" procedure was used for splitting
the Whole Effluent Toxicity samples into three portions for Aquatic Toxicity testing between two of
Moore County's commercial laboratories (Meritech, Inc. and Research & Analytical Labs, Inc.) and
the DWQ Aquatic Toxicity Laboratory, located on Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh. The Whole
Effluent Toxicity test results of each of the three aquatic toxicity laboratories using these samples
resulted in a ChV > 100%, which is higher than the 41.0% Whole Effluent Toxicity limit for this
facility. The test results for the above samples indicated that the Effluent would not be predicted to
have water quality impacts on the receiving stream. The 24-hour Effluent composite sample that
was collected on December 15th was also sent to the Division of Water Quality Chemistry
Laboratory, located on Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh, for analyses of the following parameters
(which are currently in your NPDES Permit): Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total
Suspended Solids (TSS), Ammonia nitrogen, Total Kjeldahl-Nitrogen (TKN), Ammonia Nitrogen,
Nitrates + Nitrites as nitrogen; Total Phosphorus, Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), and Silver (Ag). The
results of these parameters are as follows: BOD = 17 mg/L, TSS = 7.7 mg/L, TKN = 1.5 mg/L, NH3
as N = 0.04 mg/L, NO2 plus NO3 as N = 21 mg/L,. Phosphorus = 3.1 mg/L, Copper = 9.2 µg/L, Zinc
= 47 µg/L, and Silver = 5.0 gg/L.
225 Green St, Suite 714, Fayetteville, NC 28301-5043
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone] Customer Service: 1-877-623-6748
Internet: www,ncwaterquality.org
Do.
Ia ortllCaroi..i.n.a
An Equa' Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer

Mr. Brobst
January 22, 2010
Page 2
This Office encourages you to continue to work toward the upgrades for the needed repairs
and replacements of equipment, as the following items did not operate as according to design: 1) the
grit screw conveyer (if operational, may optimize continuous grit removal capability), 2) the sludge
thickener, and 3) the floating anaerobic digester cover (thereby reducing the design capacity of the
first stage anaerobic sludge treatment by approximately 50% volume). Please notice that according
to the NPDES permit, Section C, 2. Proper Operation and Maintenance: "The permittee shall at all
times provide the operation and maintenance resources necessary to operate the existing facilities at
optimum efficiency. The Permittee shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and
systems of treatment and control (and related appurtenances) which are installed or used by the
Permittee to achieve compliance with the conditions of this permit."
In summary, during the week of this inspection, the Moore County Water Pollution Control
Plant appeared to be in compliance with the NPDES Permit Number NC0037508. You and your
staff are commended for your efforts to comply with the NPDES permit. If you have any questions
or comments concerning this report, please feel free to contact me at [phone]
N, Sincerely, /1
XDale Lopez
Environmental Spe
cc: Brant Sikes, Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent
Enclosures: EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report
Regional Field Inspectors Check List for Field Parameters

United States Environmental Protection Agency
EPA Washington, D.C. 20460
Water Compliance Inspection Report
Form Approved.
OMB No. 2040-0057
Approval expires 8-31-98
Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS)
Transaction Code NPDES . yr/mo/day Inspection
1 I NI 2 151 31 N00037508 111 121 09/12/14 117
Type Inspector Fac Type
181BI 191 si 201 I
I I I I I I I I I I I I I III 66
Remarks
21 III 1 r I I I III III 1 I I I I I I I I I I. I I I r I
Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ---Reserved — .
671 5.0 169 701 41Li 71 I I 72I I 73I I 174 751 1 1 1 1 1 1 180
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
POTW name and NPDES permit Number)
Moore County WPCF.
1094. Addor Rd
Aberdeen NC 28315
Entry Time/Date
10:00 AM 09/12/14
Permit Effective Date
05/07/01
Exit Time/Date
03:00 PM 09/12/14
Permit Expiration Date
09/07/31
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Jimmy Brant Sikes/ORC/910-948-2431/
Other Facility Data
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
•
Dennis L Brobst,PO Box 1927 Carthage NC 28327/Public Utilities Contacted
Director/910-281-3146/9102812047 No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance • Records/Reports
Self -Monitoring Program Sludge Handling Disposal • Facility Site Review • Laboratory
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
(See attachment summary)
Name(s)---a-Signature(s) of Inspector(s)1 Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
Dale Lopez`` • FRO WQ//910-433-3300 Ext.712/ /F
( 'CL y�G'/Yr°
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
644114° -41 qleAl"0-0-7A vi 2 5/6
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
Page # 1

NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type
31 NC0037508 I11 12I 09/12/14 117 18IBI
(cont.) 1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
During the week of this Compliance Biomonitoring Inspection, this facility appeared to be in compliance with
the conditions of the NPDES permit. The following observations were noted. This facility received
wastewater from the following towns and army camp: Southern Pines, Aberdeen, Pinehurst, Carthage, Pine
Bluff, and Camp MacKall. The facility had two center -flow mechanical bar screens that were kept in the
automatic mode. Both were operational; one was a lead and the other was a stand-by mechanical bar
screen. The influent flow meter was used for reporting on the DMR's and the meter was located near the
Grit Removal Unit. The aeration in the grit removal unit was operational, however the screw conveyer had
not been operational for the last 15 years. And, grit was removed on a yearly basis (last time was July or
August 2009). The screw conveyer will be evaluated for repair in the upgrade that will begin in 2010 and
finish in 2012. The design phase of the upgrade will begin in approximately December 2010. SCADA will
be in the upgrade. The upgrade will possibly have a gravity belt thickener (the sludge thickener was
out -of -service for approximately 10 years), and the upgrade may include repairs on the floating anaerobic
digester cover (which presently had approximately 50% of it's designed capacity). The Dissolved Oxygen
in the First Stage Aeration Basins was approximately 1 to 2 mg/L. The Dissolved Oxygen in the Second
Stage Aeration Basins was > 5 mg/L because the blowers were oversized. Liquid lime was dosed for pH
adjustment at the splitter box at the influent of the Second Stage Aeration Basins. An emulsion of cationic
polymer (Polydyne) was added after the Second Stage Aeration Basins at an approximate rate of 10 gallons
per 24 hours. At the time of this inspection, there was between 5,000 to 6,000 gallons of diesel on hand.
The 30-minute settleability test usually was 400 mL/L at 5 minutes, and 250 mL/L at 30 minutes. The
Second Stage Aeration Basin MLSS target was 2600 mg/L. Due to a lightning storm, the flow -paced
dosage for both the chlorine disinfection gas and the sulfur dioxide dechlorination gas were out -of -service,
and it was planned that both will be back in-service in approximately two months. At the time of this
inspection, the operators manually set the chlorine and the sulfur dioxide dosage based upon the chlorine
analyses (performed several times a day) at two locations: 1) in the chlorine contact chamber immediately
before the sulfur dioxide addition, and 2)on the step aeration unit after dechlorination. The target chlorine
value immediately before sulfur dioxide addition was 120 to 130 ug/L. Both of the Chlorine Contact
Chambers were cleaned in November 2009. The detention time in the Chlorine Contact Chambers was
estimated as greater than 30 minutes. The Plant Outfall 24-hour composite sample refrigerator
temperature was 1 ° C. Two 1200 HP generators were capable of handling the whole wastewater treatment
plant. The generators were routinely tested every month (and sometimes weekly). Periodically, they were
tested under load. Reclaimed water was used for the following: 1) washing basins, 2) for carry feed water
for polymer, 3) vacuum feed, 4) foam control, and 5) chlorine and sulfur dioxide vacuum. After the sludge
was digester by the two stage anaerobic digesters, the digested sludge was pumped to 36 drying beds
(each 100 ft by 44 ft). McGill Environmental hauled the dried sludge. At the time of this inspection, the
Waste Activated Sludge (WAS) flowed back to the primary clarifier, and then to the anaerobic digesters. In
the laboratory, the BOD incubator temperature was 20° C, the sample refrigerator was 1 ° C, and the Fecal
Coliform incubator was 44.5 ° C. This Office encourages you to continue to work toward the upgrades for
the needed repairs and replacements of equipment, as the following items did not operate as according to
design: 1) the existing grit screw conveyer (for continuous grit removal capability), 2) the sludge thickener,
and 3) the floating anaerobic digester cover (thereby reducing the design capacity of the first stage
anaerobic sludge treatment by approximately 50% volume). Please notice that according to the NPDES
permit, Section C, 2. Proper Operation and Maintenance: "The permittee shall at all times provide the
operation and maintenance resources necessary to operate the existing facilities at optimum efficiency.
The Permittee shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems of treatment and
control (and related appurtenances) which are installed or used by the Permittee to achieve compliance with
the conditions of this permit."
Page # 2

Permit: NC0037508 Owner - Facility: Moore County WPCF
Inspection Date: 12/14/2009 Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance
Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE
Is the plant generally'clean with acceptable housekeeping? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge ■ ❑ ❑ ❑.
Judge, and other.that are applicable'?
Comment: This facility performs many process control parameters and appears to be
very closely monitored.
Permit Yes No NA NE
(If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new application? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the facility as described in the permit? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
# Are there any special conditions for the permit? ■. ❑ ❑ ❑
Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? ■ ❑ n ❑
Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? MODO
Comment:
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Is all required information readily available, complete and current? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? ■ ❑ n n
Is the chain -of -custody complete'? ■ n ❑ n
Dates, times and location of sampling ■
Name of individual performing the sampling ■
Results of analysis and calibration ■
Dates of analysis ■
Name of person performing analyses ■
Transported COCs ■
Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
(If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator on each shift? ■ n n ❑
Is the ORC visitation log available and current? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater.than the facility classification? ■ ❑. n n
Page # 3

Permit: NC0037508 Owner - Facility: Moore County WPCF
Inspection Date: 12/14/2009 Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance
Record Keeping
Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site?
Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review?
Comment:
Flow Measurement - Influent
# Is flow meter used for reporting?
Is flow meter calibrated annually?
Is the flow meter operational?
(If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter?
Comment:
Anaerobic Digester
Type of operation:
Is the capacity adequate?
# Is gas stored on site?
Is the digester(s) free of tilting covers?
Is the gas burner operational?
Is the digester heated?
Is the temperature maintained constantly?
Is tankage available for properly waste sludge?
Comment: Due to needed repairs, the capacity of the first anaerobic digester was
reduced to approximately 50%. Repairs may occur in the proposed up -grade.
Drying Beds
Is there adequate drying bed space?
Is the sludge distribution on drying beds appropriate?
Are the drying beds free of vegetation?
# Is the site free of dry sludge remaining in beds?
Is the site free of stockpiled sludge?
Is the filtratefrom sludge drying beds returned to the front of the plant?
# Is the sludge disposed of through county landfill?
# Is the sludge land applied?
(Vacuum filters) Is polymer mixing adequate?
Yes No NA NE
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Yes No NA NE
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Yes No NA NE
Floating cover
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Yes No NA NE
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Page # 4

Permit: NC0037508 Owner - Facility: Moore County WPCF
Inspection Date: 12/14/2009 Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance
Drying Beds Yes No NA NE
Comment: McGill handles the sludge from the drying beds.
Pump Station - Influent Yes No NA NE
Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the wet well free of excessive grease? 1 ❑ ❑ ❑
Are all pumps present? • ❑ ❑ n
Are all pumps operable? ■ n ❑ ❑
Are float controls operable? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Is SCADA telemetry available and operational? ❑ ❑ ■ ❑
Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? ■ n n ❑
Comment: SCADA telemetry will be in the upgrade.
Bar Screens Yes No NA NE
Type of bar screen
a.Manual ❑
b.Mechanical ■
Are the bars adequately screening debris? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the screen free of excessive debris? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
.Is disposal of screening in compliance? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the unit in good condition? ■ ❑ n n
Comment: The facility had two center -flow mechanical bar screens that were kept in
the automatic mode. Both were operational; one was a lead and the other was a
stand-by mechanical bar screen.
Grit Removal Yes No NA NE
Type of grit removal
a. Manual fl
b. Mechanical ■
Is the grit free of excessive organic matter? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the grit free of excessive odor? ❑ ❑ ❑ ■
# Is disposal of grit in compliance? ■ n n ❑
Comment: The grit removal unit's aeration was operational. But, due to an out -of
service screw conveyer, it was not used.
Primary Clarifier
Yes No NA NE
Page # 5

Permit: NC0037508 Owner - Facility: Moore County WPCF
Inspection Date: 12/14/2009 Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance
Primary Clarifier
Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater?
Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier?
Are weirs level?
Is the site free of weir blockage?
Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting?
Is scum removal adequate?
Is the site free of excessive floating sludge?
Is the drive unit operational?
Is the sludge blanket level acceptable?
Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately 'A of the sidewall depth)
Comment: The sludge blanket was checked on a frequency of six times per 24 hours.
The target was two to three feet of sludge blanket.
Secondary Clarifier
Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater?
Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier?
Are weirs level?
Is the site free of weir blockage?
Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting?
Is scum removal adequate?
Is the site free of excessive floating sludge?
Is the drive unit operational?
Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)?
Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc?
Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately'/4 of the sidewall depth)
Comment: The sludge blanket was measured at a frequency of six times per 24 hour
day. The target blanket was one and one-half feet to two feet of blanket.
Aeration Basins
Mode of operation
Type of aeration system
Is the basin free of dead spots?
Yes No NA NE
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Yes No NA NE
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Yes No NA NE
Ext. Air
Diffused
■ nnn
Page # 6

Permit: NC0037508 Owner - Facility: Moore County WPCF
Inspection Date: 12/14/2009 Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance
Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE
Are surface aerators and mixers operational? ■ ❑ ❑ 0
Are the diffusers operational? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? .■ n n n
Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin's surface? ■ n ❑ ❑
Is the DO level acceptable? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/I) ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment: The Dissolved Oxygen in the First Stage Aeration Basins was
approximately 1 to 2 mg/L. The Dissolved Oxygen in the Second Stage Aeration
Basins was > 5 mg/L because the blowers were oversized.
Disinfection -Gas Yes No NA NE
Are cylinders secured adequately? ■ n ❑ ❑
Are cylinders protected from direct sunlight? ■ n n ❑
Is there adequate reserve supply of disinfectant? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? ■ n ❑ n
Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Does the Stationary Source have more than 2500 Ibs of Chlorine (CAS No. 7782-50-5)? ❑ '❑ ■ ❑
If yes, then is there a Risk Management Plan on site? ❑ ❑ ■ ❑
If yes, then what is the EPA twelve digit ID Number? (1000-
If yes, then when was the RMP last updated?
Comment:
De -chlorination Yes No NA NE
Type of system ? Gas
Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? ❑ ❑ ❑ ■
Is storage appropriate for cylinders? ,E0120
# Is de -chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Are the tablets the proper size and type? ❑ ❑ ■ ❑
Page # 7

Permit: NC0037508 Owner - Facility: Moore County WPCF
Inspection Date: 12/14/2009 Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance
De -chlorination
Comment: Due to a lightning storm, the flow -paced dosage for both the chlorine
disinfection gas and the sulfur dioxide dechlorination gas was out -of -service, and it is
planned that both will be back in-service in approximately two months. Presently, the
operators manually set the chlorine and the sulfur dioxide dosage based upon the
chlorine analyses (performed several times a day) at two locations: in the chlorine
contact chamber immediately before the sulfur dioxide addition, and on the step
aeration unit after dechlorination. The target chlorine value immediately before sulfur
dioxide addition was 120 to 130 g/L. Both of the Chlorine Contact Chambers were
cleaned in November 2009. The detention time in the Chlorine Contact Chambers was
estimated as greater than 30 minutes.
Are tablet de -chlorinators operational?
Number of tubes in use?
Comment:
Standby Power
Is automatically activated standby power available?
Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source?
Is the generator tested under load?
Was generator tested & operational during the inspection?
Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site?
Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power?
Is the generator fuel level monitored?
Comment: At the time of this inspection, there was between 5,000 to 6,000 gallons of
diesel on hand. Two 1200 HP generators were capable of handling the whole
wastewater treatment plant. The generators were routinely tested every month (and
sometimes weekly). Sometimes they were tested under load.
Pumps-RAS-WAS
Are pumps in place?
Are pumps operational?
Are there adequate spare parts and supplies on site?
Comment:
Laboratory
Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory?
Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab?
# Is the facility using a contract lab?
Yes No NA NE
Yes No NA NE
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WHEW
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Yes No NA NE
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Yes No NA NE
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Page # 8

Permit: NC0037508 Owner - Facility: Moore County WPCF
Inspection Date: 12/14/2009 Inspection Type: Bioassay Compliance
Laboratory
# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)?
Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees?
Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/-1.0 degrees?
Comment:
Effluent Sampling
Is composite sampling flow proportional?
Is sample collected below all treatment units?
Is proper volume collected?
Is the tubing clean? •
# Is proper temperature set forsample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)?
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)?
Comment:
Yes No NA. NE
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Yes No NA NE
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Page # 9