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Home My WebLink AboutNC0021407_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20210628 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED. June 28, 2021 Jacob M Allen Town of Highlands Email: jacob.allen@highlandsnc.org SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report Highlands WWTP NPDES WW Permit No. NC0021407 Macon County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Highlands WWTP on 6/22/2021. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0021407. The findings and comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report entitled "Compliance Inspection Report". There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this inspection report is not required. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 828-296-4500 or via email at lauren.armeni@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Lauren Armeni, Environmental Specialist Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: LF DocuSign Envelope ID: 48891C7C-99A7-4BC8-9152-564DD961D51E EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency 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 Type Inspector Fac Type 1 N 52 NC0021407 21/06/22 C S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Highlands WWTP Arnold Rd Highlands NC 28741 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:00AM 21/06/22 21/02/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Other Facility Data 12:30PM 21/06/22 25/08/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Jacob M Allen,PO Box 460 Highlands NC 287412063//828-526-0504/Contacted 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 Effluent/Receiving Waters Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) (See attachment summary) Name(s) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s)Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date Lauren E Armeni DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ Mikal Willmer DWR/Division of Water Quality/828-296-4686/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page#1 DocuSign Envelope ID: 48891C7C-99A7-4BC8-9152-564DD961D51E 6/28/2021 6/29/2021 6/29/2021 NPDES yr/mo/day 21/06/22 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Lauren Armeni and Mikal Willmer with the Asheville Regional Office conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the Highlands WWTP on June 23, 2021. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0021407. Jacob Allen (ORC) was present and assisted in the inspection. Overall, the facility appeared to be well-maintained and in compliance. The following items were noted during the inspection: Influent/Effluent Sampling: The thermometers were not working properly and an accurate temperature inside both composite samplers was not obtained. It is recommended to repair or replace these two thermometers. EQ Basin: The Town determined that the old EQ Basin cannot be repurposed, and therefore the line going to this old basin should be closed to prevent a bypass to the ground surface. The ORC wasn't sure if the line had been permanently closed or not, so it is recommended to verify that it is. Flow Measurement - Effluent: The Effluent Flow Meter should be recalibrated since the calibration on 5/12/21 was conducted when no flow was present. The ORC mentioned that every time the power switches to the generator, the Flow Meter trips up. It is recommended to have an electrician come out to look at these connections and to compare the flow chart to a staff gauge during the times the Flow Meter trips up to verify the meter is working correctly. Upstream/Downstream Sampling: The ORC stated that he is concerned with the safety of the Upstream/Downstream Sampling locations. Please provide a map with the sampling locations you prefer, and we can discuss them with the Permitting Section in Raleigh. Overall: It is recommended to have the electrical system of the entire facility assessed since the generator turns on around three times per week. NC0021407 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 48891C7C-99A7-4BC8-9152-564DD961D51E Permit:NC0021407 Inspection Date:06/22/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands WWTP Compliance Evaluation 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? Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? Required toxicity testing and effluent pollutant scan listed as special conditions within the permit. Comment: 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? pH, DO, and temperature are measured in-house. Sludge blanket and supernatant are monitored daily. 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? Is the chain-of-custody complete? 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? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 48891C7C-99A7-4BC8-9152-564DD961D51E Permit:NC0021407 Inspection Date:06/22/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands WWTP Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? 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: Influent Sampling Yes No NA NE # Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected above side streams? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is sampling performed according to the permit? The influent sampler is set to time-composite. The thermometer was not properly working at the time of the inspection and should be maintained or replaced. See summary for details. Comment: 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? Trash from the bar screen is automatically dumped into a trash can and collected every two months. The facility has a manual bypass bar screen that can be used if needed. Comment: Sequencing Batch Reactors Yes No NA NE Type of operation:Duplex Is the reactor effluent free of solids? Does minimum fill time correspond to the peak hour flow rate of the facility? Is aeration and mixing cycled on and off during fill? The operator understands and can explain the process? Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 48891C7C-99A7-4BC8-9152-564DD961D51E Permit:NC0021407 Inspection Date:06/22/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands WWTP Compliance Evaluation Sequencing Batch Reactors Yes No NA NE The ORC stated that a batch still generally takes 6 hours. New Hach DO probes were intalled in each SBR, and diffusers turn on based on these DO readings. The splitter actuator for the SBRs was replaced in 2019 for pumping the decant to the EQ basin. The previously disconnected blower hose in SBR unit #2 has been replaced. Comment: Equalization Basins Yes No NA NE Is the basin aerated? Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment? Is the basin free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Are audible and visual alarms operable? # Is basin size/volume adequate? This is a post-EQ basin. Bubble diffusers are used within the tank, but at the time of the inspection, the ORC stated they have not needed to aerate. See summary for details. Comment: Filtration (High Rate Tertiary)Yes No NA NE Type of operation:Cross flow Is the filter media present? Is the filter surface free of clogging? Is the filter free of growth? Is the air scour operational? Is the scouring acceptable? Is the clear well free of excessive solids and filter media? The actuators and cloth media filters were replaced 10 months ago. Filters are backwashed daily. All overflow is drained back to the head of the plant. The door to the tertiary filter/UV building was replaced. Comment: Disinfection - UV Yes No NA NE Are extra UV bulbs available on site? Are UV bulbs clean? Is UV intensity adequate? Is transmittance at or above designed level? Is there a backup system on site? Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: 48891C7C-99A7-4BC8-9152-564DD961D51E Permit:NC0021407 Inspection Date:06/22/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands WWTP Compliance Evaluation Disinfection - UV Yes No NA NE Is effluent clear and free of solids? The town has a service contract with the UV System manufacturer Wedeco. The UV system has an automatic cleaning system; however, bulbs are manually cleaned periodically to remove extra build-up. Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # 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? Flow meter is calibrated annually by Laboratory Instrument Service. The flow meter was last calibrated by Matt Lassiter on 05/12/2021; however, no flow was present during this calibration. It is recommended to re-calibrate the effluent flow meter when there is flow to accurately calibrate the meter. See summary for details. Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample 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)? The tubing should be changed as it was starting to look dirty. The thermometer was not properly working at the time of the inspection and should be maintained or replaced. The Town of Highlands contracts Environmental Inc. and ETS (quarterly) for sampling. See summary for details. Comment: Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? No visual impacts to the stream were noted.Comment: Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, and sampling location)? Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 48891C7C-99A7-4BC8-9152-564DD961D51E Permit:NC0021407 Inspection Date:06/22/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands WWTP Compliance Evaluation Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE The ORC stated that the upstream and downstream samples are in dangerous locations and will need to be reevaluated. See summary for details. Comment: Aerobic Digester Yes No NA NE Is the capacity adequate? Is the mixing adequate? Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank? # Is the odor acceptable? # Is tankage available for properly waste sludge? The plant has two aerobic digesters near the SBR units and the ORC stated they switch between the two. There is an additional sludge holding tank with aeration near the head of the plant that is used for additional thickening prior to being sent to the belt filter press. Comment: Solids Handling Equipment Yes No NA NE Is the equipment operational? Is the chemical feed equipment operational? Is storage adequate? Is the site free of high level of solids in filtrate from filter presses or vacuum filters? Is the site free of sludge buildup on belts and/or rollers of filter press? Is the site free of excessive moisture in belt filter press sludge cake? The facility has an approved sludge management plan? The belt filter press was not running during the inspection. The ORC indicated that the facility will be receiving a new belt filter press within six months. A covered pad is used to store the pressed solids until they are hauled to the landfill. Runoff from the solids is drained to a wetwell which is pumped back to the head of the plant. Comment: Standby Power Yes No NA NE 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? Page#7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 48891C7C-99A7-4BC8-9152-564DD961D51E Permit:NC0021407 Inspection Date:06/22/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands WWTP Compliance Evaluation Standby Power Yes No NA NE The Generator is exercised once a week on Mondays and is used approximately three times per week under load. The ORC did not know how to check the fuel, so it would be beneficial for him to learn since the generator is frequently used. The Town of Highlands has a service contract with Allan Dearth and they check the Generator monthly. Comment: Page#8 DocuSign Envelope ID: 48891C7C-99A7-4BC8-9152-564DD961D51E