WQ0041136_NOVNOI2021LM0012_LV0132_LV0133_RESP_20210326

P.O. Box 1325 Asheville, N.C. 28802
(828)-251-1900 (828)-251-1945

March 26, 2021

Mr. Landon Davidson
Regional Supervisor
NCDENR-Water Quality Section
2090 U.S. Hwy 70
Swannanoa, NC 28778

Re: NOV-2021-LM-0012/NOV-2021-LV-132/NOV-2021-LV-0133/WQ0041136

Mr. Davidson,

This letter is in response to your 3-9-21 letter to Cervini Farms North Carolina, Inc.
attached.

As their contract operator of the sewer system, we will respond to what remedial actions
we have taken as a result of the violations.

October NOV-2021-LM-0012
Per NOV we did exceed the BOD and Ammonia limits in October shown in yellow
below.

Daily Effluent
Av Dail
Flow
pH BOD Fecal Ammonia TSS TKN Tot
Nitrogen
Tot
Phos
10/6/2020 2748 7.4 59.8 3 3.4 <2.5 6 15.8 7.8
10/12/2020 2748 7.4 <1
10/13/2020 2748 7.4
10/20/2020 2748 7.4 <1
10/21/2020 2748 7 18.4 5.4
10/27/2020 2748 7.1 3
Max 59.8 3 5.4 <2.5 6 15.8 7.8
AVG 39.1 1.73 4.4 <2.5 6 15.8 7.8
Limit Daily 10 25 2
Limit Mo 7010 5 5 1
These were initial reports after startup while still building the bacteria base. We made
adjustments to pod run times and discussed with Engineer and equipment supplier. We
should have pulled a fecal the 1st week of October with flow but only had two days to
collect and missed it. Lab doesn’t take fecals on Fridays.

NOV-2021-LM-0012/NOV-2021-LV-132/NOV-2021-LV-0133/WQ0041136 RPB Systems, Inc.
Page | 2

November NOV-2021-LV-0132

Daily Effluent
Av Dail
Flow
pH BOD Fecal Ammonia TSS TKN Tot
Nitrogen
Tot
Phos
11/3/2020 3118 7.1 <2
11/10/2020 3118 7.1 15
11/13/2020 3118 7.3 <4
11/17/2020 3118 7.3 <4
11/18/2020 3118 7.3 13.5 1.4
11/24/2020 3118 7.3 30.3 <4 7.3 15.1 12.9 12.9 7.6
Max 30.3 15 7.3 15.1 6 15.8 7.8
AVG 3118 21.9 0 4.35 15.1 6 15.8 7.8
Limit Daily 10 25 2 10
Limit Mo 7010 5 5 1 5
November NOV-2021-LV-0132:
We continued to adjust recycle pod run times, discuss with engineer and treatment
supplier for suggestions, review cleaning products with owner. We pulled extra samples
for influent. Influent BOD, ammonia, and TKN did not seem out of ordinary.

but we did collect a 13.1 Oil & Grease.

December NOV-2021-LV-0133

Daily pH Effluent
Av Dail
Flow BOD Fecal Ammonia TSS TKN Tot
Nitrogen
Tot
Phos
O&G Alkalinity
12/1/2020 2700
12/8/2020 17.4 ND 8.3 ND 13.7 25.4 7.1
12/17/2020 ND
12/22/2020 ND
12/23/2020 27.8
12/29/2020 ND ND 201

Max 27.8 15 8.3 0 13.7 25.4 7.1
AVG 3118 22.6 0 8.3 0 13.7 25.4 7.1
Limit Daily 10 25 2 10
Limit Mo 7010 5 5 1 5
We continued to discuss with all parties the results and collected a septic tank 13.1 mg/L
Oil & Grease influent. Discussed with owners about grease and cleaning products used.

NOV-2021-LM-0012/NOV-2021-LV-132/NOV-2021-LV-0133/WQ0041136 RPB Systems, Inc.
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January results were all within limits except Ammonia at 2.1 mg/L and 2.2 mg/L, which
exceeded the 1 mg/L limit. We have discussed adding ammonia assimilators and nitrifier
bacteria which we will start applying on 3-29-21 and takes 17 days to fully apply.

Daily Effluent
Av Dail
Flow BOD Fecal Ammonia TSS TKN Tot
Nitrogen
Tot
Phos
O&G
1/5/2021 1228 7.1 ND
1/12/2021 1228 7.2 ND
1/13/2021 1228 7.2 <2 2.1 4.7 <0.05 18.6 7.1
1/19/2021 1228 7 ND
1/26/2021 1228 7 ND 2.2 3.9 13.9

Max 1875 0
AVG 1228 0
Limit Daily 10 25 2 10
Limit Mo 7010 5 5 1 5

We have reached out to all parties for assistance, so please let us know if you have any
suggestions. The 1 mg/L ammonia limit will be problematic from what we have seen.

Feel free to contact me anytime if I need to provide any further information or assistance.

Robert Barr

Robert Barr