NC0004626_07/14/2021 Upset_5-day Follow-Up_20210722

E
Nippon Electric Glass
Electric Glass Fiber America, LLC
473 New Jersey Church Road Lexington, NC 27292 Tel: [phone]
July 22, 2021
via FedEx
Mr. Alex Lowe
NC DEQ Division of Water Quality
450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300
Winston Salem, NC 27105
Re: Effluent Follow -Up Report
Electric Glass Fiber America, LLC
Lexington Facility, Davidson County
Permit No. NC0004626
Mr. Lowe:
This correspondence documents the steps taken and planned to address higher -than -normal
levels of turbidity or cloudiness in the Electric Glass Fiber America, LLC (EGFA) discharge to
High Rock Lake. The elevated turbidity was reported to Jordan Burbage at the Regional Office
of the Division of Water Quality at 1205 on July 15.
The cause of the elevated turbidity is most likely a production change to a different binder.
Binders are applied to the glass as it is gravity -extruded through bushings. The binders help
convert the glass from molten to solid while imparting certain properties to the fiber that meet
individual customer requirements. Unique binders are used for different customers.
To address turbidity with the binder believed to be the principal contributor, EGFA began
rotating to a different binder to allow the wastewater treatment plant time to regain removal
efficiency. Binder applicators were examined and some modifications to this process are being
evaluated to potentially reduce loss to wastewater. EGFA identified additional storage within the
wastewater treatment plant that can be used to hold wastewater when the specific binder in
question is used so that it can be metered more slowly through the treatment process. In mid -
August, EGFA will transition the specific binder in question to a different plant, removing it
from the product mix at the Lexington Plant. EGFA also brought in ChemTreat to run bench
trials of different combinations of wastewater treatment chemicals and on July 22, a
representative from the engineering firm that has designed some of the wastewater treatment
plant components is on site today to evaluate the treatment process for potential improvement.
The ChemTreat trials in conjunction with the engineer's evaluation may be used to modify the
treatment process. Any significant change to the treatment process will be communicated to the
DWQ for potential modification to the NPDES permit.

Mr. Alex Lowe
July 22, 2022
Page 2 of 2
EGFA appreciates the candor and cooperation of the DWQ as this matter is addressed. If you
have any questions, please contact me at 336.357.8151 ext. 33317 or terrv.steinert(7u neg-us.com.
Sincerely,
Steinert
Environmental Manager
cc: Jordan Burbage, NC DWQ Winston Salem Regional Office