WQ0000185_NOV-2021-PC-0389_20210802

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
Certified Mail 7020 1810 0001 5981 1822
Return Receipt Requested
Ben Stikeleather
Ocean Sands Water and Sewer District
Currituck County
153 Courthouse Rd. — Suite 302
Currituck, NC 27929-0039
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
August 02, 2021
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Tracking Number: NOV-2021-PC-0389
Permit No. WQ0000185
Ocean Sands WWTP
Currituck County
Dear Stikeleather:
The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Ocean Sands WWTP on July 28,
2021. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and
limitations specified in Non -discharge Permit No. WQ0000185. A summary of the findings and comments noted
during the inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report.
The Compliance Evaluation inspection was conducted by Division of Water Resources staff from the Washington
Regional Office. The following violation(s) were noted during the inspection:
Inspection Area Description of Violation
End Use -Infiltration
Monitoring MW4 was damaged and could not be locked and properly secured. This is in
violation of Condition II.3 of Permit No. WQ0000185, which requires monitoring wells to
meet the construction standards of 15A NCAC 02C .0108.
Treatment
The backup ORC stated that the primary clarifier on the Phase I treatment train was not
operating. He also stated that backwash pumps were not operating at both the Phase I
and II treatment trains and the whole treatment system was having ongoing electrical
issues. This is in violation of Conditions II.1 and III.1 of Permit No. WQ0000185 which
require the proper operation and maintenance of the facility.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Washington Regional Office 1943 Washington Square Mall I Washington. North Carolina 27889
252.946.6481

Mr. Ben Stikeleather
August 2, 2021
Page 2 of 2
Inspection Area Description of Violation
End Use -Infiltration
The infiltration field had significant ponding at the time of the inspection and also had
vegetation growing around most of the spray heads. This is in violation of Condition III.4
of Permit No. WQ0000185 which requires the permittee to take measures to prevent
ponding in the infiltration site.
Treatment Barscreen
The mechanical screen was not operating and the manual barscreen could not be
properly operated because the bar spacing was too wide to effectively catch the solids in
the influent. Also, the operator cannot safely clean off the manual barscreen because of
the lack of a proper platform and safety railings. This is in violation of Conditions II.1 and
III.1 of Permit No. WQ0000185 which require the proper operation and maintenance of
the facility.
Remedial actions should have already been taken to correct these problems and prevent further occurrences in the
future. The Division of Water Resources may pursue enforcement action for these and any additional violations of
State law.
To prevent further action, please respond in writing to this office within 30 days upon your receipt of this Notice
of Violation regarding your plans or measures to be taken to address the indicated violations and other identified
issues, if applicable.
If you have any questions concerning this matter or to apply for an SOC, please contact Robert Tankard at (252)
948-3921 or Randy Sipe at [phone].
Sincerely,
RQdyt Teo•>
Robert Tankard, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Washington Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Cc: Will Rumsey — Currituck County (electronic copy)
Rod Holley — Currituck County (electronic copy)
Laserfiche
£D_E
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Washington Region] Office 1943 Washington Square Mali I Washington. North Carolina 27889
252.946.6481