WQ0037287_Staff Report_20210416

State of North Carolina
Division of Water Resources

Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Staff Report

To: NPDES Unit Non-Discharge Unit Application No.: WQ0037287
Attn: Lauren Plummer Facility Name: Pluris Hampstead WWTF

From: Bryan Lievre
Wilmington Regional Office
Note: This form has been adapted from the non-discharge facility staff report to document the review of both non-
discharge and NPDES permit applications and/or renewals. Please complete all sections as they are applicable.
I. GENERAL AND SITE VISIT INFORMATION
1. Was a site visit conducted? Yes or No
a. Date of site visit: 4/06/2021
b. Site visit conducted by: Bryan Lievre, John Perry & Jennifer Ryan
c. Inspection report attached? Yes or No
d. Person contacted: Randy Hoffer and their contact information: (910) 327 - 0374 ext. !!!!
e. Driving directions: From Wilmington: US Hwy 17 N, left on Sidbury Rd., right on Hogans Trail
2. Discharge Point(s): N/A, NPDES (NC0089524) not utilized to date and no plans use in future, prefer high-rate
infiltration
Latitude: Longitude:
Latitude: Longitude:
3. Receiving stream or affected surface waters: for Permit NC0089524, unnamed tributary of Island Creek in the Cape
Fear River Basin
Classification: C, Sw
River Basin and Subbasin No. 03-06-23 HUC:03003007
Describe receiving stream features and pertinent downstream uses:
II. PROPOSED FACILITIES: NEW APPLICATIONS: N/A
1. Facility Classification: (Please attach completed rating sheet to be attached to issued permit)
Proposed flow:
Current permitted flow:
2. Are the new treatment facilities adequate for the type of waste and disposal system? Yes or No
If no, explain:
3. Are site conditions (soils, depth to water table, etc) consistent with the submitted reports? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
4. Do the plans and site map represent the actual site (property lines, wells, etc.)? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 1 of 5

5. Is the proposed residuals management plan adequate? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
6.Are the proposed application rates (e.g., hydraulic, nutrient) acceptable? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
7. Are there any setback conflicts for proposed treatment, storage and disposal sites? Yes or No
If yes, attach a map showing conflict areas.
8. Is the proposed or existing groundwater monitoring program adequate? Yes No N/A
If no, explain and recommend any changes to the groundwater monitoring program:
9. For residuals, will seasonal or other restrictions be required? Yes No N/A
If yes, attach list of sites with restrictions (Certification B)
Describe the residuals handling and utilization scheme:
10. Possible toxic impacts to surface waters:
11. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only):
III. EXISTING FACILITIES: MODIFICATION AND RENEWAL APPLICATIONS
1. Are there appropriately certified Operators in Charge (ORCs) for the facility? Yes No N/A
ORC: Kristion King Certificate #: 1002807 Backup ORC: William Andrews Certificate #:1005228
2. Are the design, maintenance and operation of the treatment facilities adequate for the type of waste and disposal
system? Yes or No
If no, please explain:
Description of existing facilities: Current permit description is mostly accurate with a 250,000 gpd wastewater
treatment system with two high-rate infiltration basins or to surface discharge with NC0089524
Proposed flow: 500,000 gpd
Current permitted flow: 250,000 gpd
Explain anything observed during the site visit that needs to be addressed by the permit, or that may be important
for the permit writer to know (i.e., equipment condition, function, maintenance, a change in facility ownership,
etc.)
3. Are the site conditions (e.g., soils, topography, depth to water table, etc) maintained appropriately and adequately
assimilating the waste? Yes or No
If no, please explain:
4. Has the site changed in any way that may affect the permit (e.g., drainage added, new wells inside the compliance
boundary, new development, etc.)? Yes or No
If yes, please explain:
5. Is the residuals management plan adequate? Yes or No
If no, please explain:
6. Are the existing application rates (e.g., hydraulic, nutrient) still acceptable? Yes or No
If no, please explain:
7. Is the existing groundwater monitoring program adequate? Yes No N/A
If no, explain and recommend any changes to the groundwater monitoring program: Monitoring well MWMonitoring well MW--1 as 1 as
depicted in the permit was installed south of the borrow pit pond instead of north of depicted in the permit was installed south of the borrow pit pond instead of north of the pond.
A well should be the pond. A well should be
installed as depicted within the permit so that any installed as depicted within the permit so that any compounds could be detected prior to compounds could be detected prior to migrating
from the migrating from the
infiltration basin(s) to the pond.infiltration basin(s) to the pond. WiRO has requested the installation of a new well at this location.WiRO has requested the installation of a new well
at this location.
8. Are there any setback conflicts for existing treatment, storage and disposal sites? Yes or No
If yes, attach a map showing conflict areas.
FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 2 of 5

9. Is the description of the facilities as written in the existing permit correct? Yes or No
If no, please explain: The size of the MBR tanks was left off the permit. There are three (3) at 20,198 gallons, The size of the MBR tanks was left off the permit. There are three
(3) at 20,198 gallons,
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10. Were monitoring wells properly constructed and located? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain: MWMW--1 was not located as depicted in the permit 1 was not located as depicted in the permit refer to Item III. 7.refer to Item III. 7.
11. Are the monitoring well coordinates correct in BIMS? Yes No N/A
If no, please complete the following (expand table if necessary):
Monitoring Well Latitude Longitude
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12. Has a review of all self-monitoring data been conducted (e.g., DMR, NDMR, NDAR, GW)? Yes or No
Please summarize any findings resulting from this review: A number of violations are present in BIMS for the
system since 1/2019. However, most of the violations are the result of BIMS automatically generating false
violations for not checking parameters (i.e. pH, etc) during holidays or missing monthly reports when they were
either submitted electronically or a little late. The only other reason violations were present in BIMS was due to
flow exceedances. However, in the beginning of 2019, increased flow was requested and permitted by WiRO to
enable a pilot study to determine if the infiltration basins could handle additional loading. In more recent months,
some flows were exceeded but WiRO staff were informed and an agreement was reached that the system was
undertaking measures to design the system for increased flow. No violation notices were sent for these or other
issues since 1/2019 (i.e. last permit issued 1/23/2020).
Provide input to help the permit writer evaluate any requests for reduced monitoring, if applicable.
13. Are there any permit changes needed in order to address ongoing BIMS violations? Yes or No
If yes, please explain: System desires to alter amount of flow to high-rate infiltration system
14. Check all that apply:
No compliance issues Current enforcement action(s) Currently under JOC
Notice(s) of violation Currently under SOC Currently under moratorium
Please explain and attach any documents that may help clarify answer/comments (i.e., NOV, NOD, etc.)
If the facility has had compliance problems during the permit cycle, please explain the status. Has the RO been
working with the Permittee? Is a solution underway or in place?
Have all compliance dates/conditions in the existing permit been satisfied? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
15. Are there any issues related to compliance/enforcement that should be resolved before issuing this permit?
Yes No N/A
If yes, please explain:
16. Possible toxic impacts to surface waters: None
17. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only): N/A

FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 3 of 5

IV.REGIONAL OFFICE RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Do you foresee any problems with issuance/renewal of this permit? Yes or No
If yes, please explain:
2. List any items that you would like the NPDES Unit or Non-Discharge Unit, Central Office to obtain through an
additional information request:
Item Reason

3. List specific permit conditions recommended to be removed from the permit when issued:
Condition Reason

4. List specific special conditions or compliance schedules recommended to be included in the permit when issued:
Condition Reason
A well should be installed at the location of well MW-1 as depicted in the
current permit and WiRO has requested that a well be installed. Sampling of
Install new well
this new well should be included within the terms of the new permit. Existing this new well should be included within the terms of the new permit. Existing
well MWwell MW--1 can be removed from the sampling regime.1 can be removed from the sampling regime.

5. Recommendation: Hold, pending receipt and review of additional information by regional office
Hold, pending review of draft permit by regional office
Issue upon receipt of needed additional information
Issue
Deny (Please state reasons: )
6. Signature of report preparer:
Signature of regional supervisor:
Date:

FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 4 of 5

V. ADDITIONAL REGIONAL STAFF REVIEW ITEMS
FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 5 of 5