NCG551387_NOV-2021-PC-0407 - CEI_20210813

ROY COOPER
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Sc. re'"[ar+
S. DANIEL SMITH
Otto! me.
CERTIFIED MAIL
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
7016 3560 0000 4428 5430
Charles L. Gibbs
P.O. Box 1246
Durham, NC 27702
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
August 13, 2021
Subject: NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Tracking Number: NOV-2021-PC-0407
Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Single Family Wastewater Treatment System
NPDES General Permit NCG550000
Certificate of Coverage NCG551387
Facility Name: 3714 Esther Drive
Durham County
Dear Charles L. Gibbs:
On April 12, 2021, Jane Bernard from the Raleigh Regional Office visited your single-family residence (SFR) wastewater
treatment system to evaluate compliance with the subject General NPDES Permit.
Our records indicate the treatment system consists of a septic tank, sub -surface sand filter, tablet chlorinator, discharge
pipe.
General NPDES Permit NCG550000 and Certificate of Coverage (COC) NCG551387 authorize the discharge of domestic
wastewater from your treatment system to receiving waters designated as an unnamed tributary (UT) to Northeast Creek
(classified WS-V; NSW) in the Cape Fear River Basin. The authorized discharge is in accordance with the effluent limits
and monitoring requirements established within the General Permit. The items below show what conditions were noted at
your facility:
The following violations were present and on -going on the site:
1. Operation, Maintenance & Records: The wastewater treatment system shall be maintained at all times to
prevent seepage of sewage to the surface of the ground. At the time of this compliance inspection the following
items needed repairs/attention.
a. The chlorinator did not have chlorine tablets in the tubes.
b. The chlorinator had several inches ofsolids/sludge accumulation. See photos land 2.
c. One (1) of the two (2) chlorinators is broken and not in use. See photo 3.
d. The solids/sludge traveled into the receiving ditch. See photo 4.
2. Pumping the septic tank: You are required to inspect the septic tank at least yearly to determine if solids must be
removed or if other maintenance is necessary. Septic tanks should be pumped out every five years or when the
solids level is found to be more than 1/3 of the liquid depth in the septic tank compartment, whichever is greater.
__rrrrl.eG-rangy '9,w\ r
Nnrth Carolii7,r Depa-tment or Environmental Quality Division of Water Resourco,
Raleigh Reg anal Office • 3800 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27009
9 9.79L. 3200

A pumping company can check the status periodically and determine when pumping is required. Within 30-days
of receiving this letter, please send a copy of the most recent receipt/invoice to this office showing the date the
septic tank was last checked and/or pumped out. The General NPDES Permit requires the permittee to retain
records associated with sewage disposal activities for a period of at least 5 years.
3. Chlorine tablets in the chlorinator: Part 1, Section D (1) of General NPDES Permit NCG550000 requires the
permittee to inspect the tablet chlorinator weekly to ensure there is an adequate supply of tablets for continuous
and proper operation. Section D (4) requires the permittee to maintain all system components,
including...disinfection units...at all times and in good operating order.
a. The inspector did not observe any chlorine tablets in the chlorinator. This issue was addressed in the
August 18, 2017 inspection report.
b. One (1) of the two (2) chlorinator sleeves is broken and not in use. See photo 3.
Please ensure the correct type of tablets are used and maintained in the chlorinator as required by the
General NPDES Permit. Submit the receipt to the Raleigh Regional Office (RRO) within 30 days of this
letter.
4. Analyzing the effluent: Part 1. C., Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements, within General Permit
NCG550000 requires a permittee to sample and analyze the effluent leaving his.her treatment system prior to
discharge annually. Please collect a representative sample of the effluent, have it analyzed by a certified
commercial laboratory and submit the results to this office no later than December 31, 2021. In the last
inspection letter dated September 7, 2017, you were requested to sample your effluent and to submit the analytical
results to this office. The Raleigh Regional Office has not received the requested results. Failure to monitor the
effluent discharge as required is a violation of NPDES General Permit NCGS50000.
5. Discharge outlet location. The permittee is required to conduct a visual review of the outfall location at least
twice each year (one at the time of sampling) to ensure that no visible solids or other obvious evidence of system
malfunctioning is observed. Any visible signs of a malfunctioning system shall be documented and steps taken to
correct the problem. The discharge pipe was visible and accessible the day of the inspection. The visual review
of the outfall location shows visible solids in several feet of the receiving ditch. See photo 4.
6. Part I1 Section B.14 of General Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to "pay the annual administering and
compliance monitoring fee within thirty days after being billed by the Division." The annual fee ($60 per year)
for the period beginning November 1, 2020 through October 31, 2021, was due by October 31, 2020. This fee
has not been paid and is overdue. Payment in the amount of $60 must be remitted to the Division as indicated
on the attached Annual Permit Fee Invoice
On August 12, 2021, Jane Bernard from the Raleigh Regional Office visited your single-family residence (SFR)
wastewater treatment system to complete a follow-up: technical assistance inspection regarding the above violations.
Your assistance during the inspection was greatly appreciated.
As a result of the follow-up'technical assistance inspection, the following items have been addressed and or corrected:
1. The septic tank was pumped on August 8, 2021.
2. There were small pieces of tablets in the chlorinator, however there we not any additional tablets on site.
3. The broken chlorinator sleeve has been "duct tape" together. This is just a temporary fix until the replacement
sleeve is received.
4. Permit fees are current.
During the August 12, 2021 follow-up/technical assistance inspection, several additional items were discussed that will
need to be addressed.
a. Mr. Gibbs offered that the washing machine bypasses the septic tank. It was determined that he would have the
discharge from the washing machine moved to the front of the septic tank and a receipt stating that the connection
was moved will be submitted to the RRO.
b. The chlorine contact chamber,`vault was at ground level and broken allowing waste to surface. Mr. Gibbs will
also have that repaired as needed.
D_E
�Opxbnpl N E..YaimwNl [luau\
North Carolina Department of Environmentol Quail:y I Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office I :.8OO Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27uO9
91,4 791. 32D0

Requested Response
The Division requests that the Permittee secure an engineer to inspect your existing system and determine what repairs
are needed and/or components need replacing; discontinuing the discharge of raw waste and to ensure that the system
functions as intended and meets the conditions of your permit, including meeting the effluent monitoring limits contained
in the permit. Please do this within 30 days and submit a written response to this office detailing how you will ensure in a
timely manner that the system is in full compliance of the permit conditions and functions as intended.
If the engineer determines that any part of the system needs to be repaired or replaced, the Permittee should inform this
office. The components that are required when replacing a system are included in Section A of Part 1 of the general permit.
Before construction begins, an Authorization to Construct (ATC) must be secured from the DWR. To apply for an ATC,
you are required to submit the following:
a. A letter of request for an ATC to Charles Weaver, NPDES Permitting Unit, Division of Water Quality,
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617.
b. Plans and specifications of the proposed sandfilter system in triplicate. Plans and specifications must be
drawn and submitted by a licensed North Carolina professional engineer.
If you believe that the system is functioning properly, please provide recent effluent monitoring results that
demonstrate that the system is in compliance. This may be accomplished by contacting a certified lab (attached) to
perform this analysis and submit the results to this office on or before December 31, 2121. The parameter monitoring
limits can be found in Section A of Part 1 of the general permit and in Attachment B of this letter.
This inspection report is being issued as a Notice of Violation because the system appears to be failing. The amount of
sludge/solid accumulation in the chlorinator, at the discharge pipe and in the ditch indicates a failure.
Within 30-days receipt of this letter, please submit a written response to this office indicating the actions you will take
or have taken to comply with or resolve the issues noted in items 1, and 3 through 5 above.
If you have questions or comments about this inspection or the requirements to take corrective action (if applicable), then
please contact Jane Bernard at [phone].
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by:
UA.1n.�,SSa .IULaVu�uL
82916E6A1332144F
Vanessa E. Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Attachment(s): EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report
Annual Permit Fee Invoice — Due October 1, 2020
Photos I thru 4
Installers and Engineers
Cc: RRO.'SWP Files
Lascrfichc
OvjlMrnt e!l..ia:mmbt 9uaNty� 411.0..f
N: rti; Carr.€ir,1 Department of Cnvironntento. Qua€ity i Division of tiVatcr Re, ourccs
R,t.c!gh Reyiotai Of rice 3800 Bari Five Ralricjh, North C,trolind 27u09
u: cl 791.1200

Charles L. Gibbs Family Trust, NCG551387
3714 Esther Drive
Photo 1- Chlorinator with solids/sludge accumulation
Photo 3- Broken Chlorinator
Photos taken by Jane Bemard
Photo 2- Bottom of chlorine tube confirming sludge level
Photo 4- Solids/sludge accumulation in the receiving ditch

United States Environmental Protection Agency
E PA Washington D.0 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
1 �N
Code
2
Li
NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac
3 i NCG551387 111 121 21/08/12 11718 t r, l 191 S l 20i
Type
I
1I� 211111
1111II11u
uI 1
I11I1I
1
111I11
111I1111m
l
i
r6
Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA Reserved--------
67I
1 701
1 71
LJ
72
Li]
731
I
l__LJ
174 71
1 1
1 1
1
1
180
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
POTW name and NPDES permit Number)
3714 Esther Drive
3714 Esther Dr
Durham NC 27703
Entry Time/Date
09:00AM 21/08/12
Permit Effective Date
12/08/01
Exit TimelDate
10:30AM 21/08/12
Permit Expiration Date
13/07/31
Name(s) of Onsile Representalive(s)ITilles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
in
Other Facility Data
Name. Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Charles L Gibbs,PO Box 1246 Durham NC 277021Contacted
11
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
II Other
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
(See attachment summary)
Names) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
Jane Bernard DWR1Non Discharge Compliance Unit/919-791-4200/
q6X\ e,,ti,.,,Lci 81 13 \ 1
Signature of Management 0 A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
---DocuSigned by: n..
VtiL1A.C.SSA `�, Ivtdl(/l DWR/WQROS-RRO/919-817-1256 8/13/2021
9�32t EPA 33(Kev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete
Page# 1

NPQES yrlmolday
31 NCG551387 I11 1 21/08/12
i17
Inspection Type
181r,1
(Cont.)
1
Section 0: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
On August 12, 2021, Jane Bernard from the Raleigh Regional Office visited your single-family
residence (SFR) wastewater treatment system to complete a follow-up/technical assistance inspection
regarding the above violations. Your assistance during the inspection was greatly appreciated.
As a result of the August 12, 2021 follow-up/technical assistance inspection meeting the following
items have been addressed and or corrected.
1. The septic tank was pumped on August 8, 2021.
2. There were small pieces of tablets in the chlorinator, however there we not any additional tablets
on site.
3. The broken chlorinator sleeve has been "duct tape" together. This is just a temporary fix until the
replacement sleeve is received.
4. Permit fees are current.
During the August 12, 2021 follow-up/technical assistance inspection, several additional items were
discussed that will need to be addressed.
a. Mr. Gibbs offered that the washing machine bypasses the septic tank. It was determined that he
would have the discharge from the washing machine moved to the front of the septic tank and a
receipt stating that the connection was moved will be submitted to the RRO.
b. The chlorine contact chamber/vault was at ground level and broken allowing waste to surface.
Mr. Gibbs will also have that repaired as needed.
Page# 2

Permit: NCG551387
Inspection Date: 08/12/2021
Owner - Facility: 3714 Esther Drive
Inspection Type: Technical Assistance
Other
Comment:
Yes No NA NE
Page# :3

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