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Home My WebLink AboutNC0024244_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20210909United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA Washington, D.C. 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 IN Code I 2 IL NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac I 3 I NC0024244 111 121 21/08/25 117 1810I 19I S I 2011 Type 21IIIIII IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIII I IIIIII IIIIIIIIIII P6 Inspection 671 Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring I 70I3 Evaluation Rating I 711 B1 1 72 QA I N I 73I 1 I I Reserved 74 71 J I I I I I I 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) Long Creek WWTP 1040 Coble Ave Extension Albemarle NC 28002 Entry Time/Date 09:49AM 21/08/25 Permit Effective Date 18/12/01 Exit Time/Date 11:22AM 21/08/25 Permit Expiration Date 22/02/28 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Brandon Wesley Plyler/ORC/704-984-9630/ Other Facility Data Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Michael J Ferris,PO Box 190 Albemarle NC 280020190/City Manager/704-984-9410/7049849406 No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports Self -Monitoring Progran Sludge Handling DispoFacility Site Review Compliance Schedules Effluent/Receiving Wate Laboratory Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) (See attachment summary) Name(s) and Signatur Roberto Scheller bg�f Icr(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date V + DWR/MRO WQ/707-235-2204/ 9/8/2021 91C2A007838943E... Signature of Mana W. Corey Basi meiirosi� I`f �v%wer for Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date ger4`1144, H Ptsg R/Division of Water Quality/704-235-2194/ 9.9.21 F161FB69A2D84A3... EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page# 1 31 NPDES yr/mo/day NC0024244 111 121 21/08/25 17 Inspection Type 18 [j (Cont.) 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) The NPDES Permit (NC0024244) became effective December 1, 2018 and expires on February 28, 2022. Please be advised that in accordance with your current NPDES Permit #NC0024244, Part II, Section B (10.) Expiration of Permit; The Permittee is not authorized to discharge after the expiration date. In order to receive automatic authorization to discharge beyond the expiration date, the Permittee shall submit such information, forms, and fees as are required by the agency authorized to issue permits no later than 180 days prior to the expiration date unless permission for a later date has been granted by the Director. Flows for the calendar year 2020 were caculated with a yearly average flow of 6.247 MGD or 52.05% of the 12 MGD permitted flow. Compliance history for the period August 2020 through July 2021 was reviewed with the following reported violations: 11/2020 TSS Monthly Average Limit Violation 26.5% Over Permit Limit 11/2020 TSS Weekly Average Limit Violation 4% " 11/2020 TSS Weekly Average Limit Violation 32.8% ,, 10/2020 TSS Weekly Average Limit Violation 9.6% " 09/2020 TSS Monthly Average Limit Violation 79.2% ,, 09/2020 TSS Weekly Average Limit Violation 30.7% " 09/2020 TSS Weekly Average Limit Violation 12.9% 09/2020 TSS Weekly Average Limit Violation 33.3% 04/2021 Total Ammonia as Nitrogen Limit Violation 5.1% " Annual report for fiscal year 2020/2021 has not been prepaired. Please note that Annual reports must be submitted within 60 days of the end of the applicable 12-month review period. Customers and users are to be provided access to the report. The subject facility is under Special Order by Consent (EMC SOC WQ S19-007) with modified permit parameters for BOD (Summer/Winter), Ammonia Nitrogen (Summer/Winter), and TSS. Please note that in accordance with your SOC (SOC WQ S19-007) Item 2. (d), No later than fifteen (15) calendar days after any date identified for accomplishment of any activity listed in 2(a) above, table of Scheduled Activity, the City shall submit to the Water Quality Regional Operations Section Regional Supervisor written notice of compliance or noncompliance therewith. Please also note that quarterly progress reports detailing the work and activities undertaken and completed on the upgrades to the collection sustem are to be submitted. At time of inspection records and required information appeared to be well kept and readily available for review. At time of insepction it was noted that effluent was turbid. Effluent passes through 10 micron filters before being discharged. The Highway 52 Water Treatment Plant (WTP) reported discharging 313,000 gallons of filter backwash water to Long Creek WWTP the day of inspection. Alum sludge from the WTP is also reported being disposed of by discharging to the WWTP. The Long Creek WWTP reported TSS violations on 11/2020, 10/2020, 09/2020 and 4/2021. Violations under SOC have been addressed with stipulated penalty SP-2020-0010 and SP-2021-0001. The discharge of Alum Sludge into the sewer collection system is adversely affecting effluent discharge into Long Creek by introducing turbidity (Total Suspended Soilds) into receiving waters. Please be advised that in accordance with the Highway 52 Water Tereatment Plant NPDES Permit #0044024, Part II, Section B, 2. Duty to Mitigate, the Permittee shall take all reasonable steps to minimize, to prevent any discharge, or sludge use, or disposal in violation of this permit with a Page# 2 Permit: NC0024244 Inspection Date: 08/25/2021 Owner - Facility: Long Creek WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation reasonable likelihood of adversely affecting human health or the environment. Also in accordance with NPDES Permit #0044024, Part II, Section C, 6. Removal Substances, Solids, sludge, filter backwash, or other pollutants removed in the course of treatment or control of wastewaters shall be utilized/disposed of in accordance with NCGS 143.215.1 and in a manner such as to prevent any pollutant from such materials from entering waters of the State or navigable waters of the United States. It is therefore required that the City of Albemarle submit a written plan for alternative disposal of alum sludge from Highway 52 Water Treatment Plant to the Mooresville Regional Ofice. A written response is to be sent within 30 days of receipt of inspection report. Page# 3 Permit: NC0024244 Inspection Date: 08/25/2021 Owner - Facility: Long Creek WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new MODE application? Is the facility as described in the permit? • ❑ ❑ ❑ # Are there any special conditions for the permit? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The current NPDES Permit NC0024244 became effective December 1, 2018 and expires on February 28, 2022. The permit is for the discharge of treated wastewater into Long Creek in the Yadkin -Pee Dee River Basin. Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is all required information readily available, complete and current? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the chain -of -custody complete? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Dates, times and location of sampling ■ Name of individual performing the sampling • Results of analysis and calibration • Dates of analysis ■ Name of person performing analyses • Transported COCs ■ Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? ❑ • ❑ ❑ (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? • El ❑ ❑ Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility • ❑ ❑ ❑ classification? Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? • ❑ El El Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? El El El • Comment: Annual report for 20/21 is in process. Page# 4 Permit: NC0024244 Inspection Date: 08/25/2021 Owner - Facility: Long Creek WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable ▪ El El El Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Comment: Compliance Schedules Is there a compliance schedule for this facility? Is the facility compliant with the permit and conditions for the review period? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ El I=1 El El Comment: The subject facility is under SOC WQ S19-007 and has not been in compliance with relaxed permit limits. Violation for TSS are noted in summary section of inspection. Laboratory Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory? Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab? # Is the facility using a contract lab? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees? Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees? Comment: Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ ▪ El El El • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ • ❑ • ❑ Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual ❑ b.Mechanical • Are the bars adequately screening debris? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the screen free of excessive debris? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is disposal of screening in compliance? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the unit in good condition? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Grit Removal Type of grit removal a.Manual Yes No NA NE Page# 5 Permit: NC0024244 Inspection Date: 08/25/2021 Owner - Facility: Long Creek WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Grit Removal Yes No NA NE b.Mechanical • Is the grit free of excessive organic matter? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the grit free of excessive odor? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is disposal of grit in compliance? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Flow Measurement - Influent # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? Comment: Influent flow meter was last calibrated on June15, 2021 by Fortech. Influent Sampling # Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected above side streams? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is sampling performed according to the permit? Comment: At time of inspection sampler was recorded at 4 degrees Celsius. Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Pump Station - Influent Yes No NA NE Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? ❑ ❑ • ❑ Is the wet well free of excessive grease? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all pumps present? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all pumps operable? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are float controls operable? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is SCADA telemetry available and operational? ❑ ❑ • ❑ Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? ❑ ❑ • ❑ Comment: Influent pump station consist of 4 screw lift pumps. Page# 6 Permit: NC0024244 Inspection Date: 08/25/2021 Owner - Facility: Long Creek WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Standby Power Is automatically activated standby power available? Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source? Is the generator tested under load? Was generator tested & operational during the inspection? Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site? Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power? Is the generator fuel level monitored? Comment: Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Pump Station - Effluent Yes No NA NE Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? ❑ ❑ ❑ • Are all pumps present? • ❑ El El Are all pumps operable? • El El El Are float controls operable? • El ❑ ❑ Is SCADA telemetry available and operational? El El • El Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? El El • El Comment: Second lift station consist of 4 screw lift pumps located at secondary treatment.. Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext. Air Type of aeration system Surface Is the basin free of dead spots? • El ❑ ❑ Are surface aerators and mixers operational? • El El El Are the diffusers operational? El El • El Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin's surface? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the DO level acceptable? ❑ ❑ El • Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/I) El ❑ ❑ • Comment: Secondary Clarifier Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? • Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 7 Permit: NC0024244 Inspection Date: 08/25/2021 Owner - Facility: Long Creek WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Secondary Clarifier Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier? Are weirs level? Is the site free of weir blockage? Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? Is scum removal adequate? Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? Is the drive unit operational? Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately'/4 of the sidewall depth) Comment: Effluent from secondary clarifiers turbid. Pumps-RAS-WAS Are pumps in place? Are pumps operational? Are there adequate spare parts and supplies on site? Comment: Filtration (High Rate Tertiary) Type of operation: Is the filter media present? Is the filter surface free of clogging? Is the filter free of growth? Is the air scour operational? Is the scouring acceptable? Is the clear well free of excessive solids and filter media? Comment: Effluent turbid Disinfection -Gas Are cylinders secured adequately? Are cylinders protected from direct sunlight? Is there adequate reserve supply of disinfectant? Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 8 Permit: NC0024244 Inspection Date: 08/25/2021 Owner - Facility: Long Creek WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Disinfection -Gas Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination? Does the Stationary Source have more than 2500 Ibs of Chlorine (CAS No. 7782-50-5)? If yes, then is there a Risk Management Plan on site? If yes, then what is the EPA twelve digit ID Number? (1000- - If yes, then when was the RMP last updated? Comment: De -chlorination Type of system ? Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? Is storage appropriate for cylinders? # Is de -chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Comment: Sodium Bisulfite used for dechlorination Are tablet de -chlorinators operational? Number of tubes in use? Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? Comment: Effluent flow meter last calibrated 6/15/2021 by Fortech. Solids Handling Equipment Is the equipment operational? Is the chemical feed equipment operational? Is storage adequate? Is the site free of high level of solids in filtrate from filter presses or vacuum filters? Is the site free of sludge buildup on belts and/or rollers of filter press? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ 1000-0012-3092 Yes No NA NE Liquid ❑ ❑ • ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ Page# 9 Permit: NC0024244 Inspection Date: 08/25/2021 Owner - Facility: Long Creek WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Solids Handling Equipment Is the site free of excessive moisture in belt filter press sludge cake? The facility has an approved sludge management plan? Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ • ❑ Comment: Bio-soilds are thickened and removed for disposal at Rocky River WWTP incinerator. Page# 10