NCG551384_NOV-2021-PC-0438_20210827

b O' COOPLR
ELILAI3E 1'H S RISER
S DANIEL SMMI fH
CERTIFIED MAiL # 7017 2680 0000 2236 8129
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Thomasine P. Williams
3515 Delmar Drive
Durham, NC 27703
NOR tH C.A.ROLItf-,
Environmental Quality
August 27, 2021
Subject: NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Tracking Number: NOV-202 I -PC-0438
Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Single Family Wastewater Treatment System
NPDES General Permit NCG550000
Certificate of Coverage NCG551384
Facility Name: 3515 Delmar Drive
Durham County
Dear Thomasine Williams:
On April 28, 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. I would like to thank Mr. Joseph Jones
for his assistance during this inspection.
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) NCG551384 authorize the discharge of domestic
wastewater from your treatment system to receiving waters designated as an unnamed tributary (UT) to Little Lick Creek
(classified WS-IV; NSW) in the Neuse 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 ofthis 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 photo 1.
c. The solidslsludge traveled into the receiving ditch. See photo 2.
d. There was no existing record to determine the last time the septic tank tivas pumped.
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 113 of the liquid depth in the septic tank compartment, whichever is greater.
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a. A pumping company can check the status periodically and determine when pumping is required. This
issue was addressed in the August 18, 2017 inspection report. 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 pennittee 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. There were no tablets on site. This
issue was addressed in the August 18, 2017 inspection report.
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 August 18, 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 NCGSS0000.
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 2.
Requested Response
The Division requests that the Pennittee 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 Pennittee should inform this
office. The components that are required when replacing a system are included in Section A of Part I of the general permit.
Before construction begins, an Authorization to Constrict (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 I 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.
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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 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
Vai a SSX f. htolvu't,t
`— B2916E A 144r
Vanessa t . Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Attachment(s): EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report
Photos 1 and 2
Installers and Engineers
Cc: RRO/SWP Files
Laserfiche (without attachments)
North Carolina Department of Einv€rt F cnt:lQua!it} Division of 4' a;er-Rc,otrrccs
Ro!eiyir Regional (lltic:e 500l4arrctt Drive : Raleigh. North C.iro!ino L7ti(9
c!19.7•)1..42.00

Thomasine Williams
NCG551384 - April 12, 2021
r
Photo 1- Chlorinators, no tablets, appeared to be covered in solids/sludge.
Photo 2 solids/sludge at discharge pipe.

United States Environmental Protection Agency
E PA Washington, D.C. 20460
Water Compliance Inspection Report
Form Approved.
OMB No. 2040-0057
Approval expires 8-31-98
A
Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS)
Transaction
1 'r,1
'
Code
2
Li
NPDES yr/molday Inspection Type Inspector Fac
3 I NCG551384 111 121 21/04/28 117 18 I t 19 I c I 201
Type
I
211I11I1
mIIIIi1F1IIII111I
I1IiI11111I1i1111
P6
Inspection
67
Work Days
(
Facility Self -Monitoring
1 701
I
Evaluation Rating
71'
B1
ty
( 72
QA
1 ti_
l
----------•---Reserved------------------
I 1 731
1
174 7 1
11
(
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)
3515 Delmar Drive
3515 Delmar Dr
Durham NC 27703
Entry Time/Date
09:50AM 21/04/28
Permit Effective Date
13/08/01
Exit Time/Date
11:15AM 21/04/28
Permit Expiration Date
18/07/31
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Other Facility Data
Name, Address of Responsible OfficiaUlitle/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Thomasine P Williams,3515 Delmar Or Durham NC 27703//919-596-6952/
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
III Other
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
(See attachment summary)
Name(s) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
Jane Bernard DWR/Non Discharge Compliance Unit/919-791-4200/
qc,4_,Nr-......g.... \ Bp 3I ..J
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
DocuSigned by:
1 DWR/WQROS-RRO/919-791-4232 8/26/2021
\/a(A.LSSa f. A1.abui t,L
EPAe-ormsje a.F(Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
Page#

NPDES yr/mo/day
31 NCG551384 111 121 21/04 28
117
Inspection Type
18u
(Cont.)
1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
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 of solids/sludge accumulation. See photo 1.
c. The solids/sludge traveled into the receiving ditch. See photo 2.
d. There was no existing record to determine the last time the septic tank was pumped.
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.
a. A pumping company can check the status periodically and determine when pumping is required.
This issue was addressed in the August 18, 2017 inspection report. 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. There were no tablets on
site. This issue was addressed in the August 18, 2017 inspection report.
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 August 18, 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 NCG550000.
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 2.
Page# 2