NC0020656_Inspection_20020418

ATA
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Michael F. Easley, Governor
The Honorable Ann Slaughter
Mayor, City of Laurinburg
PO Box 520
Laurinburg, NC 28379
April 18, 2002
SUBJECT: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
City of Laurinburg
Wastewater Treatment Plant
NPDES Permit No. NC0020656
Scotland County
Dear Ms. Slaughter:
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D.
Acting Director
Division of Water Quality
Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Evaluation Inspection conducted April 11.2002. As part of the
inspection a tour of the Wastewater Treatment Plant was conducted. The facility continues to have a high
inventory of solids in the system. Please submit a Plan of Action in writing to our office concerning
reduction of solids in the facility and address item #9 from Part D. Summary of Findings/Comments of
this report by May 31.2002. The other observations and recommendations are also located in Part D.of this
report. The cooperation of Mr. Robert Ellis, Grade IV ORC and Mr. Ricky Odum, Grade III Backup Operator
was appreciated. During the inspection a copy of the NPDES Compliance Reminders were reviewed and left
with Mr. Odum. As a reminder preservation of the Waters of the State can only be acquired through consistent
NPDES permit compliance.
Please review the attached report. If you or your staff have any questions do not hesitate to contact me
at 910-486-1541.
Sincerely,
2 . % ce 'i7
Belinda S. Henson
Environmental Chemist
/bsh
Enclosures
cc: Mr. Robert Ellis, ORC, City of Laurinburg
Fayetteville Regional Office
225 Green Street— Suite 714, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-5043
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone]Internet: www.enr.state.nc.us/ENR
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer — 50% Recycled 110% Post Consumer Paper

NPDES COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
North Carolina Division of Water Quality
Fayetteville Regional Office
Section A. National Data System Coding
Transaction Code: N NPDES NO. NC0020656 Date: 020411 Inspection Type: C
Inspector: S Facility Type: 1 Reserved:
Facility Evaluation Rating: 3 BI: N QA: N Reserved:
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected:
City of Laurinburg Leith Creek WWTP
Entry Time/Date: 10:05am/020411 Permit Effective Date: 010301
Exit Time/Date: 1:35pm/020411 Permit Expiration Date: 040831
Name(s), Title(s) of On -Site Representative(s):
Robert Ellis (Certified Grade IV) - "ORC"
Ricky Odum (Certified Grade III) - "Backup Operator"
Phone Number(s): [phone]
Name, Title and Address of Responsible Official:
Ms. Ann Slaughter, Mayor
PO Box 249
Laurinburg, NC 28352
Contacted: no
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection
(S = Satisfactory, M = Marginal, U = Unsatisfactory, N = Not Evaluated, N/A = Not Applicable)
e.ernirt:
acili
lte: .eview=. J:
Flow easurement::,
oratory: 5.
retreatmnen
onitorin .
udgeDisposal
rogram:.;
uen
eceivmg Waters S
'Complmike, S'chedule
Aeration
ner
1aintenance. S

Section D: Summary of Findings/Comments:
1. The facility has four (4) influent pumps which operate as needed depending on flow.
2. , The automatic bar screen appeared to be operational. It is operated on a continuous basis. All
screenings are properly disposed of through the county landfill.
3. The grit removal system appeared to be operational. All grit is properly disposed of through the county
landfill.
4. The influent flow to this facility is equally split with one half ('V2) going to SIDE #1 (aeration basins)
and the remaining flow going to SIDE #2 (oxidation ditch).
5. The influent composite• sampler refrigerator temperature was 4 degrees C. The acceptable temperature
range of samples during storage and for stored sample extracts, is 1.0 - 4.4 degrees C.
6. A backup generator is on site too operate the headworks and equalization basin pumps. As a reminder
the backup generator should be operated at least monthly to verify operation and documented
when this is done.
7. The Equalization Basin was empty at the time of the inspection.
8. SIDE #2-The oxidation ditch appeared to be operating adequately. The most recent Mixed Liquor
Suspended Solids (MLSS) result was 4600 mg/L for March 8, 2002. The sludge depth in Clarifier #3
was 3 ''A feet with a tank depth of 13 feet. Chlorine is added to the effluent before it enters the parshall
flume before it is discharged. It does not flow through the chlorine contact tank.
9. SIDE #1-The two (2) aeration basins were not aerating at the initial time of the inspection. As per Mr.
Odum, a staff member (laborer) had been decanting supernatant from the digester and cleaning the
chlorine contact tank that when combined resulted in an overload of Clarifiers # 1 and #2. At the time of
the inspection the sludge depths in both clarifiers were less than (>) 1 foot. As a recommendation
clarifier sludge blankets should be checked and documented daily on a frequent basis. The most
recent Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS) was 9980 mg/L for aeration basin #1 and 5020 mg/L
for aeration basin #2. The chlorine contact tank operates a parallel dual system where flow from one
clarifier goes to one side of the tank and flow from the other clarifier goes to the other side. While one
side of the chlorine contact tank was down for cleaning the sludge depth in the other side ranged from
2 '/z -3 '/Z feet. As a reminder sludge depths in the chlorine contact tank should not exceed 12
inches.
10. The flow meter was calibrated March 28, 2002 by Jim Haven Inc. It is advisable that the flow meter
calibration document contain the % error before and after calibration in the future by the technician.
11. The effluent cascade aeration outfall was accessible and the effluent appeared to be free of solids.
12. The effluent composite sampler temperature was 6 degrees C. The temperature should be adjusted to
the acceptable range of 1.0 - 4.4 degrees C for proper preservation of samples.
13. A effluent bar screen was also inspected and it appeared to be properly maintained.

Slaughter
Page 4
April 18, 2002
14. The small digester appeared to be approximately ('h) full with the larger digester appearing to be (3/4)
full. Sludge from the small digester is pumped to the drying beds. Dried sludge appeared on six (6) of
the eight (8) drying beds with the two (2) remainders used for storage. Sludge from the larger digester
is land applied. The land application permit # WQ0002526 allows 300 acres to be used for sludge
disposal. During the week of March 18, 2002 sludge was land applied of approximately 811, 569
gallons.
15. The on site laboratory analyzes the following NPDES permit required parameters: BOD, TSS, Fecal
Coliform, Chlorine Residual, Ammonia and Temperature. "Oxford Laboratory" analyzes Total
Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus and Metals. "TBL" contracts another laboratory "Meriteck " to analyze
for Toxicity.
16. Laboratory records were reviewed for the months: May and September 2001 and compared to Discharge
Monitoring Reports (DMRs). On May 6th an ammonia value was reported as >.10 mg/L and when
laboratory records were reviewed the result was another value. Please submit an amended copy for
May 2001 with the following procedures:
A. All corrected data should be written in red ink or hi -lighted.
B. At the top to the Effluent Page, the words "Corrected Report" or "Amended Report" should be
written in red ink on all copies. This will differentiate between originally submitted report and
corrected report.
C. Two (2) copies of the corrected report should be submitted to this Division and one (1) copy
must be retained by the permittee. The specific page or pages that have been corrected should
only be submitted.
D. A brief explanation for the correction should be written either on the back side of the Effluent
page or in a cover letter accompanying the reports.
Name and Signature of Inspector
Belinda S. Henson
) (.:11. t..o--) .. ftie,itocrlD
Name and Signature of Reviewer
Paul E. Rawls
/)
Action Taken
Agency/Office/Telephone Date
DENR/Fayetteville/[phone]
Agency/Office/Telephone Date
DENR/Fayetteville/[phone]
Regulatory Office Use Only
Compliance Status
_Noncompliance
_Compliance
Date

Section D: Summary of Findings/Comments
Brief Facility Description:
The facility is a 4.0 MGD WWTP consisting of the following treatment components: mechanical
bar screen, mechanical grit removal. influent flow monitoring, aerated equalization basin, influent
pump station, flow splitter box, dual 1 MGD extended aeration basins with secondary
clarification, 2 MGD oxidation ditch with secondary clarification. chlorination; effluent flow
measurement, two aerobic digesters, sludge drying beds, effluent force main and cascade aeration.
FACILITY SITE REVIEW
es No N/A 1. Treatment units properly operated and maintained.
o N/A 2. Standby power or other equivalent provision provided.
Yes No N/A 3. Adequate alarm system for power or equipment failure available.
4. Sludge disposal procedures appropriate:
des% No N/A a. Disposal of sludge according to regulations
("Y' No N/A b. State approval for sludge disposal received.
Yes c N/A 5. Sufficient sludge disposed of to maintain treatment process equilibrium.
Cre. No N/A 6. The ORC and Backup Operator are officially designated with
NCDENR/DWQ Training and Certification Unit.
Yes No N/A 7. Adequate spare parts and supplies inventory maintained. T+Rpe-ilars i .,Za)rs
z}t need .
!�► No N/A 8. Plant has general safety structures such as rails around or covers over
tanks, pits, or wells.
es No N/A 9. Plant is generally clean, free from open trash areas.
10. Screening:
No N/A a. Manual
Tesi No N/A b. Mechanical
Yes ed7 N/A c. Buildup of debris
(Ze. No N/A d. Screenings properly, disposed of.
Yes ( 07 N/A
Yes Oa N/A
V No N/A
11. Grit Removal:
a. Excessive organic content in the grit chamber
b. Excessive odors
c. Grit properly disposed of.

Page 2
12. Primary clarifier:
Yes No (ft7 a. Excessive gas bubbles
Yes No N/A b. Black and odorous wastewater
Yes No N/A c. Poor suspended solids removed
Yes No N/A d. Excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier
Yes No N/A e. Weirs level
Yes No N/A f Weir blockage
Yes No N/A g. Evidence of short circuiting
Yes No N/A h. Lack of adequate scum removal
Yes No N/A i. Excessive floating sludge
Yes No N/A j. Broken sludge scraper.
13. Trickling Filter:
Yes No c a. Trickling filter ponding(indicating clogged media)
Yes No N/A b. Leak at center column of trickling filter's distribution arms
Yes No N/A c. Uneven distribution of flow on trickling filter surface
Yes No N/A d. Uneven or discolored growth
Yes No N/A e. Excessive sloughing of growth
Yes No N/A f Odor
Yes No N/A g. Clogging of trickling filter's distribution arm orifices
Yes No N/A h. Filter flies, worms, or snails.
Yes N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes Th-o N/A
Yes too N/A
Yes (loj N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes No J '
14. Activated Sludge Basins/Oxidation Ditches:
a. Dead spots
b. Failure of surface aerators
c. Air rising in clumps
d. Dark foam or bad color
e. Thick billows of white, sudsy foam
f. Air rising unevenly
g. Excessive air leaks in compressed air piping.
15. Stabilization Ponds/Lagoons:
Yes No a. Excessive weeds including duckweed in stabilization ponds
Yes No N/A b. Dead fish or aquatic organisms
Yes No N/A c. Buildup of solids around influent pipe
Yes No N/A d. Excessive scum on surface.

Page 3
16.
Yes ChL ' N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes o N/A
Yes N/A
Yes N/A
Yes NO' N/A
CTei No N/A
Yes N/A
Yes (go' N/A
Yes N/A
1
Yes No V/
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/A
,CZe„ No N/A
Yes N/A
Yes N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes No N2 '
Yes No
�esr ) No N/A
No N/A
Yes No CEZ
Yes
Yes
Yes
Secondary Clarifier:
a. Excessive gas bubbles on surface
b. Level overflow weirs
c. Weir blockage
d. Evidence of short circuiting
e. Excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier
f. Pin floc in overflow
g. Effective scum rake
h. Floating sludge on surface
i. Excessive high sludge blanket
j. Clogged sludge withdrawal ports on secondary clarifier.
Filtration:
a. Filter surface clogging
b. Short filter run
c. Gravel displacement of filter media
d.. Loss of filter media during backwashing
e. Recycled filter backwash water in excess of 5 percent
f Formation of mudballs in filter media.
18. Chlorination Unit:
a. Sludge buildup in contact chamber
b. Gas bubbles
c. Floating scum and/or solids
d. Adequate ventilation of chlorine feeding room and storage area
NIOSH-approved 30 minute air pack
All standing chlorine cylinders chained in place
All personnel trained in the use of chlorine
Proper chlorine feed, storage, and reserve supply.
e.
f.
g.
h.
19. Ultraviolet radiation disinfection present and in use.
20. Dechlorination:
No �7T a. Proper storage of sulfur dioxide cylinders
No N/A b. Adequate ventilation of sulfur dioxide feeding room
No N/A c. Automatic sulfur dioxide feed or feedback control operating
properly.
21. Aerobic Digester:
Yes (l o N/A a. Excessive foaming in tank
Yes (&gT i N/A b. Noxious odor
Yes Rc N/A c. Mechanical aeration failure
Yes No d. Clogging of diffusers.

Page 4
Yes No ai�h2
Yes No N/A
22. Anaerobic Digester:
a. Floating cover tilting
b. Gas burner operative
23. Sludge Drying and/or disposal:
Yes (ro, N/A a. Poor sludge distribution on drying beds
Yes CR-8 N/A b. Vegetation in drying beds
C MP No N/A c. Dry sludge remaining in drying beds
cS'es) No N/A d. Dry sludge stored on site
CaS7 No N/A e. Filtrate from sludge drying beds returned to front of plant
(ZesNo N/A f. Sludge disposal through county landfill.
'es No N/A g. Sludge land applied.
24. Filter Press:
Yes No A- a. High level of solids in filtrate from filter presses or vacuum filters
Yes No N/A b. Thin filter cake caused by poor dewatering
Yes No N/A c. Sludge buildup on belts and/or rollers of filter press
Yes No . N/A d. Excessive moisture in belt filter press sludge cake.
Yes No
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/A
25. Polishing Ponds or Tanks:
a. Objectionable odor, excessive foam, floating solids, or oil sheens on
water surface
b. Solids or scum accumulations in tank or at side of pond
c. Evidence of bypassed polishing ponds or tanks because of low
capacity.
26. Plant Effluent:
Yes No~ N/A a. Excessive suspended solids, turbidity, foam, grease, scum, color, and
other macroscopic particulate matter present
Yes T i N/A b. Potential toxicity (dead fish, dead plant at discharge)
es No N/A c. Outfall discharge line easily accessible.
27. Flow Measurement:
T'eTs No N/A a. Proper placement of flow measurement device
No N/A b. Flow meter calibrated
Yes (1% N/A c. Buildup of solids in flume or weir
Yes CSIo? N/A d. Broken or cracked flume or weir
Yes No as-LAi' e. Clogged or broken stilling wells
Yes No Wf. Weir plate edge corroded or damaged
Yes No N/A g. Flow measurement error less than 10%.

Page 5
No N/A
Yes o) N/A
es No N/A
�Y'.esD No : N/A
28. Sampling:
a. Sampling and analysis completed on parameters specified by permit
b. Composite sample temperatures maintained at 4 degrees Celsius or
less (but above freezing) during sampling
c. Contract laboratory used for sample analysis
d. Effluent composite samples obtained are flow proportional.
N/A
es:"No N/A
e,'No N/A
Ye ? No N/A
es) No N/A
Otes1No N/A
es No N/A
es= No N/A
ei No N/A
es 'No N/A
CZes'No N/A
'j No N/A
Yes No N/A
No N/A
es ; No N/A
RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING
1. Records and reports maintained as required by permit.
2. • All required information available, complete, and current.
3. Records maintained for 3 years and all sludge records maintained for 5
years.
4. Analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs.
Sampling and analyses data adequate and include:
a. Dates, times, and location of sampling
b. Name of individual performing sampling
c. Results of analyses and calibration
d. Dates of analyses
e. Name of person performing analyses.
6. Monitoring records adequate and include:
a. Monitoring charts kept for 3 years
b. Flowmeter calibration records kept for 3 years.
7. The pH meter is calibrated daily with two buffers and checked with a
third buffer and properly documented.
8. Expiration dates of pH buffers adequate.
9. All thermometers used in NPDES permit reporting is calibrated
annually with an NIST certified thermometer or a traceable
thermometer annually and documented.
10. The following NPDES permit required parameters are analyzed on site:
pH, Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen and Chlorine Residual.

Page 6
%. No N/A
C No N/A
ejp No N/A
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/A
'- No N/A
Yes No �T -
11. The NPDES permit required parameter Total Chlorine Residual is
analyzed by approved method.
12. BOD incubator temperature maintained at 20 +/- 1 Degrees Celsius
and the temperature maintained in a log for every day of operation.
13. Fecal coliform incubator maintained at 44.5 +/- 0.2 Degree Celsius and
the temperature maintained in a log for every day of operation.
14. Plant records adequate and include:
a. 0 & M Manual e N ae Oct nt
b. "As -built" engineering drawings Mize vo1 <mt
c. Schedules and dates of equipment maintenance repairs
d. Equipment data cards.
Yes No 15.
ges�"No N/A 16.
Yes No J
es7'No N/A
N/A
eso N/A
�Ye�S�No N/A
I'e"s No N/A
Yes No N/A
Permittee is meeting compliance schedule.
DMRs complete and include all NPDES permit required parameters.
17. The facility has a permitted flow greater than 5 MGD and is required
to operate seven days per week 24 hours a day.
18. ORC visitation logs available and current.
19. ORC certified at a level equal to or greater than the classification of
the wastewater facility.
20. Backup Operator certified at one level less than the classification of
the wastewater facility or greater.
21. -Current copy of the complete NPDES permit on site.
22. Facility description verified as contained in NPDES permit.
23. Facility analyzes process control parameters for example: MLSS,
MCRT, Settleable Solids and others that are applicable.
Yes No N/A 24.
Revised 7/16/01
by Belinda Henson
Industrial Waste Surveys (IWS) sent to all possible Significant
Industrial Users (Sills) within the last five years (especially new
industries).

�it, of CaurioDurg
May 21, 2002
Belinda S. Hinson
Environmental Chemist, NCDENR
225 Green Street, Suite 714
Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-5043
OndDrol
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT
; WASR & WASTEWATER PLANT
i e
MAY 3 0 2002
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection Report
City of Laurinburg
Wastewater Treatment Plant
NPDES Permit No. NC0020656
Scotland County
Dear Ms. Hinson:
Enclosed please find the response to :your inspection that was conducted April 11, 2002.
In reference to Item #9 from part D, we are monitoring clarifier sludge blankets daily and
recording these results in a daily log we are also monitoring sludge depths in our chlorine
contact chambers and are cleaning them per your recommendation.
The plan of action to reduce the solids concentration at Leith Creek Plant is as follows:
1. EMA Resources will be on site June 3, 2002 to begin a lime stabilization
process on our large digester. This will allow, us to continue wasting solids
out of the plant on a daily basis.
2. We propose to duplicate #1 when the digester has reached full capacity.
3. We have signed a contract to complete #1 and depending on resources we
hope to be able to complete the process two additional times.
4. Continue regular land application process.
In reference to #16 from part D please find enclosed corrected copies of DMR from
September 2001. The reason we are resubmitting this report is that the results for
Ammonia Nitrogen on September 6, 2001 were inadvertently omitted.
603 LAUCHWOOD DRIVE • P.O. BOX 249 • LAURINBURG, N.C. 28352 • 919/277-0214

If you have any questions concerning these matters please give me a call at (910) 277-
0214.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Ellis
City of Laurinburg
Treatment Plants Director
Cc: Mr. Joseph Huffman, City Manager

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