WQCS00240_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20210929

Compliance Inspection Report
Permit: WQCS00240 Effective: 07/09/21 Expiration: 06/30/29 Owner : Aqua North Carolina Inc
SOC: Effective: Expiration: Facility: The Cape Collection System
County: New Hanover 5717 Carolina Beach Rd
Region: Wilmington
Wilmington NC 28412
Contact Person: Joel A Mingus Title: Coastal Area Manager Phone: [phone]
Directions to Facility:
System Classifications: CS2,
Primary ORC:
Secondary ORC(s):
On -Site Representative(s):
On -site representative
Certification:
Eric N Youngs
Related Permits:
NC0057703 Aqua North Carolina Inc - The Cape WWTP
Inspection Date: 09/29/2021 Entry Time 09:OOAM
Primary Inspector: Brian S West
Secondary Inspector(s):
Phone:
Exit Time: 12:OOPM
Phone: [phone]
Reason for Inspection: Routine Inspection Type: Collection System Inspect Non Sampling
Permit Inspection Type: Collection system management and operation
Facility Status: Compliant ❑ Not Compliant
Question Areas:
Miscellaneous Questions General Sewer & FOG Ordinances
Capital Improvement Plan Map Reporting Requirements
Inspections Spills Lines
Pump Stations
(See attachment summary)
Page 1 of 6

Permit: WQCS00240 Owner - Facility: Aqua North Carolina Inc
Inspection Date: 09/29/2021 Inspection Type : Collection System Inspect Non Sampling Reason for Visit: Routine
Inspection Summary:
Performed routine pump station inspections with Eric Youngs on 9/29. Records review with Joel Mingus on 10/7 at
Hampstead office. Please see notes under each section of the report and address as noted. Please let us know if you have
any questions regarding the report or site visits performed
Page 2 of 6

Permit: WQCS00240 Owner - Facility: Aqua North Carolina Inc
Inspection Date: 09/29/2021 Inspection Type : Collection System Inspect Non Sampling Reason for Visit: Routine
General Yes No NA NE
Is there a properly designated primary ORC and at least one back-up of proper grade? ❑ ❑ ❑
Are logs being reviewed by the system management or owner on a regular basis? ❑ ❑ ❑
# What is that frequency?
# Are there any issues being addressed currently or any in the planning stages? ❑ ❑ ❑
Is there a specific pump failure plan available for all pump stations? ❑ ❑ ❑
Does plan indicate if pump parts/new pumps are in spare parts/equipment inventory? ❑ ❑ ❑
Are new/significantly upgraded pump stations equipped with anti -corrosion materials? ❑ ❑ ❑
Does the permittee have a copy of their permit? ❑ ❑ ❑
# Is permit expiring within the next 6 months? ❑ ❑ ❑
If Yes, has the Permittee applied for renewal? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
Comment: Several grease traps in system documented to be inspected quarterly
Sewer and FOG Ordinances
Yes No NA NE
Is Sewer Use Ordinance (SUO) or other Legal Authority available?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Does it appear that the Sewer Use Ordinance is enforced?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Is there a Grease Control Program that legally requires grease control devices?
❑
❑ ❑
What is the standard grease trap cleaning requirement in the FOG ordinance?
Is Grease Control Program enforced via periodic inspections/records review?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Is action taken against violators?
❑
❑ ❑
# Have satellite systems adopted an equivalent or more stringent ordinance?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Is grease/sewer education program documented with req'd customer distribution?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
# Are other types of education tools used like websites, booths, special meetings, etc?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
If Yes, what are they? (This can reduce mailing to annual.)
Aqua uses various social media to post FOG info
Comment: FOG materials mailed to customers 2/yr (last done May '21)
Capital Improvement Plan Yes No NA NE
Has a Capital (CIP) or System Improvement Plan been developed and adopted? ❑ ❑ ❑
Is it designated for wastewater only or does it have a dedicated section? ❑ ❑ ❑
Does CIP cover three to five year period of earmarked improvements? ❑ ❑ ❑
Does CIP include description of project area? ❑ ❑ ❑
Does CIP include description of existing facilities? ❑ ❑ ❑
Does CIP include known deficiencies? ❑ ❑ ❑
Does CIP include forecasted future needs? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment: Current 5 year plan includes upgrade of electrical panels at all older pump stations (mostly
complete)
Page 3 of 6

Permit: WQCS00240 Owner - Facility: Aqua North Carolina Inc
Inspection Date: 09/29/2021 Inspection Type : Collection System Inspect Non Sampling
Reason for Visit: Routine
Map
Yes No NA NE
Is there a overall sewer system map?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Does the map include:
Pipe Type (GS/FM)
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Pipe sizes
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Pipe materials (PVC, DIP, etc)
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Pipe location
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Flow direction
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Approximate pipe age
❑
❑ ❑
Pump station ID, location and capacity
0
❑ ❑ ❑
# Force main air release valve location & type
❑
❑ 0 ❑
# Location of satellite connections
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Is the map being updated for changes/additions within 1 year of activation?
❑
❑ ❑
Comment
Reporting Requirements Yes No NA NE
# Have there been any sewer spills in the past 3 years? ❑ ❑ ❑
If Yes, were they reported to the Division if meeting the reportable criteria? ❑ ❑ ❑
If applicable, is there documentation of press releases and public notices issued? ❑ ❑ ❑
Is an Annual Wastewater Performance Report being filed with the Division, if required? ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the report being made available to all its sewer customers? ❑ ❑ ❑
# How is it being made available?
Comment: Two reported SSOs in the past year. Reviewed documentation of follow-up line cleaning
performed in the area of the June '21 spill at Catamaran and St. Vincent
Inspections
Yes No NA NE
Are adequate maintenance records maintained?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Are pump stations being inspected at the required frequency?
❑ ❑ ❑
# Is at least one complete functionality test conducted weekly per pump station?
❑ ❑ ❑
Is there a system or plan in place to observe the entire system annually?
❑
❑ ❑
Is the annual inspection documented?
❑
❑ ❑
# Does the system have any high -priority lines/locations?
❑ ❑ ❑
Are inspections of HPL documented at least every 6 months?
❑
❑ ❑
Are new lines being added to the HPL list when found or created?
❑
❑ ❑
Comment:
RiL Yes No NA NE
Is system free of known points of bypass? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
If No, describe type of bypass and location
Page 4 of 6

Permit: WQCS00240 Owner - Facility: Aqua North Carolina Inc
Inspection Date: 09/29/2021 Inspection Type : Collection System Inspect Non Sampling Reason for Visit: Routine
Are all spills or sewer related issues/complaints documented? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
# Are there repeated overflows/problems (2 or more in 12 months) at same location? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
# If Yes, is there a corrective action plan? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
Comment:
Lines/Right-of-Ways/Aerial Lines Yes No NA NE
Please list the Lines/Right of Ways/Aerial Lines Inspected:
Are right-of-ways/easements maintained for full width for access by staff/equipment? ❑ ❑ ❑
If No, give details on temporary access:
Is maintenance documented? ❑ ❑ ❑
Are gravity sewer cleaning records available? ❑ ❑ ❑
Has at least 10% of lines older than 5 yrs been cleaned annually? ❑ ❑ ❑
Were all areas/lines inspected free of issues? ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment: Required annual 10% line cleaning performed 2020-Valley Brook; 2021-Coral Ridge/Old Cape
Pump Stations Yes No NA NE
Please list the Pump Stations Inspected:
Roundtree Ridge -excessive grease needs pump -out
Westview at River Oaks -no issues noted
River Oaks Section 8-one bad check valve scheduled to be replaced
Bellaport-excessive grease needs pump -out
Dolphin Bay Main -temporary diesel pump on -site as one station pump being rebuilt
Bala -no issues noted
Main Sail -need better housekeeping -trash removed from bar screen on ground and weeds overgrown.
Telemetry not functional while on site upon high water level simulation
Nantucket -Needs portable generator connection
While on site all stations simulated high water alarms/telemetry functional except as noted above. All on -site
generators tested and functional. Aqua documents weekly generator/alarm tests. Comprehensive generator
PM contracted annually
# Number of duplex or larger pump stations in system 26
# Number of vacuum stations in system
# Number of simplex pump stations in system
# Number of simplex pump stations in system serving more than one building
How many pump/vacuum stations have:
# A two-way "auto polling" communication system (SCADA) installed?
# A simple one-way telemetry/communication system (auto -dialer) installed?
For pump stations inspected:
Are they secure with restricted access?
Were they free of by-pass structures/pipes?
Were wet wells free of excessive grease/debris?
# Do they all have telemetry installed?
Is the communication system functional?
0
0
0
0
26
Page 5 of 6

Permit: WQCS00240 Owner - Facility: Aqua North Carolina Inc
Inspection Date: 09/29/2021 Inspection Type : Collection System Inspect Non Sampling
Reason for Visit: Routine
Is a 24-hour notification sign posted ?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Does the sign include:
Owner Name?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Pump station identifier?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
# Address?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Instructions for notification?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
24-hour emergency contact numbers?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Are audio and visual alarms present?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Are audio and visual alarms operable?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
# Is there a backup generator or bypass pump connected?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
If tested during inspection, did it function properly?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Is the back-up system tested at least bi-annually under normal operating conditions?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
# Does it have a dedicated connection for a portable generator?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
# Is the owner relying on portable units in the event of a power outage?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
# If Yes, is there a distribution plan?
❑
❑ ❑
If Yes, what resources (Units/StaffNehicles/etc) are included in Plan?
# Does Permittee have the approved percentage of replacement simplex pumps? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
Is recordkeeping of pump station inspection and maintenance program adequate? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Do pump station logs include at a minimum:
Inside and outside cleaning and debris removal? ❑ ❑ ❑
Inspecting and exercising all valves? ❑ ❑ ❑
Inspecting and lubricating pumps and other equipment? ❑ ❑ ❑
Inspecting alarms, telemetry and auxiliary equipment? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment: See comments previous section under individual pump stations
Page 6 of 6