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Home My WebLink AboutWQ0041136_RI_20211020 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED November 01, 2021 Chris Cervini Email: chrisc@lakesideproduce.com Cervini Farms North Carolina Inc SUBJECT: Reconnaissance Inspection Report Cervini Farms WWTP Non-discharge Permit No. WQ0041136 Henderson County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Cervini Farms WWTP on 10/20/2021. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in Non-discharge Permit No. WQ0041136. Please carefully review all comments and recommendations within the inspection. Additional resources will need to be put towards assessing and bringing the system into compliance with the requirements of the permit. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 828-296-4686 or via email at mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Mikal Willmer, Environmental Specialist II Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: RPB Systems Lakeside Produce Compliance Inspection Report Permit:WQ0041136 Effective:09/30/20 Expiration:12/31/25 Owner :Cervini Farms North Carolina Inc SOC: Contact Person: Region: County: Directions to Facility: Henderson Asheville Chris Cervini Effective:Expiration:Facility:Cervini Farms WWTP 648 Ladson Raod Mills River NC 28759 Title:Phone: Secondary ORC(s): Phone:Certification:Primary ORC: WW1,System Classifications: On-Site Representative(s): Related Permits: Secondary Inspector(s): Primary Inspector: Inspection Date:Exit Time:Entry Time: Phone: 10/20/2021 09:00AM 10:00AM Mikal Willmer 828-296-4686 Facility Status: Permit Inspection Type: Reason for Inspection:Inspection Type: Not CompliantCompliant Other Reclaimed Water Reconnaissance Question Areas: Treatment Flow Measurement-Effluent Treatment Flow Measurement-Influent Miscellaneous Questions Treatment Flow Measurement-Water Use Records Treatment Treatment Filters Treatment Influent Pump Station Treatment Disinfection Treatment Flow Measurement Standby Power (See attachment summary) Page 1 of 5 Inspection Date: Permit: Inspection Type : Owner - Facility: Reason for Visit: WQ0041136 10/20/2021 Reconnaissance Cervini Farms North Carolina Inc Other Inspection Summary: Mikal Willmer, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a reconnaissance inspection of the Cervini Farms, closed-loop reuse system on October 20, 2021. This inspection was conducted to ascertain what steps have been taken to improve the performance of the facility and determine steps necessary moving forward. Bob Barr and Danielle Hunter with RPB Systems were present and assisted in the inspection. Since beginning operations, the facility has struggled to meet the 1 mg/L ammonia limit and often struggles to meet BOD limits. It should be noted this is an EZ treat pod system and only allows for minimal operational adjustment to help improve performance. There is a septic tank and EQ tank immediately upstream of the pods. The manufacturer, design engineer and facility staff have all been contacted regarding possible issues. The manufacturer indicated they may have die-off in the pods and indicated this was the first use for these pods with this low of a limit. Dosing times have been adjusted, the media has been checked and soda ash has been introduced to further aid in nitrification and BOD removal. Nitrifiers were also introduced; however, operations staff reported these significantly increased effluent BOD values. The design engineer suspects there is something coming in through the influent. Facility staff indicated that nothing is plumbed from the greenhouse to the WWTP, only the bunkhouse wastewater. The grease trap at the bunk house was never installed as originally intended and may potentially be a contributing factor. All involved parties should continue to assess any chemicals used onsite that have the potential to be sent to the WWTP. Operations staff have previously documented bright blue influent, indicating the introduction of non-domestic wastewater. Specifically, facility representation has indicated several cleaning products, which contain amines, are used. The assumption is the EZ treat system is capable of routinely producing an average final effluent ammonia concentration of 0.9 mg/L. It has been indicated to the Division that this is the first application of an EZ treat system to meet Type II reclaimed standards under 02U. While other EZ treat systems in our region obtain low NH3 levels, they do not routinely provide levels <1 mg/L. Additional testing may indicate whether there is adequate alkalinity and oxygen, through dosing rates and recirculation ratios, to promote nitrification. There is currently not enough simultaneous influent and effluent data to critically assess and determine specific interferences or system deficiencies. High BODs could be artificially high due to partial nitrification during the treatment process. cBOD should be analyzed to determine if the high BOD is due to the incomplete conversion of ammonia. Cervini should provide operations staff the resources necessary to properly assess influent wastewater constituents to determine if any interfering substances are entering the system. This should be done in consultation with the EZ treat manufacturer to help pinpoint which substances are known interferences. EZ treat pods should be able to meet required BOD numbers. Additionally, DO, pH and alkalinity should also be sampled at several points to determine if the system is meeting the manufacturers stated optimal performance values. Until the system and contributions are thoroughly assessed through additional testing, operations staff and the Division are unable to determine if this system will be able to meet the Type II reclaimed standards long-term. The ARO will attempt to set up an influent composite sampler to provide some initial data over a 24-hour period for the facility. Please note further testing will be required to determine system performance issues. The Regional Office does acknowledge this is the first application of reclaimed water for a food chain crop in the state and that the reclaimed water contribution to the hydroponic system is less than 5% of the total water used daily. Additionally, the Division also acknowledges Laboratory Certification does not certify for and is unaware of any laboratories in the state that test for clostridium and coliphage. Operations staff and regional office staff have attempted to locate laboratories that test for the parameters in a wastewater matrix but have so far been unsuccessful. Page 2 of 5 Inspection Date: Permit: Inspection Type : Owner - Facility: Reason for Visit: WQ0041136 10/20/2021 Reconnaissance Cervini Farms North Carolina Inc Other Type Yes No NA NE Single Family Spray, LR Infiltration System Lagoon Spray, LR Activated Sludge Spray, LR Activated Sludge Spray, HR Activated Sludge Drip, LR Single Family Drip Reuse (Quality) Recycle/Reuse Treatment Yes No NA NE Are Treatment facilities consistent with those outlined in the current permit? Do all treatment units appear to be operational? (if no, note below.) Comment: Treatment Influent Pump Station Yes No NA NE Is the pump station free of bypass lines or structures? Is the general housekeeping acceptable? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are floats/controls operable? Are audio and visual alarms available? Are audio and visual alarms operational? # Are SCADA/Telemetry alarms required? Are SCADA/Telemetry available? Are SCADA/Telemetry operational? It should be noted the influent pump station is not maintained by the operations firm. No grease trap is installed upstream of the lift station (see summary for details). Comment: Treatment Flow Measurement-Influent Yes No NA NE Is flowmeter calibrated annually? Is flowmeter operating properly? Does flowmeter monitor continuously? Does flowmeter record flow? Does flowmeter appear to monitor accurately? Comment: Page 3 of 5 Inspection Date: Permit: Inspection Type : Owner - Facility: Reason for Visit: WQ0041136 10/20/2021 Reconnaissance Cervini Farms North Carolina Inc Other Treatment Flow Measurement-Water Use Records Yes No NA NE Is water use metered? Are the daily average values properly calculated? Comment: Treatment Flow Measurement-Effluent Yes No NA NE Is flowmeter calibrated annually? Is flowmeter operating properly? Does flowmeter monitor continuously? Does flowmeter record flow? Does flowmeter appear to monitor accurately? Facility conducts a draw down to verify meter accuracy. This is an inline meter.Comment: Standby Power Yes No NA NE Is automatically activated standby power available? Is generator tested weekly by interrupting primary power source? Is generator operable? Does generator have adequate fuel? This generator services the entire hydroponics facility.Comment: Treatment Filters Yes No NA NE Is the filter media present? Is the filter media the correct size and type? Is the air scour operational? Is the scouring acceptable? Is the clear well free of excessive solids? Is the mud well free of excessive solids and filter media? Does backwashing frequency appear adequate? EZ Treat pods are used that contain a styrofoam media. See summary for details.Comment: Treatment Disinfection Yes No NA NE Is the system working? Do the fecal coliform results indicate proper disinfection? Is there adequate detention time (>=30 minutes)? Is the system properly maintained? If gas, does the cylinder storage appear safe? Is the fan in the chlorine feed room and storage area operable? Is the chlorinator accessible? If tablets, are tablets present? Page 4 of 5 Inspection Date: Permit: Inspection Type : Owner - Facility: Reason for Visit: WQ0041136 10/20/2021 Reconnaissance Cervini Farms North Carolina Inc Other Are the tablets the proper size and type? Is contact chamber free of sludge, solids, and growth? If UV, are extra UV bulbs available? If UV, is the UV intensity adequate? # Is it a dual feed system? Does the Stationary Source have more than 2500 lbs 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: Page 5 of 5