WQCS00021_NOV-2021-DV-0430 RSP_20211028

NORTH CAROLINA
WATER RESOURCES
October 25, 2021
Mr. Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
3800 Barrett Drive
Raleigh, NC 27609
Dear Mr. Vinson:
NC Dept of Environmental Quality
OCT 2 8 2t2i
Raleigh Regional Office
RE: NOV-202 1 -DV-043 0
This response is in reference to incident number 20101741, (SSO) which occurred in August 2021 on the Old
Fields Outfall downstream of NC42 West in Wilson, N.C. The SSO occurred during a very heavy rainfall event
in which the pipeline failed due to very high flows and pressures within the pipe. The official NWS station at
Wilson 3SW received 70.38 inches of rainfall during 2020 and had already received 47.01 inches of rain by this
event in 2021. The 2020 rainfall amount was the second highest rainfall amount in almost 100 years of record for
this station and the 2021 rainfall was the annual equivalent of 70.5 inches thru August of this year. The extremely
high flows were attributable to extremely high rainfall events exceeding even previous hurricane years and events.
The City of Wilson has funding to begin replacement of this pipeline in the current budget. This project has also
been planned in the CIP for several years. To date the City has spent over $200,000 on engineering alone. There
is no financial advantage for the City in delaying this project. Any SSO is unfortunate and not desired. We believe
high rainfall amounts, delays in obtaining easements, and inability to receive pipeline materials in a timely manner
due to supply chain issues have all contributed to this project not being started as soon as we would have liked.
Heavy rainfall events are not confined to just hurricanes or tropical systems, and can occur any time of year. We
believe the NOV to be sufficient penalty for this SSO. Contact us if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
(14,7 . i‘3
Barry G. Parks
Director of Water Resources
City of Wilson
Cc: Mr. Tony Sears, Deputy City Manager

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
Certified Mail # 7020 3160 0000 223.9 3143
Grant W Goings, City Manager
City of Wilson
P 0 Box 10
Wilson, NC 27894-0010
NORTH CAROLINA
Env6»mnental Quality
October 07, 2021
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION & INTENT TO ISSUE CIVIL PENALTY
Tracking No.: NOV-2021-DV-0430
Sanitary Sewer Overflows - August 2021
Collection System Permit No. WQCS00021
Wilson Collection System
Wilson County
Dear Mr. Goings:
Received
OCT 2 1 2021
Water Resources
A review has been conducted of the self -reported Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO's) 5-Day Report/s submitted by
City of Wilson. The Division's Raleigh Regional Office concludes that the City of Wilson violated Permit Condition I
(2) of Permit No. WQCS00021 by failing to effectively manage, maintain, and operate their collection system so
that there is no SSO (Sanitary Sewer Overflow) to the land or surface waters and the SSO constituted making an
outlet to waters of the State for purposes of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(1), for which a permit is required by G.S.
143-215.1.
The Raleigh Regional Office is providing the City of Wilson an opportunity to provide evidence and justification as
to why the City of Wilson should not be assessed a civil penalty for the violation(s) that are summarized below:
Incident Start Duration
Number Date (Mins) Location
Total Vol
Total Surface
Vol Water
Cause (Gals) (Gals) DWR Action
202101741 8/11/2021 180 35.718503,-77.973686 Other, Pipe Failure 13,500 13,500 Notice of Violation -
(Break) Notice of Intent
This Notice of Violation / Notice of Intent to Enforce (NOV/NOI) is being issued for the noted violation. Pursuant
to G.S. 143-215.6A, a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) may be assessed
against any person who violates or fails to act in accordance with the terms, conditions, or requirements of any
permit issued pursuant to G.S. 143-215.1.
North CaroNna Department of ErMronmentil Quality I W.itlon of Water Resowces
Raleigh Regional Office I MOO Barren Drive : Raltigh, North Caroline 2T6a9
419.791.4200

This office requests that you respond to this Notice, in writing, within 10 business days of its
receipt. In your response, you should address the causes of non-compliance, remedial actions, and ail other
actions taken to prevent the recurrence of similar situations. The response to this correspondence will be
considered in this process. Enforcement decisions will also be based on volume spilled, volume reaching surface
waters, duration and gravity, impacts to public health, fish kills or recreational area closures. Other factors
considered in determining the amount of the civil penalty are the violator's history of non-compliance, the cost of
rectifying the damage, whether the spill was intentional and whether money was saved by non-compliance.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mitchell Hayes with the Water Quality Section in
the Raleigh Regional Office at 919-791-4200 or via email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
frt. Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Cc: Raleigh Regional Office - WQS File
Laserfiche
Moen Carolina Deportment of Emerormnxal gm* 1 DM.knof Violet Resources
Weigh Region,'Office 1MOO Damn Delve I Raleigh North Carolina D609
91979U700