NC0025348_NOV-2021-LV-0789_20211109

RECEIVED/NCDENR/DWR
Rik
NEWBE
CITY OF NEW BERN
Department of Public Utilities
Water Resources
527 NC Highway 55 West, P.O. Box 1129
New Bern, NC 28563-1129
[phone]
November 5, 2021
Mr. Robert Tankard
Water Quality Regional -Operations Section -
Division of Water Resources — Washington Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington, NC 27889
Subject: NOV-2021-LV-0789— Response
Dear Mr. Tankard,
NOV 0 9 2021
Water Quality
Regional Operations Section
Washington Regional Office
I have recently received your letter dated October 26th, 2021 indicating that the City of New Bern WWTP
(NC0025348) is in violation of the conditions of the permit due to limit exceedance violations. Please consider
the following as the requested response to this issue:
• The noted limit exceedance violations were a weekly average nitrogen, ammonia total on 4/17/2021 and
a monthly average nitrogen, ammonia total on 4/30/2021.
• The following comment on the issues was included in the Report Comments section of the City's April
2021 eDMR: "The ammonia nitrogen weekly and monthly limits were exceeded due to a high ammonia
nitrogen for the week of April 12-16. The ammonia nitrogen was within limits the week prior and the
week following the incident. Operations did not increase aerator speeds this week trying to keep nitrate
nitrite levels as low as possible. Since the error we have increased our dissolved oxygen sampling to
two new sites sampled daily to better track dissolved oxygen in the nitring process."
• Since April of 2021, the operators at the WWTP have used to the results of the DO sampling sites to
make better "realtime" adjustments at the WWTP and there have been no additional issues since April.
On behalf of the City of New Bern, I would ask that you consider the information above as you review the need
for further enforcement action. Please feel free to contact me at [phone] if there should be any questions
or if additional information is needed.
Sincerely,
Jordan B. Hughes, P.E.
City Engineer
Everything Comes Together Here

ROY COOPER
Covelnor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Dfreaor
Certified IMaoO # 7021 0950 0001 102 5333
Return Receipt Requested
Mark A Stephens, City Manager
City of New Bern
PO Box 1129
New Bern, NC 28563-1129
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Tracking Number: NOV-2021-LV-0789
Permit No—N00025348 --
New New Bern WWTP
Craven County
Dear Mr. Stephens:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
October 26, 2021
A review of the April 2021 Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) for the subjectfacility revealed the violation(s)
indicated below:
Limit Exceedance•Violation(s):
Sample
Location Parameter Date Value Value Type of Violation
Limit. Reported
002 Effluent Nitrogen, Ammonia Total (as 4/17/2021 3 4.64 Weekly Average Exceeded
N) - Concentration (C0610)
002 Effluent Nitrogen, Ammonia Total (as 4/30/2021 1 1.49 Monthly Average Exceeded
N) - Concentration (C0610)
A Response is due in 10 days delineating the cause of the violation and what will be done in the future to. prevent
future violations of this nature. Remedial actions, if not already implemented, should be taken to correct any noted
problems. The Division of Water Resources may pursue enforcement actions for this and any additional violations.
If the violations are of a continuing nature, not related to operation and/or maintenance problems, and you
anticipate remedial construction activities, then you may wish to consider applying for a Special Order by Consent
(SOC). If you have any questions concerningthis matter or to apply for an SOC, please contact Paul Mays of the
Washington Regional Office at 252-948-3940.or via email at paul.mays©ncdenr.gov.
Cc: Laserfiche
DECK
Sincerely,
Robert Tankards Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Washington Regional Office -
Division,of Water Resources, NCDEQ
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