WQ0000185_NOV-2021-LV-0779 and 0800 Response_20211107

Currituck County
Wastewater Department
Rod Holley, Wastewater Superintendent
November 5, 2021
Subject: Notice of Violation Response
Tracking No. NOV-NOI-2021-LV-0779
Tracking No. NOV-NOI-2021-LV-0800
Permit No. WQ0000185 Ocean Sands WWTP
Mr. Tankard:
444 Maple Rd.
Maple NC 27956
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
In response to NOV-NOI-2021-LV-0779 and NOV-NOI-2021-LV-0800 Notice of Violation & Intent
to Assess Civil Penalty, the County has moved forward with approving purchase orders to initiate the
necessary repairs to the Ocean Sands WWTP. The concentrations for BOD, TSS and Ammonia have
been elevated due to the inability to backwash and solids being held throughout the plant and could not
be remove as designed. I have purchased submersible sewage pumps for temporary use while working
to clean up the main reactors, secondary clarifiers, plus reactors as well as contacting. We have
forwarded the Purchase Order confirmation to Basnight Construction to begin the necessary repairs and
waited for a schedule response but have yet to receive a proposed start date. I have contacted other
Contractors who are showing up the week of 11/8 - 11/12 to go over repair costs and scheduling. Tri-
State Utilities has been contacted and arriving to contract for plant cleaning. Suburban Electric will be
arriving this week to go through the plant, troubleshooting and repairing electrical issues found and
relaying their findings to speed up plant recovery and reduce downtime. The plant ORC did not verify all
samples were pulled based on permit requirements for TDS and Chloride resulting in missed samples for
the month of July. I have communicated to the Operators to verify all sample bottles are in each kit for
what needs to be pulled each time and notified Environmental Chemists to check for proper sample kits
as we are all human and make mistakes if rushed.
No update from Chad Smalley with 419 Group in figuring out the electrical panel issue or
installing a separate main control panel at the FEQ tank to allow controls to be removed from the Phase I
control building. As stated previously this is to isolate the power controlling the FEQ pumps and install a
high-level alarm to alert the Operators as well as ease of troubleshooting if the FEQ tanks have issues
unrelated to PLC controls.
Rob Shelden with Pete Duty & Associates has located and working on shipping the more efficient
pumps based on plant specs and desired flow rate. All P.O.'s has been approved and sent for pump
orders as well as funds available for work to commence.
If it is at all possible, please reconsider the penalty assessment as it would benefit the plant more
to utilize those funds in acquiring the necessary equipment, material, and contractors to get the plant
back to a compliant status. Please contact me if you have any questions, concerns or need additional
information.
Thank You,

Rod Holley
Wastewater Superintendent Trainee
Rod. Holley©currituckcountync.gov
Recv'd 11/1/21