NC0077992_Draft Permit_20211207

ROY COOPER
Governor =`r .�
ELIZABETH BISER ;.
Secretary c-' �y
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
December 7, 2021
Mr. Clint Berry,Utilities Director
Hyde County Water System
P.O.Box 66
Swan Quarter,NC 27885
Subject: Review of Draft Permit-NPDES NC0077992
Ponzer WTP,Physical/Chemical WPCS Grade PCNC
4595 NC Hwy 45, Pantego,
Hyde County
Mr.Berry:
The Division of Water Resources(DWR or the Division)acknowledges your application to renew the
subject permit,EPA Forms 1 and 2E,received on August 16,2021.Please review carefully the attached
renewal draft to ensure your understanding of its limits and monitoring conditions,and to correct errors,if
any.
Concurrent with this notification,the Division will solicit public comment on this draft by publishing a
notice in newspapers having circulation in the general Hyde County area,as required by the NPDES
Program.Please submit your written comments(if any)to the undersigned,NCDEQ/DWR/NPDES no
later than January 10,2022(approximately 30 days after receiving this document).We welcome your
written comments,but they are not mandatory.
The Division understands that Hyde County Water System,Ponzer WTP(HCWS Ponzer)has made no
significant alterations to its treatment systems or processes since last renewal.Based on monitoring data
review and your application,DWR has made the following changes to your permit.
1. Per DWR permitting guidance,we have discontinued monitoring and limits for
Total Fluoride because its analytical database does not show reasonable potential
to exceed the surface water-quality standard.
2. We note with concern that to date,HCWS Ponzer has not responded to the
previous permit Special Condition,Schedule of Compliance for Chloride.DWR
has therefore renewed this special condition[see permit Section A. (5)].
3. This renewal defines a shortened permit cycle expiring on November 30,2024(in
compliance with Basin Planning).Please recognize that Section A. (5)has revised
tasks and new deadlines.
4. We have updated relevant statutes for Sections including system classification as
WPCS physical/chemical PCNC [see header, Section A. (1.)].
5. We have updated your site map and text for Acute WET testing [Section A.(2.)].
6. We have updated text for electronic reporting requirements [Section A. (6.)].
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 11617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617—919.707.3616

Clint Berry,Utilities Director
Renewal-Draft Permit Review
Dec2021
Page 2
Monthly Report Submittals: Our records show that HCWS Ponzer has registered for e-reporting.
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all program reports and Monthly Discharge
Monitoring Reports(DMRs); see Permit Condition A. (6.).Please do not continue to submit DMR
hardcopy as back-up to the eDMR.
NPDES standard conditions(Parts II,III,and IV),are part of this permit but are not included in this draft
document(cover,map, and Part I). Standard conditions are identical to your current permit except that
agency and division names have been updated.The latest version of Parts II,III,and IV are available
at https://bit.ly/2BZ4xxx and can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF file.
Following the mandatory 45-day Public Comment period,the Division will review all pertinent comments,
if any,and take appropriate action prior to issuing an NPDES permit fmal.
If you have questions,please email the undersigned at [ioe.corporonC ncdenr.gov]. In support of mandated
emergency response to Covid 19,most of NC state government currently functions remotely,therefore
correspondence via email is preferred.
Respectfully,
Joe .Corpor ,P.G.
D/ /DWR/ DES ermitting
Enclosure:NPDES Permit NC0077992 (renewal draft)
ec: DWR/NPDES Program Files Laserfiche
DWR/OCU,Maureen Kinney
DWR/WaRO,Robert Tankard
DSR/ATB,Zack Thomas

NPDES Permit NC0077992
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
(NPDES)
In compliance with the provisions of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1, other lawful standards
and regulations promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina Environmental Management
Commission, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, the
Hyde County Water System
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Ponzer Water Treatment Plant (WTP)
4595 NC Hwy 45, Pantego 27860
Hyde County
to receiving waters designated as an unnamed tributary to Pungo Lake Canal in the Tar-Pamlico River
Basin, in accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth
in Parts I, II, III and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective , 2022.
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on November 30, 2024
Signed this day , 2022.
for S. Daniel Smith, Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0077992
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge are hereby
revoked. As of this permit issuance, any previously issued permit bearing this number is no longer
effective. Therefore, the exclusive authority to operate and discharge from this facility arises under the
permit conditions, requirements, terms, and provisions included herein.
Hyde County Water System
is hereby authorized to:
1. continue to operate a reverse osmosis (RO) technology water treatment plant discharging RO reject
water, a treatment system with a design flowrate for potable water 0.274 MGD and a maximum,
monthly average wastewater discharge of 0.226 MGD;
these facilities located at Hyde County's Ponzer WTP, 4595 NC Hwy 45, Pantego, Hyde County,
and,
2. discharge from said treatment works via Outfall 001, at the location specified on the attached map,
into an unnamed tributary to Pungo Lake Canal [stream segment 29-34-3], a waterbody currently
classified C; Sw,NSW located within hydrological unit 03-03-07 [HUC: 030201040403] of the
Tar-Pamlico River Basin.
Page 2 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0077992
PART I
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq.,02B .0500 et seq.; 15A NCAC 08G .0302];Physical/Chemical WPCS Grade PCNC
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the
Permittee is authorized to discharge RO reject water from outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited,
monitored and reported' by the Permittee as specified below: 1
EFFLUENT LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS1
CHARACTERISTIC Monthly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
[PARAMETER CODES] Average Maximum Frequency Type Location
Flow(MGD) 50050 Continuous Recording Effluent
pH (standard units) 00400 Not<6.8 or>8.5 s.u. 2/Month Grab Effluent
Turbidity(NTU)2 00070 50 NTU 50 NTU 2/Month Grab Effluent
Total Chloride(mg/1)3 00940 230 mg/13 230 mg/13 Monthly Grab Effluent
Dissolved Oxygen(mg/L) 00300 Monthly Grab Effluent
Salinity(ppth) 00480 Monthly Grab Effluent
Conductivity(µmhos/cm) 00094 Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Dissolved Solids(TDS)(mg/1) 70295 Monthly Grab Effluent
Ammonia Nitrogen(mg/1) C0610 Monthly Grab Effluent
4
TKN (mg/1) 00625 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
NO3-N+NO2-N 4 (mg/1) 00630 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
TN 4 (mg/1) C0600 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Phosphorus(mg/1) C0665 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Acute WET Testing 5 TGE6C Quarterly Grab Effluent
Footnotes:
1. Beginning on the effective date Discharge Monitoring Reports shall be submitted electronically using
NC DWR's eDMR application system [See Condition A. (6.)].
2. Turbidity—Effluent turbidity shall not cause the receiving-stream turbidity to exceed 50 NTU. If
background turbidity naturally exceeds 50 NTU,the effluent shall not cause background turbidity to
increase. [NCAC 02B. 0211(21)].
3. Compliance with this limit shall commence on November 1,2024, approximately 33 months from the
permit effective date. See Schedule of Compliance for Chloride [section A. (5.)].
4. For a given wastewater sample,TN=TKN+NO3-N+NO2-N,where TN is Total Nitrogen, TKN is
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, and NO3-N and NO2-N are Nitrate and Nitrite Nitrogen,respectively.
5. Whole Effluent Toxicity(WET)testing -Acute Fathead Minnow(Pimephales promelas) 24-hour
static test at 90% effluent concentration, during the calendar months of January,April,July,and
October [See section A. (2.)].
6. Additional conditions apply to this permit [see sections A. (3.) and A. (4.)].
Page 3 of 8

•
NPDES Permit NC0077992
Conditions:
• Effluent samples shall be taken down stream of all treatment components but prior to mixing
with the receiving waters.
• The Permittee shall discharge no floating solids or foam visible in other than trace amounts.
A. (2.) ACUTE TOXICITY 24-Hour PASS/FAIL MONITORING (QUARTERLY)
[15A NCAC 02B .0500 et seq.]
The permittee shall conduct acute toxicity tests on a Quarterly basis using protocols defined in the
North Carolina Procedure Document entitled"Pass/Fail Methodology For Determining Acute Toxicity
In A Single Effluent Concentration"(Revised-December 2010, or subsequent versions). The
monitoring shall be performed as a Fathead Minnow(Pimephales promelas) 24-hour static test. The
effluent concentration at which there may be at no time significant acute mortality is 90 % (defined
as treatment two in the procedure document). The tests will be performed during the months of
March,June, September, and December.These months signify the first month of each three-month
toxicity testing quarter assigned to the facility. Effluent sampling for this testing must be obtained
during representative effluent discharge and shall be performed at the NPDES permitted final effluent
discharge below all treatment processes.
The parameter code for Pimephales promelas is TGE6C. All toxicity testing results required as part of
this permit condition will be entered electronically using the Division's eDMR system for the month in
which it was performed, using the appropriate parameter code. Additionally, DWR Form AT-2
(original)is to be sent to the following address:
North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,NC 27699-1621
Or, results can be sent to the email,ATForms.ATB@a,ncdenr.gov.
Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Water Sciences Section no later than 30
days after the end of the reporting period for which the report is made.
Test data shall be complete, accurate, include all supporting chemical/physical measurements and all
concentration/response data, and be certified by laboratory supervisor and ORC or approved designate
signature.
Total residual chlorine of the effluent toxicity sample must be measured and reported if chlorine is
employed for disinfection of the waste stream.
Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during any month, the permittee will complete
the information located at the top of the aquatic toxicity(AT)test form indicating the facility name,
permit number,pipe number, county, and the month/year of the report with the notation of"No Flow"
in the comment area of the form. The report shall be submitted to the Water Sciences Section at the
address cited above.
Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required, then
monthly monitoring will begin immediately. Upon submission of a valid test,this monthly test
requirement will revert to quarterly in the months specified above.
Page 4 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0077992
Should any test data from either these monitoring requirements or tests performed by the North
Carolina Division of Water Resources indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream, this
permit may be re-opened and modified to include alternate monitoring requirements or limits.
NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as minimum
control organism survival and appropriate environmental controls, shall constitute an invalid test
and will require immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later than the last day of the
month following the month of the initial monitoring.
A. (3.) PERMIT RE-OPENER: WHOLE EFFLUENT TOXICITY
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
Whole Effluent Toxicity monitoring results indicating aquatic toxicity may result in the Division of
Water Resources re-opening this permit or requesting by letter that further action be taken. Additional
metals testing, a toxicity identification evaluation, a toxicity reduction evaluation, and/or an
assessment of discharge treatment alternatives may be requested.
A. (4.) PERMIT RE-OPENER: NUTRIENT REDUCTION REQUIREMENT
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
Discharges to the Tar-Pamlico River are subject to the requirements,terms and conditions of the Tar-
Pamlico Nutrient Sensitives Waters (NSW) Implementation Strategy: Phase III adopted April 14,
2005.Non-members of the Tar-Pamlico Association will maintain or receive permit effluent limits for
Total Nitrogen and for Total Phosphorus concentrations as defined in the Strategy. Any revisions to the
Strategy during the life of this permit are applicable.
If requirements other than those listed in this permit are adopted as part of a revision to the Basin
Strategy,the Division reserves the right to reopen this permit and include those requirements.
If requirements other than those listed in this permit are adopted to prevent localized adverse impacts
to water quality, the Division reserves the right to reopen this permit and include those requirements.
A. (5.) SCHEDULE OF COMPLIANCE for Total Chloride
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
1. Within one(1)year of the permit effective date(by February 2023)the Permittee shall submit
for approval to the Division of Water Resources a Corrective Action Plan(CAP)
summarizing actions to be taken to achieve compliance with the Total Chloride limits. The
CAP shall include a schedule of activities to implement the plan.
2. Within two (2)years of the permit effective date(by February 2024) submit a report to the
Division summarizing actions taken in accordance with the approved CAP.
3. Within three(3) years of permit expiration(by November 30,2024) achieve compliance with
Total Chloride limits as specified in Sections A. (1.).
Upon the Division's approval of the Corrective Action Plan, all reports and actions become an
enforceable part of this permit. Should the Permittee desire to modify CAP deadlines, a written request
to the Division shall be submitted at minimum sixty(60)days prior to the deadline. Modifications to
the schedule in excess of three(3)months will be subject to public notice.
Page 5 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0077992
A. (6.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF MONITORING REPORTS
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports(DMRs)and program
reports.The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted and became effective on December 21, 2015.
NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part II of this permit
(Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits):
• Section B.(11.) Signatory Requirements
• Section D. (2.) Reporting
• Section D.(6.) Records Retention
• Section E. (5.) Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements [Supersedes Section D.(2.)and Section E.(5.)(a)1
The permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's Electronic
Discharge Monitoring Report(eDMR)intemet application:
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and
submitted electronically using eDMR. The eDMR system allows permitted facilities to enter monitoring
data and submit DMRs electronically using the interne. Until such time that the state's eDMR application
is compliant with EPA's Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Regulation(CROMERR),permittees will be
required to submit all discharge monitoring data to the state electronically using eDMR and will be required
to complete the eDMR submission by printing, signing, and submitting one signed original and a copy of the
computer printed eDMR to the following address:
NC DEQ/Division of Water Resources/Water Quality Permitting Section
ATTENTION: Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
If a permittee is unable to use the eDMR system due to a demonstrated hardship or due to the facility being
physically located in an area where less than 10 percent of the households have broadband access,then a
temporary waiver from the NPDES electronic reporting requirements may be granted and discharge
monitoring data may be submitted on paper DMR forms(MR 1, 1.1,2, 3)or alternative forms approved by
the Director. Duplicate signed copies shall be submitted to the mailing address above. See"How to
Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting"section below.
Regardless of the submission method,the first DMR is due on the last day of the month following the
issuance of the permit or in the case of a new facility,on the last day of the month following the
commencement of discharge.
Starting on December 21,2020,the permittee must electronically report the following compliance
monitoring data and reports,when applicable:
• Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports;
• Pretreatment Program Annual Reports;and
• Clean Water Act(CWA) Section 316(b)Annual Reports.
The permittee may seek an electronic reporting waiver from the Division(see"How to Request a Waiver
from Electronic Reporting"section below).
2. Electronic Submissions
Page 6 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0077992
In accordance with 40 CFR 122.41(1)(9),the permittee must identify the initial recipient at the time of each
electronic submission. The permittee should use the EPA's website resources to identify the initial recipient
for the electronic submission.
Initial recipient of electronic NPDES information from NPDES-regulated facilities means the entity(EPA or
P �
the state authorized by EPA to implement the NPDES program)that is the designated entity for receiving
electronic NPDES data [see 40 CFR 127.2(b)].
EPA plans to establish a website that will also link to the appropriate electronic reporting tool for each type
of electronic submission and for each state. Instructions on how to access and use the appropriate electronic
reporting tool will be available as well. Information on EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule is found
at: http://www2.epa.gov/compliance/fmal-national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-npdes-
electronic-reporting-rule.
Electronic submissions must start by the dates listed in the"Reporting Requirements"section above.
3. How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting
The permittee may seek a temporary electronic reporting waiver from the Division. To obtain an electronic
reporting waiver,a permittee must first submit an electronic reporting waiver request to the Division.
Requests for temporary electronic reporting waivers must be submitted in writing to the Division for written
approval at least sixty(60)days prior to the date the facility would be required under this permit to begin
submitting monitoring data and reports. The duration of a temporary waiver shall not exceed 5 years and
shall thereupon expire. At such time,monitoring data and reports shall be submitted electronically to the
Division unless the permittee re-applies for and is granted a new temporary electronic reporting waiver by
the Division. Approved electronic reporting waivers are not transferrable. Only permittees with an
approved reporting waiver request may submit monitoring data and reports on paper to the Division for the
period that the approved reporting waiver request is effective.
Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on the
following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B.(11.) (d)I
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person described in Part II,
Section B.(11.)(a)or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part II, Section B.
(11.)(b). A person,and not a position,must be delegated signatory authority for eDMR reporting purposes.
For eDMR submissions,the person signing and submitting the DMR must obtain an eDMR user account
and login credentials to access the eDMR system. For more information on North Carolina's eDMR
system,registering for eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account,please visit the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
Certification. Any person submitting an electronic DMR using the state's eDMR system shall make the
following certification [40 CFR 122.22]. NO OTHER STATEMENTS OF CERTIFICATION WILL BE
ACCEPTED:
"I certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or
supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and
evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system,
or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best
Page 7 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0077992
of my knowledge and belief true, accurate, and complete.I am aware that there are significant penalties for
submitting false information, including the possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations."
5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D.(6.)1
The permittee shall retain records of all Discharge Monitoring Reports, including eDMR submissions.
These records or copies shall be maintained for a period of at least 3 years from the date of the report. This
period may be extended by request of the Director at any time [40 CFR 122.41].
I
Page 8 of 8

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Hyde County Water System - Ponzer WTP N , _
..,
NPDES Permit NC0077992
4595 NC Hwy 45, Pantego, NC 27860
.
Receiving Stream: UT to Pungo Lake Canal
Stream Segment:29-34-3 Stream Class: C;Sw,NSW 35.622611°N, -76.560889° W.
River Basin:Tar-Pamlico Sub-Basin#: 03-03-07 SCALE NC Grid: E32SE
County: Hyde HUC: 030201040403 1:24,000 USGS Quad: Belhaven,NC