nc0039331_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20220103

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
Chris D. Blice, Chief Operations Officer
Chatham County Schools
PO BOX 128
Pittsboro, NC 27312
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
January Yd, 2022
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
NPDES Permit NCO039331
Facility Name: Bonlee Elementary School
Chatham County
Dear Mr. Blice:
On December 17, 2021, Josh Brigham of the Raleigh Regional Office conducted a compliance evaluation
inspection of the treatment facilities located at Bonlee Elementary School. The purpose of this inspection
was to ensure compliance with the subject NPDES permit. During the inspection, the guidance of John
Poteat was greatly appreciated.
Bonlee Elementary School is located at 153 Bonlee School Road in Bonlee, North Carolina in Chatham
County. The subject facility is covered under NPDES permit NCO039331. The subject facility is
permitted to discharge wastewater into an unnamed tributary (UT) to Bear Creek, which is classified as
Class C waters in the Cape Fear River Basin.
This NPDES compliance evaluation inspection consisted of the following:
• Review of the NPDES permit;
• Review of the owner/facility information;
• On -site review of records and logs;
• On -site inspection of the wastewater treatment units; and
• Inspection of the discharge.
D. Q� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
z - d-ARaleigh Regional Office 13800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
noFmn
v+ " -V 919.791.4200

Findings during the pre -inspection file review were as follows:
1. The current NPDES permit was issued effective April 1, 2017. The current permit expired October
31, 2021. Division records indicate that a permit renewal application was received on October 25,
2021.
2. A review'of Division records revealed that there are no overdue annual permit fees.
3. A review of the facility's DMR violation report since 2018 indicated the facility has had limit
violations for BOD, Fecal Coliform, Ammonia, and TSS. There have also been monitoring violations
for BOD, Fecal Coliform, Ammonia, TSS, and Temperature. There have also been two reporting
violations. These violations have been addressed through separate correspondence.
4. The subject facility is classified as a Grade I Wastewater (WW-1). The designated Operator in
Responsible Charge (ORC), John Poteat, and Backup ORC, Adam Pickett, are certified at WW-4 and
WW-2 respectively.
Findings during the inspection were as follows:
5. A review of onsite records was performed. DMRs and lab data are kept on site and no discrepancies
were found after a cursory check of the August and September 2021 DMRs. Chain of custody forms
were complete. The operators log was current and detailed.
6. Field parameters (pH, temperature, DO) are measured by the operator. All other parameters are
measured by Meritech.
7. The facility treats wastewater utilizing the following treatment units: septic tank; 2 pump tanks; 2
micron filters; 4 pressure gauges; 2 recirculation tanks; 2 recirculating sand filters; flow meter;
distribution box; and UV disinfection system. The observed treatment units were as described in the
NPDES permit.
8. The high-water alarms within the effluent pump tanks were tested during the inspection. The audible
alarm functioned when the floats were raised to create a false high-water level, but the visual alarm
did not function. The ORC indicated the bulb needed to be replaced. Please ensure the light bulb is
replaced.
9. The high-water alarms within the recirculating tanks were tested during the inspection. The audible
alarm functioned when the floats were raised to create a false high-water level, but the visual alarm
did not function. The ORC indicated the light bulb needed to be replaced and later sent in a picture of
it functioning.
10. The inspector observed that both of the re -circulating sand filters were free of ponding, algae and
excessive vegetation.
11. The ORC collects grab samples from a spigot that has been piped to collect treated effluent.
12. The effluent pipe was not discharging at the time of inspection and the stream was clear and free of
any solids.
If you have questions concerning this report please contact Josh Brigham at 919-791-4251 or
j oshua.brigham(cr�,ncdenr. gov.
Sincerely,
Vanessa E. Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
ATTACHNMNTs: EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report
Cc: RRO Files
Laserfiche
qEQ5 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
ig Raleigh Regional Office 13800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
/"� 919.791.4200

United States Environmental Protection Agency
Form Approved.
EPA Washington, D.C.20460
OMB No. 2040-0057
Water Compliance Inspection Report
Approval expires 8-31-98
Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS)
Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type
1 IN I 2 15 I 3 I NCO039331 I11 121 21/12/17 I17 18LCJ 191 S I 201
21111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 P6
Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ------------- -------- Reserved ------------------
67 70LI 71 I 72 ti i 73L_LJ74 71 I I I I I I I80
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
Entry Time/Date
Permit Effective Date
POTW name and NPDES permit Number)
08:30AM 21/12/17
17/04/01
Bonlee Elementary School
152 Bonlee School Rd
Exit Time/Date
Permit Expiration Date
Bear Creek NC 27207
09:30AM 21/12/17
21/10/31
Name(s) of Onsite Representative (s)Mtles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
Other Facility Data
///
John Thomas Poteat/ORC/919-412-7554/
Name, Address of Responsible Official/T-itle/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Chris D Blice,Chatham County Schools Pittsboro NC 27312//919-542-3626/
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit E Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports
Self -Monitoring Progran E Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Wate Laboratory
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
(See attachment summary)
Name(s) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
Joshua S Brigham DWR/RRO WQ/919-791-4200/
,G? "') _._ I l 41 z o Z-4
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
Page#

NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type 1
31 NCO039331 I11 1 21/12/17 17 181„,
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
See attached inspection report.
Page# 2

Permit: N00039331 Owner -Facility: Bon lee Elementary School
Inspection Date: 12/17/2021 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Permit
Yes No
NA NE
(If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new
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application?
Is the facility as described in the permit?
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# Are there any special conditions for the permit?
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Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public?
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Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection?
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Comment:
Record Keeping
Yes No
NA NE
Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit?
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Is all required information readily available, complete and current?
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Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)?
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Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs?
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Is the chain -of -custody complete?
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Dates, times and location of sampling
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Name of individual performing the sampling
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Results of analysis and calibration
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Dates of analysis
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Name of person performing analyses
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Transported COCs
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Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters?
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Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ?
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(If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified
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operator on each shift?
Is the ORC visitation log available and current?
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Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification?
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Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility
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classification?
Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site?
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Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review?
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Comment:
Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE
Page# 3

Permit: NCO039331 Owner - Facility: Bonlee Elementary School
Inspection Date: 12/17/2021 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
and sampling location)?
Comment: No upstream flow.
Effluent Sampling
Yes
No
NA NE
Is composite sampling flow proportional?
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0
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Is sample collected below all treatment units?
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Is proper volume collected?
0
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Is the tubing clean?
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0
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# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0
N
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degrees Celsius)?
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type
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representative)?
Comment: Grab samples stored on ice.
Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE
Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable?
Comment:
Laboratory
Yes
No
NA NE
Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory?
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Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab?
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# Is the facility using a contract lab?
0
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# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0
0
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degrees Celsius)?
Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees?
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Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees?
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Comment: PH, DO and temp measured by ORC. Other parameters measured by Meritech
Septic Tank
Yes
No
NA NE
(If pumps are used) Is an audible and visual alarm operational?
❑
N
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Is septic tank pumped on a schedule?
0
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Are pumps or syphons operating properly?
0
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Page# 4

Permit: NCO039331 Owner - Facility: Bonlee Elementary School
Inspection Date: 12/17/2021 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Septic Tank Yes No NA NE
Are high and low water alarms operating properly? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment: Visual alarm did not function.
Sand Filters (Low rate)
Yes
No NA NE
(If pumps are used) Is an audible and visible alarm Present and operational?
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0
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Is the distribution box level and watertight?
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Is sand filter free of ponding?
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Is the sand filter effluent re -circulated at a valid ratio?
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# Is the sand filter surface free of algae or excessive vegetation?
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# Is the sand filter effluent re -circulated at a valid ratio? (Approximately 3 to 1)
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Comment:
Disinfection - UV
Yes
No
NA NE
Are extra UV bulbs available on site?
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Are UV bulbs clean?
0
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Is UV intensity adequate?
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Is transmittance at or above designed level?
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Is there a backup system on site?
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0
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Is effluent clear and free of solids?
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Comment: Bulbs are cleaned weekl
Flow Measurement - Effluent
Yes
No NA NE
# Is flow meter used for reporting?
0
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Is flow meter calibrated annually?
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Is the flow meter operational?
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(If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter?
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0
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Comment: In -line house flow meter. ORC stated that it will be replaced in the next
year.
Effluent Pipe
Yes
No
NA NE
Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained?
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Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris?
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If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly?
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Comment: No discharge observed
Page# 5

Permit: NC0039331 Owner - Facility: Bonlee Elementary School
Inspection Date: 12/17/2021 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Effluent Pipe
Yes No NA NE
Page#