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Home My WebLink AboutNC0025909_Staff Report_20220127State of North Carolina Division of Water Resources Water Quality Regional Operations Section Staff Report FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 1 of 6 January 27, 2022 To: NPDES Unit Non-Discharge Unit Application No.: NC0025909 Attn: Not Assigned as of 1/25/2022 Facility name: Rutherfordton WWTP From: Mikal Willmer Asheville Regional Office Note: This form has been adapted from the non-discharge facility staff report to document the review of both non- discharge and NPDES permit applications and/or renewals. Please complete all sections as they are applicable. I. GENERAL AND SITE VISIT INFORMATION 1. Was a site visit conducted? Yes or No a. Date of site visit: November 24, 2021 b. Site visit conducted by: Mikal Willmer & Stephanie Williams c. Inspection report attached? Yes or No In LF d. Person contacted: Phillip Reynolds and their contact information: 828-289-8505 ext. e. Driving directions: From Swannanoa take exit 84 off I-40 W and turn right onto US-221 S. Stay on US- 221 S for approximately 22 miles and turn left onto the road immediately before the traffic light at Thunder Rd. & US-221. The WWTP office building will be approximately 0.5 miles on the left. 2. Discharge Point(s): Outfall location needs to be updated in BIMS to coordinates below. Latitude: 35.340780 Longitude: -81.960328 Latitude: Longitude: 3. Receiving stream or affected surface waters: Cleghorn Creek Classification: C River Basin and Subbasin No. Broad River Basin, Subbasin: Upper Broad 03050105 Describe receiving stream features and pertinent downstream uses: Small urbanized stream. WWTP discharges into section downstream of confluence with Stonecutter Creek. Cleghorn turns into a WS- IV stream approximately 2.5 river miles downstream II. PROPOSED FACILITIES: NEW APPLICATIONS 1. Facility Classification: (Please attach completed rating sheet to be attached to issued permit) Proposed flow: Current permitted flow: 2. Are the new treatment facilities adequate for the type of waste and disposal system? Yes or No If no, explain: 3. Are site conditions (soils, depth to water table, etc) consistent with the submitted reports? Yes No N/A If no, please explain: DocuSign Envelope ID: 481E78D0-3D18-45EB-B651-E786E318A8E7 FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 2 of 6 4. Do the plans and site map represent the actual site (property lines, wells, etc.)? Yes No N/A If no, please explain: 5. Is the proposed residuals management plan adequate? Yes No N/A If no, please explain: 6. Are the proposed application rates (e.g., hydraulic, nutrient) acceptable? Yes No N/A If no, please explain: 7. Are there any setback conflicts for proposed treatment, storage and disposal sites? Yes or No If yes, attach a map showing conflict areas. 8. Is the proposed or existing groundwater monitoring program adequate? Yes No N/A If no, explain and recommend any changes to the groundwater monitoring program: 9. For residuals, will seasonal or other restrictions be required? Yes No N/A If yes, attach list of sites with restrictions (Certification B) Describe the residuals handling and utilization scheme: 10. Possible toxic impacts to surface waters: 11. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only): III. EXISTING FACILITIES: MODIFICATION AND RENEWAL APPLICATIONS 1. Are there appropriately certified Operators in Charge (ORCs) for the facility? Yes No N/A ORC: Phillip Reynolds Certificate #:999439 (WW-4) Backup ORC: Nadine Blackwell & Roy Deckard Certificate #:987838 (WW-4) & 1000813 (WW-3) 2. Are the design, maintenance and operation of the treatment facilities adequate for the type of waste and disposal system? Yes or No If no, please explain: Description of existing facilities: EQ Basin, Headworks consisting of a Screw Auger rated for 1.5 MGD with manual bypass screen, Three aeration basins, Two circular clarifiers, dual chlorine contact basins with liquid chlorine disinfection and liquid dechlor. And one 450,000-gallon aerobic digester with loading station. Proposed flow: Current permitted flow: 1 MGD with second flow tier of 3 MGD Explain anything observed during the site visit that needs to be addressed by the permit, or that may be important for the permit writer to know (i.e., equipment condition, function, maintenance, a change in facility ownership, etc 3. Are the site conditions (e.g., soils, topography, depth to water table, etc) maintained appropriately and adequately assimilating the waste? Yes or No NA If no, please explain: 4. Has the site changed in any way that may affect the permit (e.g., drainage added, new wells inside the compliance boundary, new development, etc.)? Yes or No If yes, please explain: 5. Is the residuals management plan adequate? Yes or No If no, please explain: Rutherfordton has a Class B permit (currently in renewal) WQ0032855 and are a permitted residuals source under US Biosolids permit WQ0037135 6. Are the existing application rates (e.g., hydraulic, nutrient) still acceptable? Yes or No NA If no, please explain: 7. Is the existing groundwater monitoring program adequate? Yes No N/A If no, explain and recommend any changes to the groundwater monitoring program: 8. Are there any setback conflicts for existing treatment, storage and disposal sites? Yes or No If yes, attach a map showing conflict areas. DocuSign Envelope ID: 481E78D0-3D18-45EB-B651-E786E318A8E7 FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 3 of 6 9. Is the description of the facilities as written in the existing permit correct? Yes or No If no, please explain: The facility does not have a separate grit removal system. The plant utilizes a 1.5 MGD mechanical screw auger. 10. Were monitoring wells properly constructed and located? Yes No N/A If no, please explain: DocuSign Envelope ID: 481E78D0-3D18-45EB-B651-E786E318A8E7 FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 4 of 6 11. Are the monitoring well coordinates correct in BIMS? Yes No N/A If no, please complete the following (expand table if necessary): Monitoring Well Latitude Longitude ○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″ ○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″ ○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″ ○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″ ○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″ 12. Has a review of all self-monitoring data been conducted (e.g., DMR, NDMR, NDAR, GW)? Yes or No Please summarize any findings resulting from this review: Facility has not had recurring limit exceedances. The WWTP did have two bypasses during heavy rain events in 2020, but the ORC reports this has not been an issue recently. Provide input to help the permit writer evaluate any requests for reduced monitoring, if applicable. 13. Are there any permit changes needed in order to address ongoing BIMS violations? Yes or No If yes, please explain: 14. Check all that apply: No compliance issues Current enforcement action(s) Currently under JOC Notice(s) of violation Currently under SOC Currently under moratorium Please explain and attach any documents that may help clarify answer/comments (i.e., NOV, NOD, etc.) If the facility has had compliance problems during the permit cycle, please explain the status. Has the RO been working with the Permittee? Is a solution underway or in place? Have all compliance dates/conditions in the existing permit been satisfied? Yes No N/A If no, please explain: 15. Are there any issues related to compliance/enforcement that should be resolved before issuing this permit? Yes No N/A If yes, please explain: 16. Possible toxic impacts to surface waters: 17. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only): One CIU; however, the industry is no longer discharging to the collection system. All process wastewater is currently evaporated onsite. Industry wishes to retain their IUP should the evaporation system need to be taken offline or process flows increase. DocuSign Envelope ID: 481E78D0-3D18-45EB-B651-E786E318A8E7 FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 5 of 6 IV. REGIONAL OFFICE RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Do you foresee any problems with issuance/renewal of this permit? Yes or No If yes, please explain: 2. List any items that you would like the NPDES Unit or Non-Discharge Unit Central Office to obtain through an additional information request: Item Reason 3. List specific permit conditions recommended to be removed from the permit when issued: Condition Reason 4. List specific special conditions or compliance schedules recommended to be included in the permit when issued: Condition Reason 5. Recommendation: Hold, pending receipt and review of additional information by regional office Hold, pending review of draft permit by regional office Issue upon receipt of needed additional information Issue Deny (Please state reasons: ) 6. Signature of report preparer: Signature of regional supervisor: Date: DocuSign Envelope ID: 481E78D0-3D18-45EB-B651-E786E318A8E7 1/27/2022 FORM: WQROSSR 04-14 Page 6 of 6 V. ADDITIONAL REGIONAL STAFF REVIEW ITEMS Facility averaged 0.54 MGD of flow in 2021. Next flow tier is not triggered until an annual average flow of 0.8 MGD. The headworks is undersized for the next flow tier. Facility staff reported the Town has plans to upgrade the headworks to accommodate higher flows. DocuSign Envelope ID: 481E78D0-3D18-45EB-B651-E786E318A8E7