NC0005321_Technical Assistance_20010829

ATA
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Michael F. Easley, Governor
Bryan Laney, Environmental Engineer
Buckeye Lumberton, Inc.
P.O. 1305
Lumberton, N.C. 28359
August 29, 2001
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D.
Acting Director
Division of Water Quality
J
Subject: Technical Assistance's
Buckeye Lumberton; Inc.
NPDES Permit No. NC0005321
Robeson County
Dear Mr. Laney,
Thank you for meeting with Kitty Kramer and myself to discuss your May 2001 BOD limit
violation. The tour of your facility, given by Mr.Ron Radford and yourself, was most
informative.
The spreadsheets that you are keeping to track the performance of the. different treatment plant
processes are verygood, but it will only be beneficial if the data usedjis current real time and not
estimated (such as the waste sludge concentration). I recommend that you use a constant
MCRT, such as 20 days, and solve for the amount to waste each day, which will vary. This will
allow the aeration basin miss (mixed liquor suspended solids) to seektit's own level or
concentration, instead of it being predetermined. A good indicator of the proper MCRT, is the
amount of ammonia nitrogen present in the clarifier effluent. The ammonia nitrogen figure is
normally less than 0.5 mg/1 and when it increases dramatically up to 3-4 mg/1 it -is a signal that
the MCRT should be increased, which as a resultwill decrease the wsting. This will always
keep your wastewater treatment process on the cutting edge of it's most efficient means of BOD
removal. The spreadsheet for August shows a targeted MCRT of 8 dys, which typically
appears to be too low for nitrification. Since you are not wasting on the weekend, it maybe a
good idea to calculate a moving average for the MCRT, in order to have a more representative
number.
Fayetteville Regional -Office
225 Green Street— Suite 714, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-5043
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone] Internet: www.enr.state.nc.us/ENR
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Page 2
Buckeye Lumberton, Inc.
August 29, 2001
Another process enhancer that you may consider, would be to add polymer to the influent of the
primary clarifier. This can possibly remove color and additional solids, further reducing the load
to the aeration basin and thickening the primary sludge that is pumped to the beltpress for
dewatering. If BOD loading is reduced from the aeration basin, the primary clarifier polymer
usage may be offset by the reduced solids production in the aeration basin. It would be
interesting to have your polymer representative run a series of jar tests to see if this would be
practical and cost effective to try on a trial basis. We have a textile plant in the region that was
having some BOD problems until they started feeding polymers to their plant influent, and the
problem was resolved.
Since you think that denim usage in your manufacturing affects the solids production in the
treatment plant, I recommend keeping a record of each day that denim is used. If counter
measures of operation needs to be initiated, then the denim usage will be documented.
I am interested in your treatment plant process and would like to stay infoinied with your
challenges to meet consistent compliance. Feel free to call me at any time at the Fayetteville
Regional Office, 910-486-1541.
Sincerely,
4
Don Register
Environmental Technician IV
cc: Ron Radford, Wastewater Treatment Plant ORC
FRO files
Operator Training and Certification, Tony Arnold
NPDES Compliance Unit, Shannon Langley