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Home My WebLink AboutNC0037711_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20220308 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED. March 08, 2022 Carol Levey V Z Top Mountain Villas Condominium I Association, Inc. Email: president@vztop.com SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report VZ TOP Homeowners Association WWTP NPDES WW Permit No. NC0037711 Macon County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the VZ TOP Homeowners Association WWTP on 2/24/2022. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0037711. The findings and comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report entitled "Compliance Inspection Report". There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this inspection report is not required. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 828-296-4667 or via email at lauren.armeni@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Lauren Armeni, Environmental Specialist Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: Laserfiche Fredericka Flynt (VZ Top) Travis Farmer (Environmental Inc.) Mark Teague (Environmental Inc.) DocuSign Envelope ID: 18A817F4-5D25-4BD6-B449-DC0D139CA84F EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 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 N 52 NC0037711 22/02/24 C S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) VZ TOP Homeowners Association WWTP Hudson Rd NCSR 1616 Highlands NC 28741 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 11:00AM 22/02/24 17/09/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Other Facility Data 12:30PM 22/02/24 22/08/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Fredericka Flynt,2216 Cumming Rd Augusta GA 30904//828-526-0943/Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self-Monitoring Program Sludge Handling Disposal Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Waters 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 Lauren E Armeni DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ 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#1 DocuSign Envelope ID: 18A817F4-5D25-4BD6-B449-DC0D139CA84F 3/8/2022 3/8/2022 NPDES yr/mo/day 22/02/24 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Lauren Armeni, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the VZ Top Homeowners Association WWTP on February 24, 2022. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0037711. Mr. Travis Farmer (Future ORC) was present and assisted in the inspection. Overall, the plant appeared to be well-maintained and in compliance. This plant receives little to no flow during the off season (December-end of March), and is reseeded at the beginning of each season with solids brought in from other plants. Operations and Maintenance: Mark Teague is currently listed as the ORC; however, Environmental Inc. will be sending in an ORC Designation form to change Mr. Farmer to the ORC. VZ Top continues to maintain the collection system and lift stations for the facility. Mr. Jay Stewart, Property Manager, checks the lift stations and puts degreaser in them once a month. No issues have been reported. The plant is in a densely forested area with pine trees surrounding it. Mr. Farmer said he skims pine needles off the treatment units daily. It is recommended to cover all treatment units to prevent a buildup of excess solids. Aeration Basin: The blowers are set on a timer. In the off-season, the diffusers are turned on every 2-3 days, but during normal operation the diffusers are always kept on and automatically turn on with the blowers. Settleability after 30 minutes was 35% and settled slowly. The supernatant was cloudy, which could be from an older sludge age since little to no flow has entered the facility since December. Secondary Clarifier: It would benefit the plant to at least cover the secondary clarifier to prevent the build-up of pine needles and solids from the surrounding pine trees. Mr. Farmer indicated that solids from the clarifier will be wasted to the digester prior to the end of March when the season begins. Digester: The diffusers for the digester are on the same schedule as the aeration basin (see above). Once the flow increases during the on-season, the supernatant is decanted from the digester and is pumped to the inlet, which flows to the aeration basin. NC0037711 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 18A817F4-5D25-4BD6-B449-DC0D139CA84F Permit:NC0037711 Inspection Date:02/24/2022 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: VZ TOP Homeowners Association WWTP Compliance Evaluation Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new application? Is the facility as described in the permit? # Are there any special conditions for the permit? Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? The permit is currently under renewal.Comment: Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Process controls include DO, MLSS, and checking the clarifier blanket with a sludge judge. The typical MLSS and DO for the facility is approximately 2,200 mg/L and 2.8 mg/L, respectively. See summary for details. Comment: Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? Is all required information readily available, complete and current? Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? Is the chain-of-custody complete? Dates, times and location of sampling Name of individual performing the sampling Results of analysis and calibration Dates of analysis Name of person performing analyses Transported COCs Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 18A817F4-5D25-4BD6-B449-DC0D139CA84F Permit:NC0037711 Inspection Date:02/24/2022 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: VZ TOP Homeowners Association WWTP Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? Comment: Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext. Air Type of aeration system Diffused Is the basin free of dead spots? Are surface aerators and mixers operational? Are the diffusers operational? Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin’s surface? Is the DO level acceptable? Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/l) One of two blower motors is not working and will be fixed prior to the facility reopening at the end of March. See summary for details. Comment: Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier? Are weirs level? Is the site free of weir blockage? Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? Is scum removal adequate? Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? Is the drive unit operational? Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately ¼ of the sidewall depth) At the time of the inspection, the sludge blanket was 7' in an 8' clarifier. Mr. Farmer indicated that the pine trees surrounding the plant cause an increase in solids. See summary for details. Comment: Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 18A817F4-5D25-4BD6-B449-DC0D139CA84F Permit:NC0037711 Inspection Date:02/24/2022 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: VZ TOP Homeowners Association WWTP Compliance Evaluation Filtration (High Rate Tertiary)Yes No NA NE Type of operation:Down flow Is the filter media present? Is the filter surface free of clogging? Is the filter free of growth? Is the air scour operational? Is the scouring acceptable? Is the clear well free of excessive solids and filter media? One of two tertiary filter beds are currently in use. The other filter bed is being repaired. The filters are backwashed once a week, and the backwash is pumped to the digester and then dewatered back into the aeration basin. Comment: Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Number of tubes in use?1 Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? Comment: De-chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system ?Tablet Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? Is storage appropriate for cylinders? # Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? Comment: Are the tablets the proper size and type? Are tablet de-chlorinators operational? Number of tubes in use?1 Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: 18A817F4-5D25-4BD6-B449-DC0D139CA84F Permit:NC0037711 Inspection Date:02/24/2022 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: VZ TOP Homeowners Association WWTP Compliance Evaluation Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? Average peak flow at the facility is approximately 2,800 GPD during the on season. Laboratory Instrument Service, LLC installed a new effluent flow meter in December 2021 and calibrated it on December 17, 2021. Since there was little flow at the time, Laboratory Instrument Service will come back out in April to recalibrate the flow meter. Comment: Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? The effluent pipe is a two-hour hike from the plant. Mr. Farmer said he checks the pipe twice a year and will take pictures when he is there this spring. Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? Grab samples are required per the permit.Comment: Aerobic Digester Yes No NA NE Is the capacity adequate? Is the mixing adequate? Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank? # Is the odor acceptable? # Is tankage available for properly waste sludge? The digester is pumped during the off-season, which is December through the end of March. The digester was last pumped in January, and 4,000 gallons of sludge was pumped out with one of Environmental Inc.'s pump trucks. See summary for details. Comment: Standby Power Yes No NA NE Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 18A817F4-5D25-4BD6-B449-DC0D139CA84F Permit:NC0037711 Inspection Date:02/24/2022 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: VZ TOP Homeowners Association WWTP Compliance Evaluation Standby Power Yes No NA NE Is automatically activated standby power available? Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source? Is the generator tested under load? Was generator tested & operational during the inspection? Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site? Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power? Is the generator fuel level monitored? The facility does not have a standby power source. Mr. Farmer indicated that the plant operates well below it's capacity (average peak flow approximately 2,800 GPD and permitted for 0.028 MGD). In the off season (December-end of March), little to no flow is present. Environmental Inc. has pump trucks if needed. Comment: Page#7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 18A817F4-5D25-4BD6-B449-DC0D139CA84F