NC0043125_Permit (Modification)_20011212

NPDES DOCUMENT SCANNIN` COVER SHEET
NC0043125
The Patterson School WWTP
NPDES Permit:
Document Type:
Permit Issuance
Wasteload Allocation
Authorization to Construct (AtC)
Permit Modification ''`,,
Complete File - Historical
Engineering Alternatives (EAA)
Correspondence
Instream Assessment (67b)
Speculative Limits
Environmental Assessment (EA)
Permit
History
Document Date:
December 12, 2001
This document is printed on reuse paper - signore any
content on the reizer+ece side

Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D.
Acting Director
Division of Water Quality
December 12, 2001
Mr. W. J. Hogan
Joyceton Water Works
P. O. Box 347
Lenoir, North Carolina 28645
Subject: Permit Modification Request
Permit No. NC0043125
The Patterson School
Caldwell County
Dear Mr. Hogan:
Division staff has reviewed your request for the reduction of the monitoring frequency for TSS
from weekly to twice per month. The effluent data for TSS for the last 12 months indicates that
the facility has improved its performance. Based on this review the Division is reducing the
monitoring frequency for TSS to twice per month.
Accordingly, please find enclosed the amended Section A. (1) Effluent Limitations and
Monitoring Requirements sheet which should be replaced in your permit. The old page should
be discarded.
If any parts, measurement frequencies, or sampling requirements contained in this permit
modification are unacceptable to you, you have the right to an adjudicatory hearing upon
written request within thirty (30) days following receipt of this letter. This request must be in
the form of a written petition, conforming to Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General
Statutes, and filed with the office of Administrative Hearings, 6714 Mail Service Center,
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-6714. Unless such a demand is made, this permit shall be final
and binding.
If you have any questions concerning this issue, please contact Teresa Rodriguez at telephone
number [phone], ext. 595.
Sincec4
err T. Stevens
cc: Asheville Regional Office, Water Quality
Central Files
NPDES Unit
Point Source Compliance and Enforcement Unit
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer Visit us on the INTERNET Q www.enr.state.nc.us

Permit No. NC0043125
SECTION A(1). EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge treated wastewater from Outfall 001. Such
discharges shall be limited and monitored by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly Average
Daily Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample Type
Sample Location'
Flow
0.025 MGD
Weekly
Instantaneous
I or E
SOD, 5-day, 20°C
:30.0 mg/1
45.0 mg/1
2/month
Grab
E
Total Suspended Solids
30.0 mg/1
45.0 mg/1
2/month
Grab
E
NH3 as N
Monthly
Grab
E
PH2
Weekly
Grab
E
Temperature
Weekly
Grab
E
Notes:
1. Sample locations: E- Effluent, I- Influent.
2. The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Asheville Regional Office
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross, Jr., Secretary
Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D., Acting Director
Division of Water Quality
MEMORANDUM
TO:
THROUGH:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
WATER QUALITY SECTION
November 26, 2001
Dave Goodrich
Forrest Westall 9a
Jim Reid -7/7 ,
d ,
Patterson School
NPDES Permit Number NC0043125
Monitoring Frequency
Caldwell County
rA
NCDENR
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Subject facility requests reduction of their monitoring frequency for TSS
from weekly to twice per month (Patterson School's letter of request is
attached). Regional staff support the facility's request and recommend
reduction of Patterson School's effluent monitoring frequency for TSS.
On January 29, 2001, DWQ reduced Patterson School's monitoring frequency for
BOD. At that time, the central office decided not to reduce the frequency
for TSS due to a few effluent levels in the 20-something mg/1 range.
TSS levels in the above stated range occurred as a result of algae growth in
the secondary clarifier. Algae growth was attributable to extremely low
flows through the treatment facility. Patterson School discharges
approximately 2000 to 3000 gallons per day (permitted capacity is 25,000
gpd). During spring of year 2001, the treatment plant operator installed
screening to prevent sunlight from causing excessive algae growth.
Consequently, TSS levels for the 12-month period November 2000 through
October 2001 have been less than 9.4 mg/1 (MP printout attached).
The facility is well operated and maintained. DWQ's inspections revealed the
facility to be "in compliance" during each inspection conducted in years
1999, 2000 and 2001.
59 Woodtin Place, Asheville North Carolina 28801 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/10% post -consumer paper

Dave Goodrich
Page 2
November 26, 2001
As a result of extremely low flows, consistently good operation, and
demonstrated ability to consistently achieve low TSS concentrations, the
facility's monitoring requirement for TSS should be reduced to twice per
month to make it consistent with their BOD monitoring requirement.
59 Woodfin Place, Asheville North Carolina 28801 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer
50% recycled/10% post -consumer paper

,Cr
GK.EX8 8 /MP
COMPLIANCE EVALUATION ANALYSIS REPORT
11/26/2001
PAGE 1
PERMIT--NC0043125 PIPE--001 REPORT PERIOD: 0010-0109 LOC---E
FACILITY--PATTERSON SCHOOL DESIGN FLOW-- .0250 CLASS--1
LOCATION--LENOIR REGION/COUNTY--01 CALDWELL
50050 . 00310 00530 00610 00010 00400
MONTH Q/MGD BOD RES/TSS NH3+NH4- TEMP PH
LIMIT F .0250 F 30.00 F 30.0 NOL NOL 9.0 6.0
00/10 .0030 10.50 15.5 LESSTHAN 19.00 6.9-6.5
00/11 .0035 6.10 9.4 13.50 6.8-6.6
00/12 .0030 2.50 7.7 LESSTHAN 7.50 6.7-6.6
01/01 .0020 2.90 8.1 LESSTHAN 7.00 6.5-6.5
01/02 .0033 2.10 4.0 LESSTHAN 9.50 7.1-6.5
01/03 .0025 LESSTHAN 4.8 LESSTHAN 10.00 6.6-6.5
01/04 .0022 LESSTHAN 4.5 LESSTHAN 16.00 6.7-6.6
01/05 .0040 LESSTHAN 8.6 LESSTHAN 19.00 6.7-6.6 •
01/06 .0030 LESSTHAN 6.0 LESSTHAN 21.80 6.7-6.7
01/07 .0030 2.75 4.6 LESSTHAN 23.00 6.7-6.6
01/08 .0014 2.65 3.8 3.36 25.00 6.6-6.6
01/09 .0030 3.65 8.1 LESSTHAN 23.00 6.6-6.6
01/10 .0025 LESSTHAN 8.0 LESSTHAN 20.00 6.6-6.6
AVERAGE .0028 4.14 7.0 3.36 16.19
MAXIMUM .0040 10.50 15.5 3.36 25.00 7.100
MINIMUM .0014 LESSTHAN 3.8 LESSTHAN 7.00 6.500
UNIT MGD MG/L MG/L MG/L DEG.0 SU

.THE PATTERSON SCHOOL, iNc.
Post Office Box 500 • Patterson, North Carolina 28661
828-758-2374 • 1-800-653-2760 • FAX [phone]
Vist Us At: www.pattersonschool.org
A Christian Co -Educational College Preparatory Boarding and Day School
November 19, 2001
Attn: Mr. Greg Thorpe, Director
Division of Environmental Management
c/o Mr. Jim Reid, Water Quality Section
59 Woodfin Place
Asheville, NC 28801
Dear Mr. Thorpe;
Re: Permit
# NC0043125
In accordance with our previous correspondance please
reduce the monitoring frequency for TSS as previously
requested. I enclose copies of previous correspondance,
including a graph of our TSS analysis results through
October 2001.
Respectfully,
W. J. Hogan
ORC and School Board Member
202uOil
The Patterson School does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, ethnic origin, disability, or religion.

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THE PATTERSON SCHOOL, INc.
Post Office Box 500 • Patterson, North Carolina 28661
828-758-2374 • 1-800-153-2760 • FAX [phone]
Vist Us At: www.pattersonschool.org
A Christian Co -Educational College Preparatory Boarding and Day Schooi
August 13, 2001
Mr. Jim Reid
Water Quality Section
59 Woodfin Place
Asheville, NC 28801
Dear Mr. Reid:
NOV 2 0 200
'
r
Since your visit to the Patterson School wastewater treatment
plant June 13 it has performed flawlessly with the cover over
the primary basin. There is no green color to the samples -
not even a tinge. BOD and TSS results are better than ever.
We are over 2/3 through another summer with low occupancy and
low flow and plenty of sun. These conditions in the past have
led to severe algae growth and high TSS readings in the past.
The City of Lenoir had algae problems in May in the Catawba
River at the water treatment plant, but we had none at the
wastewater plantat school.
I am enclosing copies of previous correspondance concerning
our request to return to the old TSS sampling schedule. We
for many years sampled this twice a month, but it went to weekly
sampling with our permit renewal. I also enclose a graph of the
Average TSS and Max TSS figures taken from our monthly reports
from. May '98 through July '01. This year's figures are about
1/3 what they were in '98. You can see the wild swings in the
Max figures up through '00, and then this year this has leveled
out. I think my sample collecting was the cause of the wild
swings earlier, and I am no longer making these mistakes. The
cover is preventing algae growth, and I am no longer getting
any extraneous matter in the sample bottle when I take the
sample for TSS.
Please advise if you think the above evidence justifies my
asking for the TSS schedule to revert to twice monthly as it
used to be. Also, should I take this up with Teresa Rodriguez
with whom I last spoke and corresponded or should I start again
with the department head?
I thank you again for the help you have given me on your annual
visits to our plant. I am proud of the improvement that has
resulted in the plant's performance.
Sincerely,
W. J. Hogan, ORS and Scbaol' B.oaxd Memhe:r
The Patterson School does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, ethnic origin, disability, or religion.

Permit No. NC0043125
SECTION A(1). EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee I. authorized to discharge treated wastewater from Outfall 001. Such
discharges shall be limited and monitored by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
•
EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS
-
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly Average
Daily Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample Type
Sample Location'
Flow
0.025 MGD
Weekly
Instantaneous
I or E
BOD, 5-day, 20°C
30.0 mg/1
45.0 mg/1
2/month
Grab
E
Total Suspended Solids
30.0 mg/1
45.0 mg/1
Weekly
Grab
E
NI-13 as N
Monthly
Grab
E
PH2
Weekly
Grab
E
Temperature
Weekly
Grab
E
Notes:
1. Sample locations: E- Effluent, I- Influent.
2. The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

lafeeka Wateiz Wo4,4 .9ac.
P: O. BOX 347
.L: Bsfa�ll, ./Vaita C�c�alusrz
Feb. 15, 2001
Teresa Rodriguez
NCDENR - Div. Water Quality
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Dear Teresa:
Re: Patterson School NPDES
permit # NC0043125 and Jan. 29
letter from NPDES attached with
earlier correspondance.•
Thank you for talking with me today about our efforts to reduce the TSS
monitoring frequency at our plant. In reading the Jan. 29 letter it
appeared to me that if I did not request an adjudicary hearing within
30 days I would lose the right, to ask for any changes in our permit for
several nears. You assured me tha ' fter additional data was gathered
the NCDENR would consider other chahges.
I became aware from talking with our lab last fall that my sampling
technique could be introducing soms'false high readings on TSS. Since
then I have taken care to not make the same mistakes again in collecting
samples, and the November '00 through Jan . ' 01 TSS results look very good.
I would like to request that you all take another look at, the TSS history
after 3 to 6 months, and see if you could let us drop back to our old
schedule of twice monthly testing, the same as you have recently approved
our doing for BOD, assuming our TSS results continue to' look good. t
believe that the occasional high TSS readings we had last year were false
high readings caused by my allowing the collection bottle to contact
surfaces which dislodged clumps otter which sometimes got into the
bottle in addition to the normal sample water. .
The cost of any unnecessary sampling and testing is my main consideration
in making this request. Our school is operating on a very tight budget
and I believe that the Yadkin River would be safe from harm if we only
tested TSS twice monthly. We are very environmentally conscious and want
to cooperate in every way to protect this river, but the cost of the
additional testing is truly a burden to us.
I want to thank the Department for the consideration shown us by the
reduction in frequency of the BOD sampling which was approve in the Jan. 29
letter. This will be a big help to us.
Respectfully,
W. J. Hopi, ORC
Member Patterson School Board of Trustees

/cea# egavcetail Wale 2v s, 9e.
P. O. BOX 347
1'essavt, Jya i ea talusa
Mr. Kerr T . Stevens
NCDEHNR
Division of Water Quality
P. 0. Box 29535
Raleigh, NC 27626-0535
Dear Mr. Stevens:
January 29, 2001
Re: My Oct. 27 letter,
copy enclosed, re
NPDES Permit # NC0043125
,for The Patterson School.
I want to report that our BOD and TSS readings since I wrote you in
October have been improving, with the exception of some samples in
October which my sampling technique probably was to blame for higher
readings than all the others.
Conversations with our lab have made me aware of things I was doing
as I got the samples which could have resulted in an erroneous reading
on the high side. Since I learned of this all the readings have been
low.
The financial burden of four or five tests a month op TSS/BOD is very
hard on us right now. Please consider allowing us to drop back to
testing these two parameters twice monthly as we had done for many years
up to 1999.
Respectfully,

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
Kerr T. Stevens, Director
January 29, 2001
Mr. W. J. Hogan
Joyceton Water Works
P. O. Box 347
Lenoir, North Carolina 28645
A7A
NCDENR
Subject: Permit Modification Request
Permit No. NC0043125
The Patterson School
Caldwell County
Dear Mr. Hogan:
Division staff has reviewed your request to reduce the monitoring frequency for BOD and TSS
from weekly to twice per month. The data reviewed for BOD and TSS for the past 12 months
indicates that the facility has improved its performance. Based on this review the Division is
reducing the monitoring frequency for BOD to twice per month. The TSS monitoring frequency
shall remain at weekly. The data for TSS contained some high values, and even though the
limits were not exceeded, the data presented a variability that suggests a potential to increase
above the permitted concentrations.
Accordingly, please find enclosed the amended Section A. (1) Effluent Limitations and
Monitoring Requirements sheet which should be replaced in your permit. The old page should
be discarded.
If any parts, measurement frequencies, or sampling requirements contained in this permit
modification are unacceptable to you, you have the right to an adjudicatory hearing upon
written request within thirty (30) days following receipt of this letter. This request must be in
the form of a written petition, conforming to Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General
Statutes, and filed with the office of Administrative Hearings, 6714 Mail Service Center,
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-6714. Unless such a demand is made, this permit shall be final
and binding.
If you have any questions concerning this issue, please contact Teresa Rodriguez at telephone
number [phone], ext. 595.
Sincerely,
rr T. Stevens
cc: Asheville Regional Office, Water Quail
Central Files
NPDES Unit
Point Source Compliance and Enforcement Unit
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer Visit us on the INTERNET @1 www.enr.state.nc.us

Permit No. NC0043125
SECTION A(1). EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge treated wastewater from Outfall 001. Such
discharges shall be limited and monitored by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS
4 7 4f tirm
MONITORIN9 REQUIREMENTS . f
Monthly Average
Daily Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample Type :
Sample , LO. f411on1 ;.
r �. a. �;.
Flow
0.025 MGD
Weekly
Instanitaneous
I or E
BOD, 5-day, 20°C
30.0 mg/1
45.0 mg/1
2/month
Grab
• E
Total Suspended Solids
30.0 mg/1
45.0 mg/1
Weekly
Grab
E
NH3 as N .
Monthly
Grab
E
PH2
Weekly
Grab
E
Temperature
Weekly
Grab
E
Notes:
1. Sample locations: E- Effluent, I- Influent.
2. The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

Joyceton Water Works
P 0 Box 347
Lenoir, North Carolina 28645
�T�I
October 27, 2000
9 99�
Mr. Kerr T. tevens Subject: NPDES permit # NC0043125
NCD Division of Water Quality for The Patterson School, Caldwell
P 0 Bo 9535 County, your letter April 21, 1999
Ralei NC 27626-0535
i1640B,
n
2ooa op. o
zoob
DlV. OF WATER
DIREoTOR'S O FICETy
Dear Mr. Stevens:
In your letter of April 21, 1999 you indicated that the Division might reevaluate our BOD
& TSS monitoring frequencies after we reported another 12 months of data. For your
convenience I have made a graph of the Average and the Maximum on BOD & TSS from our
monthly reports from April 1998 through September 2000.
The BOD was high in much of 1998 because we were not mining the aerators enough. On
advice of Mr. Jim Reid, who annually inspects our plant, we developed a new schedule for
aeration, which corrected this. hi 1999 and 2000 we only got high BOD readings when the timer
failed to keep the preset schedule for the aeration As you can see from the BOD graph there is a
definite downward trend and we are well within limits.
The TSS increases every summer and fall due to algae growth in both basins. Our flow decreases
in the summer because we have very low occupancy then, and the increased sunlight and higher
water temperatures encourage algae growth. I did not connect this with the increase in TSS until
August 1998, when our TSS was out of compliance, and our lab advised me that algae was the
problem. Since then I have tried several ways to reduce this growth, artificially increasing flow,
adding 1ppm copper sulfate, and finally this summer partially covering the primary basin to
block sunlight from the water. Again, you can see the downward trend of TSS on the graph. I
plan to cover both basins next summer and I believe we will not have any more TSS problems.
In light of the above, and particularly the declining readings as shown on our reports and the
attached graphs, I request that we be allowed to revert to twice monthly monitoring of BOD and
In, as we did prior to our permit renewal March 1999. The weekly monitor-
ing we have done since our permit renewal is costly to us at a time when we can least afford it,
and I believe we now have our operation under control so that it offers no threat to the Yadkin
River. I am gaining in experience in operation of this plant every year, and am learning to
anticipate potential problems before they happen.
Sincerely,

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
BOD
BOD Avg
- BOD Max

TSS
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
— D wow
TSS Avg
--TSS Max

45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
TSS
Months
TSS Avg
TSS Max