NC0077143_Inspection_20220401

DocuSign Envelope ID: 1 DCBFF34-1930-465B-BA63-E2226ECA1 137
ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Lisa D Smith -Perri
West Carteret Water Corporation Inc
4102 NC Hwy 24
Newport, NC 28570-0849
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
March 25, 2022
SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report
West Carteret Water Corp WTP
NPDES WW Permit No. NCO077143
Carteret County
Dear Permittee:
The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the West Carteret Water
Corp WTP on 3/18/2022. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in
compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0077143. The
findings and comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection
report entitled "Compliance Inspection Report".
Please respond in writing to this office within 30 calendar days of your receipt of this letter with proof of annual
calibration of the effluent flow meters as required by Part II, Section D.3. of the existing permit.
If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Bryan Lievre with the Water Quality
Regional Operations Section in the Wilmington Regional Office at 910-796-7215 or via email at
[e-mail].
ATTACHMENTS
Cc: Laserfiche
Sincerely,
EKADocuSigned by:
E3ABAl4AC7DC434...
bVt Lt a, Sad GIA,t�j—� l"
Morella Sanchez -King, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Wilmington Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
D_E Q�� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Wilmington Regional Office 1 127 Cardinal Drive Extension I Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
o�,rft /`� 910.796,7215

DocuSign Envelope ID: 1 DCBFF34-1930-465B-BA63-E2226ECA1 137
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 u 3 I NCO077143 I11 121 22/03/18 I17 18I � I 19 I s I 201 I
6
211IIIII 111111III II III III1 I I IIIII IIIIIIIII II J
Inspection
Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ---------------------- Reserved -------------------
67
I 72 I ni I 71 I 74 79 I I I I I I I80
701 I 71 I LL -1 I I
LJ
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 Dermit Number)
10:OOAM 22/03/18
17/11/01
West Carteret Water Corp WTP
4102 NC Hwy 24
Exit Time/Date
Permit Expiration Date
Newport NC 28570
12:30PM 22/03/18
22/07/31
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
Other Facility Data
Harold Bryan Wilson/ORC/252-393-1515/
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Lisa D Smith-Perri,4102 NC Hwy 24 Newport NC 285700849/General
Manager/252-393-1515/2523931540 No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit 0 Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports
Self -Monitoring Progran 0 Sludge Handling Dispo: 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
DocuSigned by:
Bryan Lievre � DWR/WIRO WQ/910-796-7215/ 3/31/2022
2r2c�n. tirv2r�
EB,4249ABED37443E...
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
DocuSigned by:
Morella Sanchez -King DWR/WIRO WQ/910-796-7218/ F.bmu, S.. J . � 'u 4/1/2022
"— E3ABA14AC7DC434...
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 1 DCBFF34-1930-465B-BA63-E2226ECA1 137
NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type (Cont.)
NCO077143 I11 12I 22/03/18 117 18 i c i
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
A compliance inspection of the West Carteret Water Treatment Plant (WTP) was performed on March
18, 2022. The facility is located at 4102 NC Highway 24, Newport, NC 28570-0849. The purpose of
the inspection was to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and
limitations specified within Permit NC0077143. (Harold) Bryan Wilson (ORC #990834) and Lisa
Guarino (BORC #998885) were present during the inspection.
The current permit provides for the discharge of backwash water from the WTP filters. At the time the
current permit was written, the system had 6 high -capacity production wells with a total design flow of
2.0 MGD and intermittent discharges of 0.083 MGD of filter backwash. The system currently has 9
high -capacity production wells (although only 8 are being used) and the average daily discharge
backwash rate was 0.106 MGD for calendar year 2021.
The effluent from the WTP consists of backwash water from three separate filter systems. The filter
systems include:
- Four (4) greensand filters, set up in parallel, for iron removal with potassium permanganate
injection for regeneration (although injection is inactive due to low iron content of raw water). The
greensand filter backwash is discharged into twelve drying beds (50' by 20', each), where the solids
are filtered through a sand bed and liquid collects in a pipe network and drains to a wet well.
- Eight (8) ion exchange filters, set up in parallel, for water softening, with brine solution injection
for regeneration. The water softening ion exchange filter backwash water is discharged into a settling
lagoon (measuring 52' by 52'), where it gravity drains through porous media and filter material and
collects in piping which drains into a wet well. It should be noted that the settling lagoon is currently
inactive, as indicated on the current permit, based on a request from the system, dated 2/24/2005,
and approved by WiRO in correspondence, dated 3/8/2005.
- Five (5) ion exchange filters, set up in parallel, for color removal (with different media than the
softeners), with brine solution injection for regeneration. The color removal ion exchange filter
backwash water is discharged into a settling lagoon (measuring 70' by 36'), where it gravity drains
through a porous media and filter material and collects in piping which drains into a wet well.
Ammonium hydroxide and chlorine gas are added for disinfection of the water and
ortho-polyphosphate is also added for corrosion and anti -scale inhibitors, but both of these chemicals
are added following filtration units. Potable (finished) water is used for some of the iron backwash
water cycles as well as the brine solutions for all the ion exchange filters.
The three wet wells are all equipped with duplex pump stations which send the effluent into a six inch
diameter PVC line. The effluent line travels from the facility along the north side of NC Hwy 24 and
discharges into Sikes Branch East Prong East Prong Sanders Creek (Stream Index 20-36-6-1).
A review of monitoring records indicates that the system has not had any violations since the last
inspection, which was performed on 8/25/2017. The operators were very knowledgeable of the
facility and the facility seemed to be well maintained. The facility is generally compliant with the
discharge Permit NC0077143, although calibration of flow meters is required. Please review the
comment sections of the inspection report for more details.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 1 DCBFF34-1930-465B-BA63-E2226ECA1 137
Permit: NCO077143 Owner -Facility: West Carteret Water Corp WTP
Inspection Date: 03/18/2022 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
❑
0
❑
❑
application?
Is the facility as described in the permit?
❑
0
❑
❑
# Are there any special conditions for the permit?
M
❑
❑
❑
Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public?
0
❑
❑
❑
Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection?
0
❑
❑
❑
Comment: The existinq permit was issued 9/19/2017, became effective 11/1/2017 and expires
7/31/2022. The system is currently working on submission of a renewal application.
The outfall location depicted on the map attached to the permit as well as the
coordinates within BIMS appear to be incorrect. The correct location is on the north
side of NC Hwy 24, close to the middle of an entrance island for ST Wooten's concrete
plant east of the WTP and located at 3939 NC Hwy 24, Newport, NC. Also, the WTP
has added one softener (for a total of eight) and added another color filter unit (for a
total of six). The permit requires sampling for chronic toxicity, in addition to other
sampling requirements.
Record Keeping
Yes
No
NA NE
Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit?
0
❑
❑
❑
Is all required information readily available, complete and current?
0
❑
❑
❑
Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)?
■
❑
❑
❑
Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs?
0
❑
❑
❑
Is the chain -of -custody complete?
0
❑
❑
❑
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?
0
❑
❑
❑
Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ?
❑
❑
0
❑
(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?
❑
❑
❑
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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DocuSign Envelope ID: 1 DCBFF34-1930-465B-BA63-E2226ECA1 137
Permit: NCO077143 Owner -Facility: West Carteret Water Corp WTP
Inspection Date: 03/18/2022 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
Comment: All required data is being provided with EDMRs. Inspected field data for pH and total
residual chlorine from 2/8/22 and 3/8/22 as well as Environment 1,
Inc data and COCs
for 2/8/22 and 2/22/22 sampling events.
Sand Filters (Low rate)
Yes
No
NA
NE
(If pumps are used) Is an audible and visible alarm Present and operational?
0
❑
❑
❑
Is the distribution box level and watertight?
❑
❑
■
❑
Is sand filter free of ponding?
0
❑
❑
❑
Is the sand filter effluent re -circulated at a valid ratio?
❑
❑
0
❑
# Is the sand filter surface free of algae or excessive vegetation?
0
❑
❑
❑
# Is the sand filter effluent re -circulated at a valid ratio? (Approximately 3 to 1)
❑
❑
0
❑
Comment: The system has a 52' x 52' settlinq "laqoon" for the water softeners backwash water
and a 70' x 36' settling "lagoon" for the color filters backwash water. No vegetation was
observed on either of the lagoons. The settling lagoon for the softeners is inactive and
liquid is sent to a wet well. The liquid from the lagoon for the color filters is drained into
another wet well. Flow from both of the above wet wells combines with liquid from the
Sand Filter wet well and then flows to the outfall.
Drying Beds
Is there adequate drying bed space?
Is the sludge distribution on drying beds appropriate?
Are the drying beds free of vegetation?
# Is the site free of dry sludge remaining in beds?
Is the site free of stockpiled sludge?
Is the filtrate from sludge drying beds returned to the front of the plant?
# Is the sludge disposed of through county landfill?
# Is the sludge land applied?
(Vacuum filters) Is polymer mixing adequate?
Yes No NA NE
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Comment: Backwash from the iron filters is evenly distributed to twelve (12) sand filter "dryin
beds." Flow seemed to have been evenly spread over the filters. A minor amount of
vegetation was observed on top of some of the filters, but only in very limited areas.
Although increased flow is typically observed when the iron filters are backwashed (0.5
- 0.6 MGD, compared to average typical of 0.05 to 0.07 MGD), not much iron is
present in the raw water and therefore, little sediment accumulates within the sand
filters.
Pump Station - Effluent
Yes No NA NE
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 1 DCBFF34-1930-465B-BA63-E2226ECA1 137
Permit: NC0077143
Inspection Date: 03/18/2022
Owner -Facility: West Carteret Water Corp WTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Pump Station - Effluent
Yes
No
NA
NE
Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures?
0
❑
❑
❑
Are all pumps present?
0
❑
❑
❑
Are all pumps operable?
❑
❑
❑
Are float controls operable?
0
❑
❑
❑
Is SCADA telemetry available and operational?
0
❑
❑
❑
Is audible and visual alarm available and operational?
0
❑
❑
❑
Comment: The wet well for the sand filters, softeners and color filters are all equipped with duplex
pump stations and visual and audible alarms. Alarms functioned properly at all three
locations after a high level float switch was raised at each location.
Flow Measurement - Effluent
Yes
No
NA
NE
# Is flow meter used for reporting?
M
❑
❑
❑
Is flow meter calibrated annually?
❑
0
❑
❑
Is the flow meter operational?
0
❑
❑
❑
(If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter?
❑
❑
0
❑
Comment: The system previously had a single water meter on the main effluent line, however, the
meter was often out of service or problematic due to the nature of the effluent water
quality. The system utilizes the sum of four water meters for reporting purposes,
whereas one flowmeter provides backwash flow from the iron filters, two flow meters
provide results from the water softeners and one flow meter provides results from the
color filters. All flow meters used for reporting purposes need to be calibrated annually
per Part ll, Section D.3. of the permit.
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? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
Comment: The right of way appeared to have been recently maintained near the outfall location,
presumably by NCDOT. Although no discharge was occurring during the inspection,
the discharge location was free of excessive sediment, no stressed vegetation was
observed and small fish or tadpoles were observed within the water.
Effluent Sampling
Is composite sampling flow proportional?
Is sample collected below all treatment units?
Is proper volume collected?
Is the tubing clean?
Yes No NA NE
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 1 DCBFF34-1930-465B-BA63-E2226ECA1 137
Permit: NCO077143 Owner -Facility: West Carteret Water Corp WTP
Inspection Date: 03/18/2022 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Effluent Sampling Yes No
NA NE
# 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)?
Comment: Per past instructions and guidance from the Wilmington Regional Office, system staff
are preparing composite samples by using a manual sampling method from each of the
separate discharges. System staff have a printed instruction form which also includes
records of samples collected.
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?
Comment: West Carteret Water Corporation maintains certification #5579 for field sampling
parameters including pH and total residual chlorine. All other analyses are sent to
outside laboratories.
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