NC0021369_FUPCEI_NOD2022PC0045_20220411

SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED

April 11, 2022

Tim Barth, Town Manager
Email: [e-mail]
Town of Columbus

SUBJECT: NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY
Tracking Number: NOD-2022-PC-0045
Permit No. NC0021369
Columbus WWTP
Polk County

Dear Permittee:

The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Columbus WWTP on March 10,
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. NC0021369. A summary of the findings and comments noted
during the inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report.

The Compliance Evaluation inspection was conducted by Division of Water Resources staff from the Asheville
Regional Office. The following deficiency was noted during the inspection:
Inspection Area Description of Deficiency _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Compliance Schedules The Corrective Action Plan and progress reports required under Section A.3 of the permit
have not been submitted to the Division. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In addition, the issues below must also be addressed:

Compliance Issue:

Sheet Pile Wall Assessment: Correspondence in 2020 with ECS indicated phase II of the assessment could not be
completed until an access pad/road was installed by the Town. As of 3/10/2022 no further progress appears to
have been made on installation of the access pad. The ARO is requesting an update on the progress and projected
timeline for completion.

DocuSign Envelope ID: 5880D443-96A9-4DBC-8EBE-A671CEBF946E

Remedial actions should have already been taken to correct this problem and prevent further occurrences in the
future. The Division of Water Resources may pursue enforcement action for this and any additional violations of
State law. To prevent further action, carefully review these deficiencies and respond via email, within
30 days, upon receipt of this Notice detailing the Town’s corrective actions with estimated timelines.
If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mikal Willmer with the Water Quality
Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4686 or via email at
[e-mail].

Sincerely,

Daniel Boss, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ

ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report

Ec: LF
Chris Cochran, ORC

DocuSign Envelope ID: 5880D443-96A9-4DBC-8EBE-A671CEBF946E
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 NC0021369 22/03/10 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)
Columbus WWTP
355 Levi Rd
Columbus NC 28722
Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date
Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date
12:30PM 22/03/10 20/02/01
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Christopher C Cochran/ORC//
Other Facility Data
01:30PM 22/03/10 23/07/31
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Robert K Rosseter,515 Forest Ave Landrum SC 293569406//864-848-5527/Contacted
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports
Sludge Handling Disposal Facility Site Review Compliance Schedules 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
Mikal Willmer DWR/Division of Water Quality/828-296-4686/
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 5880D443-96A9-4DBC-8EBE-A671CEBF946E
4/8/2022
4/8/2022
NPDES yr/mo/day
22/03/10
Inspection Type
C3111218
1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
Mikal Willmer, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a follow-up inspection to the January
2021 compliance inspection on March 10, 2022. This inspection was conducted to assess current
solids management and determine if additional progress has been made on the assessment of the
sheet pile wall. Chris Cochran, ORC, was present and assisted in the inspection.
Solids: The geotubes have been hauled and disposed of in an approved landfill. The Town has
decided to retain Synagro for annual land application of residuals for the foreseeable future. The
ORC reports application events once a year is currently adequate to maintain solids within the
facility.
Headworks: The Town accepts some septage just upstream of the headworks on a limited basis.
No issues reported with accepting septage to date.
Aeration Basin: appeared to be evenly mixed and appropriate in color.
Sheet pile Wall: No additional work has been completed. It was conveyed to the ARO in 2020 by the
Town's contracted firm, ECS, that phase II of the assessment could not be completed until an
access pad was installed by the Town. The ARO is requesting an update on the access pad
installation behind the sheet pile wall so the structural assessment can be completed as required by
permit.
Chlorine Contact Basins: The Town has approval to install a second chlorine contact basin. No
current projection for installation.
Corrective Action Plan: A corrective action plan was required within one year of permit issuance
(1/6/2021) detailing how the facility would achieve compliance with the new Cd, CN, Ag and Cu
limits within the permit. Progress reports are also required annually (1/6/2022, 1/6/2023, 1/6/2024)
until year five when the limits become effective. The Division does not have record of a submitted
corrective action plan or annual progress reports.
NC0021369 17 (Cont.)
Page#2
DocuSign Envelope ID: 5880D443-96A9-4DBC-8EBE-A671CEBF946E
Permit:NC0021369
Inspection Date:03/10/2022
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
Columbus WWTP
Compliance Evaluation
Compliance Schedules Yes No NA NE
Is there a compliance schedule for this facility?
Is the facility compliant with the permit and conditions for the review period?
See summary for details.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?
DO, Sludge Judge.Comment:
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?
Comment:
Page#3
DocuSign Envelope ID: 5880D443-96A9-4DBC-8EBE-A671CEBF946E