NC0051608_NOV-2022-PC-0261_20220505

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Certified Mail # 7020 3160 0000 3277 0488
Return Receipt Requested
Robert Hoyle, Director of Construction & Maintenance
Catawba County Schools
Post Office Box 1010
Maiden, NC 28658
SUBJECT: Notice of Violation
Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Bandys High School WWTP
NPDES Permit No. NC0051608
Catawba County
Tracking #: NOV-2022-PC-0261
Dear Mr. Hoyle:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
May 5, 2022
Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Evaluation Inspection (CEI) Report for the inspection conducted at the subject
facility on April 26, 2022, by Mr. Wes Bell of this Office. Please advise the facility's Operator -in -Responsible Charge (ORC)
of our findings by forwarding the enclosed report.
This report is being issued as a Notice of Violation (NOV) due to the following:
- One side of the sand filter section could not dose properly;
- The holes on the lateral distribution sections for one of the sand filter sections were clogged;
- One of the circulation pumps appeared to be partially clogged and not operating properly;
- The high level in recirculation tank completely submerged the flow meter;
Please be advised that the failure to provide proper operation and maintenance is a violation of the subject NPDES Permit
and North Carolina General Statute (G.S.) 143-215.1. Please note that G.S. 143-215.6A provides for a civil penalty of not more
than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00), or twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) per day when the violation is of a
continuing nature, against any person who violates or fails to act in accordance with the terms, conditions, or requirements of
any permit issued pursuant to G.S. 143-215.1. Penalties may also be assessed for any damage to surface waters of the State that
may result from the violation.
D_E
11,arliworkt el G. ritmloalal Oat'
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Mooresville Regional Office 1610 East Center Avenue. Suite 301 1 Mooresville. North Carolina 28115
704.663.1699

It is requested that a written response be submitted to this Office by Mav 29, 2022, detailing the actions taken to address all
violations and maintenance issues discussed in this report. In responding, please address your comments to the attention of Mr.
Wes Bell.
Should you have any questions concerning this Notice, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Bell at [phone] or at
[e-mail].
Enclosure:
Inspection Report
Cc: NPDES Program Files - Laserfiche
D_E
o,.mworkt G.ed o �
Sincerely,
Docu Signed by:
14 44tt/ H Nxa t
F161FB69A2D84A3...
fo r
W. Corey Basinger, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Mooresville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Mooresville Regional Office 1610 East Center Avenue. Suite 301 1 Mooresville. North Carolina 28115
704.663.1699

United States Environmental Protection Agency
EPA 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
1 IN
Code
I 2
IL
NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac
I 3 I NC0051608 111 121 22/04/26 117 1810I 19I S I 2011
Type
21IIIIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
I
IIIIII
IIIIIIIIIII
P6
Inspection
67I2.0
Work Days
Facility Self -Monitoring
I 70I4
Evaluation Rating
I 71IN
B1
I 72
QA
I N I
73I
1
I I
Reserved
74 751
1
I
I I
I
I
I
180
l
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
POTW name and NPDES permit Number)
Bandys High School
2500 N College Ave
Newton NC 28658
Entry Time/Date
11:04AM 22/04/26
Permit Effective Date
21/07/01
Exit Time/Date
11:32AM 22/04/26
Permit Expiration Date
25/04/30
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Joshua Steven Greene/ORC/828-396-4444/
Other Facility Data
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Robert Hoyle,PO Box 1010 Newton NC 286581010/Director of Construction &
Maintenance/828-464-3562/8284654442 No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports
Self -Monitoring Progran Sludge Handling DispoFacility 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)
Wes Bell
of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
—Docusigned by: DWR/MRO WQ/704-663-1699 Ext.2192/ 5/5/2022
leed1
'-A61696D90CC3437...
Signature of Mana
Andrew Pitne
Oiarili4ltiaiower Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
A"'" ' H P'R/MRO WQ/704-663-1699 Ext.2180/ 5.5.22
F161FB69A2D84A3...
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
Page# 1

NPDES yr/mo/day
31 NC0051608 111 121 22/04/26
I17
Inspection Type
18 [j
1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
Page# 2

Permit: NC0051608
Inspection Date: 04/26/2022
Owner - Facility: Bandys High School
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 El El ❑
application?
Is the facility as described in the permit? • El El El
# Are there any special conditions for the permit? El El • El
Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? • El El El
Comment: The last compliance evaluation inspection at this facility was performed by DWR staff
on 12/2/2020.
Record Keeping
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?
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?
Yes No NA NE
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Comment: The records reviewed during the inspection were organized and well maintained.
Discharge Monitoring Reports (eDMRs) were reviewed for the period March 2021
through February 2022. No effluent limit and/or monitoring violations were reported.
The ORC must ensure to separately document the sample collection times for both the
contract lab and field parameters.
Page# 3

Permit: NC0051608
Inspection Date: 04/26/2022
Owner - Facility: Bandys High School
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Laboratory
Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory?
Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab?
# Is the facility using a contract lab?
# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0
degrees Celsius)?
Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees?
Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees?
Yes No NA NE
• ❑ ❑ ❑
• ❑ ❑ ❑
❑ ❑ • ❑
❑ ❑ • ❑
❑ ❑ • ❑
Comment: Effluent analyses (all permit -required parameters including field) are performed under
Water Tech Lab's Certification #50. The ORC must ensure to report effluent total
residual chlorine (TRC) levels down to the lowest standard verified on the TRC meter
during the annual meter verification.
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? El ❑ • ❑
# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 El El • El
degrees Celsius)?
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type • ❑ El El
representative)?
Comment: The subject permit requires effluent grab samples.
Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE
Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? • El El El
Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable El El El
Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable?
Comment: Although the School System has fixed the audible/visual alarm (high water) and
installed a flow meter, operation and maintenance issues were noted with the
recirculation tank and sand filter. Please be advised that the subject NPDES Permit
requires the permittee to properly operate and maintain the facility at all times [Permit
Condition Reference: Part II, Section C(2) Proper Operation and Maintenance].
Septic Tank Yes No NA NE
(If pumps are used) Is an audible and visual alarm operational? El El • El
Is septic tank pumped on a schedule? • ❑ ❑ El
Page# 4

Permit: NC0051608
Inspection Date: 04/26/2022
Owner - Facility: Bandys High School
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Septic Tank
Are pumps or syphons operating properly?
Are high and low water alarms operating properly?
Yes No NA NE
Comment: The septic and recirculation tanks are pumped every summer by a contract company
(Leatherman's Septic Tank Service). Custodial staff have previously added sodium
bicarbonate at the school to maintain appropriate alkalinity/pH levels. The ORC should
verify with school staff the frequency and volume of the sodium bicarbonate additions.
The wastewater level in the recirculation tank was high with the flow meter being
completely submerged. One of the circulation pumps appeared to be partially clogged.
The pump should be checked and cleaned/repaired if needed to ensure proper
operation.
Sand Filters (Low rate)
(If pumps are used) Is an audible and visible alarm Present and operational?
Is the distribution box level and watertight?
Is sand filter free of ponding?
Is the sand filter effluent re -circulated at a valid ratio?
# Is the sand filter surface free of algae or excessive vegetation?
# Is the sand filter effluent re -circulated at a valid ratio? (Approximately 3 to 1)
Yes No NA NE
• ❑ ❑ ❑
❑ ❑ • ❑
• ❑ ❑ ❑
• ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment: One section of the sand filter was not dosing due to potential operational issues with
the circulation pump (noted in Septic Tank Section) and a majority of the holes in the
laterals being clogged. All laterals should be properly flushed and cleaned
(periodically) to ensure proper operation. In addition, any warped laterals should be
replaced.
The first few inches of sand appeared dark brown. School staff should start planning
on the removal and replacement of the dark sand within the future to prevent any
potential ponding conditions in the sand beds.
Flow Measurement - Effluent
# Is flow meter used for reporting?
Is flow meter calibrated annually?
Is the flow meter operational?
(If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter?
Yes No NA NE
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Comment: An inline flow meter was installed last year on the recirculation tank's effluent line to the
tablet chlorination treatment system.. The permittee must ensure the flow meter is
calibrated annually as required by the NPDES Permit [Part II, Section D(3) Flow
Measurements].
Disinfection -Tablet
Are tablet chlorinators operational?
Are the tablets the proper size and type?
Yes No NA NE
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Page# 5

Permit: NC0051608
Inspection Date: 04/26/2022
Owner - Facility: Bandys High School
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Disinfection -Tablet Yes No NA NE
Number of tubes in use? 4
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? El El • ❑
Comment:
Are the tablets the proper size and type? ■ El El El
Are tablet de -chlorinators operational? • El ❑ ❑
Number of tubes in use? 3
Comment:
Effluent Pipe
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?
Comment: The effluent appeared slightly turbid with no foam.
Yes No NA NE
Page# 6