WQCSD0083_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20220512

DocuSign Envelope ID: A01EE1F2-109E-4270-AB03-013DEC5410B8
ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
The Honorable John White, Mayor
Town of Halifax
PO Box 222
Halifax, NC 27839
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
May 12, 2022
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Town of Halifax Deemed Collection System
Collection System Permit Number WQCSD0083
Halifax County
Dear Mr. White:
On April 13, 2022, Colleen Cohn and Cheng Zhang of the Raleigh Regional Office (RRO)
conducted an inspection of the town's wastewater collection system to evaluate compliance with
North Carolina Administrative Code Section 15A NCAC 02T .0403 (Permitting by Regulation).
The cooperation of Ms. Ester Beal, Mr. Donald Crowder, and Mr. Albert Davis was greatly
appreciated. During the inspection, the following items were noted:
1. The Town of Halifax, hereinafter referred to as the Town, operates a deemed collection
system pursuant to 15 NCAC .02T .0403.
2. The system includes four (4) duplex pump stations, approximately 26,400 feet of gravity
collection line, approximately 7,920 feet of force main, approximately 39,600 feet of
force main to the Town of Weldon, and one (1) high priority line.
3. All four (4) pump stations were inspected. All pump stations are connected to a telemetry
system. Mr. Davis stated that he inspects the pump stations at least once per week.
a. At the Convenience Store Lift Station, minimal grease was observed, and the
high-level float, audible alarm, and visual alarm were all operational. A stationary
generator is maintained by Gregory Poole.
b. At the 903 Lift Station, excessive grease was observed, and water was observed in
the dry well. The high-level float and audible alarm were operational, but the
visual alarm was not operational. A stationary generator is maintained by Gregory
Poole.
c. At the Purnell Park Lift Station, minimal grease was observed. The high-level
float and audible and visual alarms were operational. A portable generator is on -
site. Signs for the facility were overgrown with moss and illegible. Additionally, a
power plug on the control panel appeared to have blown a fuse.
NORTH CAROLINA
E,
Department of
M Environmental Quality
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office I 3800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
919.791.4200

DocuSign Envelope ID: A01EE1F2-109E-4270-AB03-013DEC5410B8
Town of Halifax WQCDS0083
May 12, 2022
d. At the Quankey Hills Apartments Lift Station, some grease was observed. The
high-level float and audible alarm were operation, but the visual alarm was not
operational. There is no generator at this location.
e. Within 30-days receipt of this letter, please provide this office with a written
response indicating the actions the Town will take or has taken to repair the
visual alarms at the 903 Lift Station and Quankey Hills Apartment Lift
Station.
4. The high priority line near Purnell Park Lift Station was observed. The right of way was
adequately maintained and there were no visible signs of damage.
5. The Convenience Store Lift Station Manhole was inspected. A buildup of rags was
observed in the Manhole. Within 30-days receipt of this letter, please provide this
office with a written response indicating the actions the actions the Town will take
or has taken to minimize the buildup of rags and debris in manholes. Please provide
a list of the actions or tasks that are performed during pump station inspections.
6. No Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO) have been identified or reported in the last 12
months.
7. Documentation of compliance as required by 15A NCAC 02T .0403(10) were not
available during the inspection. The following records were not available:
a. Pump stations are required to be inspected at least once per week. Mr. Davis
stated that he inspects the pump stations at least once per week. Documentation of
these inspections, such as a logbook at each pump station, was not available.
b. High -priority sewer shall be inspected once every six -months. Documentation of
these inspections was not available.
c. A general observation of the entire collection system shall be conducted once per
year. As discussed, this is conducted over the course of day-to-day operations,
however, documentation of this inspection was not available.
d. Right-of-ways and easements appeared to be maintained. No documentation on
the frequency of maintenance, such as a mowing schedule, was available.
e. An Operation and Maintenance Plan was not available. The plan should include,
at a minimum, the pump station inspection frequency, a preventative maintenance
schedule, a spare parts inventory, and an overflow response plan. If an Operation
and Maintenance Plan has not been developed, then provide this office with a
written response outlining the schedule the Town will take to develop an
Operation and Maintenance Plan.
f. The Town has developed a map of its sewer collection system. The map includes
size, location, and flow direction. However, only three of the four pump stations
are identified on the map. The 903 Lift Station is not shown on the map. Within
30-days receipt of this letter, please provide this office with a written response
indicating the actions the Town will take to update the map to include the 903 Lift
Station.
g. Documentation of the Town's Grease Control Program was not available. Grease
Control Programs should include bi-annual distribution of educational materials
for both commercial residential users and the legal means to require grease
£ D_E
NORTHCAROLINA
Department of Environmental Deal
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office I 3800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
919.791.4200

DocuSign Envelope ID: A01EE1F2-109E-4270-AB03-013DEC5410B8
Town of Halifax WQCDS0083
May 12, 2022
interceptors for new construction and retrofit and if necessary, of grease
interceptors at existing establishments. The plan should also include legal means
for inspections of grease interceptors, enforcement for violators, and the legal
means to control grease entering the system from other public and private satellite
collection systems. Ms. Beal stated that the Town is currently working on creating
information packets for new water meters, and the Town plans to distribute Fats,
Oils, and Grease (FOG) educational materials with this packet. If materials have
been provided within the last 12 months, please provide a copy of those
materials and when they were distributed.
Please provide the Division with a written response outlining how the Town plans to
document compliance with 15A NCAC 02T .0403(10).
Within 30-days receipt of this letter, please provide this office with a written response to
address Items 3, 5, and 7.
If you have questions concerning this report, please contact Colleen Cohn at 919-791-4258 or
[e-mail].
Sincerely,
pDocuSigned by:
Uailn.t,SSa•'. AI -MIA/
B2916E6AB32144F...
Vanessa Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Attachments: Compliance Inspection Report
cc: Laserfiche
£ D_E
NORTHCAROLINA
Department of Environmental Deal
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office I 3800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
919.791.4200

DocuSign Envelope ID: A01 EE1 F2-109E-4270-AB03-013DEC5410B8
Compliance Inspection Report
Permit: WQCSD0083 Effective: 03/01/00 Expiration:
SOC: Effective: Expiration:
County: Halifax
Region: Raleigh
Contact Person: Gerald L Wright
Directions to Facility:
Owner : Town of Halifax
Facility: Halifax Collection System
Title: Phone: [phone]
System Classifications:
Primary ORC: Certification: Phone:
Secondary ORC(s):
On -Site Representative(s):
Related Permits:
Ms. Esther Beal
Mr. David Crowder
Mr. Albert Davis
Inspection Date: 04/13/2022 Entry Time 10:OOAM
Primary Inspector: Colleen Cohn ,DocuSned by:
/
Secondary Inspector(s):
�FBCB8277092044D...
Exit Time: 12:30PM
Phone: [phone]
Cheng Zhang ,DocuSigned by:
Reason for Inspection: Routine Inspection Type: Collection System Inspect Non Sampling
D6171508E1 EC41 F...
Permit Inspection Type: Deemed permitted collection system management and operation
Facility Status: ❑ Compliant ❑ Not Compliant
Question Areas:
▪ Miscellaneous Questions
II Spills/Response Plan
▪ Manholes
(See attachment summary)
▪ General
▪ Inspections
▪ Pump Stations
▪ Grease Control
▪ Lines
Page 1 of 6

DocuSign Envelope ID: A01 EE1 F2-109E-4270-AB03-013DEC5410B8
Permit: WQCSD0083 Owner - Facility:Town of Halifax
Inspection Date: 04/13/2022
Inspection Type : Collection System Inspect Non Sampling Reason for Visit: Routine
Inspection Summary:
On April 13, 2022, Colleen Cohn and Cheng Zhang of the Raleigh Regional Office (RRO) conducted an inspection of the
town's wastewater collection system to evaluate compliance with North Carolina Administrative Code Section 15A NCAC
02T .0403 (Permitting by Regulation). The cooperation of Ms. Ester Beal, Mr. Donald Crowder, and Mr. Albert Davis was
greatly appreciated. During the inspection, the following items were noted:
1. The Town of Halifax, hereinafter referred to as the Town, operates a deemed collection system pursuant to 15 NCAC
.02T .0403.
2. The system includes four (4) duplex pump stations, approximately 26,400 feet of gravity collection line, approximately
7,920 feet of force main, approximately 39,600 feet of force main to the Town of Weldon, and one (1) high priority line.
3. All four (4) pump stations were inspected. All pump stations are connected to a telemetry system. Mr. Davis stated that
he inspects the pump stations at least once per week.
a. At the Convenience Store Lift Station, minimal grease was observed, and the high-level float, audible alarm, and visual
alarm were all operational. A stationary generator is maintained by Gregory Poole.
b. At the 903 Lift Station, excessive grease was observed, and water was observed in the dry well. The high-level float and
audible alarm were operational, but the visual alarm was not operational. A stationary generator is maintained by Gregory
Poole.
c. At the Purnell Park Lift Station, minimal grease was observed. The high-level float and audible and visual alarms were
operational. A portable generator is on -site. Signs for the facility were overgrown with moss and illegible. Additionally, a
power plug on the control panel appeared to have blown a fuse.
d. At the Quankey Hills Apartments Lift Station, some grease was observed. The high-level float and audible alarm were
operation, but the visual alarm was not operational. There is no generator at this location.
e. Within 30-days receipt of this letter, please provide this office with a written response indicating the actions the Town will
take or has taken to repair the visual alarms at the 903 Lift Station and Quankey Hills Apartment Lift Station.
4. The high priority line near Purnell Park Lift Station was observed. The right of way was adequately maintained and there
were no visible signs of damage.
5. The Convenience Store Lift Station Manhole was inspected. A buildup of rags was observed in the Manhole.
6. No Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO) have been identified or reported in the last 12 months.
7. Documentation of compliance as required by 15A NCAC 02T .0403(10) were not available during the inspection. The
following records were not available:
a. Pump stations are required to be inspected at least once per week. Mr. Davis stated that he inspects the pump stations
at least once per week. Documentation of these inspections, such as a logbook at each pump station, was not available.
b. High -priority sewer shall be inspected once every six -months. Documentation of these inspections was not available.
c. A general observation of the entire collection system shall be conducted once per year. As discussed, this is conducted
over the course of day-to-day operations, however, documentation of this inspection was not available.
d. Right-of-ways and easements appeared to be maintained. No documentation on the frequency of maintenance, such as
a mowing schedule, was available.
e. An Operation and Maintenance Plan was not available. The plan should include, at a minimum, the pump station
inspection frequency, a preventative maintenance schedule, a spare parts inventory, and an overflow response plan.
f. The Town has developed a map of its sewer collection system. The map includes size, location, and flow direction.
However, only three of the four pump stations are identified on the map. The 903 Lift Station is not shown on the map.
g. Documentation of the Town's Grease Control Program was not available. Grease Control Programs should include
bi-annual distribution of educational materials for both commercial residential users and the legal means to require grease
interceptors for new construction and retrofit and if necessary, of grease interceptors at existing establishments. The plan
should also include legal means for inspections of grease interceptors, enforcement for violators, and the legal means to
control grease entering the system from other public and private satellite collection systems. Ms. Beal stated that the Town
is currently working on creating information packets for new water meters, and the Town plans to distribute Fats, Oils, and
Grease (FOG) educational materials with this packet.
Page 2 of 6

DocuSign Envelope ID: A01 EE1 F2-109E-4270-AB03-013DEC5410B8
Permit: WQCSD0083 Owner - Facility:Town of Halifax
Inspection Date: 04/13/2022
Inspection Type : Collection System Inspect Non Sampling Reason for Visit: Routine
General Yes No NA NE
# Is this system a satellite system? • ❑ ❑ ❑
# If Yes, what is system name or permit number? NC0025721 -
Town of Weldon
• ❑ ❑ ❑
Is there a overall sewer system map?
Does the map include:
Pipe sizes
Pipe materials (PVC, DIP, etc)
Pipe location
# Flow direction
# Approximate pipe age
# Pump station ID, location and capacity
# Force main air release valve location & type
# Location of satellite connections
Are system maintenance records maintained?
Comment: 903 Lift Station and associated sewer lines need to be added to the map.
Grease Control
Is grease/sewer education program documented with req'd customer distribution?
# Are other types of education tools used like websites, booths, special meetings, etc?
If Yes, what are they? (This can reduce mailing to annual.)
For public systems, is there a Grease Control Program via an ordinance/agreement?
If Yes, does it require grease control devices at applicable locations?
Is the Grease Control Program enforced via periodic inspections/records review?
Is action taken against violators?
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Yes No NA NE
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Comment: Records of Town's Grease Control Program and educational materials were not available.
Spills and Response Action Plan
# Is system free of known points of bypass?
If No, describe type of bypass and location
# Have there been any sewer spills in the past 3 years?
If Yes, were they reported to the Division if meeting the reportable criteria?
If applicable, is there documentation of press releases and public notices issued?
Are all spills or sewer related issues/complaints documented?
# Are there repeated overflows/problems (2 or more in 12 months) at same location?
# If Yes, is there a corrective action plan?
Is a Spill Response Action Plan available?
Yes No NA NE
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Page 3 of 6

DocuSign Envelope ID: A01 EE1 F2-109E-4270-AB03-013DEC5410B8
Permit: WQCSD0083 Owner - Facility:Town of Halifax
Inspection Date: 04/13/2022
Inspection Type : Collection System Inspect Non Sampling Reason for Visit: Routine
Is a Spill Response Action Plan available for all personnel?
Does the plan include:
# 24-hour contact numbers ❑ ❑ • ❑
# Response time ❑ El • El
# Equipment list and spare parts inventory ❑ ❑ • ❑
# Access to cleaning equipment ❑ ❑ • ❑
# Access to construction crews, contractors, and/or engineers ❑ ❑ • ❑
# Source of emergency funds ❑ ❑ • ❑
# Site sanitation and cleanup materials ❑ ❑ • ❑
# Post-overflow/spill assessment ❑ ❑ • ❑
Comment: A Spill Response Plan needs to be developed as part of the O&M requirements of 15A NCAC
02T .0403(a)(3).
❑ • ❑ ❑
Inspections Yes No NA NE
Are adequate maintenance records maintained? ❑ • ❑ ❑
Are pump stations being inspected at the required frequency? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is at least one complete functionality test conducted weekly per pump station? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is there a system or plan in place to observe the entire system annually? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the annual inspection documented? ❑ • ❑ ❑
# Does the system have any high -priority lines/locations? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Are inspections of HPL documented at least every 6 months? ❑ • ❑ ❑
Are new lines being added to the HPL list when found or created? ❑ ❑ • ❑
Comment: No records of weekly pump station inspections, annual system inspection, or high -priority line
inspections were available.
Lines/Right-of-Ways/Aerial Lines
Please list the Lines/Right of Ways/Aerial Lines Inspected:
High -Priority Line near Purnell Park Lift Station
Are right-of-ways and easements maintained for the full width for access?
If No, give details on temporary access:
Yes No NA NE
❑ ❑ ❑ •
Is maintenance documented? ❑ • ❑ ❑
Were all areas/lines inspected free of issues? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment: Inspection and maintenance records were unavailable. High -priority line observed from Purnell
Park Lift Station. No leaks were observed.
Manholes
Please list the Manholes Inspected:
Covnenience Store Lift Station Manhole
Are manholes accessible?
# Are manhole covers/vents above grade?
Yes No NA NE
Page 4 of 6

DocuSign Envelope ID: A01 EE1 F2-109E-4270-AB03-013DEC5410B8
Permit: WQCSD0083 Owner - Facility:Town of Halifax
Inspection Date: 04/13/2022
Inspection Type : Collection System Inspect Non Sampling Reason for Visit: Routine
Are manholes free of visible signs of overflow?
Are manholes free of sinkholes and depressions?
Are manhole covers present?
# Are manholes properly seated?
# Are manholes in good condition?
# Are inverts in good condition?
Is flow unrestricted in manholes?
Are manholes free of excessive amounts of grease?
Are manholes free of excessive roots?
Are manholes free of excessive sand?
Are manhole vents screened?
Are vents free of submergence?
Are manholes free of bypass structures or pipes?
Comment: Debris and rags noted in manhole.
Pump Stations
Please list the Pump Stations Inspected:
Convenience Store Lift Station, 903 Lift Station, Purnell Park Lift Station, and Quankey Hills Apartments Lift
Station
# Number of duplex or larger pump stations in system
# Number of vacuum stations in system
# Number of simplex pump stations in system
# Number of simplex pump stations in system serving more than one building
How many pump/vacuum stations have:
# A two-way "auto polling" communication system (SCADA) installed?
# A simple one-way telemetry/communication system (auto -dialer) installed?
For pump stations inspected:
Are they secure with restricted access?
Were they free of by-pass structures/pipes?
Were wet wells free of excessive grease/debris?
# Do they all have telemetry installed?
Is the telemetry system functional?
Is a 24-hour notification sign posted ?
Does the sign include:
Owner Name?
Pump station identifier?
# Address?
Instructions for notification?
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Yes No NA NE
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Page 5 of 6

DocuSign Envelope ID: A01 EE1 F2-109E-4270-AB03-013DEC5410B8
Permit: WQCSD0083 Owner - Facility:Town of Halifax
Inspection Date: 04/13/2022
Inspection Type : Collection System Inspect Non Sampling Reason for Visit: Routine
24-hour emergency contact numbers?
Are audio and visual alarms present?
Are audio and visual alarms operable?
# Is there a backup generator or bypass pump connected?
If tested during inspection, did it function properly?
Is the back-up system tested at least bi-annually under normal operating conditions?
# Does it have a dedicated connection for a portable generator?
# Is the owner relying on portable units in the event of a power outage?
# If Yes, is there a distribution plan?
If Yes, what resources (Units/Staff/Vehicles/etc) are included in Plan?
# Does Permittee have the approved percentage of replacement simplex pumps?
Is recordkeeping of pump station inspection and maintenance program adequate?
Do pump station logs include at a minimum:
Inside and outside cleaning and debris removal?
Inspecting and exercising all valves?
Inspecting and lubricating pumps and other equipment?
Inspecting alarms, telemetry and auxiliary equipment?
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Comment: No pump station logs were available. Excessive grease was observed at the 903 Lift Station.
Visual alarms were not operational at the 903 Lift Station or Quankey Hills Apartments Lift
Station. Stationary generators at Convenience Store Lift Station and 903 Lift Station. Portable
generator located on -site at the Purnell Park Lift Station. No generator at the Quankey Hills
Apartments Lift Station.
Page 6 of 6