WQ0034367_Staff Report_20220526

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Environmental
Quality
State of North Carolina
Division of Water Resources
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Staff Report
To: ❑ NPDES Unit ® Non -Discharge Unit Application No.: WQ0034367
Attn: Lauren Plummer
From: Helen Perez
Wilmington Regional Office
Facility name: Northwest Regional WRF
Note: This form has been adapted from the non -discharge facility staff report to document the review of both non -
discharge and NPDES permit applications and/or renewals. Please complete all sections as they are applicable.
I. GENERAL AND SITE VISIT INFORMATION
1. Was a site visit conducted? ® Yes or ❑ No
a. Date of site visit: 11/17/2021
b. Site visit conducted by: Helen Perez and Jennifer Ryan
c. Inspection report attached? ['Yes or ® No
d. Person contacted: Mark Young and their contact information: (910) 340 - 9256 ext.
e. Driving directions:
f.
2. Discharge Point(s):
Latitude: Longitude:
Latitude: Longitude:
3. Receiving stream or affected surface waters:
Classification:
River Basin and Subbasin No.
Describe receiving stream features and pertinent downstream uses:
II. PROPOSED FACILITIES: NEW APPLICATIONS
1. Facility Classification: (Please attach completed rating sheet to be attached to issued permit)
Proposed flow:
Current permitted flow:
2. Are the new treatment facilities adequate for the type of waste and disposal system? ['Yes or ❑ No
If no, explain:
3. Are site conditions (soils, depth to water table, etc) consistent with the submitted reports? ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, please explain:
4. Do the plans and site map represent the actual site (property lines, wells, etc.)? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
5. Is the proposed residuals management plan adequate? ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, please explain:
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6. Are the proposed application rates (e.g., hydraulic, nutrient) acceptable`? I I Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, please explain:
7. Are there any setback conflicts for proposed treatment, storage and disposal sites? n Yes or ❑ No
If yes, attach a map showing conflict areas.
8. Is the proposed or existing groundwater monitoring program adequate? ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, explain and recommend any changes to the groundwater monitoring program:
9. For residuals, will seasonal or other restrictions be required? ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If yes, attach list of sites with restrictions (Certification B)
Describe the residuals handling and utilization scheme:
10. Possible toxic impacts to surface waters:
11. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only):
III. EXISTING FACILITIES: MODIFICATION AND RENEWAL APPLICATIONS
1. Are there appropriately certified Operators in Charge (ORCs) for the facility? ® Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
ORC: Mark Young Certificate #: 1001105 Backup ORC: Kary Herndon Certificate
#:1009156
2. Are the design, maintenance and operation of the treatment facilities adequate for the type of waste and disposal
system? ® Yes or ❑ No
If no, please explain:
Description of existing facilities:
See attachment.
Proposed flow:
Current permitted flow: 1,272,973 GPD
Explain anything observed during the site visit that needs to be addressed by the permit, or that may be important
for the permit writer to know (i.e., equipment condition, function, maintenance, a change in facility ownership,
etc.)
3. Are the site conditions (e.g., soils, topography, depth to water table, etc) maintained appropriately and adequately
assimilating the waste? ® Yes or n No
If no, please explain:
4. Has the site changed in any way that may affect the permit (e.g., drainage added, new wells inside the compliance
boundary, new development, etc.)? n Yes or ® No
If yes, please explain:
5. Is the residuals management plan adequate? ® Yes or ❑ No
If no, please explain:
6. Are the existing application rates (e.g., hydraulic, nutrient) still acceptable? ® Yes or ❑ No
If no, please explain:
7. Is the existing groundwater monitoring program adequate? ® Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, explain and recommend any changes to the groundwater monitoring program:
8. Are there any setback conflicts for existing treatment, storage and disposal sites? ❑ Yes or ® No
If yes, attach a map showing conflict areas.
9. Is the description of the facilities as written in the existing permit correct? n Yes or ® No
If no, please explain: See corrected description in attachment.
10. Were monitoring wells properly constructed and located? ® Yes n No N/A
If no, please explain:
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11. Are the monitoring well coordinates correct in BIMS? ® Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, please complete the following (expand table if necessary):
Monitoring Well
Latitude
Longitude
O
l
11
0
I
//
O
/
//
0
I
II
O
/
I/
0
I
/I
O
/
fP
0
I
/I
O
l
I/
0
I
/I
12. Has a review of all self -monitoring data been conducted (e.g., DMR, NDMR, NDAR, GW)? ® Yes or ❑ No
Please summarize any findings resulting from this review: A review of files for the 5-year permit cycle showed the
following: the 4 monitoring wells had no violations; some daily exceedances for fecal coliform, most during the
operation of the previous UV system; some TSS exceedances during the operation of the temporary disc filter assembled
and used after Hurricane Florence; random ammonia, BOD and total phosphorus exceedances.
Provide input to help the permit writer evaluate any requests for reduced monitoring, if applicable.
Permittee stated that PPI 002, Groundwater Lowering monitoring, was redundant because Surface Water Stations #1 and
#2 monitor the area. The GW lowering station only has flow when the levels of the adjacent New River or Cowhorn
Swamp are unusually high. In the last 12 months, staff was only able to sample 3 of those months due to no flow. WIRO
staff has evaluated this issue at least 2-3 times and found that this system does not appear to be associated with the
draining of the natural occurring groundwater table and agree with the Permittee to eliminate the PPI 002 monitoring.
13. Are there any permit changes needed in order to address ongoing BIMS violations? ❑ Yes or ® No
If yes, please explain:
14. Check all that apply:
® No compliance issues
❑ Notice(s) of violation
❑ Current enforcement action(s) ❑ Currently under JOC
❑ Currently under SOC ❑ Currently under moratorium
Please explain and attach any documents that may help clarify answer/comments (i.e., NOV, NOD, etc.)
If the facility has had compliance problems during the permit cycle, please explain the status. Has the RO been
working with the Permittee? Is a solution underway or in place?
Have all compliance dates/conditions in the existing permit been satisfied? ❑ Yes ❑ No ® N/A
If no, please explain:
15. Are there any issues related to compliance/enforcement that should be resolved before issuing this permit?
nYes ❑No®N/A
If yes, please explain:
16. Possible toxic impacts to surface waters:
17. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only):
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6. Signature of report preparer:
IV. REGIONAL OFFICE RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Do you foresee any problems with issuance/renewal of this permit? ❑ Yes or ® No
If yes, please explain:
2. List any items that you would like the NPDES Unit or Non -Discharge Unit Central Office to obtain through an
additional information request:
Item
Reason
3. List specific permit conditions recommended to be removed from the permit when issued:
Condition
Reason
4. List specific special conditions or compliance schedules recommended to be included in the permit when issued:
Condition
Reason
5. Recommendation: ❑ Hold, pending receipt and review of additional information by regional office
® Hold, pending review of draft permit by regional office
n Issue upon receipt of needed additional information
Issue
n Deny (Please state reasons: )
DocuSigned by:
Signature of regional supervisor:
6/8/2022
Date:
1D645B4A39694BE...
DocuSigned by
L
E3ABA14AC7DC434...
FORM: WQROSSR 04-14
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 19A5CA1C-B7FD-45FF-B1E0-8A5C7E38E8CC
V. ADDITIONAL REGIONAL STAFF REVIEW ITEMS
This staff report is being prepared for the renewal of Permit WQ0034367, Northwest Regional WRF. The
modifications listed in the current permit should be finalized this summer. The membrane filtration system, that was
damaged during Hurricane Florence, has been removed. The reclaimed bulk distribution system and the non -potable
reuse system for internal use associated with those membranes have not been used since the damage. The PPI 002,
groundwater lowering monitoring is not needed as explained in section 111.12 above. The description of the facility
has changed (see attachment), eliminating the following: membrane filtration and old UV system, the non -potable
reuse system for internal use and the reclaimed water bulk distribution system. The new UV system was added as well
as few minor changes.
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