WQ0015487_Field Notes_20160523

Summary of Powell Lumber Inspection May 2016

On May 17, 2016, Bev Price and Brett Laverty from the Asheville Regional Office were at Powell Lumber
conducting a final site inspection in conjunction with a request to rescind the wastewater recycle pond
permit. It is important to note that the water level in the upper wastewater recycle pond read 0 feet on
the staff gauge. The inspection team observed black-colored wastewater in the lower stormwater pond,
which is a violation of the non-discharge permit. Because there is no visible dicharge point at the lower
stormwater pond, the question was asked what happens to the water when the stormwater pond fills
up. Powell Lumber’s response was the lower stormwater pond never discharges due to evaporation. At
that point, the team decided to explore the stormwater inlet at the base of dam (see photo 1) and
follow it out to Jonathan Creek.

At that time, the inspection team observed a small discharge (< 5 GPM) at the NCDOT stormwater outlet
into Johnathan Creek. Visually, this discharge had similar characteristics to the wastewater in the recycle
pond namely black in color, oily sheen, and a distinct odor.

On May 20, 2016, the inspection team returned to conduct additional reconnaissance on the potential
wastewater discharge to Jonathan Creek. The first inspection stop was at the NCDOT stormwater outlet
into Johnathan Creek. To our surprise, the flow rate of the black-colored water had increased to 30 GPM
(see photo 2). Upon arriving at the two ponds, it became obvious that wastewater had recently been
transferred from the upper recycle pond to the lower stormwater pond, which was later confirmed by
Carl Powell. The water level in the wastewater recycle pond read – 2 feet at the staff gauge. Based on
the size of the pond and the removal of 2 feet of head, we estimated that 90,000 gallons of wastewater
was transferred to the lower stormwater pond on May 19, 2016 (see photo 3). We were at a loss to
explain the discharge to Jonathan Creek because there was no flowing water at the toe of the lower
stormwater pond nor any observable flow into the adjacent storm drain. The confusion was
compounded when we began to inspect the larger NCDOT storm drain underneath US 276. Initially, we
inspected the stormwater drop box in the highway median but found no flowing water. However, we
could hear flowing water further into the highway storm drain.

In response to the release, Powell Lumber was required to transfer the water back to the wastewater
water recycle pond. Between May 20, 2016 and May 22, 2016, Powell Lumber pumped more than
90,000 gallons back to the wastewater pond, which dropped the water level in the lower stormwater
pond by several feet (see photo 4). The inspection team returned on May 23, 2016 to sample the black-
colored discharge at Jonathan Creek but the flow had dropped and the water had cleared possibly due
to the transfer of wastewater (see photo 5).

Over the next couple weeks, DWR partnered with NCDOT to inspect the storm drains with various
remote rovers. They were not able to inspect the smaller storm drain next to the lower stormwater
pond because of accumulated debris inside the pipe. However, they did inspect the larger highway
storm drain. NCDOT observed a smaller pipe entering the highway storm drain on its south-east side.
This smaller pipe was discharging water at the time of the inspection (see photo 6). It is believed this
smaller pipe is connected to the storm drain located next to the lower stormwater pond (see map 1).

Photo 1: Small storm drain next to lower stormwater pond.
Photo 2: Potential wastewater discharge to Jonathan Creek on May 20, 2016.
Photo 3: Water level in lower stormwater pond on morning of May 21, 2016.
Photo 4: Water level in lower stormwater pond on morning of May 23, 2016.
Photo 5: Clear discharge from NCDOT storm drain at Jonathan Creek on May 23, 2016.
Photo 6: Rover image showing discharging pipe entering the NCDOT storm drain. Note camera is facing towards Jonathan Creek.
Map 1: Powel Lumber site map showing possible connection between the stormwater pond and the NCDOT storm drain.