NC0024937_Authorization to Construct_19971222

NPDES DOCUMENT SCANNING COVER :SHEET
NC0024937
Sugar Creek WWTP
NPDES Permit:
Document Type:
Permit Issuance
Wasteload Allocation
(Authorization
to Construct (At
Permit Modification
Complete File - Historical
Engineering Alternatives (EAA)
Correspondence
Owner Name Change
Draft Permit
Instream Assessment (67b)
Speculative Limits
Environmental Assessment (EA)
Document Date:
December 22, 1997
Miss document is printed on reuse paper - ignore any
content on the re-srerase aside

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Wayne McDevitt, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
Mr. Arnold Jarrell, Project Manager
Charlotte -Mecklenburg Utility Department
5100 Brookshire Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina 28216
Dear Mr. Jarrell:
ED E N R
December 22, 1997
Subject: Permit No. ACCO24937
Authorization to Construct
Charlotte -Mecklenburg Utility Department
Sugar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
Mecklenburg County,
A letter of request for an Authorization to Construct was received November 21, 1996 by the Division
and final plans and specifications for the subject project have been reviewed and found to be satisfactory.
Authorization is hereby granted for the construction of facilities at the above referenced plant discharging
treated effluent into Little Sugar Creek in the Catawba River Basin. Specifically, this Authorization to
Construct authorizes:
• Construction of a equalization basin with a 3 million gallon compartment and a 17 million
gallon compartment,
Construction of .a flow equalization pump station with four 18.5 mgd pumps, two return 5
mgd flow return pumps, a 200 gpm wetwell drain pump, a 200 gpm dry well drain pump, and
two 150 gpm underdrain pumps, and
• Construction of an excess flow control chamber with flow meter.
This Authorization to Construct is issued in accordance with Part III, Paragraph A of NPDES Permit
No. NC0024937 issued November 4, 1996, and shall be subject to revocation unless the wastewater treatment
facilities are constructed in accordance with the conditions and limitations specified in Permit No.
NC0024937.
The sludge generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed of in accordance with G.S.
143-215.1 arid in a manner approved by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality.
In the event that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily, including the creation of nuisance
conditions, the Permittee shall take immediate corrective action, including those as may be required by this
Division, such as the construction of additional or replacement wastewater treatment or disposal facilities.
The Mooresville Regional Office, telephone number [phone], shall be notified at least forty-
eight (48) hours in advance of operation of the installed facilities so that an in -place inspection can be made.
Such notification to the regional supervisor shall be made during the normal office hours from 8:00 a.m.
until 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday, excluding State Holidays.
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/ 10% post -consumer paper

Permit No. ACCO24937
Authorization to Construct
Charlotte -Mecklenburg Utility Department
December 22, 1997
Page 2
Upon completion of construction and prior to operation of this permitted facility, a certification must
be received from a professional engineer certifying that the permitted facility has been installed in
accordance with the NPDES Permit, this Authorization to Construct and the approved plans and
specifications. Mail the Certification to the Permits and Engineering Unit, P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, NC
27626-0535.
Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, the Permittee shall employ a
certified wastewater treatment plant operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) of the wastewater treatment
facilities. The operator must hold a certificate of the type and grade at least equivalent to or greater than the
classification assigned to the wastewater treatment facilities by the Certification Commission. The Permittee
must also employ a certified back-up operator of the appropriate type and grade to comply with the
conditions of Title 15A, Chapter 8A, .0202. The ORC of the facility must visit each Class I facility at least
weekly and each Class II, III, and IV facility at least daily, excluding weekends and holidays, and must
properly manage and document daily operation and maintenance of the facility and must comply with all
other conditions of Title 15A, Chapter 8A, .0202. Once the facility is classified, the Permittee must submit a
letter to the Certification Commission which designates the operator in responsible charge within thirty days
after the wastewater treatment facilities are 50% complete.
A copy of the approved plans and specifications shall be maintained on file by the Permittee for the
life of the facility.
Failure to abide by the requirements contained in this Authorization to Construct may subject the
Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division of Water Quality in accordance with North Carolina
General Statute 143-215.6A to 143-215.6C.
The issuance of this Authorization to Construct does not preclude the Permittee from complying with
any and all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed by other government agencies
(local, state, and federal) which have jurisdiction.
One (1) set of approved plans and specifications is being forwarded to you. If you have any
questions or need additional information, please contactMatt Williams, telephone number (919) 733-
5083, extension 509.
,IA. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E.
cc: Central Files
NPDES Unit, Permit File
Raleigh Regional Office, Water Quality
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit
Camp Dresser & McKee, Mr. Richard A. Carrier, P.E.

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Camp Dresser & McKee
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January 31, 1997
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Mr. Matt Williams
Environmental Engineer
State Engineering Review Group
Division of Water Quality
Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources
P.O. Box 29535
Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535
Re:
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Application No. ACCO24937
Charlotte -Mecklenburg Utility Department
Sugar Creek Flow Equalization Facilities --Request for Authorization to Construct
NPDES permit no. NC0024937
Dear Mr. Williams:
Camp Dresser & McKee (CDM) and the Charlotte -Mecklenburg Utility Department (CMUD)
have reviewed your letter dated December 31, 1996 (copy attached) regarding the referenced
request for Authorization to Construct. We request that the Division of Water Quality (DWQ)
reconsider your position regarding the emergency overflow from the equalization basin. As
described in this letter, CDM and CMUD believe that the provision of an emergency overflow is in
accordance with NPDES permit, the Dam Safety Law of 1967, and good engineering practice. As
agreed to in our telephone conversation we are transmitting this letter by fax and will follow up
with the original by mail including a copy to Don Safrit.
In your review please consider the following:
1. The referenced NPDES permit (part II, section B, paragraph 4) specifically allows
bypassing the treatment process in emergencies that risk "severe property damage".. ithout an
emergency bypass there is no means to mitigate this risk. It is CMUD's intent to use the overflo
only in case of emergency and only within the NPDES permit requirements.
2. Good engineering practice and the Dam Safety Law require that any impoundment have
provision to prevent damage to the dam in case of accidental overfilling. The best outlet for this
purpose is the existing outfall structure which allows for sampling and reoxygenation of the excess
flow. Any other location, be it the plant headworks, the sewer to the McAlpine Creek WWMF, or
directly to Sugar Creek would result in uncontrolled and unquantified overflows that may result in
loss of life and property.
3. The concept of an emergency overflow was agreed to in principle at a meeting with NCDEHNR
on September 10, 1991. Don Safrit, Dennis Ramsey, Carolyn McCaskill and Angela Griffin
attended this meeting. As a result of this meeting, NCDEHNR specifically approved the
construction of a similar structure at CMUD's McAlpine Creek WWMF with the provision that its
use be limited to emergency situations in accordance with the bypass provisions of the NPDES
permit.
Note that the Sugar Creek Flow Equalization Facility is just one part of CMUD's comprehensive
(and voluntary) program to reduce and eliminate sanitary sewer overflows (SSO's) in their system.
CMUD is systematically and aggressively rehabilitating their collection system to reduce rainfall

CDMCamp Dresser & McKee
dependent infiltration and inflow (RDII). This particular facility will eliminate all uncontrolled
SSO's in the vicinity of the plant. Without an emergency overflow from the equalization basin,
there is potential during extreme wet weather events for raw untreated wastewater to flow directly
to Sugar Creek.
The use of the flow equalization basin/emergency bypass will provide a much greater protection to
the water quality in Sugar Creek compared to the no action alternative. The equalization facility
will receive screened and degritted excess wet weather flow which is typically weak and
oxygenated. The equalization basin is designed to promote settling and includes a provision for
chlorination in two locations. There is also provision for dechiorination prior to discharge as well
as reoxygenation in the cascade aerator.
In essence the bypass allows for highly treated effluent from the main treatment plant process
blended with a lesser quantity of primary treated and disinfected excess wet weather flow to be
discharged in accordance with the requirements of the NPDES permit. Experience with the similar
design at the McAlpine Creek WWMF has shown that the combined effluent released during
infrequent and severe wet weather flow events has in all ways met the requirements of the NPDES
permit limits. Without the emergency overflow and equalization basin, uncontrolled discharge of
untreated sewage to Sugar Creek will occur in violation of CMUD's NPDES permit and
jeopardizing public health.
The proposed bypass will only be used in emergencies as defined and allowed by the requirements
of CMUD's NPDES permit. It is CMUD's intent to use the emergency bypass only when all
other avenues are exhausted including use of the maximum capacity of the relief sewer to the
McAlpine Creek WWMF and the hydraulic/treatment capacity of the Sugar Creek WWTP.
The provision of the emergency overflow in no way contradicts or relieves CMUD from the
requirements of their NPDES permit. The construction of any flow equalization facility, by law
and good engineering practice, must incorporate an emergency overflow to protect the public
safety. The proposed flow equalization facility, with the emergency overflow, is the best
engineering solution for elimination of SSO's in the vicinity of the Sugar Creek WWTP and as
part of CMUD's long-term, comprehensive approach to SSO control for the entire collection
system.
Please reconsider your position and respond with your Authorization to Construct.
like to discuss this issue further, please call me a [phone].
Sincerely,
Richard A. Carrier, P.E., DEE
Project Manager
cc: Don Safrit- NCDEHNR
Arnold Jarrell-CMUD
Tom Hall-CDM
John Roberts-CDM
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State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
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December 31, 1996
Mr. Arnold Jarrell, Project Manager
Charlotte -Mecklenburg Utility Department
5100 Brookshire Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina 28216
Dear Mr. Jarrell:
Subject: Application No. ACCO24937
Additional Information Request
Charlotte -Mecklenburg Utility
Department
Sugar Creek WWTP
Authorization to Construct
Mecklenburg County
The Permits and Engineering Unit has completed a preliminary engineering review of the
subject application. Please note the emergency bypass provided at the second compartment which
discharges directly to and combines with the existing plant discharge at the cascade aerator is not
allowed. The Division does not allow bypasses lines to be installed that will eliminate part of the
treatment process. Please change your plans to reflect removal of the bypass line.
Please reference the subject permit application number when providing the requested
information. All information should be signed, sealed, and submitted in duplicate to my attention
at the address below. Please note that failure to provide this additional information on or before
January 31, 1996, can result in your application being returned as incomplete.
If you have any questions regarding this request, please call me at [phone],
extension 509.
Sincerely,
24✓.sly/ , zr
Matt Williams, E.I.T.
Environmental Engineer
State Engineering Review Group
cc: Mooresville Regional Office, Water Quality
Permit File ACCO24937
Camp Dresser & McKee, Mr. Rick Carrier, P.E.
RE 0
JAN 0 6 1997
CDM-CHA PLOTTE
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
50% recycled/ 1C% post -consumer paper
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer