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Home My WebLink AboutWQ0005849_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20220914Compliance Inspection Report Permit: WQ0005849 SOC: County: Onslow Region: Wilmington Effective: 10/20/20 Expiration: 12/31/26 Effective: Expiration: Contact Person: Randy R Hoffer Title: Owner : Pluris LLC Facility: Pluris North Topsail WWTP 1095 NC 210 Sneads Ferry NC 28460 Phone: 910-327-2880 Directions to Facility: The WWTF is located in the Sneads Ferry community on the southeast side of the NC Hwy. 172/NC Hwy. 210 intersection. System Classifications: WW4., SI, Primary ORC: Dwight Linwood Peterson Certification: 22802 Phone: 910-327-2880 Secondary ORC(s): On -Site Representative(s): Related Permits: WQ0034485 WQ0034486 WQ0034483 Pluris LLC - Sneads Ferry South Consolidated Sewer Basin Pluris LLC - Sneads Ferry North Consolidated Sewer Basin Pluris LLC - North Topsail Beach Consolidated Sewer Basin Inspection Date: 09/13/2022 Primary Inspector: Geoff Kegley Secondary Inspector(s): Entry Time 10:30AM Exit Time: 12:30PM Reason for Inspection: Routine Permit Inspection Type: High Rate Infiltration Facility Status: II Compliant Not Compliant Question Areas: ▪ Treatment Flow Measurement -Effluent ▪ Treatment Flow Measurement -Water Use Records ▪ Treatment Filters ▪ Treatment Activated Sludge ▪ Treatment Disinfection ▪ Standby Power (See attachment summary) Phone: Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation ▪ Treatment Flow Measurement -Influent ▪ Treatment ▪ Record Keeping ▪ Treatment Sludge Storage/Treatment ▪ End Use -Infiltration ▪ Wells ▪ Miscellaneous Questions ▪ Treatment Barscreen ▪ Treatment Lagoons ▪ End Use -Irrigation ▪ Treatment Flow Measurement Page 1 of 7 Permit: WQ0005849 Owner - Facility: Pluris LLC Inspection Date: 09/13/2022 Inspection Type : Compliance Evaluation Reason for Visit: Routine Inspection Summary: A routine compliance inspection was conducted at the Pluris North Topsail WWTF and disposal site on September 13, 2022. The evaluation was to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in Permit WQ0005849. The primary ORC, Dwight Peterson was present during the inspection and was very helpful providing assistance throughout the inspection. The WWTF has a total permitted flow of 1,542,635 GPD and consists of two wastewater plants and two disposal sites: MBR plant with High Rate Infiltration basins: • 254,320 gallon EQ tank • Rotary drum fine screens • 52,229 gallon anaerobic tank • Alum chemical feed • 49,745 gallon pre -anoxic tank • 70,324 gallon post anoxic tank with Micro C chemical feed system • Two 41,888 gallon MBR aeration basins • RAS and WAS wet wells • 330,616 gallon aerobic digester • UV disinfection unit • Disposal via 2 high rate infiltration basins with gravity dewatering system • 9.5 acre dewatering storage lagoon (22.5 million gallons) • Phase II WWTP is currently under construction Lagoon/Spray irrigation: • 42.2 acre three cell facultative lagoon with 57 million gallon capacity • Chlorine contact chamber and irrigation pump station • Disposal via 129.28 acres of spray irrigation With a few exceptions, monitoring has generally shown consistent compliance with permit limits. Groundwater monitoring has been generally compliant except for some erratic TDS exceedances and reoccurring ammonia exceedances in several wells located at the review boundary. Newly installed well MW-10 located at the compliance boundary indicates levels of ammonia below the groundwater standard. The permittee should continue to evaluate nutrients in the effluent and their inputs into the groundwater through the disposal sites. Lagoons were in good shape; crew was on site for annual cutting of woody vegetation on inside of berms. Plant was overall well maintained. Fields were overgrown and due for cutting and harvest. Discussion with the ORC indicates there has been a problem with how to dispose of the cut and baled crop. Farmers are uninterested, burning was not recommended and other avenues have not met needs. The permittee should continue to pursue options available, as it is necessary to remove the crop from the disposal site in order to remove the nutrients and prevent overloading the disposal fields and prevent leaching of nutrients int the groundwater. The ORC designation form needs to be updated. The facility is deemed compliant with the non -discharge permit WQ0005849. See below for further comments. Page 2 of 7 Permit: WQ0005849 Owner - Facility: Pluris LLC Inspection Date: 09/13/2022 Inspection Type : Compliance Evaluation Reason for Visit: Routine Type Reuse (Quality) Single Family Spray, LR Activated Sludge Spray, LR Activated Sludge Spray, HR Activated Sludge Drip, LR Recycle/Reuse Single Family Drip Infiltration System Lagoon Spray, LR Treatment Are Treatment facilities consistent with those outlined in the current permit? Do all treatment units appear to be operational? (if no, note below.) Comment: Phase II WWTP is currently under construction. Treatment Flow Measurement -Influent Is flowmeter calibrated annually? Is flowmeter operating properly? Does flowmeter monitor continuously? Does flowmeter record flow? Does flowmeter appear to monitor accurately? Yes No NA NE • • Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Flow meter annual calibration had reportedly been performed in November 2021. Flow meters were recently repaired in August. Treatment Flow Measurement -Water Use Records Is water use metered? Are the daily average values properly calculated? Comment: Treatment Flow Measurement -Effluent Is flowmeter calibrated annually? Is flowmeter operating properly? Does flowmeter monitor continuously? Does flowmeter record flow? Does flowmeter appear to monitor accurately? Comment: Standby Power Yes No NA NE • • ❑ ❑• Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE Page 3 of 7 Permit: WQ0005849 Owner - Facility: Pluris LLC Inspection Date: 09/13/2022 Inspection Type : Compliance Evaluation Reason for Visit: Routine Is automatically activated standby power available? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is generator tested weekly by interrupting primary power source? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is generator operable? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Does generator have adequate fuel? ❑ ❑ ❑ • Comment: Generator was tested during inspection and auto transfer was operational. Generator is tested weekly and on a maintenance contract. Treatment Barscreen Is it free of excessive debris? Is disposal of screenings in compliance? Are the bars spaced properly? Is the unit in good condition? Comment: Treatment Activated Sludge Is the aeration mechanism operable? Is the aeration basin thoroughly mixed? Is the aeration equipment easily accessed? Is Dissolved Oxygen adequate? Are Settleometer results acceptable? Is activated sludge an acceptable color? Comment: Sludge is hauled off by Lewis Farms. Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Treatment Filters Yes No NA NE Is the filter media present? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the filter media the correct size and type? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the air scour operational? ❑ ❑ • ❑ Is the scouring acceptable? ❑ ❑ • ❑ Is the clear well free of excessive solids? ❑ ❑ ❑ • Is the mud well free of excessive solids and filter media? ❑ ❑ ❑ • Does backwashing frequency appear adequate? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: High water alarms were tested and functional. Treatment Sludge Storage/Treatment Is the aeration operational? Is the aeration pattern even? If required, are Sanitary "Ts" present in tankage? Comment: , Treatment Disinfection Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE Page4of7 Permit: WQ0005849 Owner - Facility: Pluris LLC Inspection Date: 09/13/2022 Inspection Type : Compliance Evaluation Reason for Visit: Routine Is the system working? Do the fecal coliform results indicate proper disinfection? Is there adequate detention time (>=30 minutes)? Is the system properly maintained? If gas, does the cylinder storage appear safe? Is the fan in the chlorine feed room and storage area operable? Is the chlorinator accessible? If tablets, are tablets present? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Is contact chamber free of sludge, solids, and growth? If UV, are extra UV bulbs available? If UV, is the UV intensity adequate? # Is it a dual feed system? Does the Stationary Source have more than 2500 Ibs of Chlorine (CAS No. 7782-50-5)? If yes, then is there a Risk Management Plan on site? If yes, then what is the EPA twelve digit ID Number? (1000- - ) If yes, then when was the RMP last updated? Comment: Record Keeping Is a copy of current permit available? Are monitoring reports present: NDMR? NDAR? Are flow rates less than of permitted flow? Are flow rates less than of permitted flow? Are application rates adhered to? Is GW monitoring being conducted, if required (GW-59s submitted)? Are all samples analyzed for all required parameters? Are there any 2L GW quality violations? Is GW-59A certification form completed for facility? Is effluent sampled for same parameters as GW? Do effluent concentrations exceed GW standards? Are annual soil reports available? # Are PAN records required? # Did last soil report indicate a need for lime? If so, has it been applied? Are operational logs present? • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑• • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑• ❑ ❑ ❑• ❑ ❑ ❑• ❑ ❑ ❑• • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ • ❑ Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑• • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑• ❑•❑ ❑ ❑•❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Page5of7 Permit: WQ0005849 Owner - Facility: Pluris LLC Inspection Date: 09/13/2022 Inspection Type : Compliance Evaluation Reason for Visit: Routine Are lab sheets available for review? Do lab sheets support data reported on NDMR? Do lab sheets support data reported on GW-59s? Are Operational and Maintenance records present? Were Operational and Maintenance records complete? Has permittee been free of public complaints in last 12 months? Is a copy of the SOC readily available? No treatment units bypassed since last inspection? Comment: Soil analysis for irrigation fields was on file. Composite sampler was at correct temperature. End Use -Irrigation Are buffers adequate? Is the cover crop type specified in permit? Is the crop cover acceptable? Is the site condition adequate? Is the site free of runoff / ponding? Is the acreage specified in the permit being utilized? Is the application equipment present? Is the application equipment operational? Is the disposal field free of limiting slopes? Is access restricted and/or signs posted during active site use? Are any supply wells within the CB? Are any supply wells within 250' of the CB? How close is the closest water supply well? Is municipal water available in the area? # Info only: Does the permit call for monitoring wells? Are GW monitoring wells located properly w/ respect to RB and CB? Are GW monitoring wells properly constructed, including screened interval? Are monitoring wells damaged? • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ • ❑ ❑ Comment: Monitoring wells were in good condition and locked. Some older test wells were observed at the facility. If these are no longer needed, they should be properly abandoned by a NC certified well driller. End Use -Infiltration # Is the application High Rate or Low Rate? Are buffers maintained? Are any supply wells within the CB? Yes No NA NE High Rate • ❑ ❑ ❑ ▪ • Page6of7 Permit: WQ0005849 Owner - Facility: Pluris LLC Inspection Date: 09/13/2022 Inspection Type : Compliance Evaluation Reason for Visit: Routine Are any supply wells within 250' of the CB? Is municipal water available in the area? Are GW monitoring wells required? Are GW monitoring wells located properly w/ respect to RB and CB? Are GW monitoring wells properly constructed, including screened interval? Is a usable green area maintained? Is the disposal site acceptable? Is the distribution equipment acceptable? Is the disposal site free of ponding? Is the disposal site free of breakout? Are the disposal sites free of solids, algae, etc.? Do the records show that the fields are properly maintained? Are the disposal sites free of vegetation? Do any surface water features appear to be adversely impacted by GW discharge? No chemicals or rototiller used to eliminate vegetation, solids, algae, etc.? Comment: ❑ • ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Page 7 of 7