NCS000240_CLT WQ Monitoring SOP_20220930

City of Charlotte
NPDES Permit Program
Water Quality Assessment
And Monitoring Plan
•
CHARLOTTE
Permit Number NCS000240
July 2020

Table of Contents
Section1 Purpose................................................................................................... 1
Section 2 General Water Quality Monitoring Program ....................................... 1
2.1 Monitoring Methods................................................................................ 1
2.2 Sample Types and Frequency................................................................... 1
2.3 Monitoring Parameters............................................................................. 1
Section 3 Monitoring Sites.....................................................................................2
3.1 Basis for Locating Monitoring Sites......................................................... 2
3.2 Site Locations/Descriptions...................................................................... 2
3.3 Site Map.................................................................................................. 3
Section 4 Sample and Data Analysis..................................................................... 4
4.1 Sample Analytical Methods..................................................................... 4
4.2 Quality Assurance.................................................................................... 4
4.3 Record Keeping....................................................................................... 5
Section 5 Data Evaluation and Assessment........................................................... 5
5.1 Methods for Evaluating and Assessing Data ............................................ 5
5.2 Reporting................................................................................................. 5
5.3 Monitoring Plan Revisions....................................................................... 5
List of Tables:
Table 2-1: Water Quality Monitoring Parameters...................................................... 1
Table 3-1: City Water Quality Monitoring Sites ........................................................ 2
Table 4-1: Analytical Methods and Minimum Reporting Levels ................................ 4
List of Figures:
Figure 3-1: City Water Quality Monitoring Sites ........................................................ 3

im City of Charlotte - Surface Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Plan - July 2020
CHART oTTE.
Section 1: Purpose
The purpose of the Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Program is to monitor and assess
the quality of streams within the City of Charlotte. Information gained from this program may
be used to help identify and eliminate sources of pollution and illicit discharges, track short-term
and long-term trends, and, where possible, gauge the effectiveness of stormwater management
efforts and programs conducted by the City.
Section 2: General WO Monitoring Program
2.1 Monitoring Methods
Monitoring methods utilized in this plan will consist of directly accessing the stream to
conduct specified monitoring within the stream channel at a point representative of the overall
stream flow at the time of monitoring. In most cases, this will be center channel of the stream.
When possible, staff will enter the stream and directly fill sample bottles from the stream flow.
2.2 Sample Types and Frequency
Samples collected under this plan will be fixed interval grab samples taken on a quarterly basis at
each monitoring location. Typically, a specific day of each calendar quarter (usually, the 3rd
Wednesday of the first month of each calendar quarter) was assigned for monitoring to allow for
sampling over a range of flows in the long-term at each monitoring location. However, due to
COVID-19 precautions, a modified sampling schedule is currently being implemented where
50% of samples are collected on the second Tuesday of the first month of the calendar quarter
and the remainder collected on the second Thursday of that same month.
2.3 Monitoring Parameters
Table 2-1 provides a list of the water quality parameters sampled at the monitoring sites.
Table 2-1: Water Quality Monitoring Parameters.
Parameter
Sample Type
Frequency
Fecal Coliform
Grab
Quarterly
E-Coli
Grab
Quarterly
Total Phosphorus
Grab
Quarterly
Nitrite + Nitrate
Grab
Quarterly
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen
Grab
Quarterly
Ammonia Nitrogen
Grab
Quarterly
Total Suspended Solids
Grab
Quarterly
Turbidity
Grab
Quarterly
Copper
Grab
Quarterly
Zinc
Grab
Quarterly
Chromium
Grab
Quarterly

im City of Charlotte - Surface Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Plan - July 2020
CHART oTTE.
Lead
Grab
Quarterly
Dissolved Oxygen
In -Situ
Quarterly
Temperature
In -Situ
Quarterly
Conductivity
In -Situ
Quarterly
pH
In -Situ
Quarterly
Section 3: Monitoring Sites
3.1 Basis for Locating Monitoring ites
The goal of the WQ monitoring program plan will be to locate one monitoring site within each
major watershed in the City to characterize water quality conditions within the watershed. Sites
are located at the downstream most accessible point within the watershed. Fifteen (15)
monitoring sites are utilized under this plan to monitor and assess water quality conditions in the
City.
3.2 Site Locations/Description
Table 3-1 contains a description and location of the 15 monitoring sites within the monitoring
plan.
Table 3-1: Description of City of Charlotte Water Quality Monitoring Sites.
Site #
Stream
Location
MY11B
Mallard Creek
Pavilion Blvd Bridge, S. of US Hwy 29
MY12
Back Creek
Caldwell Rd. Culvert, S. of Harrisburg & Hwy 29
MY13
Reedy Creek
Reedy Creek Rd. Bridge, S. of Plaza Rd. Ext.
MY713
McKee Creek
Reedy Creek Rd. Bridge, S. of Harrisburg Rd.
MC 14A
Long Creek
Pine Island Dr. at End of Street at Golf Course
MC 17
Paw Creek
Hwy 74 Culvert, Between Sam Wilson & Little Rock Rd.
MC22A
Irwin Creek
Westmont Dr. Bridge, at Irwin Creek WWTP
MC27
Sugar Creek
Hwy. 51 Bridge, E. of Downs Rd.
MC38
McAlpine Creek
Sardis Rd. Bridge, Between Sardis Ln. & Sardis Rd. N.
MC40A
Four Mile Creek
Elm Ln. Bridge, S. of Hwy. 51
MC42
McMullen Creek
Sharon View Rd. Bridge, Between Sharon Rd. & Colony Rd.
MC45
McAlpine Creek
McAlpine Creek WWTP
MC47A
Steele Creek
Carowinds Blvd. Culvert, W. of Carowinds Amusement Park
MC49A
Little Sugar Creek
Hwy. 51 Bridge, W. of Carolina Place Mall
MC51
Six Mile Creek
Marvin Rd. Bridge, S. of Wade Arder Rd. & N. of Joe Kerr Rd
3.3 Site Map
Figure 3-1 shows a map and location of the 15 monitoring sites within the monitoring plan.
2

im City of Charlotte - Surface Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Plan - July 2020
CHART oTTE.
Figure 3-1:
Charlotte Water Quality Monitoring Sites
\ 0 Huntersville
MC Matthews
Mint Hill
0 Pineville
Water

im City of Charlotte - Surface Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Plan - July 2020
CHARL(U I'E.
Section 4: Sample and Data Analysis
4.1 Sample Analytical Methods
Table 4-1 shows the monitoring parameters, reporting limits and analytical methods used to analyze
samples collected under the plan.
Table 4-1: Charlotte Water Laboratory Analytical Methods and Minimum Reporting Levels (RLs)
A
RL
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TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS
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4.2 Quality Assurance
The City contracts with Mecklenburg County and Charlotte Water to collect and analyze, respectively, its
water quality monitoring samples. Mecklenburg County maintains an approved Quality Assurance
Project Plan (QAPP) which details sampling protocols and procedures; including sample handling,
preservation, transportation, equipment calibration & maintenance, laboratory protocols, QA/QC, field
blanks, and trip blanks. The Charlotte Water Laboratory is State certified for laboratory analysis and is
registered with the State of NC under certification No. 192.
M

im City of Charlotte - Surface Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Plan - July 2020
CHARLOTTE.
4.3 Record Keeping
All records and data generated under the monitoring program will be maintained for a minimum period of
five years. In most cases, field data and laboratory data are stored in electronic format. Hard copy field
notes, log books, calibration records, and bench sheets are also maintained.
Section 5: Data Evaluation and Assessment
5.1 Methods for Evaluating and Assessing Data
As data becomes available, the City will analyze the various pollutant parameters collected under the
monitoring program and conduct statistical analysis on the data to determine trends, where possible. It
should be noted that in the earlier years of the monitoring program only a limited number of data points
were generated due to the frequency of monitoring. This made proper statistical analysis difficult early
on; however, as more and more data has been accumulated over several years, statistical analysis to
determine trends is becoming more useful. At a minimum, data will be graphically represented to
visualize trends.
5.2 Reporting
Data results will be reported and discussed in the City's NPDES MS4 Annual Report. Report discussion
will include the number of samples collected, number and types of parameters analyzed, and data
analysis activities to determine trends.
5.3 Monitoring Plan Revisions
The City will review the monitoring plan annually as part of the data analysis and annual report
process to determine if any revisions to the plan are necessary based on the past year's
assessment and monitoring activities. If revisions are necessary, the City will revise the plan and
submit the revisions to NCDEQ for review and approval.
5