NC0020184_Correspondence_20220923

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
DWR
Division of Water Resources
WWTP Upset , Spill, or Bypass 5-Day Reporting Form
(Please Print or Type Use Attachments if Needed)
Permittee: City of Gastonia Permit Number: NC0020184
Facility Name: Long Creek WWTP County: Gaston
Incident Started:
Incident Ended:
Level of Treatment:
Date: 9/19/2022
Date: 9/19/2022
Time: 1305
Time: 1520
None Primary Treatment X Secondary Treatment Chlorination/Disinfection Only
Estimated Volume of Spill/Bypass: 275,000 gallons (must be given even if it is a rough estimate)
Did the Spill/Bypass reach the Surface Waters? X Yes No
If yes, please list the following:
Volume Reaching Surface Waters: 275,000 gallons Surface Water Name: South Fork Catawba River
Did the Spill/Bypass result in a Fish Kill? Yes X No
Was WWTP compliant with permit requirements? Yes No
Were samples taken during event? X Yes No
Source of the Upset/Spill/Bypass (Location or Treatment Unit):
Discharge was the final plant effluent but the chlorination & dechlorination chemicals were not
feeding.
Cause or Reason for the Upset/Spill/Bypass:
Two Rivers Utilities' maintenance staff was replacing a check valve on the internal reuse water
system. At 1305 on 9/19/2022, the old check valve had been removed and the pipe turned causing
a leak in a mega lug joint which is common to both pumps. An estimated 400 gallons of reuse
water (chlorinated plant effluent) leaked onto the ground and partway down rip -rap of a
stormwater outfall. It did not reach surface water. The reuse water flow was turned off
approximately 5 minutes after the leak started.
Spill/Bypass Reporting Form (August 2014)

WWTP Upset , Spill, or Bypass 5-Day Reporting Form
Page 2
The internal reuse water serves as carrier water to feed chlorine and sulfur dioxide for
disinfection and dechlorination. Without the internal reuse water, these chemicals stopped
feeding. The chlorine contact basin will maintain chlorine residual for approximately one hour
after chlorine feed stops. No visible chlorine was detectable in the chlorine contact basin when
checked at approximately 1500.
Describe the Repairs Made or Actions Taken:
Maintenance staff worked diligently to quickly straighten the pipe and get the new check valve in
place. At 1520 the internal reuse system was back on line and chlorine was feeding. At 1525 chlorine
was detected in the chlorine contact basin.
Action Taken to Contain Spill, Clean Up and Remediate the Site (if applicable):
No clean up or remediation was necessary.
Action Taken or Proposed to be Taken to Prevent Occurrences:
When future project similar to this are performed, additional efforts will be taken to ensure piping is
secure and will not turn out of alignment. Processes in the plant are being evaluated for different
problems that could occur and potential responses. Where appropriate, these will be added into
procedures and incorporated in staff training. Potential actions to mitigate the effects of a similar
occurrence include reducing effluent flow by storing in an offline basin.
Additional Comments About the Event:
In order to evaluate the impact of this occurrence, fecal sampling was performed at the instream
monitoring locations specified in permit. Results are as follows:
9/19/2022 Samples taken at instream monitoring locations:
Upstream sampled 9/19/22 at 1600 = 1074 cfu/100mL
Downstream D1 sampled 9/19/22 at 1613 = 1261 cfu/100mL
Downstream D2 sampled 9/19/22 at 1634 = 180 cfu/100mL
24-Hour Report Made To: X Division of Water Resources Emergency Management
Contact Name: Ori Tuvia Date: 9/20/2022 Time: 11:41
Other Agencies Notified (Health Dept, etc):
Person Reporting Event: David Shellenbarqer Phone Number: 704-842-5106
Did DWR Request an Additional Written Report? X Yes No
If Yes, What Additional Information is Needed: DEQ requested an email documenting the event and
requested this WWTP Upset, Spill, or Bypass 5-Day Reporting Form.
Spill/Bypass Reporting Form (August 2014)