WQCS00077_NOV-2022-DV-0270_20221011

TOWN OF
HILLSBOROUGH
October 11, 2022
Mitch Hayes
Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office
3800 Barrett Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27609
RE: Response to NOV-2022-DV-0270
Hillsborough Collection System
WQCS00077
Dear Mr. Hayes (Mitch),
In response to the subject sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) notice of violation (NOV) we offer the following
additional information. It is my understanding that the SSO was discovered during our proactive water
leak detection project and was resolved within one hour of first knowledge. This area has not had a
historic SSO and was not on our high priority list. The blockage consisted of wipes and cloth. The area is
residential in nature and the sewers in the area have good slopes, albeit they are older pipes.
The town has a very forward -facing sewer protection campaign including several documents on our
website about prohibited items, participation in community events with the "no wipes in the pipes"
material, a large CCTV trailer wrap about what not to flush, routine postings to social media and in
monthly citizen newsletters about wipes, trash, and grease sewer prohibitions. We also prohibit wipes
from being disposed in our ordinance so if we do determine a source, we can enforce. However, we
cannot catch everyone, even in our small town.
This past year has been a real struggle for our department. We have four positions and a supervisor for
our collections division. These four positions are dedicated to exceptional care of 25 pumping stations,
performing smoke testing and CCTV, performing point and manhole repairs, and of course, jetting sewer
mains throughout the system. Almost a year ago, one of these staff retired, and finding qualified
applicants has been challenging. So, the three remaining staff have worked tirelessly not only on the
above duties, but also helping short-staffed line crews in making water main break repairs and other
tasks. When the incident was discovered, crews televised the area. While debris was the cause, they
discovered a potential pipe defect nearby, so we are in some ways grateful our attention was brought to
this main so we can get that defect repaired.
I0I E. Orange St., Hillsborough, NC 27278
9I9-732-I270 I www.hillsboroughnc.gov I @HillsboroughGov

Town of Hillsborough 12
In summary, the event was quickly remediated, was not repetitive or due to wet weather, and had a low
impact to the ground and surface waters. Our staff is caring and effective. If you compare our system
with others of similar size, we have very few 550s. With our continued dedication to robust sewer
prohibition customer outreach, we hope to further reduce the disposal of prohibited items into the
sewers. I ask that you consider not pursuing a civil penalty for this violation.
I may be reached at [e-mail] or at 919-296-9631 with further questions.
Please do let me know your decision.
Sincerely,
K. Marie Strandwitz, PE
Utilities Director
Cc: Al Robertson, Utility Maintenance Supervisor
Eric Peterson, Town Manager

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Certified Mail # 7020 3160 0000 4109 0249
Return Receipt Requested
rola ala f 2z 8:
Eric J Peterson, Manager Town
Town of Hillsborough
PO Box 429
Hillsborough, NC 27278-2131
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
September 16, 2022
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Tracking Number: NOV-2022-DV-0270
Sanitary Sewer Overflows - August 2022
Collection System Permit No. WQCS00077
Hillsborough Collection System
Orange County
Dear Mr. Peterson:
The self -reported Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) 5-Day Report submitted by Town of Hillsborough indicates
violations of permit conditions stipulated in the subject permit and North Carolina G.S. 143-215.1. Violations include
failing to effectively manage, maintain, and operate the subject collection system so that there is no SSO to the
land or surface waters and making an outlet to waters of the State for purposes of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(1), for
which a permit is required.
Specific incident(s) cited in the subject report include the following:
Incident Start Duration
Number Date (Mins) Location
202201365 8/24/2022
Cause
60 405 N Churton St,
Hillsborough, NC,
27278
Debris in line
LADEQ :.
Total Vol
Total Surface
Vol Water
(Gals) (Gals) DWR Action
unknown 300 Notice of Violation
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 1 Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office 1 3800 Barrett Drive 1 Raleigh North Carolina 27609
919.79L4200

Remedial actions, if not already implemented, should be taken to correct the above noncompliance. Please submit
a written response to this Notice of Violation. Your response is to be received by the regional office within 15
business days following receipt of this violation. Please include any additional documentation about this incident(s)
in the response. The submittal will be considered in determining whether the Division will assess a civil penalty for
the cited violations.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mitchell Hayes with the Water Quality Section in
the Raleigh Regional Office at 919-791-4200 or via email at [e-mail].
Cc: Regional Office - WQS File
Laserfiche
Sincerely,
Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office 13800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh. North Carolina 27609
919.791.4200