NC0044121_Renewal (Application)_20140108

}jICKORYCity of Hickory
Post Office Box 398
Hickory, NC 28603
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Public Utilities
January 5, 2015
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources RECEIVED/DENR/DWR
Division of Water Quality/ NPDES Unit JAN - 8 2015
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh NC 27699-1617 Water Quality
Permitting Section
RE: NPDES Permit Number NC0044121 Renewal Request
City of Hickory Water Filtration Plant—WWTP
Hickory North Carolina
Dear Sirs:
Enclosed please find for your review and processing the Application —Short form C—WTP to renew the
City of Hickory's Water Treatment Facility NPDES permit. The application package includes the
following:
• NPDES Permit Application —Short Form C—WTP
• Attachment A for 7.
• Attachment B for 8.
• Attachment C for 12.
• Attachment D for 15.
• Attachment E for 15.
Thank you for your assistance and cooperation in completing this NPDES renewal. Should you have any
questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at [phone].
Sincerely,
X1/1_ '
Kevin B. Greer, P
Assistant Public Services Director, Public Utilities
Enclosures
pc: Rick Stein, WTP-ORC

NPDES PERMIT APPLICATION - SHORT FORM C - WTP
For discharges associated with water treatment plants
Mail the complete application to:
N. C. DENR / Division of Water Resources / NPDES Unit
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
NPDES Permit Number NC0044121
If you are completing this form in computer use the TAB key or the up - down arrows to move from one
field to the next. To check the boxes, click your mouse on top of the box Otherwise,please print or type.
1. Contact Information:
Owner Name City of Hickory Public Utilities
Facility Name City of Hickory Water Filtration Plant- WWTP
Mailing Address PO Box 398
City Hickory
State / Zip Code NC, 28603
Telephone Number [phone]
Fax Number [phone]
e-mail Address [e-mail]
2. Location of facility producing discharge:
Check here if same as above ❑
Street Address or State Road 1560 Old Lenoir Rd
City Hickory
State / Zip Code NC, 28601
County Catawba
3. Operator Information:
Name of the firm, consultant or other entity that operates the facility. (Note that this is not referring to the
Operator in Responsible Charge or ORC)
Name City of Hickory
Mailing Address PO Box 398
City Hickory
State / Zip Code NC, 28603
Telephone Number [phone]
Fax Number [phone]
4. Ownership Status:
Federal 0 State ❑ Private ❑ Public
5. Type of treatment plant:
Page 1 of 3 Version 3/2014

NPDES PERMIT APPLICATION - SHORT FORM C - WTP
For discharges associated with water treatment plants
® Conventional (Includes coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation, usually followed by
filtration and disinfection)
❑ Ion Exchange (Sodium Cycle Cationic ion exchange)
❑ Green Sand Filter (No sodium recharge)
❑ Membrane Technology (RO, nanofiltration)
Check here if the treatment process also uses a water softener El
6. Description of source water(s) (i.e. groundwater, surface water)
100% Surface Water ( Catawba River- Lake Hickory)
7. Describe the treatment process(es) for the raw water:
Please See Attachment A
8. Describe the wastewater and the treatment process(es) for wastewater generated by the
facility:
Please See Attachment B
9. Number of separate discharge points: 1 Outfall Identification number(s) 001
10. Frequency of discharge: Continuous El Intermittent
If intermittent:
Days per week discharge occurs: 7 Duration: 12
11. Plant design potable flowrate 32 MGD
Backwash or reject flow 0.530 MOD
12. Name of receiving stream(s) (Provide a map showing the exact location of each outfall, including
latitude and longitude
Catawba River(Lake Hickory) See Attachment C
13. Please list all water treatment additives, including cleaning chemicals or disinfection
treatments, that have the potential to be discharged.
Alum / aluminum sulfate Yes x No
Iron sulfate / ferrous sulfate Yes No x
Fluoride Yes x No
Page 2 of 3 Version 3/2014

NPDES PERMIT APPLICATION - SHORT FORM C - WTP
For discharges associated with water treatment plants
Ammonia nitrogen / Chloramines Yes No x
Zinc-orthophosphate or sweetwater CP1236 Yes x No
List any other additives below:
Sodium Hydroxide, Sulphur Dioxide, Sodium Hypochlorite
14. Is this facility located on Indian country? (check one)
Yes ❑ No
15. Additional Information: See Attachment E
• Provide a schematic of flow through the facility, include flow volumes at all points in
the water treatment process. The plan should show the point[s] of addition for
chemicals and all discharges routed to an outfall [including stormwater].
• Solids Handling Plan
16. NEW Applicants
Information needed in addition to items 1-15:
• New applicants are strongly recommended to contact a permit coordinator with the
NCDENR Customer Service Center.
Was the Customer Service Center contacted? ❑ Yes ❑ No
• Analyses of source water collected
• Engineering Alternative Analysis
• Discharges from Ion Exchange and Reverse Osmosis plants shall be evaluated using a
water quality model.
17. Applicant Certification
I certify that I am familiar with the information contained in the application and that to the
best of my knowledge and belief such information is true, complete, and accurate.
Mick W. Berry City Manager
Printed name of Person Signing Title
11 -rl ��
Signature of Applic ate
North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6(b)(2)provides that Any person who knowingly makes any false statement representation,or certification in any application,
record,report,plan,or other document files or required to be maintained under Article 21 or regulations of the Environmental Management Commission implementing that
Article,or who falsifies,tampers with,or knowingly renders inaccurate any recording or monitoring device or method required to be operated or maintained under Article 21
or regulations of the Environmental Management Commission implementing that Article,shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed$25,000,or by
imprisonment not to exceed six months,or by both. (18 U.S.C.Section 1001 provides a punishment by a fine of not more than$25,000 or imprisonment not more than 5
years,or both,for a similar offense.)
Page 3 of 3 Version 3/2014

- -
I ,
ATTACHMENT A
NI

City of Hickory
Water Treatment Plant
• • The City of Hickory's
Water Treatment
ter° Plant is a regional
water supply facility,
providing potable
drinking water to
three counties and
manages three
1 _ II i purchased water
■ 1 systems extending
I .1 I from Icard to
Claremont and from
northern Alexander County to the Town of Catawba and Sherrills Ford. We
also supply water to the towns of Maiden, Mooresville and occasionally to
Long View.
The plant is a conventional surface water treatment facility, drawing water
from the Catawba River. The Catawba River Basin originates from springs
in the tallest mountains of the Appalachian Mountain chain and flows east
past Hickory. This provides us with an abundant water source, relatively
free from contamination. Duke Power operates two hydroelectric dams,
Rhodhiss upstream and Oxford downstream from the plant. These two
dams create a deep-water reservoir at our intake and help manage the
water flow to reduce contamination from water run-off.
We employ eleven state certified operators, one state certified laboratory
chemist and one part-time grounds keeper. We operate 24 hours a day, 7
days a week... we never close! We have a rated capacity of 32 million gallons
of water per day.

The Treatment Process
1. Raw water is pumped from the
Catawba River and large things
such as sticks, fish and plants
are screened at the pump
intake. The raw water is treated
with chemicals in this first step
l j.. of the treatment process. A
chlorine disinfectant is added
to the water to kill pathogenic
Raw Water Pumps (disease-causing) organisms,
Aluminum Sulfate is added to
help remove fine particles that are suspended in the water by
coagulation and Sodium Hydroxide is added to adjust the pH and
provide alkalinity to the mixed water. The raw water pumps push the
water to the flash mixer and is gravity fed through the rest of the
treatment process.
2. At the flash mixer, the water is then rapidly mixed to evenly distribute
the chemicals. The flash mixer is a small basin that will contain the
water for just a matter of seconds and provide even distribution of the
coagulant chemicals that were just added.
3. The water then flows to a .4EL _
large basin where the - - __ 7 ' .A t;) 7
chemicals cling to the ,
impurities in the water in a "**:71.` -a--'' " -
process called coagulation. :x9, <
Flocculators move the CIT or-
water slower in this basin to Flash Mix, Flocculators and Settling Basins
provide the chemicals
contact with the impurities and to clump together in large particles.
Their action is much like that of kneading bread. This process is
called flocculation. The water remains in the flocculators for several
minutes.

4. The treated water then moves to the settling basin where the large,
heavy particles quickly settle to the bottom. Water moves very slowly
and is not disturbed during the sedimentation process. Depending on
raw water flow rate, it takes from 6 hours to 12 hours for the water to
move through this basin.
• — s 5. After making it's journey across the
041"6r settling basin, the water along the top of
the sedimentation basin flows through
• '` common troughs to the filters. The filters
are comprised of layers of gravel, sand
and hard coal (anthracite). The filters
remove any of the remaining small
Filters, each square is a filter particles of floc that failed to settle and
any other impurities left in the
water. I II
6. After filtering, the water is rY A , T
chemically treated once again. 4 _ A ,
t 4
Chlorine is added to provide
enough of residual to remain in ` ; .4,
the distribution system.
Fluoride is added to prevent
tooth decay. More Sodium
Hydroxide is added to raise the •
pH level of the water. Finally, a
phosphate is added to inhibit Pipe Gallery Beneath the Filters
corrosion and prevent copper
and lead from leaching into the water through piping in the
distribution system.
7. The finished water is then
stored in ground storage
tanks, called clearwells
before beingpumped to
elevated storage tanks.
The water is stored in
these tanks for just hours.
This gives the final
Finished Water Pumns

dosing of disinfectant some time to work before the water is delivered
to the first customers.
8. The final step is pumping the finished water up to the elevated
storage tanks. The elevated storage tanks create water pressure to
deliver the water to customers and provide a ready supply for the
customer.
Process Overview
Catawba �"` ` Froceu!dar Setting
�_ Ptinp Flash Motet
River Station
To
F�Iters
Your
Water
Tap!
Sodium Hypochlorite Generation
For nearly a century, water plants have used Chlorine gas. It is a very good
disinfectant, but there are so many other problems with the handling of
Chlorine gas, many water plants are switching over to Sodium Hypochlorite
as a disinfectant. Most plants have concentrated commercial grade
delivered by truck, but Hickory was the first in North Carolina to purchase
its own Sodium Hypochlorite generator.
The Sodium Hypochlorite generator currently has 2 cells with an expansion
capability in the future for additional cells. Each cell consists of about a 10-
inch diameter and about io-foot long clear Plexiglas vessel with electrically
charged plates inside. One end is positively charged and the other negative.
Saturated brine is pumped into the vessel as voltage is applied. Hydrogen

gas boils off the electro-chemical
reaction and Sodium Hypochlorite is
pumped to storage tanks. 1
Chlorine gas reacts with organics in
the water to create chemicals in the
tri-halomethane group. These
chemicals have been identified by the T � '" •.:' • ;
Environmental Protection Agency as I I
possible carcinogens. Sodium
Hypochlorite seems to be less prone
to reacting with organics in this
manner and reduces the total tri- sodium Hypochlorite Generators
halomethanes found in the
distribution system. Also, the Sodium Hypochlorite seems to keep a
residual longer in the distribution system using smaller dosages than just
Chlorine gas.
Why Drink Purified Water?
Purified drinking water is tested every day for pathogenic bacteria in our
state certified laboratory. We conduct over 50,000 individual laboratory
tests each year. Our chemist and operators continuously monitor chlorine
content, daily physical analysis, and treatment monitoring tests to assure
quality standards that meet or exceed all state and federal regulations for
drinking water. Purified drinking water is never discolored after heavy
rains. The City of Hickory's water has a low iron and hardness content so
that it will wash clothes better. Fluoride is added for the prevention of tooth
decay (this is particularly important in children). But mainly, it's safe and
has a pleasant taste!

ATTACHMENT B

Wastewater Treatment Process
Attachment B
The Backwash Wastewater Process involves the separation of solids from the Filter
Backwash Water,pumping settled solids to the Northeast Wastewater Treatment Facility
for processing, and returning decant water to the Catawba River. Decant water that is
discharged with Sulfur Dioxide is treated to remove any remaining Chlorine residual.
Backwash from the filters is drained to the Equalization Tank(EQ Tank). When the EQ
Tank reaches a level of about 12 feet, sludge from the bottom of the EQ Tank is moved to
the Sludge Transfer Pump vault. Sludge Transfer Pumps move the sludge in the vault to
the Sludge Thickening Tank before being pumped to the Sewer Lift Station and pumped
to the Northeast Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Floc in suspension in the EQ Tank precipitates down to the bottom of the tank, leaving
Supernate on top of a sludge blanket. This Supernate is decanted to the Dechlorination
Vault. Discharge from the EQ Tank is sent to the Sludge Thickening Tank. Floc
continues to precipitate, producing supernate and this is also decanted to the
Dechlorination system.
In the Dechlorination Vault, effluent Supernate is mixed with Sulfur Dioxide to remove
all residual Chlorine before discharging to the Catawba River. All flows are by gravity
with exceptions of the Sludge Transfer Pumps between the EQ Tank and the Sludge
Thickening Tank and the Sludge Pump to the Sewer Lift Station.
Solids are handled by the Northeast Wastewater Treatment Facility through normal plant
operations, gravity belt thickening and ultimate disposal and the Regional Compost
Facility.

ATTACHMENT C

Latitude: 3?45'31"
Longitude_ 81-22.31"
Quad# D13SW
St =m Class: WS-iV & B CA
'ubbasia 30832
�.=,ing Sbm= Lake Hickory
NCO044121
City of Hickory
WTP

ATTACHMENT D

City of Hickory - Sludge Treatment Schematic
Sludge
Thickening
Tank
Supernate
Decant -
Dechlorination'
Treatment Vault
Sludge Line
Sewer Pump
Station
Sulfur Dioxide
f
Sludge
Transfer
Pumps
Equilization
Tank
(EQ)
Supernate
Decant
Sludge Line
T-Valve
Location
Backwash Water
from Filter Bldg.
1- Water enters the EQ Tank from the Filter Building.
2- When the water level reachs 12 foot, sludge from the
bottom of the EQ is moved via the T-Valve to the Sludge
Transfer Pumps, then to the Sludge Thickening Tank.
3- Sludge from the Sludge Thickening Tank is pumped with
the Pump in the Belt Press Building to the Sewer Pump
Station.
4- Supernate from the EQ Tank and the Sludge Tank is
decanted to the Dechlorination Treatment Vault.
5- Sulfur Dioxide is used to dechlorinate the effluent.
6- The effluent is discharged into the Catawba River.

ATTACHMENT E

Additional Information — Solids Handling Plan
Attachment E
Alum sludge generated by the treatment process are removed from the plant and stored in
thickening tanks. Solids are allowed to settle in these tanks to achieve an optimum
percent solid slurry and supernate is drawn from the tank and discharged to Lake Hickory
via NPDES Permit#NC0044121. The remaining solids are discharged to the City of
Hickory"Far East" sewer lift station at a rate of 400 gallons/week and then pumped to
the City of Hickory Northeast WWTP, (NPDES Permit#NC0020401)via the Hickory
Collection System, (Permit#WQCS00020) for treatment and ultimate disposal. Solids
generated at the NEWWTP are trucked to the Hickory Regional Compost Facility,
(Permit#WQ0004563) and processed into a Class "A"compost under 503 regulations.

Amoi!'
NCD NR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Pat McCrory Donald van der Vaart
Governor Secretary
January 07,2015
John Rosenblat
Go Go Properties,LLC
PO Box 240772
Charlotte,NC 28226
Subject: Acknowledgement of Permit Renewal
Permit NC0057401
Mecklenburg County
Dear Mr. Rosenblat:
The NPDES Unit received your permit renewal application on January 06, 2015. A member of the
NPDES Unit will review your application. They will contact you if additional information is required to
complete your permit renewal. You should expect to receive a draft permit approximately 30-45 days
before your existing permit expires.
If you have any additional questions concerning renewal of the subject permit, please contact Maureen
Kinney(919) 807-6388.
Sincerely,
WrrewTIAtoyaro('
Wren Thedford
Wastewater Branch
cc: Central Files
Mooresville Regional Office
NPDES Unit
1617 Mail Service Center,Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
Location:512 N.Salisbury St.Raleigh,North Carolina 27604
Phone:[phone]\Fax:[phone]/Customer Service:1-877-623-6748
Internet::www.ncwater.om
An Equal Opportunity\Affirmative Action Employer