The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutNC0071242_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20221208ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Director Gary M. Peacock II, Director, State Operations Carolina Water Service Inc of NC PO Box 240908 Charlotte, NC 28224 SUBJECT: Notice of Deficiency Compliance Evaluation Inspection Riverpointe WWTP NPDES Permit No. NC0071242 Mecklenburg County Tracking #: NOD-2022-PC-0199 Dear Mr. Peacock: NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality December 8, 2022 Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Evaluation Inspection (CEI) Report for the inspection conducted at the subject facility on December 1, 2022, by Mr. Wes Bell of this Office. Please advise the facility's Operator -in -Responsible Charge (ORC) of our findings by forwarding the enclosed report. This report is being issued as a Notice of Deficiency (NOD) due to the failures to have a properly designated operator operate/visit the wastewater treatment plant (several occasions) which are violations of the subject NPDES Permit and North Carolina General Statute (G.S.) 143-215.1. Please note that G.S. 143-215.6A provides for a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00), or twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) per day when the violation is of a continuing nature, against any person who violates or fails to act in accordance with the terms, conditions, or requirements of any permit issued pursuant to G.S. 143-215.1. Penalties may also be assessed for any damage to surface waters of the State that may result from the violation. It is requested that a written response be submitted to this Office by December 30, 2022, detailing the actions taken to address these violations that are discussed in more detail in the Record Keeping/Summary Section of the attached report. In responding, please address your comments to the attention of Mr. Wes Bell. D_E 11,arliworkt el G. ritmloalal Oat' North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Mooresville Regional Office 1610 East Center Avenue. Suite 301 1 Mooresville. North Carolina 28115 704.663.1699 Should you have any questions concerning this Notice, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Bell at (704) 235-2192 or at wes.bell@ncdenr.gov. Enclosure: Inspection Report Cc: NPDES Program Files - Laserfiche DNORTH CAPOLI. _E 111.•rhworkt G. rOrmloalal Oat,' Sincerely, 4DocuSigned by: 4.440, H Pci i. F161FB69A2D84A3... Andrew H. Pitner, P.G. Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Mooresville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Mooresville Regional Office 1610 East Center Avenue. Suite 301 1 Mooresville. North Carolina 28115 704.663.1699 United States Environmental Protection Agency E PA Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 Approval expires 8-31-98 Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS) Transaction 1 IN Code I 2 L NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac 3 I NC0071242 111 121 22/12/01 117 18 i i 191 S I 201 Type 21 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 I I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 I I I I I I I 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 I 1 P6 Inspection 67I2.0 Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring I 70I4 Evaluation Rating I 71IN B1 I 72 QA I N I 731 I I I Reserved 74 751 1 I I I I I I 180 l Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Riverpointe WWTP 15820 Alloway Ln Charlotte NC 28278 Entry Time/Date 11:32AM 22/12/01 Permit Effective Date 20/09/01 Exit Time/Date 01:05PM 22/12/01 Permit Expiration Date 25/06/30 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Kenneth Wayne Knopf/ORC/704-525-7990/ Other Facility Data Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Gary Mack Peacock,PO Box 240908 Charlotte NC 282240908/State Operations Director/828-242-7588/ No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports Self -Monitoring Progran Sludge Handling DispoFacility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Wate Laboratory Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) (See attachment summary) Name(s) and Signature(s) Wes Bell of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date -Docusiyned by: DWR/MRO WQ/704-663-1699 Ext.2192/ 12/8/2022 10rr Belt "-A61696D90CC3437... Signature of Ma Andrew Pit ar6iOaAiReviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date er�4 ' H P . WR/MRO WQ/704-663-1699 Ext.2180/ 12/8/2022 F161F869A2D84A3, EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page# 1 31 NPDES yr/mo/day N C 0071242 I11 121 22/12/01 17 Inspection Type 18 [j (Cont.) 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) RECORD KEEPING SECTION cont'd: The wastewater facility had not been properly visited (on several occasions) throughout the November 2021 through October 2022 review period by either the designated ORC and/or one of the designated Backup ORCs. The ORC was the only properly designated operator to visit the wastewater facility; however, the ORC only performed visitations three to four times during each week for several weeks during the review period. A non -designated operator performed the remaining visitations. Please be advised that the subject permit requires that either the designated ORC or a designated backup ORC must visit the wastewater facility five days per week excluding holidays [Permit Condition Reference: Part II, Section C(1) Certified Operator]. Please also note that the visitations performed by the designated Backup ORC(s) (in lieu of the ORC) cannot exceed 40% of the system visitations required per calendar year [15A NCAC 08G .0205 (1)(a)]. Page# 2 Permit: NC0071242 Inspection Date: 12/01/2022 Owner - Facility: Riverpointe WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new ❑ ❑ ❑ application? Is the facility as described in the permit? • ❑ El El # Are there any special conditions for the permit? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The last compliance evaluation inspection at this facility was performed by DWR staff on 8/27/2020. Record Keeping Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? Is all required information readily available, complete and current? Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? Is the chain -of -custody complete? Dates, times and location of sampling Name of individual performing the sampling Results of analysis and calibration Dates of analysis Name of person performing analyses Transported COCs Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ Page# 3 Permit: NC0071242 Inspection Date: 12/01/2022 Owner - Facility: Riverpointe WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Comment: The records reviewed during the inspection were organized and well maintained. Discharge Monitoring Reports (eDMRs) were reviewed from November 2021 through October 2022. The facility failed to comply with the daily minimum effluent pH limit in November 2021 (one violation) and December 2021 (one violation). The Division has previously addressed these limit violations through the issuances of Notice of Violations (NOVs). The Division has previously addressed these limit violations through the issuances of Notice of Violations (NOVs). The August 2022 eDMR will be revised/resubmitted to report the effluent results on 8/2/2022 instead of 8/4/2022. See "Summary' Section for additional comments. Laboratory Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory? Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab? # Is the facility using a contract lab? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees? Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: On -site field analyses (dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature) are performed under Carolina Water Service of NC's laboratory certification #5228. K&W Labs has also been contracted to perform all permit -required analyses (excluding filed). Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is sample collected below all treatment units? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is proper volume collected? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the tubing clean? ■ ❑ El El # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 • El El El degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type • ❑ El El representative)? Comment: The subject permit requires effluent composite and grab samples. The ORC and staff must ensure that the sampler tubing has minimal dips/loops (from sampler to effluent sampling point) to allow for the adequate flushing of the tubing prior to sampling. The wastewater staff should also perform monthly (at a minimum) aliquot verifications to document a minimum of 100 mis. per aliquot is being collected. Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? • El El El Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable El El El Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Page# 4 Permit: NC0071242 Inspection Date: 12/01/2022 Owner - Facility: Riverpointe WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Comment: The wastewater treatment facility appeared to be properly operated and well maintained. Process control measurements are being performed and documented. The telemetry type alarm system (Mission) and audible/visual alarms for the equalization basin, mud well and effluent pump station all operated properly during the on -site test (high water float activation). Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual • b.Mechanical ❑ Are the bars adequately screening debris? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the screen free of excessive debris? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is disposal of screening in compliance? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the unit in good condition? • ❑ El El Comment: Equalization Basins Yes No NA NE Is the basin aerated? • El ❑ ❑ Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the basin free of excessive grease? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all pumps present? • El El El Are all pumps operable? • El El ❑ Are float controls operable? • El El El Are audible and visual alarms operable? • ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is basin size/volume adequate? • El El El Comment: Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext. Air Type of aeration system Diffused Is the basin free of dead spots? • El El El Are surface aerators and mixers operational? El El • El Are the diffusers operational? • El El El Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? ■ El El El Page# 5 Permit: NC0071242 Inspection Date: 12/01/2022 Owner - Facility: Riverpointe WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Aeration Basins Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin's surface? Is the DO level acceptable? Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/I) Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Lime is added on an as -needed basis to maintain appropriate alkalinity/pH levels. Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are weirs level? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of weir blockage? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is scum removal adequate? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the drive unit operational? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately'/4 of the sidewall depth) • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Filtration (High Rate Tertiary) Yes No NA NE Type of operation: Cross flow Is the filter media present? • ❑ El ❑ Is the filter surface free of clogging? ■ El El El Is the filter free of growth? ■ ❑ El ❑ Is the air scour operational? • El El El Is the scouring acceptable? • El ❑ ❑ Is the clear well free of excessive solids and filter media? ■ El El El Comment: All tertiary filters were operational and in service. Disinfection - UV Are extra UV bulbs available on site? Are UV bulbs clean? Is UV intensity adequate? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 6 Permit: NC0071242 Inspection Date: 12/01/2022 Owner - Facility: Riverpointe WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Disinfection - UV Is transmittance at or above designed level? Is there a backup system on site? Is effluent clear and free of solids? Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The flow meter is calibrated twice per year and was last calibrated on 6/17/2022 by B.W. Allen. Effluent Pipe Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? Comment: The effluent appeared clear with no floatable solids or foam. The effluent is discharged into the receiving stream via submerged outfall. Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ • ❑ Pump Station - Effluent Yes No NA NE Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all pumps present? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all pumps operable? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Are float controls operable? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is SCADA telemetry available and operational? ❑ ❑ • ❑ Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Aerobic Digester Yes No NA NE Is the capacity adequate? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the mixing adequate? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank? • ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the odor acceptable? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 7 Permit: NC0071242 Inspection Date: 12/01/2022 Owner - Facility: Riverpointe WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Aerobic Digester # Is tankage available for properly waste sludge? Comment: Solids Handling Equipment Is the equipment operational? Is the chemical feed equipment operational? Is storage adequate? Is the site free of high level of solids in filtrate from filter presses or vacuum filters? Is the site free of sludge buildup on belts and/or rollers of filter press? Is the site free of excessive moisture in belt filter press sludge cake? The facility has an approved sludge management plan? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The facility is equipped with a sludge dewaterinq box. The dewaterinq box is removed and replaced by Liquid Waste, Inc. Standby Power Is automatically activated standby power available? Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source? Is the generator tested under load? Was generator tested & operational during the inspection? Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site? Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power? Is the generator fuel level monitored? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The backup generator is periodically tested by on -site staff and serviced by Kraft Power twice per year. Page# 8