The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutWQ0014565_WQ0014565_Pilgrim's Pride_Spray Irrigation_Inspection Letter 1.5.2023_20230105 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality  Division of Water Resources  Raleigh Regional Office 3800 Barrett Drive  1628 Mail Service Center  Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1628 919.791.4200 January 5, 2023 Jamal Mohammed – Complex Manager Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation 484 Zimmerman Road Sanford, NC 27330 Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection Permit Number: WQ0014565 Pilgrim’s Pride – Sanford WWTF Wastewater Irrigation Lee County Mr. Mohammed, On December 28, 2022 Chris Smith and Tyler Clark of the Raleigh Regional Office conducted a compliance evaluation inspection of the Pilgrim’s Pride WWTF Wastewater Irrigation System – Permit No. WQ0014565. The purpose of this inspection was to ensure compliance with the subject permit. During the inspection the cooperation and assistance provided by Tina Pedley, Dennis Sumpter, and Bob Branch was helpful and appreciated. This compliance evaluation inspection consisted of the following: •Review of the permit; •Review of the owner/facility information; •Review of Non-Discharge Monitoring Reports (NDMR), Non-Discharge Application Reports (NDAR-1), and Groundwater Monitoring Reports (GW-59a) •On-site inspection of spray and treatment components The current permit was issued August 16, 2019 and expires October 31, 2025. The permitted system consists of a 10,000 gallon septic tank receiving domestic wastewater; a diversion structure; a 1.3 million gallon (MG) clay-lined aerated treatment lagoon with two 20 horsepower (hp) mechanical surface aerators; a 10 pound per day gas chlorinator; a 1,000 gallon chlorine contact chamber to disinfect the domestic wastewater; a 3 .9 MG clay-lined holding pond into which both domestic and industrial wastewater effluent (from facilities permitted under Permit No. NC0072575) are conveyed and mixed; an 81.4 acre spray irrigation area; and all associated piping, valves, controls, and appurtenances. On the day of the inspection components of the wastewater system appeared to be well maintained. The effluent flowmeter was last calibrated on August 17, 2022 by Carolina Technical Services. Representative soil analyses for the spray fields were last conducted in March 2022. Waypoint Analytical performed the analyses and no lime was recommended at that time. Spray field pH values tend to be somewhat alkaline possibly due in part to the use of magnesium hydroxide for controlling BOD in the DocuSign Envelope ID: A732CBDA-EA74-46D8-B2BA-8C056DEE1E7A WQ00014565 Lee January 5, 2023 Page 2 of 3 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality  Division of Water Resources  Raleigh Regional Office 3800 Barrett Drive  1628 Mail Service Center  Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1628 919.791.4200 effluent. The septic tank was pumped out November 2022 by Total Enviro Septic & Waste LLC. The facility keeps thorough records of maintenance and activities involving the system. NDMR and NDAR-1 forms are submitted as required with all information. The most recent effluent sampling results available were analyzed by Cameron Testing Services and appear compliant with permit requirements. GW-59a reports for 2021-2022 were reviewed. Lab results for some months were reviewed against GW- 59a reports submitted to DWR for accuracy. No discrepancies were noted. The facility maintains 5 groundwater monitoring wells. All the wells appeared to be well maintained and locked at the time of the inspection. Values for pH in some of the monitoring wells have been increasing/high during the past few years. The pH values of the effluent have also been high during the same time frame. These values were discussed during the inspection. The most recent GW-59a form (November 2022 not available before the site visit) indicates that these values are beginning to trend downwards to a more historically normal value range. The possibility of lab errors for this parameter was also discussed. The facility maintains numerous (17) spray fields totaling about 81.4 wetted irrigation acres. The spray system was not activated during the inspection due to wet conditions caused by recent hard freezes during which water (precipitation) on the fields was not able to infiltrate the soil. This left the fields in a condition not conducive to irrigation at the time of the inspection. The spray fields appeared to be in good condition with good vegetative cover. The aerated treatment lagoon and storage pond appeared to be free of solids and well maintained. 26 inches of freeboard was observed in both the aeration lagoon and the storage pond. The chlorine building appeared well maintained and the facility keeps additional chlorine on site. The chlorine feed system was last serviced on August 17, 2022 by Carolina Technical Services. At the time of the inspection the wastewater irrigation system appeared to be well maintained and in compliance with the requirements of permit WQ0014565. If you have any questions about this inspection or this letter, please contact Chris Smith at chris.smith@ncdenr.gov or 919-791-4200. Sincerely, Vanessa Manuel Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Raleigh Regional Office DocuSign Envelope ID: A732CBDA-EA74-46D8-B2BA-8C056DEE1E7A WQ00014565 Lee January 5, 2023 Page 3 of 3 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality  Division of Water Resources  Raleigh Regional Office 3800 Barrett Drive  1628 Mail Service Center  Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1628 919.791.4200 Attachments: Water Compliance Inspection Report cc: Laserfiche DocuSign Envelope ID: A732CBDA-EA74-46D8-B2BA-8C056DEE1E7A