NC0020061_NOV-2022-LM-0080_Resp Rvcd NOV-2022-LV-0861_Resp Rvcd NOV-2022-LV-0086_Resp Rvcd_20221219

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TOWN OF SPRING HOPE, NC
12 December 2022
Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
3800 Barrett Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27609
NC Dept of Environmental Quality
DEC 1 9 2022
Raleigh Regional Office
Notice of Violation Tracking No. NOVs 2022-LM-0080; 2022-LV-X0861; and 2022-LV-0862
Collection System Permit No. N00020061, Spring Hope WWTP, Nash County
Mr. Vinson and Ms. Manuel:
The Town of Spring Hope appreciates the opportunity to respond to NOVs-2022-LM-0080,
2022-LV-00861, and 2022- LV-00862, all dated 21 November 2022, and we trust that the
information provided herein will result in no further punitive action by the Division.
For the previous 10 years and up until 4 July 2022, the Town of Spring Hope relied on the
third part contract operator Envirolink to operate the collection system and Spring Hope
WWTP. It was clear that the Town's collection and treatment operations had suffered as a
result. Proper maintenance and repairs of the system and the plant were clearly ignored. I
cannot emphasize enough the extent of the neglect that had taken place under Envirolink.
Effective 5 July 2022 the Town of Spring Hope returned to in-house wastewater collection
and treatment operations. The WWTP was turned over to a transitional operator, Mr. Danny
Gray of G-2 Utilities. Mr. Gray served in this capacity from 5 July 2022 until 1 September
2022 whereupon Mr. Andy Matthews of Matthews Environmental took over as the Town's
contract WWTP operator. The Town also works closely and seeks technical assistance from
North Carolina Rural Water Association.
Upon taking over the facility on 05 July 2022, Mr. Bobby Ball, Spring Hope Public Works
Director, discovered the chlorine injection pump not working at the WWTP. On 08 July 2022
Mr. Ball ordered a chlorine injection pump. In the interim, he substituted the existing pump
from the Ash St well (Ash St well was off line and awaiting well service). The new pump
arrived at the Town two weeks later and was installed at the Ash St well on the week of 25
July 2022. Mr. Gray identified the substituted chlorine pump as not working on 02 August
252-478-5186 www.springhope.net

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2022. A new pump was ordered that week for the WWTP, but was not received until 12
September 2022, and was installed that week.
The Town of Spring Hope is dedicated to operating the collection system and WWTP facility
as completely compliant. While violations are rare, they sometimes occur. The
circumstances in the current case have extenuating circumstances. Therefore, we
respectfully request that the Division consider these mitigating factors and take no further
punitive action. If we can be of any further assistance or additional information is needed,
please this office at 252-478-5186.
Sincerely.
Andrew Delonno, Town Manager
CC: Bobby Ball, Director of Public Works
Andy Matthews, Matthews Environmental