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Home My WebLink AboutNCG550238_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20230112 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources Raleigh Regional Office 3800 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 919.791.4200 January 12, 2023 Dennis and Winnifred Hobbs 5444 Ironwood Lane Raleigh, NC 27613 Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection Single Family Wastewater Treatment System General NPDES Permit NCG550000 Certificate of Coverage NCG550238 Facility: 5444 Ironwood Lane Wake County Dear Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs: On January 11, 2023, Stephanie Goss from the Raleigh Regional Office visited your single- family residence (SFR) wastewater treatment system to evaluate compliance with the subject General NPDES Permit. Your cooperation during the inspection was greatly appreciated. Our records indicate the treatment system consists of a septic tank, subsurface sand-filter, chlorinator, and discharge pipe. General NPDES Permit NCG550000 and Certificate of Coverage (COC) NCG550238 authorize the discharge of domestic wastewater from your treatment system to receiving waters designated as an unnamed tributary to Turkey Creek classified as Class B, nutrient sensitive waters in the Neuse River Basin. The authorized discharge is in accordance with the effluent limits and monitoring requirements established within the General Permit. Findings during the inspection were as follows: 1. Treatment system operation: The wastewater treatment system shall be maintained at all times to prevent seepage of sewage to the surface of the ground. 2. Pumping the septic tank: You are required to inspect the septic tank at least yearly to determine if solids must be removed or if other maintenance is necessary. Septic tanks should be pumped out every five years or when the solids level is found to be more than 1/3 of the liquid depth in the septic tank compartment, whichever is greater. A pumping company can check the status periodically and determine when pumping is required. During the inspection, you stated the septic tank was pumped out on June 6, 2018. The General NPDES Permit requires the permittee to retain records associated with sewage disposal activities for a period of at least 5 years. DocuSign Envelope ID: E4D1A2C0-2AEF-4868-83B9-47A67019F391 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources Raleigh Regional Office 3800 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 919.791.4200 Page 2 of 3 3. Chlorine tablets in the chlorinator: You are reminded that it is required that chlorine tablets be maintained in the chlorinator to ensure proper disinfection of the discharged wastewater. Chlorine tablets provide effective disinfection and prevent/limit harmful bacteria from discharging to the environment. The product label for these tablets must indicate the tablets are approved for wastewater use and not for swimming pools. Part 1, Section D (1) of General NPDES Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to inspect the tablet chlorinator weekly to ensure there is an adequate supply of tablets for continuous and proper operation. Section D (4) requires the permittee to maintain all system components, including...disinfection units...at all times and in good operating order. The inspector observed chlorine tablets in the chlorinator. Please continue to ensure the correct type of tablets are used and maintained in the chlorinator as required by the General NPDES Permit. 4. Analyzing the effluent: Part 1. C., Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements, within General Permit NCG550000 requires a permittee to sample and analyze the effluent leaving his/her treatment system prior to discharge annually. Parameters to be sampled and analyzed include Flow, BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), Total Suspended Solids, Fecal Coliform, Total Residual Chlorine, Total Nitrogen, Ammonia Nitrogen and Total Phosphorous. During the inspection, you stated that the effluent has not been monitored within the last 12 months because there the is no discharge from the pipe. Please collect a representative sample of the effluent, have it analyzed by a certified commercial laboratory and submit the results to this office no later than April 15, 2023. If, during this time, you are unable to collect a representative sample of the effluent discharge due to insufficient flow from the discharge pipe, then update this office with that information and continue to monitor the discharge and if conditions for sampling become favorable, then arrange to collect a sample. Failure to monitor the effluent discharge as required is a violation of NPDES General Permit NCG550000. 5. Discharge outlet location. The permittee is required to conduct a visual review of the outfall location at least twice each year (one at the time of sampling) to ensure that no visible solids or other obvious evidence of system malfunctioning is observed. Any visible signs of a malfunctioning system shall be documented, and steps taken to correct the problem. The discharge pipe was visible and accessible the day of the inspection. Please continue to ensure the outlet is always visible/maintained and cleared of vegetation, soil and leaves. Part II Section B.14 of General Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to “pay the annual administering and compliance monitoring fee within thirty days after being billed by the Division.” There are no overdue fees for the subject COC. Please continue to periodically inspect the wastewater treatment system to ensure the treatment components are always maintained and in good operating order. You are also reminded to maintain all monitoring data and associated maintenance records onsite for a minimum of three years and available for inspection. DocuSign Envelope ID: E4D1A2C0-2AEF-4868-83B9-47A67019F391 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources Raleigh Regional Office 3800 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 919.791.4200 Page 3 of 3 If you have questions or comments about this inspection or the requirements to take corrective action (if applicable), then please contact via email at stephanie.goss@ncdenr.gov or 919-791- 4256. Sincerely, Vanessa E. Manuel Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Raleigh Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ Attachment(s): EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report cc: Laserfiche DocuSign Envelope ID: E4D1A2C0-2AEF-4868-83B9-47A67019F391 EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency 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 Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type 1 N 52 NCG550238 23/01/11 C S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) 5444 Ironwood Lane 5444 Ironwood Ln Raleigh NC 27609 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 09:25AM 23/01/11 20/12/04 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Other Facility Data 09:47AM 23/01/11 25/10/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number C Dennis Hobbs,5444 Ironwood Ln Raleigh NC 27609//919-787-3314/Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Records/Reports Self-Monitoring Program Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Waters Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) (See attachment summary) Name(s) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s)Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date Stephanie Goss DWR/RRO WQ/919-791-4200/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page#1 1/12/2023 DocuSign Envelope ID: E4D1A2C0-2AEF-4868-83B9-47A67019F391 1/12/2023 NPDES yr/mo/day 23/01/11 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) NCG550238 17 Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: E4D1A2C0-2AEF-4868-83B9-47A67019F391 Permit:NCG550238 Inspection Date:01/11/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: 5444 Ironwood Lane 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? # 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: Record Keeping Yes No NA NE 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? Comment: Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: E4D1A2C0-2AEF-4868-83B9-47A67019F391 Permit:NCG550238 Inspection Date:01/11/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: 5444 Ironwood Lane Compliance Evaluation Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? The effluent pipe could not be located.Comment: 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? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? Sampling has not been conducted in the last 12 months.Comment: Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: E4D1A2C0-2AEF-4868-83B9-47A67019F391