WQ0010059_CEI_20230117

SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED

January 17, 2023

Lisa Triplett, Wastewater Superintendent
Email: [e-mail]
City of Lenoir

SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report
City of Lenoir DCAR
Non-discharge Permit No. WQ0010059
Caldwell County

Dear Permittee:

The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the City of Lenoir DCAR on
1/10/2023. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the
conditions and limitations specified in Non-discharge Permit No. WQ0010059. The findings and
comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report
entitled "Compliance Inspection Report".

There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this
inspection report is not required.

If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Melanie Kemp with the Water
Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500 or via email at
[e-mail].

Sincerely,

Melanie Kemp, Environmental Specialist
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ

ATTACHMENTS: Compliance Evaluation Inspection Report
EC: LF
CC: Jeff Church, City of Lenoir Public Utilities Operations Manager

DocuSign Envelope ID: E2095BD5-8CA1-41B7-BC58-3ED3F01BE344
Compliance Inspection Report
Permit:WQ0010059 Effective:11/10/20 Expiration:10/31/26 Owner :City of Lenoir
SOC:
Contact Person:
Region:
County:
Directions to Facility:
Caldwell
Asheville
Scott Hildebran
Effective:Expiration:Facility:City of Lenoir DCAR
1905 Broadland Rd
Lenoir NC 28645
Title:Phone:[phone]
From Hwy. 64 East in Lenoir turn right onto Southwest Blvd. Take the first exit off Southwest to Virginia ST. (left on Virginia St.)
Continue to Broadland Rd. on the right. Facility is approximately 1/2 mile on the left.
Secondary ORC(s):
828-757-2198Phone:991666Certification:Donnie Robert HawkinsPrimary ORC:
System Classifications:
On-Site Representative(s):
Related Permits:
NC0023736 City of Lenoir - Gunpowder Creek WWTP
NC0023981 City of Lenoir - Lower Creek WWTP
NC0027286 Town of Blowing Rock - Blowing Rock WWTP
NC0044164 City of Lenoir - Lake Rhodhiss WTP
Secondary Inspector(s):
Primary Inspector:
Inspection Date:Exit Time:Entry Time:
Phone:
01/10/2023 10:00AM 12:15PM
Melanie Kemp
Mara G Chamlee
Facility Status:
Permit Inspection Type:
Reason for Inspection:Inspection Type:
Not CompliantCompliant
Routine
Distribution of Residual Solids (503)
Compliance Evaluation
Question Areas:
Miscellaneous Questions Record Keeping Treatment
Pathogen and Vector Attraction Storage
(See attachment summary)
Page 1 of 4
DocuSign Envelope ID: E2095BD5-8CA1-41B7-BC58-3ED3F01BE344
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0010059
01/10/2023 Compliance Evaluation
City of Lenoir
Routine
Inspection Summary:
Melanie Kemp and Mara Chamlee, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a compliance evaluation of the City of
Lenoir’s DCAR program on January 10, 2023. This inspection was conducted to assess whether solids are being processed
in accordance with non-discharge permit WQ0010059. Donnie Hawkins (ORC on-site), Ronnie Hendrix (Lab Supervisor
on-site), Jeff Church (Operations Manager), Radford Thomas (Public Services Director for Town of Lenoir), and Jake Soots
(Biosolids operator) were all present and assisted with the inspection.
Residuals from the permitted facilities are stored in a sludge tank before being mixed with an emulsion polymer, belt
pressed, thermally dried, and stored in a covered area outside (drains back to headworks) before being distributed. Users
include farmers and the Public Works Department from the Town of Lenoir. Currently, based on staffing, residuals are
processed 3 days/week, 12-24 hours/day. Approximately 164 dry tons of product were distributed in 2022, but a more
accurate number will be calculated and provided on the annual report. After drying, the facility measures and tracks %TS
daily which is typically >90%. Temperature is monitored on the belt press and double-checked with an instant-read laser
thermometer gun. The temperature at the time of the inspection was approximately 200 degrees F.
All paperwork was in order at the time of the inspection (O&M Plan, lab reports, current permit, Residuals Information Sheet,
hauling records). Sampling results from February, October, and December 2022 were briefly reviewed to ensure samples are
being analyzed for metals, nutrients, and pathogen and vector attraction reduction parameters. Non-hazardous
characterization of residuals samples were analyzed in July 2021, meeting the once per permit cycle requirement.
Page 2 of 4
DocuSign Envelope ID: E2095BD5-8CA1-41B7-BC58-3ED3F01BE344
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0010059
01/10/2023 Compliance Evaluation
City of Lenoir
Routine
Type Yes No NA NE
Land Application
Distribution and Marketing
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Is GW monitoring being conducted, if required?
Are GW samples from all MWs sampled for all required parameters?
Are there any GW quality violations?
Is GW-59A certification form completed for facility?
Is a copy of current permit on-site?
Are current metals and nutrient analysis available?
Are nutrient and metal loading calculating most limiting parameters?
a. TCLP analysis?
b. SSFA (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis)?
Are PAN balances being maintained?
Are PAN balances within permit limits?
Has land application equipment been calibrated?
Are there pH records for alkaline stabilization?
Are there pH records for the land application site?
Are nutrient/crop removal practices in place?
Do lab sheets support data reported on Residual Analysis Summary?
Are hauling records available?
Are hauling records maintained and up-to-date?
# Has permittee been free of public complaints in last 12 months?
Has application occurred during Seasonal Restriction window?
TCLP analysis performed 7/14/21. See summary for additional details.Comment:
Pathogen and Vector Attraction Yes No NA NE
a. Fecal coliform SM 9221 E (Class A or B)
Class A, all test must be <1000 MPN/dry gram
Geometric mean of 7 samples per monitoring period for class B<2.0*10E6 CFU/dry gram
Fecal coliform SM 9222 D (Class B only)
Geometric mean of 7 samples per monitoring period for class B<2.0*10E6 CFU/dry gram
b. pH records for alkaline stabilization (Class A)
c. pH records for alkaline stabilization (Class B)
Temperature corrected
d. Salmonella (Class A, all test must be < 3MPN/4 gram day)
Page 3 of 4
DocuSign Envelope ID: E2095BD5-8CA1-41B7-BC58-3ED3F01BE344
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0010059
01/10/2023 Compliance Evaluation
City of Lenoir
Routine
e. Time/Temp on:
Digester (MCRT)
Compost
Class A lime stabilization
f. Volatile Solids Calculations
g. Bench-top Aerobic/Anaerobic digestion results
Residuals are run through belt press and then thermally dried before being stored in a covered
outdoor shed and distributed. Sampling occurs quarterly. See summary for additional details.
Comment:
Treatment Yes No NA NE
Check all that apply
Aerobic Digestion
Anaerobic Digestion
Alkaline Pasteurization (Class A)
Alkaline Stabilization (Class B)
Compost
Drying Beds
Other
Sludge from the holding tank is belt pressed and then thermally dried before being stored in an
outdoor covered shed.
Comment:
Page 4 of 4
DocuSign Envelope ID: E2095BD5-8CA1-41B7-BC58-3ED3F01BE344