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Home My WebLink AboutNC0061930_NOD2023PC0040 & CEI Report_20230124 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED. January 24, 2023 Ronnie D Walker Mark Laurel Homeowner's Association Email: ronniewalker@hotmail.com SUBJECT: NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY Tracking Number: NOD-2023-PC-0040 Permit No. NC0061930 Mark Laurel WWTP Macon County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Mark Laurel WWTP on January 17, 2023. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0061930. A summary of the findings and comments noted during the inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report. The Compliance Evaluation Inspection was conducted by Division of Water Resources staff from the Asheville Regional Office. The following deficiency(s) was noted during the inspection: Inspection Area Description of Deficiency _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Pump Station - Influent The visual alarm does not work. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Effluent Sampling There is no thermometer inside the composite sampler. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ In addition, the issue below must also be addressed: Compliance Issue: Effluent Sampling – The sampling tubing is dirty and should be replaced. DocuSign Envelope ID: A241BCEA-89D7-4A5A-B7C5-54A83686C62E Remedial actions should have already been taken to correct this problem and prevent further occurrences in the future. The Division of Water Resources may pursue enforcement action for this and any additional violations of State law. To prevent further action, carefully review these deficiencies and address the causes of non-compliance to prevent the recurrence of similar situations. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Lauren Armeni with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4667. Sincerely, Daniel Boss, Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: Laserfiche Travis Farmer (ORC – Environmental Inc.) DocuSign Envelope ID: A241BCEA-89D7-4A5A-B7C5-54A83686C62E 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 NC0061930 23/01/17 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) Mark Laurel WWTP Moonlight Dr Highlands NC 28741 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:30AM 23/01/17 17/12/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Paul Travis Farmer/ORC/828-586-5588/ Other Facility Data 11:30AM 23/01/17 22/08/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Ronnie D Waller,PO Box 155 Highlands NC 28741//828-526-1772/Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self-Monitoring Program Sludge Handling Disposal 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 Melanie Kemp DWR/ARO WQ/ - - / Lauren E Armeni DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ Mara G Chamlee DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ 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 DocuSign Envelope ID: A241BCEA-89D7-4A5A-B7C5-54A83686C62E 1/23/2023 1/23/2023 1/23/2023 1/23/2023 NPDES yr/mo/day 23/01/17 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Lauren Armeni, Melanie Kemp, and Mara Chamlee, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the Mark Laurel WWTP on January 17, 2023. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0061930. Mr. Travis Farmer (Environmental Inc., ORC) and Mr. Tyler Easterly (Environmental Inc., Operator in-training) were present and assisted in the inspection. The following items were noted during the inspection: Pump Station - Influent: The visual alarm was not working and needs to be fixed. As mentioned in the 2018 report, the pump station alarm is not visible to passers-by, and overflow to surface water could occur without being observed for a significant period. It is recommended that the high-level alarm in the wet well be connected to an autodialer system. Effluent Sampling: The sampling tubing was dirty and should be replaced. At the time of the inspection, there was no thermometer in the composite sampler fridge and composite samples were being collected. The following compliance issue was noted during the inspection: 1.Effluent Sampling: The sampling tubing was dirty and should be replaced. The following deficiencies were noted during the inspection: 1. Pump Station - Influent: The visual alarm does not work. 2. Effluent Sampling: There is no thermometer inside the composite sampler. NC0061930 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: A241BCEA-89D7-4A5A-B7C5-54A83686C62E Permit:NC0061930 Inspection Date:01/17/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Mark Laurel WWTP 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? The permit expired in August 2022; however, the renewal application has been submitted, and the current permit remains in effect until the Permitting Unit issues another one. Comment: Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Process controls include DO, temperature, settleable solids, pH, and measuring the sludge blanket with a sludge judge. 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? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: A241BCEA-89D7-4A5A-B7C5-54A83686C62E Permit:NC0061930 Inspection Date:01/17/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Mark Laurel WWTP Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE 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: Pump Station - Influent Yes No NA NE Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? Is the wet well free of excessive grease? 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? At the time of the inspection, the audible alarm was working, but the visual alarm was not. The influent pump station was completely redone in June 2022. See summary for details. Comment: 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? Mr. Farmer indicated that the bar screen rarely has any debris on it because grinder pumps are used prior to wastewater entering the influent pump station. Comment: Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext. Air Type of aeration system Diffused Is the basin free of dead spots? Are surface aerators and mixers operational? Are the diffusers operational? Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: A241BCEA-89D7-4A5A-B7C5-54A83686C62E Permit:NC0061930 Inspection Date:01/17/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Mark Laurel WWTP Compliance Evaluation Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? 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/l) One blower is currently out for maintenance. During the off season, blowers are on for a total of 1.5 hours per day. The off season is from November to March. There are two in-series aeration basins. Sludge from the secondary clarifier is returned to the first aeration basin. At the time of the inspection, settleable solids were at 20% after thirty minutes and DO was 3.1. Comment: 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 ¼ of the sidewall depth) At the time of the inspection, the sludge blanket was around 6' in a 12' deep clarifier, which is undesirably high, but with the current low flow the plant does not have issues with solids. There was some excessive floating sludge in the clarifier, but Mr. Farmer indicated this is from old sludge within the plant from the current low flow and he periodically sprays the floating sludge to settle it back down. 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? # Is tankage available for properly waste sludge? Mr. Farmer indicated that the sludge only needs pumped out during the busy season (April to October). Environmental Inc. has a pump truck, and the sludge is transported to one of the nearby WWTPs. Comment: Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: A241BCEA-89D7-4A5A-B7C5-54A83686C62E Permit:NC0061930 Inspection Date:01/17/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Mark Laurel WWTP Compliance Evaluation Aerobic Digester Yes No NA NE Disinfection - UV Yes No NA NE Are extra UV bulbs available on site? Are UV bulbs clean? Is UV intensity adequate? Is transmittance at or above designed level? Is there a backup system on site? Is effluent clear and free of solids? The entire UV system will be replaced this year. All eight UV bulbs were replaced in 2022. There is not a backup UV system on site; however, Mr. Farmer indicated that they can use chlorination/dechlorination tablets if needed. Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # 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? The flow meter was replaced in November 2022 with a newer make and model. The flow meter was initially calibrated on November 1, 2022 by Laboratory Instrument Service. Comment: Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE 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: 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)? Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: A241BCEA-89D7-4A5A-B7C5-54A83686C62E Permit:NC0061930 Inspection Date:01/17/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Mark Laurel WWTP Compliance Evaluation Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE At the time of the inspection, there was not a thermometer in the composite sampler fridge and composite samples were being collected. See summary for details. Comment: Standby Power Yes No NA NE 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? The facility does not have a permanent or portable generator. Mr. Farmer indicated that a portable generator can be rented if needed. Comment: Page#7 DocuSign Envelope ID: A241BCEA-89D7-4A5A-B7C5-54A83686C62E