NC0051322_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20230301

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Embonmened QuaUry
March 1, 2023
Don Denton, President
Carolina Water Service Inc. of North Carolina
4944 Parkway Plaza Blvd. Ste. 375
Charlotte, NC 28217
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Ashley Hills WWTP
NPDES Permit No. NCO051322
Wake County
Dear Mr. Denton:
On February 23, 2023, Mitch Hayes of the Raleigh Regional Office conducted the subject
inspection with the assistance of Wayne Leary, Operator in Responsible Charge. Below is a list of
findings developed from the inspection and review of the permit.
1. The current permit was reissued and became effective March 1, 2018 and will expire
February 28, 2023. A permit renewal application is currently under review. Please continue
to operate under the last issued permit until a new permit is issued.
2. The 0.25 MGD facility consists of the following units: Influent pump station; static screen;
splitter box; surge tank; 3 aeration basins- 125,000 / 75,000 / 50,000 gallons; 3 clarifiers;
tertiary membrane filtration; 2 sludge holding tanks; UV disinfection; 3 sludge digesters;
effluent flow measurement; onsite generator for back-up power. All units were accounted
for and in operation. Mixed liquor in the aeration basins appeared chocolate brown in color.
All blowers were operational. There were no dead spots. Effluent flowing off the secondary
weirs appeared clear. Some algae were present on the weirs restricting some of the flow.
This alga needs to be cleaned off. All UV banks were operational. Clear effluent was
observed flowing into Popular Creek with no detrimental effects to the creek. Sludge was
last hauled from the plant the first week of February. The ISCO flow meter was last
calibrated November 3, 2022.
3. CaroIina Water Service Labs, certification number 5161, is field certified for pH and DO.
Eurofins, formally ENCO labs, analyzes all other parameters. All pH buffers were within
expiration date. Field calibration sheets for DO and pH are kept up to date.
4. Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) were reviewed for compliance and monitoring
requirements for the period December 2018 through January 2023. The following were
noted: daily maximum permit limit violation for BOD on 07.19.2018; daily maximum
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office I 3800 BarrettDnve I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
919 791 4200

permit limit violation for fecal coliform on 02.05.2019 and on 05.19.2019; daily maximum
permit limit violation for BOD on 04.17.2019; frequency violations for nitrite -1 nitrate -
Nitrogen and TKN on 04.06.2019; daily maximum permit limit violations for BOD on
08.01.2019 and 08.06.2019; daily maximum permit limit violation for BOD on 10.08.2019;
daily maximum permit limit violations for BOD on 04.01.2020, 04.07.2020, and
04.09.2020. Daily maximum permit limit violation for fecal coliform on 04.29.2020; and
a daily maximum permit limit violation for BOD on 05.17.2022.
5. Commercial lab results, chain of custody records, and bench sheets were compared with
data submitted on the DMR for January 2023. No discrepancies were noted.
I would like to thank Wayne Leary for his time and assistance with this inspection. If you have
any questions about the inspection or this letter, please contact Mitch Hayes at 919.791.4261 or at
mitch.h es(ancdenr. ov .
Sincerely,
Vanessa E. Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources
NC - DEQ
EQ�North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality II Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611

United States Environmental Protection Agency
Form Approved.
EPA Washington, D.C. 20460
OMB No. 2040-0057
Water Compliance Inspection Report
Approval expires 8-31-98
Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS)
Transaction Code NPDES yr/molday Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type
1 Ins I 2 15 I 3 I NCO051322 111 12 23/02/23 117 18 I C I 19 I s I 201 I
21111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 f6
Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA Reserved
I 72 I NJ L_I 73I � I_! � 74 71 I I I I I I I80
67 701LJ , I 71 f liL
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
Entry Time/Date
Permit Effective Date
POTW name and NPDES permit Number)
10:00AM 23/02/23
18/03/01
Ashley Hills WWTP
320 Woods Run
Exit Time/Dale
Permit Expiration Dale
Knightdale NC 27W
11:00AM 23/02/23
23/02/28
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)r itles(suPhone and Fax Number(s)
Other Facility Data
11/
Donald Wayne Leary/1919-868-172719196627797
Donald Wayne Leary/ORC/919-868-4727/
Name, Address of Responsible OfficialMile/Phone and Fax Number
James T Highley,PO Box 240908 Charlotte NC 2822409081/704-525-7990/7045258174 Contacted
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit 0 Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports
Self -Monitoring Progran 0 Facility Site Review EftluentlReceiving Wate Laboratory
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 Dale
Mitchell S Hayes DWR/RRO WO/919-791-4200/
III �_�, e�7
Signatu of Management 0 A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers oat*
—177%44 i, zo 7-3
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
Page#

NPDES yrlmo/day Inspection Type (Cont.) 1
NCO051322 I11 1 23/02123 17 18 L� l
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
The current permit was reissued and became effective March 1, 2018 and will expire February 28,
2023. A permit renewal application is currently under review. Please continue to operate under the
last issued permit until a new permit is issued.
The 0.25 MGD facility consists of the following units; Influent pump station; static screen; splitter box;
surge tank; 3 aeration basins- 125,000 / 75,000 / 50,000 gallons; 3 clarifiers; tertiary membrane
filtration; 2 sludge holding tanks; UV disinfection; 3 sludge digesters; effluent flow measurement;
onsite generator for back-up power. All units were accounted for and in operation. Mixed liquor in the
aeration basins appeared chocolate brown in color. All blowers were operational. There were no
dead spots. Effluent flowing off the secondary weirs appeared clear. Some algae were present on the
weirs restricting some of the flow. This alga needs to be cleaned off. All UV banks were operational.
Clear effluent was observed flowing into Popular Creek with no detrimental effects to the creek.
Sludge was last hauled from the plant the first week of February. The ISCO flow meter was last
calibrated November 3, 2022.
Carolina Water Service Labs, certification number 5161, is field certified for pH and DO. Eurofins,
formally ENCO labs, analyzes all other parameters. All pH buffers were within expiration date. Field
calibration sheets for DO and pH are kept up to date.
Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) were reviewed for compliance and monitoring requirements for
the period December 2018 through January 2023. The following were noted: daily maximum permit
limit violation for BOD on 07.19.2018; daily maximum permit limit violation for fecal coliform on
02.05.2019 and on 05.19.2019; daily maximum permit limit violation for BOD on 04.17.2019;
frequency violations for nitrite + nitrate — Nitrogen and TKN on 04.06.2019; daily maximum permit limit
violations for BOD on 08.01.2019 and 08.06.2019; daily maximum permit limit violation for BOD on
10.08.2019; daily maximum permit limit violations for BOD on 04.01.2020, 04.07.2020, and
04.09.2020. Daily maximum permit limit violation for fecal coliform on 04.29.2020; and a daily
maximum permit limit violation for BOD on 05.17.2022.
Commercial lab results, chain of custody records, and bench sheets were compared with data
submitted on the DMR for January 2023. No discrepancies were noted.
Page# 2

Permit: NC0051322 Owner - Facility: Ashley Hills WWTP
Inspection Date: 0212312023 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE
Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? 0111111
Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable?
Comment:
Permit
Yes
No NA NE
(If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new
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application?
Is the facility as described in the permit?
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# Are there any special conditions for the permit?
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Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public?
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Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection?
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Comment:
Record Keeoino
Yes No NA NE
Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit?
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Is all required information readily available, complete and current?
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Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)?
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Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs?
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Is the chain -of -custody complete?
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Dates, times and location of sampling
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Name of individual performing the sampling
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Results of analysis and calibration
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Dates of analysis
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Name of person performing analyses
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Transported COCs
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Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters?
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Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ?
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(If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified
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operator on each shift?
Is the ORC visitation log available and current?
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Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification?
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Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility
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classification?
Page# 3

Permit: NCO051322 Owner - Facility: Ashley Hills WwTP
Inspection Date: 02f23l2023 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Record Keepina Yes No NA NE
Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? 0111111
Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? 0000
Comment:
Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE
Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment: Effluent aDDeared clear.
Flow Measurement - Effluent
Yes No NA NE
# Is flow meter used for reporting?
0
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1113
Is flow meter calibrated annually?
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Is the flow meter operational?
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(If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter?
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Comment: Flow meter calibrated 11.03.2022.
Pump Station - Influent
Yes
No
NA NE
Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures?
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Is the wet well free of excessive grease?
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Are all pumps present?
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Are all pumps operable?
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Are float controls operable?
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Is SCADA telemetry available and operational?
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Is audible and visual alarm available and operational?
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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? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Page# 4

Permit: NCO051322
Inspection Date: 02/23/2023
owner - Facility: Ashley Hills WwTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Bar Screens
Yes
No
NA NE
Is disposal of screening in compliance?
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Is the unit in good condition?
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Comment: Uses static screens.
Equalization Basins
Yes
No
NA NE
Is the basin aerated?
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Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment?
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Is the basin free of excessive grease?
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Are all pumps present?
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Are all pumps operable?
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Are float controls operable?
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Are audible and visual alarms operable?
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# Is basin size/volume adequate?
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Comment:
Secondary Clarifier
Yes
No NA NE
Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater?
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Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier?
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Are weirs level?
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Is the site free of weir blockage?
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Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting?
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Is scum removal adequate?
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Is the site free of excessive floating sludge?
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Is the drive unit operational?
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Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)?
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Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc?
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Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately'/< of the sidewall depth)
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Comment: Some algae was blocking weirs, restricting_ flow.
Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE
Mode of operation Ext. Air
Type of aeration system Diffused
Is the basin free of dead spots? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Page# 5

Permit: NCO051322 owner - Facility:
Inspection Date: 02/23/2023 Inspection Type:
Ashley Hills WWTP
Compliance Evaluation
Aeration Basins
Yes No NA NE
Are surface aerators and mixers operational?
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Are the diffusers operational?
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Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process?
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Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin's surface?
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Is the DO level acceptable?
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Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mgll)
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Comment:
Filtration (High Rate Tertian►)
Yes No
NA NE
Type of operation:
Cross flow
Is the filter media present?
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Is the filter surface free of clogging?
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Is the filter free of growth?
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Is the air scour operational?
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Is the scouring acceptable?
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Is the clear well free of excessive solids and filter media?
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Comment: cloth filter membranes.
Disinfection - UV
Yes No NA NE
Are extra UV bulbs available on site?
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Are UV bulbs clean?
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Is UV intensity adequate?
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Is transmittance at or above designed level?
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Is there a backup system on site?
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Is effluent clear and free of solids?
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Standby Power
Yes No NA NE
Is automatically activated standby power available?
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Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source?
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Is the generator tested under load?
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Was generator tested & operational during the inspection?
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Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site?
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Page# 6

Permit: NC0051322 owner - Facility: Ashley Hills WWTP
Inspection Date: 02/23/2023 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Standby Power Yes No NA NE
Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up ❑ ❑ ❑
power?
Is the generator fuel level monitored? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment:
Laboratory
Yes No
NA NE
Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory?
0
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Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab?
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# Is the facility using a contract lab?
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# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0
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degrees Celsius)?
Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees?
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Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +1-1.0 degrees?
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Comment: Eurofins is contract lab.
Effluent Sampling
Yes No NA NE
Is composite sampling flow proportional?
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Is sample collected below all treatment units?
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Is proper volume collected?
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Is the tubing clean?
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# is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0
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degrees Celsius)?
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type
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representative)?
Comment:
Upstream 1 Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
and sampling location)?
Comment:
Page# 7