WQCS00003_NOI_NOV2021DV0285_Response_#3_20210712

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nn-Salem /Forsyth County
P"tor •Wastewater • SDlld Waste
Administration, P.O. Box 2511, Winston-Salem, NC 27102
O: 336-727-8000, F: 336-727-8432, wskutilities.org
July 12, 2021
Lon T. Snider, Regional Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources
450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
Re: Sanitary Sewer Overflow Civil Penalties Incident #202101027
Dear Mr. Snider:
INC Department of
Environmental Quality
Received
JUL 15 2021
Winston-Salem
Regional Office
This letter serves as the official response from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities (WSFC
Utilities) to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water
Resources Notice of Intent to Enforce Civil Penalty for the March 12, 2021 sanitary sewer
overflow (SSO), Incident #202101027, located at 1475 New Walkertown Road in Winston-
Salem. The incident was a direct result of grease deposits in the line.
On March 12, 2021 at 7:25pm, an SSO occurred at 1475 New Walkertown Road. First
responders performing routine duties noticed a spill. Upon immediate inspection, they
discovered a large amount of heavy grease in the line and worked quickly to resolve the
incident with a combination jet/vacuum truck. Grease and other debris was cleared from the
line and normal flow resumed within 40 minutes.
The crew then ran a diffuser and cleaned the area with the combination jet/vacuum truck. They
also washed two upstream and two downstream mains to ensure all grease and other debris
was removed. After cleaning, staff CCTVed the lines and confirmed there were no remaining
deposits.
Before departing the scene, nearby businesses were given Good Neighbor Policy brochures and
plumber policies. As is our standard proactive practice, Can the Grease and No Wipes in Pipes
literature was also distributed to businesses near the spill site.
City Council: Mayor Allen James; Denise D. Adams, Mayor Pro Tempom, North Ward; Barbara Hanes Burke, Northeast Ward; RobertC. Clark, West Ward;
Jahn C. Larson, South Ward; leH Macintosh, Northwest Ward; Kevin Mundy, Southwest Ward; Annette Scippic, East Ward; James Taylor, Jn, Southeast Wand;
City Manager: Lee D. Barney
County Commissioners: David R. Plyler, Chair; Don Martin, Vice Chair, Fleming El -Amin; Ted Kaplan; Richard V. Linville; Tanya McDaniel; Glona D. Whisenhunt;
Call 311 or 336-727-8000 County Manager: Dudley Watts, Jr.
CIh�Imkc OiW$.Or Mstun-Salem/Forsyth County Utility Commission: Randall S.Tuttle, Chair,L. Wesley Curtis, Jr., Vice ChaiU Harold E. Day; Tom Gdfln; Yvonne H. Hines;
•F ` fi A Duane Long; Hugh W. Jernigan; Chris Parker, Charles Wilson; Allan younger

WSFC Utilities continues to make progress minimizing SSOs and has the proper programs in
place to continue our high level of performance. The FY2019-2020 budget included an increase
in preventative cleaning of the collection system and last year was our lowest year on record
for SSOs since the baseline year, 1999. While we are required to clean 10% of the system each
year, in FY2019-2020 a total of 393 miles were cleaned, which is 22% of the 1,780-mile gravity
wastewater collection system. Of those 393 miles, 303 miles (77%) in the system were
proactively cleaned by in-house and contracted crews. Our team has a system to schedule more
frequent cleaning for areas with higher incident levels.
In addition to this successful strategy, our No Wipes in Pipes campaign is gaining awareness
with coverage through local media and other outreach efforts. We have confidence in the
positive impact on public education and recently learned that our industrial customers have
been requesting flyers to post in their restrooms.
I hope this information is helpful with your investigation of Incident #202101027. If you require
additional information, please contact me at 336-747-7315.
Sincerely,
J
Courtney Driver, P.E.
Utilities Director
cc; Michael Stover, P.E., Assistant Utilities Director -Operations
Kenny Atkins, Utilities Field Operations Manager
Antonio Martinez, ORC
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