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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWQCS00005_NOV-2023-DV-0069 Rsp_20230316WATER MANAGEMENT CITY OF DURHAM City of Durham Department of Water Management 1100 Martin Luther King Jr Parkway Durham, NC 27707 919-560-4344 March 16, 2023 Mr. Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Raleigh Regional Office NCDEQ, Division of Water Resources 3800 Barrett Drive Raleigh, NC 27609 Subject: NOV-2023-DV-0069 Permit No. WQCS00005 Dated: February 10, 2023; Received: March 2, 2023 City of Durham Collection System, Durham County Dear Mr. Vinson, NC Dept of Environmental Quality MAR 16 9?3 Raleigh Regional office On March 2, 2023, the City of Durham Department of Water Management (DWM) received the above referenced Notice of Violation and Intent to Issue Civil Penalty. As graciously requested in the letter, the following evidence and justification demonstrates that these events were exceptional, unintentional, temporary, and beyond reasonable control of the utility, and that DWM undertook significant costs to mitigate their impact. Further, it demonstrates DWM's strong commitment to and investment in preventing and mitigating sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). All conditions of the City's Collection System permit are met by the Department, including system cleaning, site visits, inspections, and easement maintenance. As such, we respectfully request that no civil penalties be assessed for the SSOs that occurred in the City's sewer collection system between January 1, 2023, and January 31, 2023. Incident#202300074-1900 Birmineham Avenue —January 13, 2023 On January 13, 2023, at 9:49 AM, an overflow occurred near 1900 Birmingham Avenue releasing an estimated 8,550 gallons of wastewater into an unnamed tributary of Ellerbe Creek. Crews quickly discovered that debris in line was the cause of the blockage and used a VacAll truck with an easement machine to clear the blockage. After assessing the extent of the spill, crews dammed the downstream creek with sandbags, set up a 4-inch pump to pump the untreated wastewater back into the collection system, and flushed the area using a nearby hydrant (dechlorinated water). Crews then used a JetVac truck to clean the three upstream and three downstream pipe reaches to ensure the pipes were clear. The City's Stormwater Services Division responded and conducted ammonia testing to help determine the spill's extent and advise when the site returned to normal conditions. No immediately visible adverse environmental impacts or hazards to persons or property were observed. A news release was issued within a 24-hour window. The cost to remediate this spill was $9,691.79. In 2018, the department established the Lift Station Maintenance Division (LSM) to focus on oversight and maintenance of the 63 lift stations throughout the service area and the 136 air relief valves (ARVs) in the system. This workgroup of 21 FTEs conducts required daily, weekly, monthly, and annual inspections and associated preventive maintenance activities. DWM spends more than $5,000,000 on Sewer Rehabilitation projects annually as a part of its Capital Improvements Programs. Fats, Oils, and Grease Program (FOG): The department's FOG education and outreach effort is conducted by three FTEs. (Staff are shared between the Industrial Pretreatment, Septage and FOG Programs). In addition to working with the Durham County Health Department, staff routinely inspect over 800 food service establishments (FSEs) annually to ensure appropriate cleaning and maintenance of grease interceptors. Staff participate in several community events, such as Earth Day, Center Fest and the Bimbe Festival, as well as neighborhood meetings. Department staff deliver residential Fat Trappers to increase awareness of the proper disposal methods for waste. DWM staff also conducts post-SSO follow-up education and enforcement as necessary. DWM invests over $50,000 per year in advertising the proper disposal of FOG on television. Staff post to the City's quarterly newsletter, the Durham Digest, along with multiple mentions in the City Manager's Report known as City Connect, to reach a broad range of Durham residents. Summary: Based upon the documented information provided above regarding these incidents, DWM believes that these SSO's were exceptional, unintentional, temporary, and caused by factors beyond the City and Department's control. DWM actively manages, operates, and maintains its system in such a manner as to meet or exceed all the requirements of the Collection System permit. As detailed above, DWM systematically inspects, flushes, and rehabilitates its wastewater collection system. The Department also actively works to regulate and educate the community regarding what should and should not be discharged into the City's sewer collection system. The department staff welcomes the opportunity to meet with you and your staff to review our program and discuss constructive ways to improve what we are already doing in the City of Durham. If you have any questions or need any additional information please do not hesitate to contact me at (919) 560-4381 or via email at Don.GreeleyCeDdurhamnc.gov. Sincerely, Donald F. Greeley, Director, PE, PLS Attachments c: Jason Robinson, DEQ— Water Quality Regional Operations Section, Raleigh Regional Office Junior Mobley, Superintendent, Water & Sewer Maintenance Scott Smart, Assistant Director Mary Tiger, Assistant Director Jerry Morrone, Utility Engineering Manager, Sr. State of North Carolina DWR F•�23 Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Resources Regional Office Collection System Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reporting Form Division of Water Resources Form CS-SSO PART is This form shall be submitted to the appropriate DWQ Regional Office within five business days of the first knowledge of the sanitary sewer overflow (SSO). Permit Number: WOCS00005 (WQCS# if active, otherwise use WQCSD#) Facility: Durham Collection Sysie,r Incident #: 202300074 Owner: City of Durham City: County: Durham Region: Raleigh Source of SSO (check applicable): 21 Sanitary Sewer ❑ Pump Station / Lift Station SPECIFIC location of the SSO (be consistent in description from past reports or documentation - i.e. Pump Station 6, Manhole at Westall & Bragg Street, etc): 1900 Birmingham Ave, Durham, NC, 27704 Manhole #: 20493 Latitude (Decimal Degrees): Incident Started Dt: 01?11'2023 Time: (mm-dd-yyyy) Estimated Volume of the SSO: 8.550 Longitude (Decimal Degrees): 9:49 am Incident End Dt: 01111-2023 (hh:mm AM/PM) (mm-dd-yyyy) Time: gallons Estimated Duration (Round to nearest hour): Describe how the volume was determined: 171 Gahonsx 50GPM Weather conditions during the SSO event: Wet 12 40 pm (hh:mm AM/PM) 251 hours Did SSO reach surface waters? 2 Yes ❑ No ❑ Unknown Volume reaching surface waters (gals): 850 Surface water name: Eilerbe Creek Did the SSO result in a fish kill? ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ Unknown If Yes, what is the estimated number of fish killed? SPECIFIC cause(s) of the $SO: 0 Debris in line 24 hour verbal notification (name of person contacted }: James Westcott [� DWR ❑ Emergency Mgmt Date (mm-dd-yyy): 01t112023 Time (hh:mm AMIPM): 02.10:00 pm If an SSO is ongoing, please notify the appropriate Regional Office on a daily basis until SSO can be stopped. Per G.S. 143-215.1 C(b), the responsible party of a discharge of 1,000 or more of untreated wastewater to surface waters shall issue a Press release within 24-hours of first knowledge to all print and electronic news media providing general coverage in the county where the discharge occurred. When 15,000 gallons or more of untreated wastewater enters surface waters, a Public notice shall be published within 10 days and proof of publication shall be provided to the Division within 30 days. Refer to the reference statute for further detail. The Director, Division of Water Resources, may take enforcement action for SSOs that are required to be reported to Division unless it is demonstrated that: 1) the discharge was cause by sever natural conditions and there were no feasible alternative to the discharge; or 2) the discharge was exceptional, unintentional, temporary and caused by factors beyond the reasonable control of the Permittee and/or owner, and the discharge could not have been prevented by the exercise of reasonable control. Part II must be completed to provide a justification claim for either of the above situations. This information will be the basis WHETHER OR NOT PART III IS COMPLETED, A SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED AT THE END OF THIS FORM CS-SSO Form Page: 1 PART II: ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS FOR EACH RELATED CAUSE CHECKED IN PART I OF THIS FORM AND INCLUDE THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION AS REQUIRED OR DESIRED COMPLETE ONLY THOSE SECTONS PERTAINING TO THE CAUSE OF THE SSO AS CHECKED IN PART I (In the check boxes below, NA = Not Applicable and NE = Not Evaluated) A HARDCOPY OF THIS FORM SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE APPROPRIATE DWR REGIONAL OFFICE UNLESS IS Debris in line What type of debris has been found in the line? Non -woven Materials (raps and wipes) Suspected cause or source of debris. Apartment and businesses upstream Are manholes in the area secure and intact? When was the area last checked/cleaned? 01 /13/2023 Have cleaning and inspections ever been increased at this location due to previous problems with debris? [ZYes [7]No DNA ENE Yes [ No NA NE Explain: We had an issue a month ago where a contractor left a sewer Dlug in the manhole. We flushed 5 assets in area to complete follow up. Are appropriate educational materials being developed and distributed to prevent futi [0 Yes El No 171 NA ❑ NE similar occurrences? Comments: We will have the head of the F.O.G. program come and pass out written materials in the area to all businesses and home after investigation is started. System Visitation ORC Yes Backup W Yes Name: Larry Hughes Cert# 1005483 Date visited: 01/12/2023 Time visited: 10:30am CS-SSO Form Page: 2 How was the SSO remediated (i.e. Stopped and cleaned up)? WSM received a call from contractors in area about a manhole overflowing at 9:49am. Crew arrived onsite after receiving at 10:30am, manhole 20493 was overflowing at a rate of 50gpm. Crew proceeded to flush to remove blockage. After flust with quick response the crew had to get the big flush truck with easement letter so we could remediate spill. The crew wa able to stop spill at 12:40pm_Crew dammed unnamed tributary at manhole 20647 and used bypass pump to pump all untreated wastewater back into the manhole. There was a substantial amount of rags on the ground. Crews shoveled ar raked all debris off the ground and the tainted soil as well We used Vaccuum truck o suck up all debris. The bypass puma is still currently running and will continue to run until local water quality lets us know the creek is negative for ammonia. Crew is currently working on cleaning 3 assets above and 3 below the spill manhole to make sure spill is remediated. We will also monitor this area on the hotspot cleaning program on a 6 months basis to make sure no repeat spill. As a representative for the responsible party, I certify that the information contained in this report is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. , Person submitting Signature: H Telephone Number: '7P, a U j - 3 04,y Date: 01/17/23 09:28 am Title: Any addition information desired to be submitted should be sent to the appropriate Division Regional Office within five days of i knowledge of the SSO with reference to the incident number (the incident number is only generated when electronic entry of th form is completed, if used). CS-SSO Form Page: 3 From: Lunne, Joe Sent: Friday, January 13, 2023 4:30 PM Subject: SSO at 1900 Birmingham Avenue COMMUNICATIONS CITY OF DURHAM News Media Contas Joe Lunne, SR Public Information & Communicatic Analy Water Management Dep 919.560.4381 ext. 35255 1919.397.6131 mobil Joe.Lunne@DurhamNC..ggN News Release For Immediate Release: January J3, 2a33 City of Durham contains sewer spill at 1900 Birmingham Avenue aURHAM, N.C. —The City of Durham Department of Water Management reports that on January 13, 2023 staff -oonded to a manhole overflowing at 1900 Birmingham Avenue. Approximately 8,550 gallons of untreated wastewater _vved into an unnamed tributary of Ellerbe Creek. The cause of the overflow was non -woven materials in the sewer line. itaffwere notified of the overflow at 9:49 a.m, on January 13, and the spill was stopped at 12:40 p.m. Crews dammed the creek downstream, pumped the untreated wastewater back into the sewer system, and flushed the creek. There Nere no observed hazards to persons, property, or the environment. 4s a reminder, only water, human waste, and toilet paper are permitted to be discharged into the sewer system. All ether materials —nonwoven materials (so called flushable wipes and rags) and fats, oils, and greases (FOGS) that should -iot be allowed into the sink —contribute to sanitary sewer overflows. To learn more about the way FOGS and nonwovens Jog pipes and how to properly dispose of them, visit our Industrial Waste Control, Pretreatment, and Grease Reduction Drogram at www.durhamnc.gov/1077. the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources was notified of the event on January 13, as -equired by state regulations/law. For more information, contact Junior Mobley, Superintendent of Water & Sewer Vlaintenance. State of North Carolina DeDWRpartment of Environment and Natural Resources �Q 1,j Division of Water Resources Raleigh Regional OfflCCollection System Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reporting Form Division of Water Resources g Form CS-SSO PART I: This form shall be submitted to the appropriate DWQ Regional Office within five business days of the first knowledge of the sanitary sewer overflow (SSO). Permit Number: WOCSOD005 (WQCS# if active, otherwise use WQCSD#) Facility: Durham Collection System Incident #: 202300074 Owner: Crty of Durham City: County: Durham Region: Raleigh Source of SSO (check applicable): Z Sanitary Sewer ❑ Pump Station / Lift Station SPECIFIC location of the SSO (be consistent in description from past reports or documentation - i.e. Pump Station 6, Manhole at Westall & Bragg Street, etc): 1900 Birmingham Ave, Durham, NC, 27704 Manhole #: 20493 Latitude (Decimal Degrees): Incident Started Dt: 01/13/2023 Time: (mm-dd-yyyy) Estimated Volume of the SSO: 8,550 Describe how the volume was determined: Weather conditions during the SSO event: Did SSO reach surface waters? 0 Yes Surface water name: Ellerbe Creek Longitude (Decimal Degrees): 9:49 am Incident End Dt: 01/13i2023 Time: 12-40 pm (hh:mm AM/PM) (mm-dd-yyyy) (hh:mm AM/PM) gallons Estimated Duration (Round to nearest hour): 2:51 hours 171 Gailonsx 50GPM Wet ❑ No ❑ Unknown Volume reaching surface waters (gals): 8550 Did the SSO result in a fish kill? ❑ Yes ONo ❑ Unknown If Yes, what is the estimated number of fish killed? SPECIFIC cause(s) of the SSO: 0 Debris in line 24 hour verbal notification (name of person contacted ): James Westcott M DWR ❑ Emergency Mgmt Date (mm-dd-yyy): 01/13/2023 Time (hh:mm AMIPM): 02.10.00 pm If an SSO is ongoing, please notify the appropriate Regional Office on a daily basis until SSO can be stopped. Per G.S. 143-215.1C(b), the responsible party of a discharge of 1,000 or more of untreated wastewater to surface waters shall issue a press release within 24-hours of first knowledge to all print and electronic news media providing general coverage in the county where the discharge occurred. When 15,000 gallons or more of untreated wastewater enters surface waters, a public notice shall be published within 10 days and proof of publication shall be provided to the Division within 30 days. Refer to the reference statute for further detail. The Director Division of Water Resources may take enforcement action for SSOs that are required to be reported to Division unless it is demonstrated that: 1) the discharge was cause by sever natural conditions and there were no feasible alternative to the discharge; or 2) the discharge was exceptional, unintentional, temporary and caused by factors beyond the reasonable control of the Permittee and/or owner, and the discharge could not have been prevented by the exercise of reasonable control. Part II must be completed to provide a justification claim for either of the above situations. This information will be the basis WHETHER OR NOT PART III IS COMPLETED, A SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED AT THE END OF THIS FORM CS-SSO Form Page: 1 PART II: ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS FOR EACH RELATED CAUSE CHECKED IN PART I OF THIS FORM AND INCLUDE THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION AS REQUIRED OR DESIRED COMPLETE ONLY THOSE SECTONS PERTAINING TO THE CAUSE OF THE SSO AS CHECKED IN PART (In the check boxes below, NA = Not Applicable and NE = Not Evaluated) A HARDCOPY OF THIS FORM SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE APPROPRIATE DWR REGIONAL OFFICE UNLESS IS Debris in line What type of debris has been found in the line? Non -woven Materials (raps and wipes) Suspected cause or source of debris. Apartment and businesses upstream Are manholes in the area secure and intact? When was the area last checked/cleaned? 01 /13/2023 Have cleaning and inspections ever been increased at this location due to previous problems with debris? [ZYes E]No DNA ENE Yes 0 No ❑ NA ❑ NE Explain: We had an issue a month ago where a contractor left a sewer Plug in the manhole. We flushed 5 assets in area to complete follow up. Are appropriate educational materials being developed and distributed to prevent futt [Z Yes ❑ No ❑ NA ❑ NE similar occurrences? Comments. We will have the head of the F.O.G. program come and pass out written materials in the area to all businesses and home after investigation is started. System Visitation ORC [] Yes Backup W Yes Name: Larry Hushes Cert# 1005483 Date visited: 01 /12/2023 Time visited: 10:30am CS-SSO Form Page: 2 How was the SSO remediated (i.e. Stopped and cleaned up)? WSM received a call from contractors in area about a manhole overflowing at 9:49am. Crew arrived onsite after receiving at 10:30am, manhole 20493 was overflowing at a rate of 50gpm. Crew proceeded to flush to remove blockage. After flusr with quick response the crew had to get the big flush truck with easement 'etter so we could remediate spill. The crew wa able to stop spill at 12:40 m. Crew dammed unnamed tributary at manhole 20647 and used bypass pump to pump all untreated wastewater back into the manhole. There was a substantial amount of rags on the ground. Crews shoveled ar raked all debris off the ground and the tainted soil as well We used Vaccuum truck o suck up all debris. The bypass puma is still currently running and will continue to run until local water quality lets us know the creek is negative for ammonia. Crew is currently working on cleaning 3 assets above and 3 below the spill manhole to make sure spill is remediated. We will also monitor this area on the hotsvot cleaning program on a 6 months basis to make sure no repeat spill. As a representative for the responsible party, I certify that the information contained in this report is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. , Person submitting claim La Signature: Telephone Number: g a D `] 3✓ Date: 01/17/23 09:28 am Title: Any addition information desired to be submitted should be sent to the appropriate Division Regional Office within five days of f knowledge of the SSO with reference to the incident number (the incident number is only generated when electronic entry of th form is completed, if used). CS-SSO Form Page: 3 From: Lunne, Joe Sent: Friday, January 13, 2023 4:30 PM Subject: SSO at 1900 Birmingham Avenue COMMUNICATIONS CITY OF DURHA News Media Contai Joe Lunne, SR Public Information & Communicatic Analy Water Management Dep 919.560-4381 ext. 35255 1919.397-6131 mobil Joe. Lunne@DurhamNC.go% News Release For Immediau� Release: Januarp 11. 20�3 City of Durham contains sewer spill at 19OO_Bir_mingham.Ayenue �URHAM, N.C. —The City of Durham Department of Water Management reports that on January 13, 2023 staff -oonded to a manhole overflowing at 1900 Birmingham Avenue. Approximately 8,550 gallons of untreated wastewater .,,rived into an unnamed tributary of Ellerbe Creek. The cause of the overflow was non -woven materials in the sewer line. itaff were notified of the overflow at 9:49 a.m. on January 13, and the spill was stopped at 12:40 p.m. Crews dammed the creek downstream, pumped the untreated wastewater back into the sewer system, and flushed the creek. There ,vere no observed hazards to persons, property, or the environment. 4s a reminder, only water, human waste, and toilet paper are permitted to be discharged into the sewer system. All ether materials —nonwoven materials (so called flushable wipes and rags) and fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) that should iot be allowed into the sink —contribute to sanitary sewer overflows. To learn more about the way FOGS and nonwovens :log pipes and how to properly dispose of them, visit our Industrial Waste Control, Pretreatment, and Grease Reduction 3rogram at www.durhamnc.gov/1077. The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources was notified of the event on January 13, as •equired by state regulations/law. For more information, contact Junior Mobley, Superintendent of Water & Sewer Maintenance.