NC0025861_Authorization to Construct_19950630

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
• Health and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Management
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary 1E3E i-i NI --
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
June 30, 1995
The Honorable Kenneth D. Ervin, Mayor
The City of Lowell
101 West First Street
Lowell, North Carolina 28098
Subject: Permit No. NC0025861
Authorization to Construct
City of Lowell
Wastewater Treatment Facility
Gaston County
Dear Mayor Ervin:
A letter of request for an Authorization to Construct was received•April 10, 1995 by the Division
and final plans and specifications for the subject project have been reviewed and found to be satisfactory.
Authorization is hereby granted for miscellaneous equipment replacement (including drive unit, torque
tube,collector arm, timers, and other controls) and the demolition and reconstruction of the sludge drying
beds at the existing 0.600 MGD wastewater treatment facility.
This Authorization to Construct is issued in accordance with Part III, Paragraph B of NPDES
Permit No. NC0025861 issued August 27, 1993, and shall be subject to revocation unless the wastewater
treatment facilities are constructed in accordance with the conditions and limitations specified in Permit No.
NC0025861.
The sludge generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed of in accordance with G.S.
143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the North Carolina Division of Environmental Management.
In the event that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily, including the creation of nuisance
conditions,the Permittee shall take immediate corrective action,including those as may be required by this
Division, such as the construction of additional or replacement wastewater treatment or disposal facilities.
The Mooresville Regional Office,telephone number(704)663-1699,shall be notified at least forty-
eight (48) hours in advance of operation of the installed facilities so that an in-place inspection can be
made. Such notification to the regional supervisor shall be made during the normal office hours from 8:00
a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday,excluding State Holidays.
Upon completion of construction and prior to operation of this permitted facility, a certification
must be received from a professional engineer certifying that the permitted facility has been installed in
accordance with the NPDES Permit, this Authorization to Construct and the approved plans and
specifications. Mail the Certification to the Permits and Engineering Unit, P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh,NC
27626-0535.
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh,North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
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Permit No. NC0025861
Authorization to Construct
Page 2
Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, the Permittee shall employ a
certified wastewater treatment plant operator to be in responsible charge (ORC)of the wastewater treatment
facilities.The operator must hold a certificate of the type and grade at least equivalent to or greater than the
classification assigned to the wastewater treatment facilities by the Certification Commission. The
Permittee must also employ a certified back-up operator of the appropriate type and grade to comply with
the conditions of Title 15A, Chapter 8A, .0202. The ORC of the facility must visit each Class I facility at
least weekly and each Class II, III, and IV facility at least daily, excluding weekends and holidays, and
must properly manage and document daily operation and maintenance of the facility and must comply with
all other conditions of Title 15A, Chapter 8A, .0202.
A copy of the approved plans and specifications shall be maintained on file by the Permittee for the
life of the facility.
Failure to abide by the requirements contained in this Authorization to Construct may subject the
Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division of Environmental Management in accordance with
North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6A to 143-215.6C.
The issuance of this Authorization to Construct does not preclude the Permittee from complying
with any and all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed by other government
agencies(local,state, and federal)which have jurisdiction.
One (1) set of approved plans and specifications is being forwarded to you. If you have any
questions or need additional information, please contact n, telephone number 919/733-5083,
extension 518.
Sincerely,
Pak -
• . 'reston i ow. d, Jr., P.E.
cc: Mooresville Regional Office,Water Quality
Training and Certification Unit
Facilities Assessment Unit
David L. Pond, P.E., W.K. Dickson & Company, Inc.

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources ` •
• Division of Environmental Management
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor Aigftimiummammi .
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary ED E H N F=1
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
June 3, 1994
Mr. Kenneth D. Ervin
City of Lowell
101 W.First Street
Lowell, NC 28098
Subject: Permit No. NC0025861
Authorization to Construct
City of Lowell
Wastewater Treatment Facility
Gaston County
Dear Mr.Ervin:
A letter of request for an Authorization to Construct was received April 28, 1994 by the Division
and final plans and specifications for the subject project have been reviewed and found to be satisfactory.
Authorization is hereby granted for the construction of a gaseous dechlorinator system with feedback
probe, diffuser and all associated piping and appurtenances with discharge of treated wastewater into
South Fork Catawba River.
This Authorization to Construct is issued in accordance with Part III, Paragraph A of NPDES
Permit No. NC0025861 issued August 27, 1993, and shall be subject to revocation unless the wastewater
treatment facilities are constructed in accordance with the conditions and limitations specified in Permit No.
NC0025861.
The sludge generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed of in accordance with G.S.
143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the North Carolina Division of Environmental Management.
In the event that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily, including the creation of nuisance
conditions, the Permittee shall take immediate corrective action,including those as may be required by this
Division, such as the construction of additional or replacement wastewater treatment or disposal facilities.
The Mooresville Regional Office, telephone number 704/663-1699, shall be notified at least forty-
eight (48) hours in advance of operation of the installed facilities so that an in-place inspection can be
made. Such notification to the regional supervisor shall be made during the normal office hours from 8:00
a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday, excluding State Holidays.
Upon completion of construction and prior to operation of this permitted facility, a certification
must be received from a professional engineer certifying that the permitted facility has been installed in
accordance with the NPDES Permit, this Authorization to Construct and the approved plans and
specifications. Mail the Certification to the Permits and Engineering Unit, P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, NC
27626-0535.
Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, the Permittee shall employ a
certified wastewater treatment plant operator to be in responsible charge (ORC)of the wastewater treatment
facilities.The operator must hold a certificate of the type and grade at least equivalent to or greater than the
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50%recycled/10%post-consumer paper

• Permit No. NC0025861
Authorization to Construct
City of Lowell
June 3, 1994
Page 2
classification assigned to the wastewater treatment facilities by the Certification Commission. The
Permittee must also employ a certified back-up operator of the appropriate type and grade to comply with
the conditions of Title 15A,Chapter 8A, .0202. The ORC of the facility must visit each Class I facility at
least weekly and each Class II, III, and IV facility at least daily, excluding weekends and holidays, and
must properly manage and document daily operation and maintenance of the facility and must comply with
all other conditions of Title 15A, Chapter 8A, .0202.
A copy of the approved plans and specifications shall be maintained on file by the Permittee for the
life of the facility.
Failure to abide by the requirements contained in this Authorization to Construct may subject the
Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division of Environmental Management in accordance with
North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6A to 143-215.6C.
The issuance of this Authorization to Construct does not preclude the Permittee from complying
with any and all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed by other government
agencies (local,state, and federal) which have jurisdiction.
One (1) set of approved plans and specifications is being forwarded to you. If you have any
questions or need additional information,please contact Mr. Charles Alvarez,telephone number 919/733-
5083.
Sincerely,
Preston oward, Jr., P.E.
cc: Gaston County Health Department
Mooresville Regional Office,Water Quality
Training and Certification Unit

4� •.
Staff Review and Evaluation
NPDES Wastewater Permit
FACILITY INFORMATION
Facility City of Lowell, WWTP
NPDES No. NC0025861
Design Flow(MGD) 0.6
Facility Class II
STREAM CHARACTERISTICS
Stream Name South Fork Catawba River
Stream Class WS-V
Sub-basin 030836
Drainage Area (mit) 630
S7Q10 (cfs) 124
W7Q10 (cfs) 226
30Q2 (cfs)
IWC (%) 0.74 (@0.6 MGD)
Proposed Changes Parameters Affected Basis for change(s)
Monitoring Frequencies BOD5, TSS, NH3, TRC, FC 2B .0500 Regulations
Compliance Schedule:
Special Condition(s): ACUTE TOXICITY LIMIT (QUARTERLY)
Permits&Engineering Comments:
Recommend renewal of NPDES permit. Have been no modifications since last renewal.
Monitoring frequencies have changes due to the 2B .0500 Regs. Stream classification has
changed from WS III to WS V. Permitted flow remains 0.6 MGD.
Prepared
Pby: //)/L:
Regional Office Evaluation and Recommendations:

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
4614731.174i
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary ILDE i----I N A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
September 4. 1996
Mr. Kenneth D. Ervin, Mayor
City of Lowell
101 W. First Street
Lowell. North Carolina 28098
Subject: NPDES Permit Issuance
Permit No. NC0025861 Renewal
City of Lowell WWTP
Gaston County
Dear Mr. Ervin:
In accordance with the application for discharge permit received on February 2. 1996.the Division
is forwarding herewith the subject state - NPDES permit. This permit is issued pursuant to the
requirements of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1 and the Memorandum of Agreement between
North Carolina and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency dated December 6, 1983.
If any parts. measurement frequencies or sampling requirements contained in this permit are
unacceptable to you, you have the right to an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within thirty (30)
days following redeipt of this letter. This request must be in the form of a written petition, conforming to
Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General Statutes, and filed with the office of Administrative Hearings,
Post Office Drawer 27447. Raleigh. North Carolina 27611-7447. Unless such a demand is made, this
permit shall be final and binding.
Please take notice that this permit is not transferable. Part II,E.4.addresses the requirements to be
followed in case of change in ownership or control of this discharge.
This permit does not affect the legal requirements to obtain other permits which may be required
by the Division of Water Quality or permits required by the Division of Land Resources, Coastal Area
Management Act,or any other Federal or Local governmental permits may be required.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Mr. Mark McIntire,
telephone number(919)733-5083,extension 553.
Sincerely.
Original Signed By
David A. Goodrich
A. Preston Howard, Jr.,P.E.
cc: Central Files
Mr. Roosevelt Childress, EPA
Mooresville Regional Office.Water Quality
Mecklenburg County Environmental Protection
Permits and Engineering Unit
Facility Assessment Unit
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50%recycled/10%post-consumer paper

1'
Permit No. NC0025861
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
In compliance with the provision of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1,
other lawful standards and regulations promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina
Environmental Management Commission, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as
amended.
City of Lowell
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at
City of Lowell
off of NCSR 2380
Lowell, North Carolina
Gaston County
to receiving waters designated as South Fork Catawba River in the Catawba River Basin
in accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in
Parts I, II, III and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective October 1, 1996
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on September 30, 2001
Signed this day September 4, 1996
Original Signed By
David A. Goodrich
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission

Permit No. NC0025861
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
City of Lowell
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate the existing 0.6 MGD contact stabilization wastewater treatment facility
consisting of an influent pump station, dual bar screens/comminutor, a contact aeration basin,a
reaeration basin, a final clarifier, a chlorine contact basin, an aerobic digestor, dual sludge
drying beds, and instrumented effluent flow measurement located at City of Lowell Wastewater
Treatment Plant, off of NCSR 2380, Lowell, Gaston County (See Part III of this Permit), and
2. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map into South
Fork Catawba River which is classified Class WS-V waters in the Catawba River Basin.

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ROAD CLASSIFICATION
PRIMARY HIGHWAY LIGHT -DUTY ROAD, HARD OR
HARD SURFACE IMPROVED SURFACE
SECONDARY HIGHWAY
HARD SURFACE UNIMPROVED ROAD
Latitude 35° 16' 10"
Map # F14SE
Stream Class
Discharge Class
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Longitude 81 °04'55"
Sub -basin 03-08-36
WS-V
100% Domestic
Receiving Stream South Fork Catawba River
Design 0 0.6 VGD Permit expires 9/30/01
SCALE 1:24 000
CONTOUR INTERVAL 10 FEET
QUAD LOCATION City of Lowell
NCO025861
Gaston County
WWTP

A. ( ). EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS FiNAL Permit No. NC0025861
During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from
outfall(s) serial number 001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:
Effluent Characteristics Discharge Limitation_s Monitoring Requirements
Measurement Sample 'S a m p l e
Monthly Avg. Weekes Avg, Daily Max Frequency Tie Location
Flow 0.6 MGD Continuous Recording I or E
BOD, 5 day, 20'C** 30.0 mg/I 45.0 mg/I Weekly Composite E, I
Total Suspended Residue" 30.0 mg/I 45.0 mg/I Weekly Composite E, I
NH3 as N Weekly Composite E
Fecal Coliform (geometric mean) 200.0 /100 ml 400.0 /100 ml Weekly Grab E
Total Residual Chlorine 2/Week Grab E
Temperature Weekly Grab E
Total Nitrogen (NO2 + NO3 + TKN) Quarterly Composite E
Total Phosphorus Quarterly Composite E
Acute Toxicity*** Quarterly Composite E
* Sample locations: E- Effluent, I - influent
** The monthly average effluent BODS and Total Suspended Residue concentrations shall not exceed 15 %of the respective influent value(85
% removal).
***Acute Toxicity (Daphina,48 hour) LC50 at 74%; February, May, August, November; See Part Hi, Condition E.
The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units and shall be monitored weekly at the effluent by grab
sample.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

Part III Permit No. NC0025861
E. ACUTE TOXICITY PERMIT LIMIT(QRTRLY)
The permittee shall conduct acute toxicity tests on a quarterly basis using protocols defined as
definitive in E.P.A. Document 600/4-85/013 entitled "The Acute Toxicity of Effluents to
Freshwater and Marine Organisms." The monitoring shall be performed as a Daphnia pulex or
Ceriodaphnia 48 hour static test, using effluent collected as a 24 hour composite. The LC50 of this
effluent using the previously stated methodology may at no time in any toxicity test be less than
74%. Effluent samples for self-monitoring purposes must be obtained during representative
effluent discharge below all waste treatment. The first test will be performed after thirty days from
the effective date of this permit during the months of February, May, August, and November.
The parameter code for this test if using Daphnia pulex is TAA3D. The parameter code for this test
if using Ceriodaphnia is TAA3B. All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit
condition will be entered on the Effluent Discharge Monitoring Form (MR-1) for the month in
which it was performed, using the appropriate parameter code. Additionally, DEM Form AT-1
(original) is to be sent to the following address:
Attention:
Environmental Sciences Branch
North Carolina Division of
Environmental Management
4401 Reedy Creek Road
Raleigh, N.C. 27607
Test data shall be complete and accurate and include all supporting chemical/physical measurements
performed in association with the toxicity tests, as well as all dose/response data. Total residual
chlorine of the effluent toxicity sample must be measured and reported if chlorine is employed for
disinfection of the waste stream.
Should any single quarterly monitoring indicate a failure to meet specified limits, then monthly
monitoring will begin immediately until such time that a single test is passed. Upon passing, this
monthly test requirement will revert to quarterly in the months specified above.
Should any test data from either these monitoring requirements or tests performed by the North
Carolina Division of Environmental Management indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream,
this permit may be re-opened and modified to include alternate monitoring requirements or limits.
NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as minimum
control organism survival and appropriate environmental controls, shall constitute an invalid test
and will require immediate retesting (within 30 days of initial monitoring event). Failure to submit
suitable test results will constitute noncompliance with monitoring requirements.

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SOC PRIORITY PROJECT: Yes No X
To: Permits and Engineering Unit
Water Quality Section
Attention: Mark D. McIntire
Date: February 23, 1996
NPDES STAFF REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
County: Gaston
Permit No. NC0025861
MRO No. 96 -031
PART I - GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Facility and Address: Lowell Wastewater Treatment Plant
City of Lowell
101 West First Street
Lowell, North Carolina 28098
2 . Date of Investigation: 02-22-96
3. Report Prepared By: G. T. Chen
4 . Persons Contacted and Telephone Number: Messrs. Don Price &
James Ledford, (704) 824-3518
5. Directions to Site: From the junction of Highway 7
(McAdenville Road) and Power Drive (SR 2380) in east Lowell,
Gaston County, travel north on Power Drive approximately 0.45
mile. Turn right on a paved entrance road and proceed east
approximately 0.2 mile to the wastewater treatment plant.
6 . Discharge Point(s) . List for all discharge points:
Latitude: 35° 16 ' 10" Longitude: 81° 04 ' 55"
,:: ' f. Attach a U.S.G.S. map extract and indicate treatment facility
site and discharge point on map.
';:SGS Quad No. : F 14 SE USGS Quad Name: Mount Holly
7 . Site size and expansion are consistent with application?
Yes.
8. Topography (relationship to flood plain included) : Mildly
rolling with slopes generally less than 15%. The facility is
not in a flood plain.
9 . Location of nearest dwelling: No dwelling within 1000 feet of
the facility.

,p Y} ..
•
10. Receiving stream or affected surface waters : South Fork
Catawba River.
a. Classification: WS-V
b. River Basin and Subbasin No. : Catawba and 03-08-35
c. Describe receiving stream features and pertinent
downstream uses : Source of water supply for drinking,
culinary or food-processing, and Class C uses.
.McAdenville WWTP is located approximately 1.0 mile
downstream.
PART II - DESCRIPTION OF DISCHARGE AND TREATMENT WORKS
1. a. Volume of wastewater to be permitted: 0.6000 MGD
(Ultimate Design Capacity) .
b. What is the current permitted capacity of the wastewater
treatment facility? 0 .6000 MGD.
c. Actual treatment capacity of the current facility
(current design capacity) ? 0 .6000 MGD.
d. Date(s) and construction activities allowed by previous
Authorizations to Construct issued in the previous two
years: An Authorization to Construct (A to C) was issued
to the City of Lowell on June 3, 1994 for the
installation of a dechlorination facility. An A to C was
issued to the City on June 30, 1995 for the
rehabilitation of both the existing treatment plant and
sludge drying beds.
e. Please provide a description of existing or substantially
constructed wastewater treatment facilities: The
existing facility is a 600,000 gpd contact stabilization
wastewater treatment plant consisting of an influent pump
station, dual bar screens/comminutor (comminutor was not
operational) , a contact aeration basin (diffused) , a
reaeration basin (diffused) , a final clarifier, a
chlorine contact •basin (gas) , an aerobic digester
(diffused) , dual sludge drying beds, instrumented flow
•
measurement (effluent) , and dechlorination system (gas) .
f. Please provide a description of proposed wastewater
treatment facilities: N/A.
g. Possible toxic impacts to surface waters: None.
h. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only) : N/A
NPDES Permit Staff Report
Version 10/92
Page 2

2 . Residuals handling and utilization/disposal scheme:
a. If residuals are being land applied, please specify DEM
Permit No. : N/A.
Residuals Contractor: N/A
Telephone No. : N/A
b. Residuals Stabilization: PSRP: X
RFRP: N/A
Other: N/A
c. Landfill: Sludge is removed and disposed by BFI at its
landfill in Cabarrus County.
d. Other disposal/utilization scheme (specify) : N/A.
3. Treatment plant classification (attach completed rating
sheet) : Class II, see rating sheet.
4 . SIC Code(s) : 4952
Wastewater Code(s) :
Primary: 01 Secondary:
Main Treatment Unit Code: 09002
PART III - OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION
1. Is this facility being constructed with Construction Grant
Funds or are any public monies involved (municipals only) ?
N/A.
2 . Special monitoring or limitations (including toxicity)
requests : None.
3. Important SOC, JOC or Compliance Schedule dates: (please
indicate) N/A.
4. Alternative Analysis Evaluation: Has the facility evaluated
all of the non-discharge options available. Please provide
regional perspective for each option evaluated.
Spray Irrigation: N/A.
Connection to Regional Sewer System: N/A.
Subsurface: N/A.
Other Disposal Options: N/A.
5. Air Quality and/or Groundwater concerns or hazardous materials
NPDES Permit Staff Report
Version 10/92
Page 3

mtt
utilized at this facility that may impact water quality, air
quality or groundwater? There are no known air quality and/or
groundwater concerns. The facility does not store or uses
hazardous materials.
6. Other Special Items: None.
PART IV - EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recommended that the Permit be renewed as requested.
/2.11
Signature of port Preparer
i-9 2„,
Water Quality Recdnal Supervisor
� /C
Date
NPDES Permit Staff Report
Version 10/92
Page 4