WQ0000948_Inspection Letter_20230419

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality  Division of Water Resources  Raleigh Regional Office
3800 Barrett Drive  1628 Mail Service Center  Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1628
919.791.4200

April 19, 2023
The Honorable James M. Hux
Town of Jackson
PO Box 614
Jackson, NC 27845
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Permit Number: WQ0000948
Town of Jackson WWTF
Wastewater Irrigation System
Northampton County
Dear Mayor Hux,

On March 28, 2023 Chris Smith of the Raleigh Regional Office conducted a compliance evaluation
inspection of the Town of Jackson WWTF Wastewater Irrigation System – Permit No. WQ0000948. The
purpose of this inspection was to ensure compliance with the subject permit. During the inspection the
cooperation and assistance of John Young, Earlie Boone, and Brian Young was helpful and appreciated.

This compliance evaluation inspection consisted of the following:
•Review of the permit;
•Review of the owner/facility information;
•Review of Non-Discharge Monitoring Reports (NDMR), Non-Discharge Application Reports (NDAR-1),
and Groundwater Monitoring Reports (GW-59a)
•On-site inspection of spray and treatment components

The current permit was issued September 7, 2022 and expires October 31, 2028.
John Young is currently acting as the Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC) but is listed as the back-up
ORC in the Division’s database. Dennis Joyner is listed as the facility’s ORC but has recently vacated that
position. Please contact the Division to update this information and designate an active back-up ORC
as soon as possible.
The permitted system consists of a 5.2 acre stabilization/storage lagoon; chlorination disinfection
facilities; two 975 gallon per minute (GPM) irrigation pumps; a 69.92 acre spray irrigation area consisting
of five fields with approximately 27,924 linear feet (LF) of irrigation piping with sprinklers; and all
associated piping, valves, controls, and appurtenances. On the day of the inspection components of the
wastewater system appeared to be well maintained. The influent flowmeter was last calibrated on
February 15, 2023 by FCx Services. The irrigation meter is a new mag meter and is factory calibrated.
NDMR and NDAR-1 forms are submitted as required with all information. The most recent effluent
sampling results available were analyzed by Environment 1, Inc. and indicate compliance with permit
DocuSign Envelope ID: C9392CB3-FCF8-4AE1-BDA2-1295CBE53A01
WQ0000948
Northampton
April 19, 2023
Page 2 of 3

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality  Division of Water Resources  Raleigh Regional Office
3800 Barrett Drive  1628 Mail Service Center  Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1628
919.791.4200

requirements. A few months of monitoring reports were compared to records on site during the
inspection and no discrepancies were found.
The facility maintains 6 groundwater monitoring wells. MW-1, MW-7, MW-8, MW-9, and MW-10
appeared to be well maintained and locked at the time of the inspection. MW-2 was not marked and
was not locked. MW-10 was marked and had a lock on it, but the hinge was broken. Please make
repairs to the unmarked, damaged monitoring well casements and ensure that all monitoring wells
are properly labeled.
The facility maintains five (5) spray fields totaling about 62.92 wetted irrigation acres. The spray system
was activated during the inspection. Most of the spray heads appeared to be functioning properly with
proper rotation. A few spray heads were not functioning as they had been shut off for maintenance. The
spray fields appeared to be in good condition with good vegetative cover.
Representative soils analyses for the spray fields were last conducted in August 2019. NCDA&CS
performed the analyses and an application of 0.3–0.8 tons of lime per acre was recommended for some
fields at that time. Spray field pH values were reported as 5.4–5.9 for all fields. The ideal soil pH range
for both short and long term plant health is 5.5-6.5 and a target soil pH of 6.0 is typically recommended
for Fescue; the cover crop used at this facility. Soils test results also recommended applications of
Phosphorus and Potassium. This office recommends that the permittee contact the Northampton
County Agricultural Extension Service for assistance and advice on how best to address the spray field
needs indicated by the soils tests. Permit Condition IV. 13. states “An annual representative soils
analysis (i.e., Standard Soil Fertility Analysis) shall be conducted on each irrigation site listed in
Attachment B. These results shall be maintained at the facility for five years, and shall be made available
to the Division upon request.” ORC John Young stated that soils analysis was not conducted during 2020,
2021, and 2022 due to complications resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and staff turnover. Mr.
Young also stated that he planned to collect and submit soil samples for analysis as soon as possible and
provide those results to this office upon receipt.
The treatment lagoon and storage ponds appeared to be free of solids and well maintained. 56 inches of
freeboard was observed in the effluent storage pond. The facility uses liquid chlorine disinfection. There
was plenty of liquid chlorine on site during the inspection.
At the time of the inspection the wastewater irrigation system appeared to be well maintained.

DocuSign Envelope ID: C9392CB3-FCF8-4AE1-BDA2-1295CBE53A01
WQ0000948
Northampton
April 19, 2023
Page 3 of 3

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality  Division of Water Resources  Raleigh Regional Office
3800 Barrett Drive  1628 Mail Service Center  Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1628
919.791.4200

If you have any questions about this inspection or this letter, please contact Chris Smith at
[e-mail] or 919-791-4200.

Sincerely,

Vanessa E. Manuel
Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Raleigh Regional Office

Attachments: Water Compliance Inspection Report
cc: Laserfiche

DocuSign Envelope ID: C9392CB3-FCF8-4AE1-BDA2-1295CBE53A01