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Home My WebLink AboutNC0058378_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20230417 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED. April 17, 2023 Travis Dupree Carolina Water Service Inc. of North Carolina Email: Travis.Dupree@corix.com SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report Elk River WWTP NPDES WW Permit No. NC0058378 Avery County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Elk River WWTP on 4/04/2023. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0058378. The findings and comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report entitled "Compliance Inspection Report". There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this inspection report is not required. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mara Chamlee with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4657 or via email at mara.chamlee@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Daniel Boss, Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: Laserfiche Travis Thomas (ORC) DocuSign Envelope ID: 1B834BF6-51FA-4555-984D-DC4B09C8D205 EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 Approval expires 8-31-98 Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS) Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type 1 N 52 NC0058378 23/04/04 C S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Elk River WWTP NC Hwy 194 Banner Elk NC 28604 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:00AM 23/04/04 22/11/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Travis Shane Thomas/ORC/828-559-6032/ Other Facility Data 11:30AM 23/04/04 27/09/30 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Donna Stegall, /Admin. Assistant/704-319-0506/Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self-Monitoring Program Sludge Handling Disposal Effluent/Receiving Waters 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 Date Lauren E Armeni DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ Mara G Chamlee DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page#1 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1B834BF6-51FA-4555-984D-DC4B09C8D205 4/20/2023 4/20/2023 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1625D9D3-9237-46D5-82EA-54E637D539C4 4/20/2023 NPDES yr/mo/day 23/04/04 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Mara Chamlee and Lauren Armeni, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the Elk River WWTP on April 4, 2023. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0058378. Mr. Travis Thomas (ORC) and Mr. Neil Reese (BORC) were present and assisted with the inspection. The facility consists of two package plants each with contact stabilization units. At the time of the inspection, Plant #2 had been taken offline and was being evaluated to determine what maintenance upgrades and rehabilitation measures would be possible and applicable to the whole plant. The following items were noted during the inspection: Operations & Maintenance: At the time of the inspection, Plant #2 had been taken offline. Overall, they are checking the structural integrity of the plant and they are also evaluating needed repairs to the plant and analyze the feasibility of certain upgrades. Primarily they are evaluating to see if a switch from chlorine disinfection to UV disinfection is feasible. Accumulated sludge from Plant #2 being drained is currently sitting in bags and will be tested and hauled to the Lenoir landfill. Secondary Clarifier: One of the skimmers in Plant #1 is in need of repair. De-chlorination: At the time of the inspection, only two of the four dechlorination tubes were covered. It is recommended to cover all of the tubes. NC0058378 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1B834BF6-51FA-4555-984D-DC4B09C8D205DocuSign Envelope ID: 1625D9D3-9237-46D5-82EA-54E637D539C4 Permit:NC0058378 Inspection Date:04/04/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Elk River WWTP Compliance Evaluation Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new application? Is the facility as described in the permit? # Are there any special conditions for the permit? Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? Comment: Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Process controls analyzed include DO, pH, and temperature. Mr. Thomas indicated that they analyze settleability and sludge blanket levels on an as needed basis. At the time of the inspection, only Plant #1 was in operation due to Plant #2 being taken offline for examination of upgrade feasibility. See summary for details. Comment: Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? Is all required information readily available, complete and current? Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? Is the chain-of-custody complete? Dates, times and location of sampling Name of individual performing the sampling Results of analysis and calibration Dates of analysis Name of person performing analyses Transported COCs Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1B834BF6-51FA-4555-984D-DC4B09C8D205DocuSign Envelope ID: 1625D9D3-9237-46D5-82EA-54E637D539C4 Permit:NC0058378 Inspection Date:04/04/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Elk River WWTP Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? 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? Is disposal of screening in compliance? Is the unit in good condition? At the time of the inspection, there was a high level of foam built up on the bar screen. Mr. Thomas indicated that this was due to the air running too high as they are working to compensate for the second plant being out of service at the time of the inspection. Mr. Thomas indicated that the bar screens are checked daily and raked as needed, and that the screenings are hauled to the landfill. The plant would benefit from a bar screen with bars that are closer together to more effectively screen debris. Comment: Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext. Air Type of aeration system Diffused Is the basin free of dead spots? Are surface aerators and mixers operational? Are the diffusers operational? Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin’s surface? Is the DO level acceptable? Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/l) The plant houses two contact stabilization units. After the influent splitter box, the flow goes to a stabilization tank in each plant prior to flowing to a contact chamber. Mr. Thomas indicated that during the winter the air runs on a timer, but during the summer it is running continually. At the time of the inspection, settleability was 425 mL out of 1000 mL after thirty minutes. There was some pin floc in the settleometer from the presence of newer sludge from Plant #2. Mr. Thomas indicated that typically the dissolved oxygen is a little under 2 mg/L. Comment: Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1B834BF6-51FA-4555-984D-DC4B09C8D205DocuSign Envelope ID: 1625D9D3-9237-46D5-82EA-54E637D539C4 Permit:NC0058378 Inspection Date:04/04/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Elk River WWTP Compliance Evaluation Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier? Are weirs level? Is the site free of weir blockage? Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? Is scum removal adequate? Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? Is the drive unit operational? Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately ¼ of the sidewall depth) At the time of the inspection, the sludge blanket was 5' out of a 12' deep clarifier. The sludge blanket was higher at this time due to Plant #2 being out of service. Mr. Thomas indicated that when the scum baffle gets high enough they have it pumped out. One of the skimmers in Plant #1 is in need of repair, which Mr. Thomas stated was scheduled to be completed during the week of the inspection. See summary for details. Comment: Aerobic Digester Yes No NA NE Is the capacity adequate? Is the mixing adequate? Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank? # Is the odor acceptable? # Is tankage available for properly waste sludge? Mr. Thomas indicated that the digester is pumped out approximately one to two times per year and is hauled to the Boone WWTP. He also stated that they waste from the secondary clarifier generally once a week. Decant from the digester goes to the splitter box. Comment: Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Number of tubes in use?4 Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1B834BF6-51FA-4555-984D-DC4B09C8D205DocuSign Envelope ID: 1625D9D3-9237-46D5-82EA-54E637D539C4 Permit:NC0058378 Inspection Date:04/04/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Elk River WWTP Compliance Evaluation Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? Mr. Thomas indicated that they do not have issues with sludge in the chlorine contact chamber and that it is pumped about one to two times per year. They are currently evaluating the possibility of switching to a UV disinfection system. Comment: De-chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system ?Tablet Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? Is storage appropriate for cylinders? # Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? Comment: Are the tablets the proper size and type? Are tablet de-chlorinators operational? Number of tubes in use?4 The dechlorination basin is reaerated prior to the effluent. At the time of the inspection, only two dechlorination tubes were covered. See summary for details. Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? The flow meter is calibrated annually, and was last calibrated on August 30, 2022 by FCX Instrumentation Services. Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? Mr. Thomas indicated that the samples are collected from the dechlorination chamber.Comment: Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1B834BF6-51FA-4555-984D-DC4B09C8D205DocuSign Envelope ID: 1625D9D3-9237-46D5-82EA-54E637D539C4 Permit:NC0058378 Inspection Date:04/04/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Elk River WWTP Compliance Evaluation Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? Comment: Standby Power Yes No NA NE Is automatically activated standby power available? Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source? Is the generator tested under load? Was generator tested & operational during the inspection? Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site? Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power? Is the generator fuel level monitored? Mr. Thomas indicated that the generator automatically exercises once per week. Carolina Energy maintains the generator annually. At the time of the inspection, the fuel tank was 3/4 full. Carolina Water has a fuel caddy on a trailer for extended power outages. There is additional fuel available on site at the Sugar Mountain WWTP that Carolina Water Service Inc. also operates. Comment: Page#7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1B834BF6-51FA-4555-984D-DC4B09C8D205DocuSign Envelope ID: 1625D9D3-9237-46D5-82EA-54E637D539C4