WQCS00003_NOI_NOV2022DV0082_Response_#1_20220406

NC Department of
Environmental Quality
Received
Win$
Uton-Salem /Forsyth County
tilities
Water •Wastewater •Solid Waste
Administration, P.O. Box 2511, Winston-Salem, NC 27102
0: 336-727-8000, F: 336-727-8432, wsfcutilities.org
April 6, 2022
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 #202200143
Dear Mr. Snider:
APR 11 2022
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 January 24, 2022 sanitary sewer
overflow (SSO), Incident #202200143, located at 4796 Selwyn Drive in Winston-Salem. The
incident was a result of debris in the line.
On January 24, 2022 at 2:00pm, an SSO occurred at 4796 Selwyn Drive in Winston-Salem. Our
first responders determined that debris had accumulated, which led to the overflow. They
discovered a large amount of wipes and used a warthog nozzle to break up the blockage. They
removed the wipes and prevented this major obstruction from reaching the larger sewer main.
A high -velocity cleaner cleared the line and the spill was stopped at 4:23pm. The area was
cleaned following standard protocol and a diffuser was deployed for two hours. Upstream and
downstream mains were cleaned and inspected by CCTV with no visual defects observed.
WSFC Utilities continues to make progress in minimizing SSOs and has the proper programs in
place to continue our high level of performance. Outreach with the No Wipes in Pipes campaign
continues to educate the public on proper disposal of all wipes. cityofws.org/nowipes
Additionally, our comprehensive sanitary sewer evaluation study has provided strategic
WRIMCity Counog: MayorA o Johen; Denise D. Adams, Mayor Pro Tempore, Korth Ward; Barbara Hanes Murk,, Northeast Ward; Robert C aad, West Ward;
John C. Larson, South Ward; Jeff Mxlnt,sh, Northwest Ward; Kevin Mundy, Southwest Ward; MMUe Rippio, East Ward; lames Taylor, Jr., Southeast Ward;
OW Manager: Lee D. Gamty
County=1lasbnam David R. Plyler, Chair, Don Mana, vk'e oder, Fleming EFAmin; Ted Kaplan; Rkhard V. Hindle; Tonga MCDankl; GIora D. Whisenhunt;
Call 311 or 336-727-8000 County Manager:DudleyWatts,h.
citylinkg/'yclt dws.or WMaton Sakrn/Forsylh P my WKVCommWM: Randall S.Tonle, over,L Wesleyarts,Jr..Kneeeaur; Harold E. Day; HamM Eusbde; Tom Griffin;
•) l:. y S1 Yvonre H. Hines; Duane Long; Hugh W. Jarman; Chris Parker; Charles Wilson; Allan younger

cleaning and examination of our system to identify areas with the greatest need for repair and
replacement. While we are required to clean 10% of the system each year, in FY 2020-2021,
WSFC Utilities cleaned more than 330 miles. This is 19% of the 1,783-mile gravity wastewater
collection system and 228 of those miles (69%) were proactively cleaned by in-house and
contracted crews. Our ongoing internal goal is to clean at least 20% of the entire gravity
collection system, with more frequent cleaning systematically scheduled for areas with higher
incident levels.
I hope this information is helpful with your investigation of Incident #202200143. If you require
additional information, please contact me at 336-747-7315.
Sincerely,
COA+-w
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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