NC0032123_Draft Permit_20230627

ROY COOPER r gy�
Governor 7 .If'
ELIZABETH S.BISER 5 •'
Secretary ':«a- y
RICHARD E.ROGERS,JR. NORTH CAROLINA
Director , Environmental Quality
June 15, 2023
Mr. Tony Konsul,
Director of State Operations
Carolina Water Service of North Carolina
PO Box 240908
Charlotte,NC, 28224-0980
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit Renewal
Permit NC0032123
Hound Ears WWTP
Watauga County
Class WW-2
Dear Mr. Konsul:
Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the Draft NPDES permit renewal for your facility. Please
review this draft carefully to ensure thorough understanding of the requirements and conditions it
contains. There are several changes from the existing permit, including the following:
•
•
• A notation was made concerning the Electronic Reporting Rule — NPDES Electronic
Reporting Rule — Phase 2 Extension. EPA extended the Phase 2 deadline to December 21,
2025.
• Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports
(DMRs)and program reports.The requirement to continue reporting discharge monitoring data
electronically using the NC DWR's Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report(eDMR) interne
application has been added to your NPDES permit [See Special Condition A. (3)].
The NPDES standard conditions(Parts II, III,and IV)that are a part of the permit are not included
in this draft document (cover, map, and Part I). The conditions are the same as in your current
permit except that agency and division names have been updated. The latest version is available at
https://bit.ly/3k5NFaL and can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF file.
Concurrent with this notification the Division is publishing a notice in a newspaper having
circulation in the general Watuaga County area, soliciting public comments on this draft permit.
Please provide any written comments you may have to the following: NCDEQ/DWR,NPDES
Permitting Branch, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 no later than 30 days
after receipt of this draft permit.
D E Q N5l2orthNort CarolhSalinaisburym Depanent
Street of161 En:ironntentaMail lService QualityCenter I Division of WaterNorth Resources
1 I Carolina 27699-1611
r O V 919.707.9000

. Following the 30-day public comment period, the Division will review all pertinent comments
and take appropriate action prior to issuing a final permit. If you have questions concerning this
draft permit, please call me at(919) 707-3602 or by email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
, ti'-' . ' r2112•.-Lczeo—
Anjali Orlando
NPDES Permitting Unit
Hardcopy: NPDES Files
Ecopy: DWR/Winston Salem Regional Office/
Water Quality/Lon Snider
GD E Q North Carolina Depamnent of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 11611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1611
ow�:.�i a i...m«w Waft\ 919.707.9000

Permit NC0032123
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
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,
Carolina Water Service, Inc. of North Carolina
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Hound Ears WWTP
1624 Dogwood Road
North of Shulls Mill
Watauga County
to receiving waters designated as Watauga River in the Watauga 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
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on September 30, 2027.
Signed this day
Richard Rogers
Director,Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 6

Permit NC0032 123
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility,whether for operation or discharge are hereby
revoked. As of this permit issuance, any previously issued permit bearing this number is no longer
effective. Therefore, the exclusive authority to operate and discharge from this facility arises under the
permit conditions, requirements, terms, and provisions included herein.
Carolina Water Service,Inc. of North Carolina
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate an existing 0.140 MGD package plant and a 0.100 MGD package plant,
operating in parallel, each with:
• Aeration basins
• Clarifier
• Sludge holding tanks
and sharing the following additional components:
• Ultraviolet disinfection
• Stand-by generator
The facility is located north of Shulls Mill at the Hound Ears WWTP, at 1624 Dogwood Road, in
Watauga County.
2. Discharge from said treatment works via Outfall 001, at the location specified on the attached map
into the Watauga River, Stream Index 8-(1), currently classified B-Trout HQW waters, [HUC:
060101030301], in subbasin(04-02-01), in the Watauga River Basin.
Page 2 of 6

Permit NC0032123
- PARTI
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq., 15A NCAC 02B .0211]
Grade II Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G. 0302]
a. During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the
Permittee is authorized to discharge from Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and
monitored' by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly Daily Measurement Sample ,
1 Parameter Code Average Maximum Frequency Type Sample Location-
Flow 50050 0.140 MGD Continuous Recording Influent or Effluent
BOD, 5-day(20°C) C0310 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
Total Suspended Solids(TSS)
C0530 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
Ammonia(NH3 as N) C0610 24.0 mg/L 35 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
Fecal Coliform
(Geometric mean) 31616 200/100 ml 400/100 ml Weekly Grab Effluent
Temperature(°C) 00010 Monitor and Report Weekly Grab Effluent
Total Nitrogen(NO2+NO3+TKN)
C0600 Monitor and Report Semi-Annually Composite Effluent
Total Phosphorus C0665 Monitor and Report Semi-Annually Composite Effluent
Oil&Grease 00556 30.0 mg/L 60.0 mg/L 2/Month Grab Effluent
pH 3 00400 Between 6.0 and 9.0 Weekly Grab Effluent
Standard Units
Turbidity 4 00070 Not to exceed 10 NTU Weekly Grab Effluent
Dissolved Oxygen(DO) 00300 Daily Average 6.0 mg/L Weekly Grab Effluent
Temperature(°C) 00010 Monitor and Report Weekly Grab U and D
Footnotes:
1. The Permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the Division's eDMR system [see
A. (3.)].
2. Sample Location: U: Upstream at least 100 feet from Outfall. D; Downstream at least 100 feet from Outfall.
3. The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units.
4. Effluent turbidity shall not cause receiving-stream turbidity to exceed 10 NTU. If background turbidity
naturally exceeds 10 NTU,the effluent shall not cause background turbidity to increase. Exceeding this
permit limit will require sufficient instream sampling(upstream and/or downstream)to verify compliance
(effluent vs. background) [NCAC 02B. 0211 (21)].
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace
amounts.
Page 3 of 6

Permit NC0032123
See Condition A. (2.)for instructions should the facility's permitted UV system fail,and an alternate
means of disinfection is required. Total Residual Chlorine monitoring requirements and limits are
applicable if chlorine compounds are used for disinfection.
A.(2.) TEMPORARY MEANS OF DISINFECTION
[NCGS 143-215.1(b)]
In the event that the wastewater treatment plant's ultraviolet(UV) disinfection system should fail,
underperform, or otherwise be removed from effective service,the permittee or his agent should
immediately inform the Surface Water Protection Section staff of the Winston-Salem Regional Office of
this development and discuss temporary, alternate means for disinfection of the effluent.
If chlorine compounds are used as temporary means of disinfection, the total residual chlorine (TRC)
concentration of the effluent must be monitored daily while this method of disinfection is in use and
values must be reported on the discharge monitoring report. TRC in the effluent may not exceed 28
µg/L; therefore, dechlorination methods may also be necessary to ensure protection of water quality in
the receiving stream.
In the event that TRC monitoring should occur, the Division shall consider all effluent TRC values
reported below 50 µg/L to be in compliance with the permit. However, the Permittee shall continue to
record and submit all values reported by a North Carolina certified laboratory(including field certified),
even if these values fall below 50 µg/L.
Use of a disinfection system other than the permitted UV system during circumstances not deemed as
emergency and/or temporary(replacement of lamps, lamp cleaning or maintenance, etc.) will be
considered a violation of the terms of this permit.
A. (3.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS
[NCGS 143-215.1 (b)]
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports(DMRs)and program reports. The
final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted and became effective on December 21,2015.
NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part II of this permit(Standard
Conditions for NPDES Permits):
• Section B. (11.) Signatory Requirements
• Section D.(2.) Reporting
• Section D. (6.) Records Retention
• Section E.(5.) Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements 1Sunersedes Section D.(2.)and Section E.(5.)(all
The permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's Electronic Discharge
Monitoring Report(eDMR)internet application.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s)shall be summarized for each month and submitted
electronically using eDMR. The eDMR system allows permitted facilities to enter monitoring data and submit
Page 4 of 6

Permit NC0032123
DMRs electronically using the internet. The eDMR system may be accessed at:
.https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr.
. If a permittee is unable to use the eDMR system due to a demonstrated hardship or due to the facility being
physically located in an area where less than 10 percent of the households have broadband access,then a temporary
waiver from the NPDES electronic reporting requirements may be granted and discharge monitoring data may be
submitted on paper DMR forms(MR 1, 1.1,2,3)or alternative forms approved by the Director. Duplicate signed
copies shall be submitted to the following address:
NC DEQ/Division of Water Resources/Water Quality Permitting Section
ATTENTION: Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
See"How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting"section below.
Regardless of the submission method,the first DMR is due on the last day of the month following the issuance of
the permit or in the case of a new facility, on the last day of the month following the commencement of discharge.
Starting on December 21,2025,the permittee must electronically report the following compliance monitoring data
and reports,when applicable:
• Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports;
• Pretreatment Program Annual Reports;and
• Clean Water Act(CWA) Section 316(b)Annual Reports.
The permittee may seek an electronic reporting waiver from the Division(see"How to Request a Waiver from
Electronic Reporting"section below).
2. Electronic Submissions
In accordance with 40 CFR 122.41(1)(9),the permittee must identify the initial recipient at the time of each
electronic submission. The permittee should use the EPA's website resources to identify the initial recipient for the
electronic submission.
Initial recipient of electronic NPDES information from NPDES-regulated facilities means the entity(EPA or the
state authorized by EPA to implement the NPDES program)that is the designated entity for receiving electronic
NPDES data [see 40 CFR 127.2(b)].
EPA plans to establish a website that will also link to the appropriate electronic reporting tool for each type of
electronic submission and for each state. Instructions on how to access and use the appropriate electronic reporting
tool will be available as well. Information on EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule is found at:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-24954/national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-
system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule
Electronic submissions must start by the dates listed in the"Reporting Requirements"section above.
3. How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting
The permittee may seek a temporary electronic reporting waiver from the Division. To obtain an electronic
reporting waiver, a permittee must first submit an electronic reporting waiver request to the Division. Requests for
temporary electronic reporting waivers must be submitted in writing to the Division for written approval at least
Page 5 of 6

Permit NC0032123
sixty(60)days prior to the date the facility would be required under this permit to begin submitting monitoring
data and reports. The duration of a temporary waiver shall not exceed 5 years and shall thereupon expire. At such
time,monitoring data and reports shall be submitted electronically to the Division unless the permittee re-applies
. for and is granted a new temporary electronic reporting waiver by the Division. Approved electronic reporting
waivers are not transferrable. Only permittees with an approved reporting waiver request may submit monitoring
data and reports on paper to the Division for the period that the approved reporting waiver request is effective.
Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on the following
web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.)(b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.) (d)1
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person described in Part II, Section B.
(11.)(a) or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part II, Section B.(11.)(b). A person,
and not a position,must be delegated signatory authority for eDMR reporting purposes.
For eDMR submissions,the person signing and submitting the DMR must obtain an eDMR User account and login
credentials to access the eDMR system. For more information on North Carolina's eDMR system,registering for
eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account,please visit the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
Certification. Any person submitting an electronic DMR using the state's eDMR system shall make the following
certification [40 CFR 122.22]. NO OTHER STATEMENTS OF CERTIFICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED:
"I certf, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or
supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate
the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system, or those persons
directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and
belief true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false
information, including the possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations."
5. Records Retention (Supplements Section D.(6.)1
The permittee shall retain records of all Discharge Monitoring Reports, including eDMR submissions. These
records or copies shall be maintained for a period of at least 3 years from the date of the report. This period may
be extended by request of the Director at any time [40 CFR 122.41].
Page 6 of 6

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Carolina Water Service, Inc. of NC Facility
Hound Ears WWTP
Location
Latitude: 36°10'50" Stream Class: B; Trout, HQW
Longitude: 81°44'51" Sub-basin: 04-02-01
HUC: 060101030301 NPDES Permit NC0032123
Receiving Stream:Watauga River Watauga County