NC0020664_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20230523

SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED.

May 23, 2023

Scott Webber, Town Manager
Town of Spindale
Email: [e-mail]

SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report
Spindale WWTP
NPDES WW Permit No. NC0020664
Rutherford County

Dear Permittee:

The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Spindale WWTP on
5/08/2023. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the
conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0020664. 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 Lauren Armeni with the Water
Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500 or via email at
[e-mail].

Sincerely,

Lauren Armeni, Environmental Specialist II
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ

ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report

Ec: Laserfiche
Guy O’Connor (ORC)
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2DDDE21B-1BF6-4770-B5F8-57664C6FF056
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 NC0020664 23/05/08 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)
Spindale WWTP
Ecology St
Spindale NC 28160
Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date
Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date
10:15AM 23/05/08 20/07/01
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Other Facility Data
12:00PM 23/05/08 24/07/31
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Guy O'Connor,327 Ecology St Spindale NC 28160//828-286-3407/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 Facility Site Review 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
Melanie Kemp DWR/ARO WQ/ - - /
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: 2DDDE21B-1BF6-4770-B5F8-57664C6FF056
5/23/2023
5/23/2023
5/23/2023
5/23/2023
NPDES yr/mo/day
23/05/08
Inspection Type
C3111218
1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
Lauren Armeni, Melanie Kemp, and Mara Chamlee, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a
Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the Spindale WWTP on May 8, 2023. This inspection was
conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with
NPDES Permit No. NC0020664. Guy O'Connor (ORC), Sibyl Brotherton (BORC), and Earl Wyss
(WWTP Operator) were present and assisted in the inspection.
Overall, the facility is well-maintained and operated. All paperwork was organized and easily
accessible. No deficiencies or violations were found during the inspection.
The following items were noted during the inspection:
Permit: Compliance Schedule Reports have been submitted as required by Part I, Section A. (4.) of
NPDES Permit No. NC0020664. Mr. O'Connor indicated the Action Summary Report will be submitted
by July 1st and will state what actions will be taken to achieve compliance without the need of a
Corrective Action Plan (CAP).
Bar Screen: The facility is still experiencing pass through into the plant from the manual bar screen of
the septage dump station and the mechanical bar screen due to the bars being spaced too far apart.
Mr. O'Connor indicated that a new mechanical bar screen will be purchased during the next fiscal
budget and will have bars spaced 1/4" apart.
Secondary Clarifiers: Clarifier #3 has not been refurbished and is still holding solids. A TCLP sample of
the solids in clarifier #3 was collected to determine how the solids will need to be disposed of. At the
time of the inspection, clarifer #1 had a sludge blanket of 11" out of a 10' clarifier, and clarifer #2 had a
14" sludge blanket out of a 10' clarifier. The scum vault pit gets pumped out as needed to the digester.
Chlorine Contact Basins: As the previous inspection mentioned, the plan is to pump solids out of the
west contact basin and into the digester so the east contact basin can be taken offline for cleaning. Mr.
O'Connor stated that they will do this when funds are available.
NC0020664 17 (Cont.)
Page#2
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2DDDE21B-1BF6-4770-B5F8-57664C6FF056
Permit:NC0020664
Inspection Date:05/08/2023
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
Spindale 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?
The facility is currently under a compliance schedule per Part I, Section A. (4.) of their
NPDES permit. See summary for details.
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, MLSS, SVI, settleable solids, and a sludge
judge.
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: 2DDDE21B-1BF6-4770-B5F8-57664C6FF056
Permit:NC0020664
Inspection Date:05/08/2023
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
Spindale 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?
Annual Reports are provided at Town Hall and posted on the Town's website.Comment:
Flow Measurement - Influent 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 influent flow meter is not used for reporting. The influent flow meter was last
calibrated on March 3, 2023 by Laboratory Instrument Service.
Comment:
Influent Sampling Yes No NA NE
# Is composite sampling flow proportional?
Is sample collected above side streams?
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 sampling performed according to the permit?
The thermometer is calibrated annually by Laboratory Instrument Service. Pulses are
adjusted when heavy precipitation events are expected. Aliquots are set to 125 mL per
pulse. The tubing is replaced quarterly.
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?
Page#4
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2DDDE21B-1BF6-4770-B5F8-57664C6FF056
Permit:NC0020664
Inspection Date:05/08/2023
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
Spindale WWTP
Compliance Evaluation
Bar Screens Yes No NA NE
Mr. O'Connor indicated that the replacement of the mechanical bar screen will be
added to the next fiscal budget. The new bar screen will have bars spaced 1/4" apart.
See summary for details.
Comment:
Grit Removal Yes No NA NE
Type of grit removal
a.Manual
b.Mechanical
Is the grit free of excessive organic matter?
Is the grit free of excessive odor?
# Is disposal of grit in compliance?
Lime is added as needed during grit removal to increase pH. Grit goes into
wheelbarrows and is then disposed of in dumpsters.
Comment:
Equalization Basins Yes No NA NE
Is the basin aerated?
Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment?
Is the basin free of excessive grease?
Are all pumps present?
Are all pumps operable?
Are float controls operable?
Are audible and visual alarms operable?
# Is basin size/volume adequate?
The EQ basin is only utilized during wet weather and is fully operational. Flow is
diverted to the EQ basin when the flow is between 3.6 to 3.8 MGD, and when it gets
down to 3.2 MGD, the EQ basin is pumped out to the aeration basin.
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?
Page#5
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2DDDE21B-1BF6-4770-B5F8-57664C6FF056
Permit:NC0020664
Inspection Date:05/08/2023
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
Spindale WWTP
Compliance Evaluation
Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE
Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/l)
At the time of the inspection, the south basin was the only aeration basin in operation.
Mr. O'Connor indicated that they would like to get the north basin pumped down and
cleaned out, but they need the funds to do so. The south aeration basin has four
zones with diffusers - each zone has a permanent DO meter. DO ranged between 3.57
to 4.88 mg/L throughout the four zones. The DO probes are wiped off and blowers are
alternated each week. Settleability was at 62.5% after thirty minutes.
Comment:
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)
Flow is split between clarifiers #1 and #2. Clarifier #3 has not been refurbished and is
still holding solids. See summary for details.
Comment:
Pumps-RAS-WAS Yes No NA NE
Are pumps in place?
Are pumps operational?
Are there adequate spare parts and supplies on site?
RAS pumps are pulled and cleaned out once per month. There is a spare impellar and
motor on-site as a backup pump.
Comment:
Disinfection-Gas Yes No NA NE
Are cylinders secured adequately?
Are cylinders protected from direct sunlight?
Is there adequate reserve supply of disinfectant?
Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable?
Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup?
Page#6
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2DDDE21B-1BF6-4770-B5F8-57664C6FF056
Permit:NC0020664
Inspection Date:05/08/2023
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
Spindale WWTP
Compliance Evaluation
Disinfection-Gas Yes No NA NE
Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination?
Does the Stationary Source have more than 2500 lbs of Chlorine (CAS No.
7782-50-5)?
If yes, then is there a Risk Management Plan on site?
If yes, then what is the EPA twelve digit ID Number? (1000-____-____)
If yes, then when was the RMP last updated?
There are two chlorine contact basins, but only the east one is currently in use. See
summary for details.
Comment:
De-chlorination Yes No NA NE
Type of system ?Gas
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?
Are the tablets the proper size and type?
Cylinders sit outside of the chemical feed rooms under a roof.Comment:
Are tablet de-chlorinators operational?
Number of tubes in use?
Scales have been installed on the cylinder storage area, as well as a new hoist in 2022
and four regulators in 2023. Mr. O'Connor indicated that they can switch dosing to be
flow-proportional, but they do not because it can be wasteful.
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 effluent flow meter was last calibrated on March 3, 2023 by Laboratory Instrument
Service.
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?
Page#7
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2DDDE21B-1BF6-4770-B5F8-57664C6FF056
Permit:NC0020664
Inspection Date:05/08/2023
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
Spindale WWTP
Compliance Evaluation
Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE
# 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)?
Aliquots are set to 150 mL per pulse. The last inspection reported that the stream bank
near the grab sample location was washing out due to several years of heavy rain. Mr.
O'Connor indicated that the bank hasn't gotten any worse, and that they have not
been able to contract an engineer to assess the best course of action to stabilize the
bank because the Town does not have the funding.
Comment:
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?
The effluent pipe is approximately three miles away from the facility. Staff have a
sampling manhole down by the river. Mr. O'Connor indicated that the effluent pipe is
checked weekly and the right of way is properly maintained. The discharge from the
facility can be re-aerated if needed.
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?
There are two aerobic digesters available on-site. Decant from the digesters goes to
the aeration basin. One digester is wasted at a time. Spindale holds a Class B land
application permit (WQ0001953) and contracts US Biosolids for land application
events.
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?
Page#8
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2DDDE21B-1BF6-4770-B5F8-57664C6FF056
Permit:NC0020664
Inspection Date:05/08/2023
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
Spindale WWTP
Compliance Evaluation
Standby Power Yes No NA NE
Is the generator fuel level monitored?
The generator automatically exercises once per week and runs under load every
couple months. The manufacturer maintains the generator semi-annually. The fuel is
checked once a month, and at the time of the inspection, the tank fuel level was just
under 3/4 full. Mr. O'Connor stated that the fuel will be topped off during the next fiscal
year.
Comment:
Page#9
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2DDDE21B-1BF6-4770-B5F8-57664C6FF056