NC0026662_Draft Permit_20230724

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Don Rains, Mayor
Town of Princeton
PO Box 67
Princeton, NC 27569
Mayor Rains:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
July 25, 2023
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NCO026662
Town of Princeton WWTP
Grade II Biological WPCS
Johnston County
Attached with this letter is a copy of the Draft NPDES permit renewal for the Town's WWTP. Please
review this draft carefully to ensure thorough understanding of the requirements and conditions it
contains. There are a few changes in the draft attached here from the existing permit. These changes and
other considerations are summarized below.
• Speculative Limits — The Town recently requested Speculative Limits for potential expansion of
flows to 0.6 MGD and 1.0 MGD. The Division provided a response to this request in a letter to
Michael King on January 30, 2023. This Speculative Limits response noted the potential limits
associated with the request and also outlined that the Division could not guarantee that an expansion
could be approved, and those limitations established until the Town submitted a formal modification
request including an application along with engineering alternatives analysis etc. for consideration by
the Division. This renewal is based on your 2022 application for renewal of your discharge permit at
your existing 0.275 MGD flow limit. The only information from the speculative limits request used
in this renewal process is the updated USGS stream flow data for Little River at your discharge
location.
• Regulatory Citations - Language has been added where necessary in the permit to provide regulatory
citations for permit requirements. This includes updates to citations that have been changed with
recent rule revisions.
• Electronic Reporting - Permit language has been modified to be consistent with the finalization of
federal requirements for electronic reporting.
• Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) — Over the last permit cycle, the facility has consistently passed the
WET test requirements. In fact, historical data shows that the Town's WWTP has not failed a WET
test going back to 2000. As a 100% domestic discharger with good WET results the Division has
determine that removal of the WET requirements is appropriate and in keeping with our procedures.
• Ammonia (NH3-N) Limits - The Division evaluated various parameter limits considering your
recently submitted USGS flow numbers. These numbers were lower than previously utilized low
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
NORTH WOONA
DeVaMemn} EnN---, 0- 919.707.9000

Mayor Don Rains
Town of Princeton WWTP
Page 2
flow numbers and have resulted in the necessary modifying of your summer NH3-N limits in the
permit. The summer NH3-N limits in the draft permit have been set at a monthly average of 3 mg/L
and weekly average of 9 mg/L (3 times the MA). Winter NH3-N will continue to be monitoring and
reporting only as the evaluation did not result in the need for a limit.
Based on the eDMR data from your previous permit cycle it is possible that the lower summer limits
could have resulted in a few additional limit violations. Consideration will have to be given to any
needed operational adjustments to assure ongoing compliance with the new limits. The draft permit
proposes to allow an eighteen (18) month compliance period for this change with the new limits being
effective 18 months from the effective date of the issued permit. The previous summer limits (12 and
36mg/L) will remain in place for the first 18 months of the permit. See added footnote 9 in the
Effluent Table [Section A.(1.)]
• Updates to Footnotes on Effluent Table — Language in the footnotes has been updated to be consistent
with our current descriptions.
• Chronic Toxicity Special Condition — With the removal of the WET requirement this special
condition has been removed as has the footnote related to WET.
• Nutrient Management Re -Opener — A Special Condition [A.(6.)] has been added to the permit to
address re -opening of the permit for the potential inclusion of additional nutrient control
requirements.
• Map Update — Descriptive information on the permit map has been updated along with other updates.
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. The latest
version of the standard conditions 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 general
circulation in the Johnston County area soliciting public comments on this draft permit.
Please provide any written comments you may have to me no later than 30 days after receipt of this
draft permit
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 contact me by email at [e-mail] or at [phone]. At this time, contact by
email is the most effective method. If we need to set up a call to discuss any issues, we can set that up
through email.
Sincerely,
Bradley Bennett
Compliance and Expedited Permitting Unit
cc: Michael King, Town Administrator — Town of Princeton - electronic
NPDES Files - electronic
Raleigh Regional Office / Water Quality — electronic
Operator Certification Program/Maureen Kinney — electronic
Aquatic Toxicology Branch / Molly Nicholson and Cindy Moore- electronic

Draft Permit NCO026662
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
PDES
In compliance with the provisions 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, the
Town of Princeton
is hereby authorized to discharge treated wastewater from a facility known as
Princeton WWTP
103 Pine View Street
Princeton
Johnston County
to receiving waters designated as Little River within the Neuse River Basin, in accordance with effluent
limitations, monitoring requirements, and other applicable conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III, and IV
hereof.
The permit shall become effective
This permit and the authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on April 30, 2028.
If the permittee intends to continue discharging at the facility beyond the term of this permit, a renewal
application must be submitted no later than November 2, 2027 (180 days before the expiration of this permit)
Signed this day
Richard E. Rogers, Jr.
Director, Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 11

Draft Permit NCO026662
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge are hereby
revoked, and as of this 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 described herein.
The Town of Princeton
is hereby authorized to:
Continue operation of an existing 0.275 MGD wastewater treatment system at the Princeton WWTP
located at103 Pine View Street, Princeton in Johnston County and that includes the following
treatment units:
• manual bar screen
• grit chamber/grit separator
• influent pump station
• continuous flow meter
• flow splitter box
• dual oxidation ditches with dual brush -type aeration rotors
• dual in -ditch boat type primary clarifier sections with sludge wasting pumps
• two circular final clarifiers with RAS/WAS pump station
• scum pump station
• soda ash feed system
• dual channel UV disinfection unit with mechanical aeration chamber
• backup chlorination and dechlorination disinfection equipment
• cascade post aeration
• aerobic digester/sludge holding tank
• sludge drying beds
• standby power generator
• effluent pump station
2. Discharge from said treatment works via Outfall 001 at a location specified on the attached map, into
the Little River [Stream Segment: 27-57-(20.2)], a waterbody currently classified WS-IV; NSW within
subbasin 03-04-06 [HUC: 0302020116] of the Neuse River Basin.
Page 2 of 11

Draft Permit NCO026662
PART I.
A. (1) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
Grade II Biological WPCS [15A NCAC 08G .0302]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the
Permittee is authorized to discharge via Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored' by
the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTIC
LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Weekly
Daily
Measurement
Sample
Sample
eDMR Codes
Average
Average
Maximum
Frequency
Type
Location
Flow 50050
0.275 MGD
Continuous
Recording
I or E
Total Monthly Flow
Monitor & Report
Monthly
Record or
I or E
(MG/Month)Calculated
Temperature °C 00010
Monitor & Report
Daily
Grab
E
Temperature (°C) 00010
Monitor & Reportff�Veekly
Grab
U & D
November 1 — May 31
Temperature (°C) 00010
Monitor & Report
3/Week
Grab
U & D
June 1-October 31
Dissolved Oxygen 00300
Dail average not < 5.0 m /L
ail
Grab
E
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 00300
Monitor & Report
eekly
Grab
U & D
November 1 — May 31
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 00300
Monitor & Report 91—
3Meek
Grab
U & D
June 1-October 31
Total Suspended Solids 3 C0530
30.0 m /L
45.0 m /L
3Meek
Composite
I & E
Total Residual Chlorine 4, 50060
28 /L
2Meek
Grab
E
BOD 5-day, 20°C 3 C0KO
16.0 mg/L
24.0 mg�
Weekly
Composite
I & E
(April 1-October 31
Weekly
I & E
BOD 5-day, 20°C 3 C0310
30.0 mg/L
45.0 mg/L
Composite
(November A -March 31)
3.0 mg/L s
9.0 mg/L s
NH3-N C0610
April 1-October 31 9
Weekly
Composite
E
NH3-N (mg/L) C0610
November 1-March 31
Monitor & Report
Weekly
Composite
E
Fecal Coliform 5 31616
200/100 mL 400/100 mL
Weekly
Grab
E
pH 00400
> 6.0 and < 9.0 standard units
Weekly
Grab
E
Total Phosphorus m /L C0665
Monitor & Report
2/Month
Composite
E
TKN s m /L 00625
Monitor & Report
Monthly
Composite
E
NO3-N + NO2-N s m /L 00630
Monitor & Report
Monthly
Composite
E
TN s m /L C0600
Monitor & Report
2/Month
Composite
E
QM600
Monitor & Report
Monthly
Calculated
E
(pounds/month)
TN Load'
Monitor &Report
QY600
Annually
Calculated
E
(pounds/year)
Mercury $ n /L COMER
Monitor & Report
See Footnote 8
Grab
E
Footnotes: See Next Page
Page 3 of 11

Draft Permit NC0026662
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the NC DWR's eDMR
application system [see Section A. (7)].
2. I = Influent. E = Effluent. U = upstream at NCSR 1002. D = downstream at NCSR 1234.
Instream samples (U & D) shall be grab samples collected as follows:
- 3 times per week during June, July, August, September, and October;
- weekly sampling is required during the other months of the year.
3. The monthly average effluent BOD5 and Total Suspended Solids concentrations shall not exceed 15% of the
respective influent value (85% removal).
4. Limit and monitor only if the facility adds chlorine or chlorine derivatives to water that is eventually
discharged. 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.
5. Fecal Coliform shall be calculated using the geometric mean, according to the procedure detailed in Part 11.
Section A.
6. For a given wastewater sample, TN = TKN + NO3-N + NO2-N, where TN is Total Nitrogen, TKN is Total
Kjeldahl Nitrogen, and NO3-N and NO2-N are Nitrate and Nitrite Nitrogen, respectively.
7. TN Load is the mass quantity of Total Nitrogen discharged in a given period [See Section A. (2)].
8. Mercury must be monitored once during the permit cycle. See Section A. (5) Effluent Mercury Analysis.
9. NH3-N Summer Limits — New summer limits will become effective eighteen (18) months from the effective date of this
permit. Until that time the previous summer limits of 12 mg/L (monthly average) and 36 mg/L (weekly average) will
remain in effect.
All samples collected should be from a representative discharge event.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or foam in other than trace amounts.
Page 4 of 11

Draft Permit NCO026662
A. (2) CALCULATION OF TOTAL NITROGEN LOADS
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
The Permittee shall calculate monthly and annual TN Loads as follows:
i. Monthly TN Load (pounds/month) = TN x TMF x 8.34
where:
TN = average Total Nitrogen concentration (mg/L) of the composite
samples collected during the month
TMF = Total Monthly Flow of wastewater discharged during the month
(MG/month)
8.34 = conversion factor, from (mg/L x MG) to pounds
ii. Annual TN Load (pounds/year) = Sum of the twelve Monthly TN Loads for the calendar
year
The Permittee shall report monthly Total Nitrogen results (mg/L and pounds/month) in the discharge
monitoring report for each month and shall report each year's results (pounds/year) with the December
report for that year.
A. (3) TOTAL NITROGEN ALLOCATIONS
[G. S. 143-215.1(b)]
The following table lists the Total Nitrogen (TN) allocation(s) assigned to, acquired by, or transferred to
the Permittee in accordance with the Neuse River nutrient management rule (T15A NCAC 02B .0713)
and the status of each as of permit issuance. For compliance purposes, this table does not supersede any
TN limit(s) established elsewhere in this permit or in the NPDES permit of a compliance association of
which the Permittee is a Co-Permittee Member.
ALLOCATION AMOUNT'
ALLOCATION
TYPE
SOURCE
DATE
STATUS
Discharge
Estuary (lb/yr)
(lb/yr)
Base
Assigned by Rule
12/7/97;
2,780
5,561
Active
(T15A NCAC 02B .0713)
4/1/03
TOTAL
2,780
5,561
Active
Footnote:
1. Transport Factor = 50%
Any addition, deletion, or modification of the listed allocation(s) (other than to correct typographical
errors) or any change in status of any of the listed allocations shall be considered a major modification
of this permit and shall be subject to the public review process afforded such modifications under state
and federal rules.
Page 5 of 11

Draft Permit NCO026662
A. (4) ANNUAL LIMITS FOR TOTAL NITROGEN
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
a. Total Nitrogen (TN) allocations and TN Load limits for NPDES dischargers in the Neuse
River basin are annual limits and are applied for the calendar year.
b. For any given calendar year, the Permittee shall be in compliance with the annual TN Load
limit in this Permit if.
i. the Permittee's annual TN Load is less than or equal to said limit, or
ii. the Permittee is a Co-Permittee Member of a compliance association.
c. If the Permittee is not a co-permittee member of a compliance association and the Permittee's
cumulative annual TN discharge exceeds the effective TN Load limit in this permit at any
point during the calendar year, the Permittee is in violation of its TN Load limit, and each
day of a continuing violation shall constitute a separate violation.
d. The TN Load limit in this Permit (if any) may be modified as the result of allowable changes
in the Permittee's TN allocation.
i. Allowable changes include those resulting from purchase of TN allocation from
the Wetlands Restoration Fund; purchase, sale, trade, or lease of allocation
between the Permittee and other dischargers; regionalization; and other
transactions approved by the Division.
ii. The Permittee may request a modification of the TN Load limit in this Permit to
reflect allowable changes in its TN allocation. Upon receipt of timely and proper
application, the Division will modify the permit as appropriate and in accordance
with state and federal program requirements.
iii. Changes in TN limits become effective on January 1 of the year following permit
modification. The Division must receive application no later than August 31 for
changes proposed for the following calendar year.
iv. Application shall be sent to:
NC DENR / DWR / NPDES Programs
Attn: Neuse River Basin Coordinator
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
e. If the Permittee is a member and co-permittee of an approved compliance association, its TN
discharge during that year is governed by that association's group NPDES permit and the TN
limits therein.
i. The Permittee shall be considered a Co-Permittee Member for any given calendar
year in which it is identified as such in Appendix A of the association's group
NPDES permit.
ii. Association roster(s) and members TN allocations will be updated annually and in
accordance with state and federal program requirements.
Page 6 of 11

Draft Permit NC0026662
iii. If the Permittee intends to join or leave a compliance association, the Division
must be notified of the proposed action in accordance with the procedures defined
in the association's NPDES permit.
1. Upon receipt of timely and proper notification, the Division will modify
the permit as appropriate and in accordance with state and federal program
requirements.
2. Membership changes in a compliance association become effective on
January 1 of the year following modification of the association's permit.
f. The TN monitoring and reporting requirements in this Permit remain in effect until
expiration of this Permit and are not affected by the Permittee's membership in a compliance
association.
A. (5) EFFLUENT MERCURY ANALYSIS
[G.S. 143-215.66]
The Permittee shall provide one effluent mercury analysis, using EPA Method 1631E, in conjunction
with the next permit renewal application. The analysis should be taken within 12 months prior to the
application date. Any additional effluent mercury measurements conducted from the effective date of
this permit and up to the application date shall also be submitted with the renewal application.
If the result of the mercury analysis is not provided with the application, the application may be returned
as incomplete and the Permittee considered non -compliant.
A. (6) PERMIT RE -OPENER: NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
[NCGS 143-215.1 (b)]
a) Pursuant to N.C. General Statues Section 143-215.1 and implementing rules found in Title 15A of
North Carolina Administrative Code, Subchapter 02H, specifically, 15A NCAC 02H.0112(b)(1) and
02H.0114(a), and Part II, Sections B.12 and B.13. of this Permit, the Director of DWR may reopen
this permit to require nutrient management measures for the discharge. The results of water quality
monitoring, modelling or other evaluations may require that conditions for total nitrogen and total
phosphorus control be imposed on this permit.
b) The Division may, upon written notification to the permittee, re -open this permit in order to
incorporate or modify effluent limits, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other permit
conditions when it deems such action is necessary to implement TMDL(s) approved by the USEPA.
Page 7 of 11

Draft Permit NCO026662
A. (7) 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 [Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (a)1
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 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.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and
reported via the eDMR system no later than the last calendar day of the month following the
completed reporting period. 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:
Page 8 of 11

Draft Permit NC0026662
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/20l 5/ l O/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 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:
hLtp:Hdeq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
Page 9 of 11

Draft Permit NC0026662
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:
7 certify, 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.)]
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 10 of 11

Princeton WWTP
Outfall
1INI)4
jl (VJ.
�� Princetal� .. � P�i ,.. •
Tw,ll iD
O
1. - 'k-
-
• Princeton•••
fl,t. t tiJ
• � Jy frJ
Princeton
Pine View WWTP
Street
Town of Princeton
Princeton WWTP
Receiving Stream: Little River Stream Class: WS-IV; NSW
River Basin: Neuse Sub -Basin: 03-04-06
Outfall Latitude: 35' 28' 55" Outfall Longitude: 78' 08' 39"
Stream Segment 27-57-(20.2) HUC#: 030202011602
Grid/Quad: F26NW / Princeton County: Johnston
rr
r,
Facility
Location
not to scale)
Vorth NPDES Permit NCO026662
Page 11 of 11
rr
r,
Facility
Location
not to scale)
Vorth NPDES Permit NCO026662
Page 11 of 11