WQ0007349 Inspection Letter 20230724

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office | 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
336.776.9800

July 24, 2023

Delivered via email to: [e-mail]

Nicole Johnston, Executive Director
Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority
P.O. Box 828
Elkin, NC 28621

SUBJECT: 2022 Residuals Annual Report Review
Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority, Residuals Land Application Program
Permit No. WQ0007349
Surry County

Dear Ms. Johnston:

Division of Water Resources staff Kristen Potwora conducted a review of the 2022
Residuals Annual Report. This review mostly reflected compliance with the subject permit.
The following items of concern were noted:

1. As a reminder, land application notifications must be completed at least one
business day in advance of land application per Permit Condition III.3. Based
on available records, there was no notification prior to the March 22, 2022, land
application event. All land application notifications can be directed to Caitlin
Caudle at [e-mail] or 336-776-9699.
2. All Field Summary Forms reported the incorrect Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN)
rate. The reported rate was 194 lbs/ac. According to the North Carolina State
University Realistic Yield Database the PAN rate for Fairview (FcB2) soils in Wilkes
County is 188 lbs/ac. This was also noted in correspondence dated May 4, 2022.
There was no concern for over application. Moving forward, please ensure that
the correct PAN rate is reported.
3. The Sodium Absorption Rate (SAR) calculation incorrectly reported the
magnesium concentration as 64.015mg/L and SAR as 0.971494. Staff calculated
the magnesium concentration as 93.515 mg/L and SAR as 0.900497. Moving
forward, please ensure all calculations are correct.

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office | 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300 | Raleigh, North Carolina 27105
336.776.9800

Please refer to the enclosed inspection report for additional comments and observations.
If you have any questions, please contact Kristen Potwora by phone at [phone]
or by email at [e-mail].

Sincerely,

Jennifer F. Graznak, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ-WSRO

Enc: Inspection Report

Cc: Zach Key, US Biosolids (electronic copy)
Hal Transou, United Water (electronic copy)
Surry County Environmental Health (electronic copy)
Compliance Inspection Report
Permit:WQ0007349 Effective:06/13/19 Expiration:02/28/25 Owner :Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority
SOC:
Contact Person:
Region:
County:
Directions to Facility:
Surry
Winston-Salem
Zach D Key
Effective:Expiration:Facility:Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority RLAP
211 Marion Rd
Elkin NC 28621
Title:Phone:[phone]
Secondary ORC(s):
Phone:Certification:Primary ORC:
LA,System Classifications:
On-Site Representative(s):
Related Permits:
NC0020567 Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority - Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority WWTP
Secondary Inspector(s):
Primary Inspector:
Inspection Date:Exit Time:Entry Time:
Phone:
07/10/2023 08:00AM 04:00PM
Kristen Potwora 336-776-9800
Facility Status:
Permit Inspection Type:
Reason for Inspection:Inspection Type:
Not CompliantCompliant
Routine
Land Application of Residual Solids (503)
Annual Report Review
Question Areas:
Miscellaneous Questions Record Keeping Sampling
Pathogen and Vector Attraction
(See attachment summary)
Page 1 of 4
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0007349
07/10/2023 Annual Report Review
Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority
Routine
Inspection Summary:
On July 10, 2023, Division of Water Resources staff Kristen Potwora completed a review of the 2022 Annual Report for
WQ0007349. This review mostly reflected compliance with the subject permit. The following items of concern were noted:
•As a reminder, land application notifications must be completed at least one business day in advance of land application
per Permit Condition III.3. Based on available records, there was no notification prior to the March 22, 2022, land application
event. All land application notifications can be directed to Caitlin Caudle at [e-mail] or 336-776-9699.
•All Field Summary Forms reported the incorrect Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) rate. The reported rate was 194 lbs/ac.
According to the North Carolina State University Realistic Yield Database the PAN rate for Fairview (FcB2) soils in Wilkes
County is 188 lbs/ac. This was also noted in correspondence dated May 4, 2022. There was no concern for over application.
Moving forward, please ensure that the correct PAN rate is reported.
•The Sodium Absorption Rate (SAR) calculation incorrectly reported the magnesium concentration as 64.015mg/L and
SAR as 0.971494. Staff calculated the magnesium concentration as 93.515 mg/L and SAR as 0.900497. Moving forward,
please ensure all calculations are correct.
Page 2 of 4
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0007349
07/10/2023 Annual Report Review
Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority
Routine
Type Yes No NA NE
Distribution and Marketing
Land Application
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Is GW monitoring being conducted, if required?
Are GW samples from all MWs sampled for all required parameters?
Are there any GW quality violations?
Is GW-59A certification form completed for facility?
Is a copy of current permit on-site?
Are current metals and nutrient analysis available?
Are nutrient and metal loading calculating most limiting parameters?
a. TCLP analysis?
b. SSFA (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis)?
Are PAN balances being maintained?
Are PAN balances within permit limits?
Has land application equipment been calibrated?
Are there pH records for alkaline stabilization?
Are there pH records for the land application site?
Are nutrient/crop removal practices in place?
Do lab sheets support data reported on Residual Analysis Summary?
Are hauling records available?
Are hauling records maintained and up-to-date?
# Has permittee been free of public complaints in last 12 months?
Has application occurred during Seasonal Restriction window?
Comment:
Pathogen and Vector Attraction Yes No NA NE
a. Fecal coliform SM 9221 E (Class A or B)
Class A, all test must be <1000 MPN/dry gram
Geometric mean of 7 samples per monitoring period for class B<2.0*10E6 CFU/dry gram
Fecal coliform SM 9222 D (Class B only)
Geometric mean of 7 samples per monitoring period for class B<2.0*10E6 CFU/dry gram
b. pH records for alkaline stabilization (Class A)
c. pH records for alkaline stabilization (Class B)
Temperature corrected
d. Salmonella (Class A, all test must be < 3MPN/4 gram day)
Page 3 of 4
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0007349
07/10/2023 Annual Report Review
Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority
Routine
e. Time/Temp on:
Digester (MCRT)
Compost
Class A lime stabilization
f. Volatile Solids Calculations
g. Bench-top Aerobic/Anaerobic digestion results
Comment:
Sampling Yes No NA NE
Describe sampling:
Is sampling adequate?
Is sampling representative?
Comment:
Page 4 of 4