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Home My WebLink AboutNCG550048_Inspection_20230727DocuSign Envelope ID: 8B65C1E2-B568-4CBB-B8D1-4C5CF495DOC7 ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. NORTH CAROLINA Director Environmental Quality July 27, 2023 CERTIFIED MAIL #: RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Ms. Carroll Anstead 5729 Birch Drive Durham, NC 27712 Subject: NOTICE OF VIOLATION Tracking Number: NOV-2023-PC-0401 Compliance Evaluation Inspection Single Family Wastewater Treatment System General NPDES Permit NCG550000 Certificate of Coverage NCG550048 Facility: Anstead Residence Durham County Dear Ms. Anstead: On June 20, 2023, Jane Bernard, Timothy Clark, Michael Hall, and Kevin Fowler from the Raleigh Regional Office visited your single-family residence (SFR) wastewater treatment system to evaluate compliance with the subject General NPDES Permit. Your assistance during the inspection was greatly appreciated. Our records indicate the treatment system consists of a septic tank, sand filter, tablet chlorinator, discharge pipe, and associated appurtenances. General NPDES Permit NCG550000 and Certificate of Coverage (COC) NCG550048 authorize the discharge of domestic wastewater from your treatment system to receiving waters designated as unnamed tributary to Crooked Creek (classified WS-IV; NSW) in the Neuse River Basin. The authorized discharge is in accordance with the effluent limits and monitoring requirements established within the General Permit. The items below show what conditions were noted at your facility: Findings during the inspection were as follows: 1. Treatment system operation: The wastewater treatment system shall be maintained at all times to prevent seepage of sewage to the surface of the ground. At the time of the inspection, it was observed that the grass over the sand filter, and along the conveyance from the sand filter to the chlorinator was North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 4NORT�HCv Raleigh Regional Office 1 3800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 NORTHCAROUNA 919.791.4200 Department ofEnvlronmantal Duali� DocuSign Envelope ID: 8B65C1E2-B568-4CBB-B8D1-4C5CF495DOC7 a darker green, and lusher than the surrounding grass. In addition, standing water and bacterial film was observed within the chlorinator, and the cleanout immediately down stream of the chlorinator. The discharge for the system could not be found, and there was no evidence of discharge in the area where it should be. Collectively, these suggest that the discharge may be plugged, resulting in wastewater backing up in the system. This potential was identified during the previous inspection performed in 2018. At the time of inspection, Division of Water Resources personnel recommended that you have a contractor locate the discharge pipe and clear the pipe of surrounding vegetation and to see if the system is or will discharge. Continued lack of discharge may result in failure of the system. 2. Chlorine tablets in the chlorinator: You are reminded that it is required that chlorine tablets be maintained in the chlorinator to ensure proper disinfection of the discharged wastewater. Chlorine tablets provide effective disinfection and prevent/limit harmful bacteria from discharging to the environment. The product label for these tablets must indicate the tablets are approved for wastewater use and not for swimming pools. Part 1, Section D (1) of General NPDES Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to inspect the tablet chlorinator weekly to ensure there is an adequate supply of tablets for continuous and proper operation. Section D (4) requires the permittee to maintain all system components, including... disinfection units ... at all times and in good operating order. The inspector did not observe any chlorine tablets in the chlorinator, and also observed a bacterial film within the chlorinator suggesting that chlorination has not been occurring. DWR staff placed two pucks of chlorine in both of the chlorinator tubes while on site. Review of permit records indicated that no chlorine tablets were observed during the previous inspection performed in 2018, and the permittee was notified that this was required in the inspection report. Please ensure the correct type of tablets are used and maintained in the chlorinator as required by the General NPDES Permit. 3. Analyzing the effluent: Part 1. C., Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements, within General Permit NCG550000 requires a permittee to sample and analyze the effluent leaving his/her treatment system prior to discharge annually. Parameters to be sampled and analyzed include Flow, BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), Total Suspended Solids, Fecal Coliform, Total Residual Chlorine, Total Nitrogen, Ammonia Nitrogen and Total Phosphorous During the inspection, you informed the inspector that the effluent has not been monitored within the last 12 months. Please collect a representative sample of the effluent, have it analyzed by a certified commercial laboratory and submit the results to this office no later than September 30, 2023. In the last inspection letter dated February 13, 2018, you were requested to sample your effluent and to submit the analytical results to this office. The Raleigh Regional Office has not received the requested results. Failure to monitor the effluent discharge as required is a violation of NPDES General Permit NCG550000. D E Q �J North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-161 1 NORrH CAROLINA �/ 919.707.9000 oepanmem or environmental auaii DocuSign Envelope ID: 8B65C1E2-B568-4CBB-B8D1-4C5CF495DOC7 4. Discharge outlet location. The permittee is required to conduct a visual review of the outfall location at least twice each year (one at the time of sampling) to ensure that no visible solids or other obvious evidence of system malfunctioning is observed. Any visible signs of a malfunctioning system shall be documented and steps taken to correct the problem. The end of discharge pipe was not visible nor accessible the day of the inspection. To comply with the general permit monitoring requirements, you need to be able to sample and analyze the effluent from your SFR system through the discharge pipe. You need to keep the area around the discharge pipe cleared of vegetation, soil, and leaves. Please take the necessary steps to ensure the discharge outlet is visible and accessible. Maintaining the area will allow you to monitor the discharge and to collect effluent samples as required by the subject permit. Subsequent inspection (June 29, 2023) of a nearby property (711 Lakeview Road) revealed the apparent discharge for the property on 5729 Birch Drive, which was visibly blocked and not discharging. Division records indicate the required annual fee ($60 per year) for the period ending September 30, 2023, and due October 2, 2023, has been paid. There are no overdue fees for the subject COC. The wastewater treatment system should be periodically inspected to ensure the treatment components are always maintained and in good operating order. You are also reminded to maintain all monitoring data and associated maintenance records onsite for a minimum of three years and available for inspection. This inspection report is being issued as a Notice of Violation because the issues listed above were identified during the previous inspection and have not been addressed. Within 30-days receipt of this letter, please submit a written response to this office indicating the actions you will take or have taken to comply with or resolve the issues noted items 1-4 above. If you have questions or comments about this inspection or the requirements to take corrective action (if applicable), then please contact Michael Hall at 919-791-4237, or michael.hall@deg.nc.gov. Sincerely, ocuSigned by: E�D a -e. �lA utt 2916E6AB32144F... Vanessa E. Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Raleigh Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ Attachment(s): EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report D E Q �J North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611 NORrH CAROLINA �/ 919.707.9000 oepanmem or environmental auaii DocuSign Envelope ID: 8B65C1E2-B568-4CBB-B8D1-4C5CF495DOC7 Cc: RRO/SWP Files Laserfiche D E Q�� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611 NORTH CAROLINA 919.707.9000 Depa"mem of Envlmnmenml Dual