WQ0015052_Notification of Sewer Moratorium_20230822

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
August 22, 2023
CERTIFIED MAIL 7022 1670 0000 9974 3278
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
William G. Freed
113 Duck Woods Drive
Southern Shores, NC 27848
Subject: Notification of Sewer Moratorium
Permit No. WQ0015052
Village at Ocean Hill WWTP
Currituck County
Dear Mr. Freed:
The Division of Water Resources has determined that the Village at Ocean Hill Wastewater
Treatment Plant (WWTP) is unable to adequately collect and treat waste tributary to its
wastewater treatment facility. The determination is based on the inspections performed on July
28, 2021 and January 20, 2023; and that the WWTP is unable to comply with the permit
conditions as set forth in Permit Number WQ0015052 dated March 20, 2009 and expired on
February 28, 2018. The facility no longer has an active permit. The treatment system can no
longer treat and assimilate the wastewater that is received from the system as designed, which
contributes to the noncompliance of the Non -Discharge permit.
North Carolina General Statute 143-215.67(a) states in part, that no person subject to the
provision of NCGS 143-215.1, 143-215.108 or 143-215.109 shall cause or allow the discharge of
any wastes to a waste -disposal system in excess of the capacity of the disposal system or of any
wastes which the disposal system cannot adequately treat. Should these terms be violated, 143-
215.67 (c) states a moratorium may be imposed "on the addition of waste to a treatment works"
if the treatment works is not capable of adequately treating additional waste.
The WWTP no longer has an active permit (has not applied for renewal) and the high -rate
infiltration system is no longer operating as it was designed and permitted. Groundwater
contamination has reached the compliance boundary with ammonia nitrogen and nitrate
nitrogen being detected above groundwater standards in the monitoring wells. Therefore,
the Village at Ocean Hill is hereby placed on a sewer moratorium (with no new sewer taps, sewer
extensions or additional flow) at its wastewater treatment plant effective October 1, 2023.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
Washington Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, North Carolina, 27889
NORTHCARouNA JPI/ 252-946-6481

Page Two
Village at Ocean Hill Moratorium
August 22, 2023
This moratorium will remain in effect until the Village of Ocean Hill WWTP has received a
valid permit and the wastewater treatment system and high -rate infiltration disposal system has
been repaired. At such time, the moratorium may be requested to be rescinded.
As required by NCGS 143-215.67(d), the Village of Ocean Hill WWTP shall give public notice
that a moratorium will be placed so that no additional flow can be added to the Village of Ocean
Hill's WWTP within 15 days of receipt of this letter. The Village of Ocean Hill WWTP shall
give public notice of the moratorium by publication of the notice one time in a newspaper having
general circulation in the county in which the treatment works is located. The notice shall be as
provided in the attached public notice.
The Village of Ocean Hill WWTP shall provide an affidavit of publication and a copy of the
public notice to this office fifteen (15) days from receipt of this letter.
Failure to place the public notice as directed may subject you to enforcement as required by
NCGS 143-215.67(d). The Village of Ocean Hill WWTP shall give actions and in no way,
absolves the Village of Ocean Hill WWTP from past or future violation of North Carolina
General Statutes.
Correspondence pertaining to this moratorium should be sent to the letterhead address. If you
have any questions about this letter, please contact Robert Tankard at 252-948-3921.
Sincerely,
Robert Tankard
Assistant Regional Supervisor
Division of Water Resources
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Attachment
cc: Richard Rogers, Director, DWR
Nathaniel Thornburg, Non -Discharge Permitting Supervisor
Laserfiche
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
D � Washington Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, North Carolina, 27889
NORTH CARCLINA 252-946-6481
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PUBLIC NOTICE
SEWER MORATORIUM
Village of Ocean Hill WWTP's Wastewater System
The Village of Ocean Hill Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Currituck County cannot
accept the discharge of additional waste to the Wastewater System effective October 1, 2023,
due to problems associated with its wastewater plant and disposal system. Therefore, the Village
of Ocean Hill WWTP is hereby placed on a sewer moratorium at its wastewater treatment plant
effective October 1, 2023.
On the basis of a thorough file review and application of Article 21 of Chapter 143, General
Statutes of North Carolina, Public Law 92-500 and other lawful standards and regulations, the
North Carolina Environmental Management Commission has determined that the Village of
Ocean Hill WWTP is unable to adequately collect and treat waste tributary to its wastewater
treatment facility.
North Carolina General Statute 143-215.67(a) directs that no person subject to the provision of
NCGS 143-215.1, 143-215.108 or 143-215.109 shall cause or allow the discharge of any wastes
to a disposal system in excess of the capacity, which the disposal system cannot adequately treat.
The moratorium on additional sewer connections or additional flow will remain in effect until the
Village of Ocean Hill WWTP has rectified the current noncompliant conditions of the facility
and has obtained written permission from the North Carolina Environmental Management
Commission suspending the moratorium.
The permit and other information may be inspected during normal office hours at the Division of
Water Resources, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington, North Carolina 27889, telephone:
[phone]. Copies of the information on file are available upon request and payment of the
costs of reproduction.
Questions regarding the status of the sewer moratorium should be directed to Mr. Bill Freed, at
[phone].
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
D � Washington Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, North Carolina, 27889
NORTH CARCLINA 252-946-6481
gaparMeM of EmironmanW quay