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Home My WebLink AboutNC0089095_NOVNOI2023PC0472_20230908 Certified Mail # 7022 2410 0003 1349 7519 Return Receipt Requested September 12, 2023 Aubrey L Deaver A&D Water Service Inc PO Box 1407 Pisgah Forest, NC 28768-1407 SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION & INTENT TO ASSESS CIVIL PENALTY Tracking Number: NOV-2023-PC-0472 Permit No. NC0089095 High Vista Falls WWTP Henderson County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the High Vista Falls WWTP on August 9, 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. NC0089095. A summary of the findings and comments noted during the inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report. The Compliance Evaluation inspection was conducted by Division of Water Resources staff from the Asheville Regional Office. The following violation(s) were noted during the inspection: Inspection Area Description of Violation _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ De-chlorination Entry into the de-chlorination chamber is unsafe. Additional safety equipment should be installed. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Operations & Maintenance Severely rusted gratings over the equalization basin are a safety hazard. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Filtration (High Rate Tertiary) The tertiary filter plastic media sheets are broken and warped. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DocuSign Envelope ID: 0C5798B4-164A-4CDA-8685-FF7AFA91A341 A Notice of Violation/Intent to Issue Civil Penalty is being issued for the noted violation of North Carolina General Statute (G.S.) 143-215.1 and the facility’s NPDES WW Permit. Pursuant to G.S. 143-215.6A, a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) may be assessed against any person who violates or fails to act in accordance with the terms, conditions, or requirements of any permit issued pursuant to G.S. 143-215.1. If you wish to provide additional information regarding the noted violation, request technical assistance, or discuss overall compliance please respond in writing within ten (10) business days after receipt of this Notice. A review of your response will be considered along with any additional information provided. You will then be notified of any civil penalties that may be assessed regarding the violations. If no response is received in this Office within the 10-day period, a civil penalty assessment may be prepared. Remedial actions should have already been taken to correct this problem and prevent further occurrences in the future. The Division of Water Resources may pursue enforcement action for this and any additional violations of State law. If the violations are of a continuing nature, not related to operation and/or maintenance problems, and you anticipate remedial construction activities, then you may wish to consider applying for a Special Order by Consent. Reminder: Pursuant to Permit Condition 6 in Section E, the Permittee is required to verbally notify the Regional Office as soon as possible, not to exceed 24 hours, from first knowledge of any non-compliance at the facility including limit violations, bypasses of, or failure of a treatment unit. A written report may be required within 5 days if directed by Division staff. Prior notice should be given for anticipated or potential problems due to planned maintenance activities, taking units off-line, etc. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500. Sincerely, Daniel Boss, Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS Ec: Laserfiche, Vincent Edwards DocuSign Envelope ID: 0C5798B4-164A-4CDA-8685-FF7AFA91A341 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 NC0089095 23/08/09 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) High Vista Falls WWTP Creasman Hill Rd Mills River NC 28759 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 01:30PM 23/08/09 22/12/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Vincent L Edwards/ORC/828-697-3077/ Other Facility Data 02:30PM 23/08/09 27/10/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Patty Carland,117 Kira Ln Hendersonville NC 287391407//828-890-4810/Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Self-Monitoring Program 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 Daniel J Boss DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4658/ 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: 0C5798B4-164A-4CDA-8685-FF7AFA91A341 9/12/2023 NPDES yr/mo/day 23/08/09 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) On 8/9/2023, I (Daniel Boss) conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the High Vista Falls WWTP. I met with Vincent Edwards (ORC). Also present were Kevin Fowler (Specialist Raleigh Region), Michael Hall (Specialist Raleigh Region), and Jesse Barnes (Specialist Winston-Salem Region). This WWTP has had chronic permit limits violations for years. Several components of the WWTP have been repaired or replaced in the past five years, but the media of the tertiary filters are still damaged and should be replaced. The entry into the dechlorination chamber is still not safe and additional safety equipment should be installed. Some of the gratings are severely rusted and present a significant safety hazard to operators and inspectors. NC0089095 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 0C5798B4-164A-4CDA-8685-FF7AFA91A341 Permit:NC0089095 Inspection Date:08/09/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: High Vista Falls WWTP Compliance Evaluation 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? Comment: 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? 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? 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? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 0C5798B4-164A-4CDA-8685-FF7AFA91A341 Permit:NC0089095 Inspection Date:08/09/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: High Vista Falls WWTP Compliance Evaluation Equalization Basins Yes No NA NE Gratings are rusted over the equalization basin. This presents a significant safety hazard. 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? Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/l) According to Mr. Edwards, DO is typically 5-6 mg/L in the aeration basins. About 25 lbs of soda ash is added twice per week. Settleable solids level was 45% at the beginning of the aeration train and 40% at the end of the train. 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) There was only about 1 foot of clear water in the clarifiers out of 12 feet depth.Comment: Filtration (High Rate Tertiary)Yes No NA NE Type of operation:Up flow Is the filter media present? Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 0C5798B4-164A-4CDA-8685-FF7AFA91A341 Permit:NC0089095 Inspection Date:08/09/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: High Vista Falls WWTP Compliance Evaluation Filtration (High Rate Tertiary)Yes No NA NE Is the filter surface free of clogging? Is the filter free of growth? Is the air scour operational? Is the scouring acceptable? Is the clear well free of excessive solids and filter media? The tertiary filter plastic media sheets are broken and warped.Comment: Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Number of tubes in use?1 Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? Comment: De-chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system ?Tablet 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? Comment: Are the tablets the proper size and type? Are tablet de-chlorinators operational? Number of tubes in use?1 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#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: 0C5798B4-164A-4CDA-8685-FF7AFA91A341 Permit:NC0089095 Inspection Date:08/09/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: High Vista Falls 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)? 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? Calibrated on 6/6/23.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? 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? Is the generator fuel level monitored? The generator exercises twice per week. The fuel tank was half full.Comment: Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 0C5798B4-164A-4CDA-8685-FF7AFA91A341