NC0050610_Draft Permit_20231010

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Secretory
RICHARD E. ROGERS.JR. NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
October 10, 2023
Mr. Paul Isenhour
Water Quality Utilities, Inc.
P.O. Box 1167
Banner Elk,NC 28604
Subject: Draft of NPDES Permit NC0050610
The Ponds WWTP
Watauga County
Grade WW-2 Biological WPCS
Dear Mr. Isenhour:
The Division has reviewed your request to renew the subject permit. Please review this draft carefully to ensure a
thorough understanding of the information,conditions,and requirements it contains.
The final permit includes the following significant changes from the existing permit:
Section A.(2)has been updated regarding electronic submission of effluent data. Federal regulations
require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports(DMRs).
➢ Monitoring for turbidity has been added to determine compliance with 15A NCAC 02B.0211
(21) (for trout waters).
With this notification, the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing a notice in
newspapers having circulation in the general Watauga County area,per EPA requirements. Please provide your
comments,if any,to me no later than 30 days after receiving 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 the draft, please contact me via
e-mail at [[e-mail]] or via phone at[919-707-3600].
Sincerely,
a
Sara Bassett
Environmental Specialist I
NPDES Compliance and Expedited Permitting
cc: NPDES files [Laserfiche]
Winston-Salem Regional Office [Laserfiche]
Operator Certification Program [Laserfiche]
D_E�) North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division.of Wat rResout,>.>
51:N`orthSatiebur Street 161%Chit SeniceCerter Ralei Nort2 Caroti699 161'
919 707.9000
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Permit NC0050610
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
(NPDES)
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,
Water Quality ualit Utilities, Inc.
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at
The Ponds WWTP
184 Beech Lane
South of Foscoe
Watauga County
to receiving waters designated as the Watauga River in the Watauga River Basin in accordance with
effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III and IV
hereof.
This permit shall become effective
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on November 30, 2028.
Signed this day
Richard E. Rogers, Jr., Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 7

Permit NC0050610
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility,whether for operation or discharge are hereby revoked.As of this permit
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 included
herein.
Water Quality Utilities, Inc.
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate an existing 0.076 MGD wastewater treatment facility consisting of paired 0.050
MGD and 0.026 MGD treatment systems that includes the following components:
• Influent flow control system with comminutor and bar screen
• Grit chamber
• Surge tank
• Extended aeration chamber with clarifier
• Tertiary system with UV disinfection
• Flow monitor and recorder
The facility is located at The Ponds WWTP [184 Beech Lane,south of Foscoe] in Watauga County.
2. Discharged treated wastewater from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached
map into the Watauga River, currently a class B-Trout, HQW stream in the Watauga River Basin.
The stream index is 8-(1) and the HUC code is 060101030301.
Page 2 of 7

Permit NC0050610
Part I.
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
Grade WW-2 Biological Water Pollution Control System [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 from outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored3 by the Permittee as
specified below:
EFFLUENT LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
CHARACTERISTICS
Measureme
Monthly Daily nt Sample Sample Location1
Parameter Code Average Maximum Frequency Type
Flow 0.076 MGD Continuous Recorder Influent or Effluent
[50050]
BOD, 5-day(20°C)—Summer* 5.0 mg/L 7.5 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
[C0310]
BOD, 5-day(20°C)—Winter* 10.0 mg/L 15.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
[C0310]
Total Suspended Solids 10.0 mg/L 15.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
[C0530]
NH3 as N— Summer* 2.0 mg/L 10.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
[C0610]
NH3 as N—Winter* 4.0 mg/L 20.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
[C0610]
Fecal Coliform 200/ 100 400/ 100
(geometric mean) ml ml Weekly Grab Effluent
[31616]
Temperature(°C) Effluent,
[00010] Weekly Grab Upstream&
Downstream
Daily average>6.0 mg/L Weekly Grab Effluent
Dissolved Oxygen2
[00300] Weekly Grab Upstream &
Downstream
Turbidity Weekly Grab Effluent
[00070]
Total Nitrogen
(NO2+NO3+TKN) Semi- Composite Effluent
[C0600] annually
Total Phosphorus Semi- Composite Effluent
[C0665] annually
pH >6.0 and >9.0 standard Weekly Grab Effluent
[00400] units
*Summer: April 1 —October 31 *Winter: November 1 —March 31
Footnotes:
Page 3 of 7

Permit NC0050610
1. Upstream=at least 100 feet upstream from the outfall. Downstream=at least 300 feet downstream from the outfall.
2. The daily average dissolved oxygen effluent concentration shall not be less than 6.0 mg/L.
3. The Permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the Division's eDMR system, [see A.(3.)].
There shall be no discharge offloating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
See Condition A. (2.)for instructions should the facility's permitted UV system fail and an alternate means of
disinfection is required. Total Residual Chlorine monitoring requirements and limits are applicable if chlorine
compounds are used for disinfection.
A. (2.) TEMPORARY MEANS OF DISINFECTION
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
In the event that the wastewater treatment plant's ultraviolet(UV)disinfection system should fail,underperform,
or otherwise be removed from effective service,the permittee or his agent should immediately inform the Surface
Water Protection Section staff of the Winston-Salem Regional Office of this development and discuss temporary,
alternate means for disinfection of the effluent.
If chlorine compounds are used as temporary means of disinfection,the total residual chlorine(TRC)
concentration of the effluent must be monitored on a daily basis while this method of disinfection is in use and
values must be reported on the discharge monitoring report. TRC in the effluent may not exceed 28 µg/L;
therefore,dechlorination methods may also be necessary to ensure protection of water quality in the receiving
stream.
In the event that TRC monitoring should occur,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.
Use of a disinfection system other than the permitted UV system during circumstances not deemed as emergency
and/or temporary(replacement of lamps,lamp cleaning or maintenance,etc.)will be considered a violation of the
terms of this permit.
A. (3.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING-DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS
[G.S. 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
Page 4 of 7

Permit NC0050610
• Section E. (5.) Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements [Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (all
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:
• 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
Page 5 of 7

Permit NC0050610
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/2015/10/22/2015-
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
g
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:
http://deq.nc.gov/aboutidivisions/water-resources/edmr
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:
Page 6 of 7

Permit NC0050610
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:
"I 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.)1
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 7 of 7

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The Ponds WWTP Facility 7'
Location
11
i USGS Quad:Valle Crucis Subbasin:04-02-01 (not to scale)
Longitude: 81946'19" Stream Class: 8-Trout, HQW
Latitude: 36909'20" HUC: 06010103 Watauga County
Receiving Stream: Watauga River Stream Index: 8-(1) North NC0050610