HomeMy WebLinkAboutNCG551366_2023 Inspection Letter_20231010
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office 3800 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
919.791.4200
October 16th, 2023
Kevin Hayden
314 Sandlewood Drive
Durham, NC 27712
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Single Family Wastewater Treatment System
General NPDES Permit NCG550000
Certificate of Coverage NCG551366
Facility: 314 Sandlewood Drive
Durham County
Dear Mr. Hayden:
On September 26th, 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. The assistance you provided over the telephone was greatly appreciated.
Our records indicate the treatment system consists of a septic tank, sub-surface sand filter, tablet
chlorinator, and a discharge pipe.
General NPDES Permit NCG550000 and Certificate of Coverage (COC) NCG551366 authorize
the discharge of domestic wastewater from your treatment system to receiving waters designated
as a unnamed tributary to Cabin Branch (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. Pumping the septic tank: You are required to inspect the septic tank at least
yearly to determine if solids must be removed or if other maintenance is
necessary. Septic tanks should be pumped out every five years or when the solids
level is found to be more than 1/3 of the liquid depth in the septic tank
compartment, whichever is greater. A pumping company can check the status
periodically and determine when pumping is required. After the inspection,
Kevin Hayden provided documentation showing Scotty’s Sanitation pumped out
the septic tank on 9/13/2023. The General NPDES Permit requires the permittee
to retain records associated with sewage disposal activities for a period of at least
5 years.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 5011F237-6DD1-4FAC-84D9-123EEBF6E800
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1611 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
919.707.9000
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. 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
After 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 December 31, 2022.. In the last inspection
letter dated February 5, 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.
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.
Part II Section B.14 of General Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to “pay the annual
administering and compliance monitoring fee within thirty days after being billed by the
Division.” Division records indicate the required annual fee ($60 per year) for the period ending
12/31/2023 and due 1/01/2023, has been paid. There are no overdue fees for the subject COC.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 5011F237-6DD1-4FAC-84D9-123EEBF6E800
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1611 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
919.707.9000
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.
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, 2, 3,
and 4 above.
If you have questions or comments about this inspection or the requirements to take corrective
action (if applicable), then please contact Kevin Fowler at 919-437-0047.
Sincerely,
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
DEQ Inspection Checklist
Cc: Laserfiche
DocuSign Envelope ID: 5011F237-6DD1-4FAC-84D9-123EEBF6E800
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 NCG551366 23/09/26 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)
314 Sandlewood Drive
314 Sandlewood Dr
Durham NC 27712
Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date
Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date
10:00AM 23/09/26 21/12/28
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Other Facility Data
10:15AM 23/09/26 25/10/31
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Kevin Hayden,314 Sandlewood Dr Durham NC 27712///Contacted
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports 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
Kevin Fowler DWR/RRO WQ/919-791-4200/
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
10/11/2023
DocuSign Envelope ID: 5011F237-6DD1-4FAC-84D9-123EEBF6E800
10/11/2023
NPDES yr/mo/day
23/09/26
Inspection Type
C3111218
1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
Dear Mr. Hayden:
On September 26th, 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. The assistance you provided over the telephone was greatly appreciated.
Our records indicate the treatment system consists of a septic tank, sub-surface sand filter, tablet
chlorinator, and a discharge pipe.
General NPDES Permit NCG550000 and Certificate of Coverage (COC) NCG551366 authorize the
discharge of domestic wastewater from your treatment system to receiving waters designated as a
unnamed tributary to Cabin Branch (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.Pumping the septic tank: You are required to inspect the septic tank at least yearly to determine if
solids must be removed or if other maintenance is necessary. Septic tanks should be pumped out
every five years or when the solids level is found to be more than 1/3 of the liquid depth in the septic
tank compartment, whichever is greater. A pumping company can check the status periodically and
determine when pumping is required. After the inspection, Kevin Hayden provided documentation
showing Scotty’s Sanitation pumped out the septic tank on 9/13/2023. The General NPDES Permit
requires the permittee to retain records associated with sewage disposal activities for a period of at
least 5 years.
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. 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 After 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 December 31, 2022.. In the last inspection letter dated
February 5, 2018, you were requested to sample your effluent and to submit the analytical results to
this office. The Raleigh Regional Office has not received therequested results. Failure to monitor
the effluent discharge as required is a violation of NPDES General Permit NCG550000.
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
NCG551366 17 (Cont.)
Page#2
DocuSign Envelope ID: 5011F237-6DD1-4FAC-84D9-123EEBF6E800
Permit:NCG551366
Inspection Date:09/26/2023
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
314 Sandlewood Drive
Compliance Evaluation
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.
Part II Section B.14 of General Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to “pay the annual
administering and compliance monitoring fee within thirty days after being billed by the Division.”
Division records indicate the required annual fee ($60 per year) for the period ending 12/31/2023
and due 1/01/2023, has been paid. There are no overdue fees for the subject COC.
Page#3
DocuSign Envelope ID: 5011F237-6DD1-4FAC-84D9-123EEBF6E800
Permit:NCG551366
Inspection Date:09/26/2023
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
314 Sandlewood Drive
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:
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?
Effluent pipe was not located and is believed to be underground.Comment:
Septic Tank Yes No NA NE
(If pumps are used) Is an audible and visual alarm operational?
Is septic tank pumped on a schedule?
Are pumps or syphons operating properly?
Are high and low water alarms operating properly?
Comment:
Sand Filters (Low rate)Yes No NA NE
(If pumps are used) Is an audible and visible alarm Present and operational?
Is the distribution box level and watertight?
Is sand filter free of ponding?
Is the sand filter effluent re-circulated at a valid ratio?
# Is the sand filter surface free of algae or excessive vegetation?
# Is the sand filter effluent re-circulated at a valid ratio? (Approximately 3 to 1)
Page#4
DocuSign Envelope ID: 5011F237-6DD1-4FAC-84D9-123EEBF6E800
Permit:NCG551366
Inspection Date:09/26/2023
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
314 Sandlewood Drive
Compliance Evaluation
Sand Filters (Low rate)Yes No NA NE
Sand Filter UndergroundComment:
Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE
Are tablet chlorinators operational?
Are the tablets the proper size and type?
Number of tubes in use?2
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?
Lid of chorinator missing. No Chlorine Tablets in Tubes. Tubes need to have
dirt/debris cleaned out.
Comment:
Page#5
DocuSign Envelope ID: 5011F237-6DD1-4FAC-84D9-123EEBF6E800
DocuSign Envelope ID: 5011F237-6DD1-4FAC-84D9-123EEBF6E800
DocuSign Envelope ID: 5011F237-6DD1-4FAC-84D9-123EEBF6E800