WQ0000193_NOV-2023-LV-0663_20231012

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Morella Sanchez -King, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Wilmington Regional Office
Division of Water Resources
Subject: NOV Letter Response- tracking Number NOV-2023-LV-0663
Permit NO.WQ0000193
Village of Bald Head Island WWTP
Brunswick County
Ms. Sanchez -King
The Village of Bald Head Island has received your Notice of violation (NOV) and intent to assess
a civil penalty letter (tracking number NOV-2023-LV-0663) Regarding reported exceedances of
the daily and monthly effluent limits associated with the Village's wastewater treatment plant
(WWTP) processing effluent discharged at sample location 001 for July 5, 2023, July 6, 2023, July
11,2023, and July 31,2023 Under the current permit WQ0000193. Per your Letter, the Village of
Bald Head Island is providing additional information with -in the ten -business days. The Village
request that no fine be assessed due to good faith efforts under way to resolve this compliance
problem. The specific costs paid by the Village to address these related NOV-2023-LV-0663
issues is approximately $15,315.00. A description of this equipment and improved process is
described below.
The NOV letter is dated September 27, 2023, received on September 29,2023 via email from
Helen Perez.
Based on previous operations we have been using trends and older data, as it comes in from the
outside lab, to make decisions that we base operational changes on. This has been partially
effective in the past years. We have had many discussions with Aqua Aerobics and had a plant
visit with their specialists to work towards a better understanding of nutrient removal with the
plant's SBR process. Due to high concentrations of nutrients in our influent this has been
challenging for us to keep up with using data trends. For a better understanding of our nutrient
removal, we are working on expanding our in-house lab equipment. Currently we get our lab
results for our nutrients as far out as four weeks and as soon as two weeks. With this lag time, it
is difficult to make the necessary adjustments to our wastewater plant to stay in compliance
with permit number WQ0000193.
RO. Box 3009 BALD HEAD ISLAND, NC 28461 [phone] FAX [phone]
E-AWL: [e-mail] WEBSITE http://www.villagebhiorg

The most recent high nutrient levels were due to bad blower performance. The blowers were
releasing air to waste under higher pressures causing the DO not to reach optimum levels. In
addition, parts have been purchased and adjustments made to operating pressures to deliver
higher volumes of air to the reactors. The back up blower were utilized to recover from the low
DO levels. This problem with the blowers has been corrected.
In the tertiary treatment process the UV lamps and quartz sleeves have been replaced to
address the high fecal results identified in NOV-2023-LV-0663.
We have recently purchased a spectrophotometer from Hach. This piece of equipment test's all
the nutrients that we have limits on. This unit was just received by staff and is now being used
to test our influent and effluent nutrient levels. This real time information will enable staff to
make immediate changes to the SBR reactors as needed. This ability to react immediately should
improve our nutrient level processing.
The cost of equipment was approximately $15,315. This equipment will provide staff the ability
to test and identify real time nutrient levels required in the Village's WWTP permit WQ0000193.
Thank you for your review, staff is available to provide additional information as requested.
Sincerely,
Nathan J. Lindsay
Operator in Responsible Charge
Village of Bald Head Island
JP McCann
Public Services Director
Village of Bald Head Island
P.O. Box 3009 BALD HEAD ISLAND, NC 28461 (910) 45 7-9 700 FAX [phone]
E-MAIL: [e-mail] WEBSITE http://www.villagebhLora