WQCS00249_NOV-2023-DV-0368_20231020

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ONWASA
�L Georgetown Rd
Jacksonvi}le, NC 28540
October 20, 2023
Morelia Sanchez -King, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
127 Cardinal Drive Extension
Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
RE: Notice of Violation & Intent to Issue Civil Penalty
Tracking Number NOV-2023-DV-0368
Onslow Water and Sewer Authority (ONWASA), Onslow County
Collection System Permit No. WQCS00249
Ms. Sanchez -King:
This letter is sent in response to the above -referenced Notice of Violation & Intent to Issue
Civil Penalty, dated October 11, 2023, that was issued by your office due to a sanitary sewer
overflow (SSO) incident that occurred in the ONWASA collection system on September 19, 2023.
While ONWASA does not dispute the occurrence of the event listed in the NOV, as it was
self -reported, we offer the following information for your consideration in determining whether
further action (including civil penalties) is warranted:
Incident Number 202301362, Halls Creek Pump Station
The SSO at this location was caused by the sudden failure of a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)
that disabled both pumps and the remote monitoring/alarm unit serving this site. Staff were in
route to investigate.a loss of communication with the station (the only alarm received during this
event) when a call was received at the main office reporting a possible sewer spill in progress.
Additional staff and equipment were then mobilized to the site to both troubleshoot the VFD
issue and begin clean-up. Pumping capacity was restored and the SSO stopped within 2 hours of
the initial spill report; site clean-up was completed the same day. While an estimated total of
16,500 gallons was released, we believe permanent environmental impacts were minimal as
post -event bacterial testing of the receiving stream (a tributary to Queens Creek) both upstream
and downstream of the spill site indicated similar levels of contamination. See the attached
laboratory reports.
228 Georgetown Road • Jacksonville, NC28540 • Tel[phone] • Fax 910,455.2583 • www.onwasa.com

Page 2 of 2
October 20, 2023
In addition to the immediate response, ONWASA has now installed a portable diesel
engine -powered bypass pump at this site to restore pumping capacity more quickly in the event
of a similar failure. This pump station is scheduled to have a permanent bypass pumping unit
installed as part of a larger capital improvement project that should be bid for construction in
early 2024.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide this additional information. Pease contact me
directly at [phone] or [e-mail] you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,
David M. Mohr, P.E.
Chief Operations Officer
Onslow Water and Sewer Authority
Encl.
C: Franky J. Howard, Chief Executive Officer, ONWASA
Matthew Padgett, Field Operations Administrator, ONWASA
Justin Sanderson, Collections Superintendent, ONWASA

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ONWASA
September 24, 2023
Matt Padgett
ONWASA WW Collections
228 Georgetown Road
Jacksonville, NC 28540
RE: ONWASA Lift Station
ONWASA Laboratory
228 Georgetown Road
Jacksonville NC 28540
[phone]
Enclosed are the results of analyses for samples received by our laboratory on 9/23/2023. If you
have any questions concerning this report, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
�4�lr�Clt
Todd A. Roberts
Lab Administrator

4ONWASA
ONWASA WW Collections Project: ONWASA Lift Station
228 Georgetown Road Project Number: Reported:
Jacksonville, NC 28540 Project Manager: Matt Padgett 09/24/2023 16:22
Sample Results
Sample: Hall's Creek Pump Station L233806-01 (WW) 09/23/2023 12:15
1304 Hammocks Beach Rd
Reporting Date Analyst
Analyte Result Qual Limit Units Analyzed Initials Method
Enterococcus 2220 1.00 MPN/100ml 09/24/2023 TAR Idexx Enterolert
Sample: Hall's Creek Up Stream L233806-02 (WW) 09/23/2023 16:11
1304 Hammocks Beach Rd
Reporting Date Analyst
Analyte Result Qua[ Limit Units Analyzed Initials Method
terococcus 2070
1.00 MPN/100ml 09/24/2023 TAR Idexx Enterolert
The contents ofthis report apply to the sampWs) analyzed in accordance with the chain ofcustody document.
No duplication of this report is allowed, except in its entirety.
Page 2 of 3

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ONWASA
ONWASA WW Collections Project: ONWASA Lift Station
228 Georgetown Road Project Number: Reported:
Jacksonville, NC 28540 Project Manager: Matt Padgett 09/24/2023 16:22
Notes and Definitions
Item Definition
Dry Sample results reported on a dry weight basis.
ND Analyte NOT DETECTED at or above the reporting limit.
The contents of this report apply to the sample(s) analyzed in accordance with the chain ofcustody document.
No duplication of this report is allowed, except in its entirety. Page 3 of 3