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Home My WebLink AboutNC0039594_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20231101ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Director Bryan Duckworth, Public Works Director Town of Maiden 19 N. Main Avenue Maiden, NC 28650 SUBJECT: Compliance Evaluation Inspection Town of Maiden WWTP NPDES Permit No. NCO039594 Catawba County Dear Mr. Duckworth: NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality November 1, 2023 Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Evaluation Inspection (CEI) Report for the inspection conducted at the subject facility on October 25, 2023, by Mr. Wes Bell of this Office. This Office would like to thank all WWTP staff for their cooperation and assistance that was provided throughout this inspection. Please advise the facility's Operator -in -Responsible Charge (ORC) of our findings by forwarding the enclosed report. Should you have any questions concerning this report, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Bell at (704) 235-2192 or at wes.bell@deq.nc. gov. Sincerely, DocuSigned by: A wNN,uft F161 F669A2D84A3... Andrew H. Pitner, P.G. Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Mooresville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ Enclosure: Inspection Report Cc: NPDES Program Files - Laserfiche D North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Mooresville Regional Office 1 610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301 1 Mooresville, North Carolina 28115 704.663.1699 United States Environmental Protection Agency Form Approved. EPA Washington, D.C. 20460 OMB No. 2040-0057 Water Compliance Inspection Report 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 IN 1 2 u 3 I NCO039594 111 121 23/10/25 I17 18 LC] I 19 I s I 20L] 21111I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I r6 Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ---------------------- Reserved ------------------- 67 2.0 701d I 71 I„ I 72 I r., I 71 I 74 79 I I I I I I I80 L—I ty L-1 I I Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date POTW name and NPDES permit Number) 09:15AM 23/10/25 21/08/01 Maiden WWTP 2090 W Finger St Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date Maiden NC 28650 12:45PM 23/10/25 26/07/31 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data Christopher Kern Bagshaw//828-428-5032 / Timothy Ray Hedrick/ORC/828-428-5032/ Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Todd Herms,19 N Main Ave Maiden NC 28650/Town Manager/828-428-5000/8284285017 No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit 0 Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports Self -Monitoring Progran 0 Sludge Handling Dispo: Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Wate Laboratory 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 Wes Bell Docusignedby: DWR/MROWQ/704-235-2192/ 11/1/2023 A61696D90=437... �; A�eviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date Signature of MCeA4-4" Andrew Pit H P44- 3WR/MRO WQ/704-663-1699 Ext.2180/ 11/1/2023 EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page# NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type NC0039594 I11 12I 23/10/25 117 18 i c i Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) On -site Representatives: The following Town staff were in attendance during the inspection: Mr. Tim Hedrick, Mr. Chris Bagshaw and Mr. Jeff Schronce. Page# Permit: NCO039594 Owner -Facility: Maiden WWTP Inspection Date: 10/25/2023 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation 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? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Are there any special conditions for the permit? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The last compliance evaluation inspection at this facility was performed by DWR staff on 10/4/2021. Record Keeping Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? Is all required information readily available, complete and current? Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? Is the chain -of -custody complete? Dates, times and location of sampling Name of individual performing the sampling Results of analysis and calibration Dates of analysis Name of person performing analyses Transported COCs Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 3 Permit: NCO039594 Inspection Date: 10/25/2023 Owner -Facility: Maiden WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Comment: The records reviewed durinq the inspection were organized and well maintained. Discharge Monitoring Reports (eDMRs) were reviewed for the period October 2022 through September 2023. No effluent limit violations were reported. The facility failed to monitor effluent total nitrogen, total phosphorus and silver in April 2023. The Division previously addressed these monitoring violations through the issuance of a Notice of Violation (NOV). Note: The facility performed additional sampling the following month to make up for these missed samples. Several eDMRs will be revised and resubmitted to correct transcription errors that were detected in the months of January (add flow and influent BOD and TSS), February (correct units of measurement for silver), July (remove one of two tox values) and September 2023 (correct units of measurement for silver and upstream temperatures for last week of month) and December 2022 (add "<" value to silver value). Laboratory Yes No NA NE Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the facility using a contract lab? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ degrees Celsius)? Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees? ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees? ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ Comment: On -site field analyses (dissolved oxvqen, pH, temperature and total residual chlorine are performed under the Town's laboratory certification #5532. Water Tech Labs and Meritech (toxicity) have also been contracted to provide analytical support. The facility staff must ensure to update all calibration/benchsheets when new laboratory instruments are placed into operation for effluent analyses. Influent Sampling Yes No NA NE # Is composite sampling flow proportional? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is sample collected above side streams? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ Is proper volume collected? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the tubing clean? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ degrees Celsius)? Is sampling performed according to the permit? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The subject permit requires influent composite BOD and TSS samples. Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is sample collected below all treatment units? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 4 Permit: NCO039594 Owner -Facility: Maiden WWTP Inspection Date: 10/25/2023 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is proper volume collected? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the tubing clean? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # 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 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ representative)? Comment: The subject permit requires composite and grab effluent samples. Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ and sampling location)? Comment: Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable ❑ ❑ ❑ Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Comment: The wastewater treatment facilitv appeared to be properly operated and well maintained. The facility staff must ensure all process control measurements (settleability tests and dissolved oxygen levels) are documented and maintained on -site. Equipment (motors, etc.) on both the bar screen and grit removal systems have had to be replaced on multiple occasions due to being submerged during extremely high flow and/or flooding events. The Town must continue to initiate Infiltration & Inflow reduction activities but should also investigate potential alternative locations for both treatment units (above ground instead of in ground). Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual ❑ b.Mechanical Are the bars adequately screening debris? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the screen free of excessive debris? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is disposal of screening in compliance? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the unit in good condition? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Screenings and grit are transported and disposed at the County Landfill. Flow Measurement - Influent Yes No NA NE Page# 5 Permit: NCO039594 Inspection Date: 10/25/2023 Flow Measurement - Influent # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Owner -Facility: Maiden WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? Comment: The flow meter is calibrated annually and was last calibrated on 1/18/2023 Clearwater, Inc. Grit Removal Type of grit removal a.Manual b.Mechanical Is the grit free of excessive organic matter? Is the grit free of excessive odor? # Is disposal of grit in compliance? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ Yes No NA NE Comment: The qrit removal system was not operational due to an inoperable motor. The ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ wastewater staff have ordered a new motor and the grit chamber is currently being pumped out monthly (at a minimum) until the unit is repaired and placed back into operation. DWR staff have noted operational issues with this treatment unit in previous inspections. Please be advised that the subject permit requires the Permittee to properly operate and maintain the treatment facility at all times. Pump Station - Influent Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? Is the wet well free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Is SCADA telemetry available and operational? Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ Comment: The telemetry type alarm system (Mission) properly operated during the on -site test. Sequencing Batch Reactors Yes No NA NE Type of operation: Duplex Is the reactor effluent free of solids? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Does minimum fill time correspond to the peak hour flow rate of the facility? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Is aeration and mixing cycled on and off during fill? No ❑ ❑ Page# 6 Permit: NC0039594 Inspection Date: 10/25/2023 Sequencing Batch Reactors The operator understands and can explain the process? Owner -Facility: Maiden WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Comment: The mixed liquor appeared to be adequately mixed and oxygenated. Equalization Basins 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? Yes No NA NE ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The SBR effluent is conveyed to an equalization basin prior to the downstream treatment processes (chlorination/dechlori nation). Excessive solids were not observed in the circular basin. Disinfection -Liquid Yes No NA NE Is there adequate reserve supply of disinfectant? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ (Sodium Hypochlorite) Is pump feed system operational? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is bulk storage tank containment area adequate? (free of leaks/open drains) ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: De -chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system ? Liquid Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is storage appropriate for cylinders? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ # Is de -chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Are the tablets the proper size and type? ❑ ❑ ❑ Are tablet de -chlorinators operational? ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 7 Permit: NC0039594 Owner -Facility: Maiden WWTP Inspection Date: 10/25/2023 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation De -chlorination Yes No NA NE Number of tubes in use? 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: The effluent appeared clear with trace suspended solids and no foam. Aerobic Digester Yes No NA NE Is the capacity adequate? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the mixing adequate? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the odor acceptable? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is tankage available for properly waste sludge? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Both aerobic digesters were operational and in service. Digested solids are transported (by Town staff) to the Regional Compost Facility for continued processing/disposal (compost). 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? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The generator is exercised weekly and placed under load monthly (at a minimum). Clark Power Services has been contracted to service the generator twice per year. Page# 8