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Home My WebLink AboutNC0051381_NOD2023PC0278 & CEI Report_20231221 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED. December 21, 2023 Jennifer Royce Highlands Falls Community Association Email: jennifer@highlandsfallsca.com SUBJECT: NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY Tracking Number: NOD-2023-PC-0278 Permit No. NC0051381 Highlands Falls Community Association WWTP Macon County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Highlands Falls Community Association WWTP on December 12, 2023. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0051381. A summary of the findings and comments noted during the inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report. The Compliance Evaluation inspection was conducted by Division of Water Resources staff from the Asheville Regional Office. The following deficiency was noted during the inspection: Inspection Area Description of Deficiency _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Effluent Sampling The composite sampler was not set to do flow-proportional sampling. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Remedial actions should have already been taken to correct this problem and prevent further occurrences in the future. The Division of Water Resources may pursue enforcement action for this and any additional violations of State law. To prevent further action, carefully review these deficiencies and address the causes of non-compliance to prevent the recurrence of similar situations. DocuSign Envelope ID: AA9ACB88-E542-4E61-B68F-B7BC1F7DDCA7 If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Lauren Armeni with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4667. Sincerely, Daniel J. Boss, Acting Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: Laserfiche Tyler Easterly (ORC, Environmental Inc.) Roger Baty (Maintenance) DocuSign Envelope ID: AA9ACB88-E542-4E61-B68F-B7BC1F7DDCA7 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 NC0051381 23/12/12 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) Highlands Falls Community Association WWTP 290 Sky Lake Rd Highlands NC 28741 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:00AM 23/12/12 23/05/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Tyler Jarrett Easterly/ORC/828-586-5588/ Other Facility Data 11:00AM 23/12/12 28/01/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Jennifer Royce,91 Falls Dr W Highlands NC 28741//828-526-2203/8285269751 Contacted Yes Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self-Monitoring Program Sludge Handling Disposal 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 Lauren E Armeni DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ Rachel Rose DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ 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 DocuSign Envelope ID: AA9ACB88-E542-4E61-B68F-B7BC1F7DDCA7 12/21/2023 12/21/2023 12/21/2023 NPDES yr/mo/day 23/12/12 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Lauren Armeni and Rachel Rose, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the Highlands Falls Community Association WWTP on December 12, 2023. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0051381. Tyler Easterly (ORC, Environmental Inc.), Travis Farmer (BORC, Environmental Inc.), and Roger Baty (Maintenance) were present and assisted in the inspection. The plant was well operated and maintained. Mr. Baty indicated that the plant will temporarily go offline sometime in 2024 to clean it out and paint it. During this time, the old plant will be used. The following items were noted during the inspection: 1. Disinfection - UV: At the time of the inspection, the UV intensity panel was not working and had not been for awhile. It is recommended to repair or replace the panel. 2. Effluent Sampling: At the time of the inspection, time-based composite sampling was being conducted. The sampler needs to be programmed to flow-proportional composite sampling. The following deficiency was noted during the inspection: 1. Effluent Sampling: The composite sampler is not set to do flow-proportional sampling. NC0051381 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: AA9ACB88-E542-4E61-B68F-B7BC1F7DDCA7 Permit:NC0051381 Inspection Date:12/12/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands Falls Community Association WWTP 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? # 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: 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? Process controls analyzed include pH, temperature, DO, and settleable solids.Comment: Record Keeping Yes No NA NE 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? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: AA9ACB88-E542-4E61-B68F-B7BC1F7DDCA7 Permit:NC0051381 Inspection Date:12/12/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands Falls Community Association WWTP Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? Comment: Pump Station - Influent Yes No NA NE 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? There is no telemetry for this pump station, however it is checked daily. There are two wet wells that they alternate using monthly. Comment: Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual b.Mechanical Are the bars adequately screening debris? Is the screen free of excessive debris? Is disposal of screening in compliance? Is the unit in good condition? The bar screen is cleaned off as needed and debris is disposed of in a nearby trash can. Comment: Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext. Air Type of aeration system Diffused Is the basin free of dead spots? Are surface aerators and mixers operational? Are the diffusers operational? Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin’s surface? Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: AA9ACB88-E542-4E61-B68F-B7BC1F7DDCA7 Permit:NC0051381 Inspection Date:12/12/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands Falls Community Association WWTP Compliance Evaluation Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Is the DO level acceptable? Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/l) Mr. Easterly checked the DO during the inspection and it was 3.1 mg/L. He indicated that the DO is generally 1.5 mg/L, but the blowers had just been on. At the time of the inspection, settleability was 54%. During the day the diffusers are set to 15 minutes on and 45 minutes off, and at night they are set to 15 minutes on and one hour off. Comment: Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier? Are weirs level? Is the site free of weir blockage? Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? Is scum removal adequate? Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? Is the drive unit operational? Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately ¼ of the sidewall depth) At the time of the inspection, the sludge blanket level was 1 foot out of 13 feet of water in the clarifier. The weirs are cleaned monthly. Comment: Filtration (High Rate Tertiary)Yes No NA NE Type of operation:Down flow Is the filter media present? Is the filter surface free of clogging? Is the filter free of growth? Is the air scour operational? Is the scouring acceptable? Is the clear well free of excessive solids and filter media? At the time of inspection, it was difficult to view the filter surfaces; however, the clear well had no excessive solids or filter media. Flow is split between the two tertiary filters and backwash from both goes into one clear well. The filters are backwashed twice a day. The media is made of gravel, sand, and anthracite. Mr. Farmer indicated the filter media will be changed out this winter. Comment: Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: AA9ACB88-E542-4E61-B68F-B7BC1F7DDCA7 Permit:NC0051381 Inspection Date:12/12/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands Falls Community Association WWTP Compliance Evaluation Disinfection - UV Yes No NA NE Are extra UV bulbs available on site? Are UV bulbs clean? Is UV intensity adequate? Is transmittance at or above designed level? Is there a backup system on site? Is effluent clear and free of solids? There are two sets of UV lights that are used for disinfection. The bulbs are changed annually and were last changed in January. The bulbs have wipers that automatically clean them. The UV intensity panel does not work. It is recommended to fix or replace this panel. See summary for details. Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? The flow meter was last calibrated on May 10, 2023 by Laboratory Instrument Service.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: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # 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 representative)? At the time of the inspection, composite sampling was set to time-based, pulling 300 mL every hour. Mr. Farmer indicated that they would have Laboratory Instrument Service out to set the sampler to flow-proportional. See summary for details. Comment: Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: AA9ACB88-E542-4E61-B68F-B7BC1F7DDCA7 Permit:NC0051381 Inspection Date:12/12/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands Falls Community Association WWTP Compliance Evaluation Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE 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? The plant has a small digester, but the old plant on site is used as a second digester. The small digester had excessive amounts of foam; however, the digester had been stagnant and it had not been mixed. In the summer when more residents are in town, the small digester is wasted to the old plant every other week. When needed, the old plant is decanted to the influent pump station and sludge in the old plant is pumped out. Comment: 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? The generator automatically exercises weekly and is serviced annually. At the time of the inspection, the fuel level was over 3/4 full. Comment: Page#7 DocuSign Envelope ID: AA9ACB88-E542-4E61-B68F-B7BC1F7DDCA7