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Home My WebLink AboutNC0059552_NOD2024PC0001 & CEI Report_20240104 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED. January 4, 2024 Jennifer Royce Highlands Falls Community Association Email: jennifer@highlandsfallsca.com SUBJECT: NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY Tracking Number: NOD-2024-PC-0001 Permit No. NC0059552 Highlands Falls Community Association Sand Filter Macon County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Highlands Falls Community Association Sand Filter 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. NC0059552. 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 deficiencies were noted during the inspection: Inspection Area Description of Deficiency _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Septic Tank No septic tank pumping records were available. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Disinfection-Tablet Chlorination tablets were not being used in either of the tubes. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DocuSign Envelope ID: F9F317CD-9861-4317-8618-34CA032BD434 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. 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: F9F317CD-9861-4317-8618-34CA032BD434 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 NC0059552 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 Sand Filter 290 Sky Lake Rd Highlands NC 28741 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 12:30PM 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 01:00PM 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 No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self-Monitoring Program 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: F9F317CD-9861-4317-8618-34CA032BD434 1/5/2024 1/5/2024 1/5/2024 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 Sand Filter on December 12, 2023. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0059552. Tyler Easterly (ORC, Environmental Inc.), Travis Farmer (BORC, Environmental Inc.), and Roger Baty (Maintenance) were present and assisted in the inspection. The system consists of a 900-gallon septic tank with automatic siphon, a 28' x 28' subsurface sand filter, and tablet chlorination. The two restrooms on the golf course are tied into this system along with four to five homes that have their own individual septic tanks. Mr. Baty indicated that these homeowners maintain their septic tanks. The following items were noted during the inspection: 1. Septic Tank: It is unknown when the septic tank was last pumped. At the time of the inspection, there were no pumping records. It is recommended to install risers on the tank so that the solids level in the tank can be more easily checked. The tank should be pumped if the solids level is greater than 1/3 the liquid level in any compartment. 2. Disinfection: At the time of the inspection, there were no chlorination tablets inside of the two tubes. Even though the system has not discharged for years, it is still required to keep tablets in at least one of the tubes in the event that the system discharges. Mr. Easterly indicated that they keep dechlorination tablets underneath the effluent spout on the concrete pad; however, this is not required since the permit only lists tablet chlorination and the system was installed in the 1980's. The following deficiencies were noted during the inspection: 1. Septic Tank: No septic tank pumping records were available. 2. Disinfection: Chlorination tablets were not being used in either of the tubes. NC0059552 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: F9F317CD-9861-4317-8618-34CA032BD434 Permit:NC0059552 Inspection Date:12/12/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands Falls Community Association Sand Filter 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? Access to the plant site is not restricted to the general public. The system consists of a septic tank/subsurface sand filter. 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? 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: F9F317CD-9861-4317-8618-34CA032BD434 Permit:NC0059552 Inspection Date:12/12/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands Falls Community Association Sand Filter 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? According to Mr. Baty, the facility has not discharged since the 1980's, therefore sampling has not been conducted. 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? The system is completely gravity fed. At the time of the inspection, there were no septic tank pumping records. See summary for details. 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) The sand filter was clear of debris and vegetation. The gravel on the sand filter was recently replaced. Comment: Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Number of tubes in use?0 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? At the time of the inspection, no chlorination tablets were in either of the two tubes. Chlorination tablets should at least be kept in one tube in the event the system discharges. See summary for details. Comment: Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: F9F317CD-9861-4317-8618-34CA032BD434 Permit:NC0059552 Inspection Date:12/12/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands Falls Community Association Sand Filter Compliance Evaluation 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? At the time of the inspection, the system was not discharging.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)? Mr. Baty indicated that the system hasn't discharged since the 1980's, therefore sampling has not been required. In the event that the system starts discharging, sampling will be conducted. Comment: Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: F9F317CD-9861-4317-8618-34CA032BD434