NCG550022_Inspection Letter_20230712

July 12, 2023

Ruby B. Brown
716 Harold Dr.
Durham, NC 27712

Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Single Family Wastewater Treatment System
General NPDES Permit NCG550000
Certificate of Coverage NCG550022
Facility: 716 Harold Dr
Durham County

Dear Ruby Brown

On June 28, 2023, Chris Smith from the Raleigh Regional Office visited your single-family
residence (SFR) wastewater treatment system to evaluate compliance with the subject General
NPDES Permit. Your assistance during the inspection was helpful and appreciated.

Our records indicate the treatment system consists of a septic tank, sand filter, tablet chlorinator,
discharge pipe and a rip-rap apron for post aeration, and associated appurtenances.

General NPDES Permit NCG550000 and Certificate of Coverage (COC) NCG550022 authorize
the discharge of domestic wastewater from your treatment system to receiving waters designated
as Unnamed Tributary to Little River (classified WS-II, HQW, NSW, CA) in the Neuse River
Basin. The authorized discharge is in accordance with the effluent limits and monitoring
requirements established within the General Permit. The checked boxes below show what
conditions were noted at your facility:

1. NCG550000 Ownership Change Form: According to Durham County deed of
records, Ruby B. Brown owns the residence and property located at 716 Harold Dr. in
Durham, North Carolina. As the property owner, you are also the owner of the
existing single-family wastewater treatment system, which treats the domestic
wastewater from the residence and releases the effluent to the receiving waters
indicated above. Because the treatment system makes an outlet to waters of the state,
it is an activity for which the subject permit is required. To comply with North
Carolina General Statute § 143-215.1(a), which requires a person to obtain a permit to
make an outlet into the waters of the state, you will need to complete and submit the
attached NCG550000 Ownership Change Form to the Division. If you have any
questions regarding change in permit ownership or completing the form, then
please contact Chris Smith at 919-791-4257.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 782E7673-B143-4006-800D-8D15D1A1F7D0

Ruby B. Brown, NCG550022
July 12, 2023 Page 2 of 3

2. Treatment system operation: The wastewater treatment system shall be maintained
at all times to prevent seepage of sewage to the surface of the ground.

3. Pumping the septic tank: You are required to inspect the septic tank at least yearly
to determine if solids must be removed or if other maintenance is necessary. Septic
tanks should be pumped out every five years or when the solids level is found to be
more than 1/3 of the liquid depth in the septic tank compartment, whichever is
greater. A pumping company can check the status periodically and determine when
pumping is required. During the inspection, Ruby Brown provided documentation
showing John E. Byrd, Trucking and Tractor Service pumped out the septic
tank on December 16, 2022. The General NPDES Permit requires the permittee to
retain records associated with sewage disposal activities for a period of at least 5
years.

4. Chlorine tablets in the chlorinator: You are reminded that it is required that
chlorine tablets be maintained in the chlorinator to ensure proper disinfection of the
discharged wastewater. Chlorine tablets provide effective disinfection and
prevent/limit harmful bacteria from discharging to the environment. The product
label for these tablets must indicate the tablets are approved for wastewater use and
not for swimming pools. Part 1, Section D (1) of General NPDES Permit
NCG550000 requires the permittee to inspect the tablet chlorinator weekly to ensure
there is an adequate supply of tablets for continuous and proper operation. Section D
(4) requires the permittee to maintain all system components, including...disinfection
units...at all times and in good operating order. The inspector observed chlorine
tablets in the chlorinator during the inspection. Please continue to ensure the
correct type of tablets are used and maintained in the chlorinator as required by the
General NPDES Permit.

5. Analyzing the effluent: Part 1. C., Effluent Limitations and Monitoring
Requirements, within General Permit NCG550000 requires a permittee to sample and
analyze the effluent leaving his/her treatment system prior to discharge annually.
Parameters to be sampled and analyzed include Flow, BOD (Biochemical Oxygen
Demand), Total Suspended Solids, Fecal Coliform and Total Residual Chlorine.
Within 30-days of receiving this letter, please let this office know if you have
monitored your effluent discharge within the last 12 months, and provide this office
with a copy of the lab results if you have. If you have not monitored your effluent,
then please collect a representative sample of the effluent, have it analyzed by a
certified commercial laboratory and submit the results to this office no later than
October 12, 2023. If, during this time, you are unable to collect a representative
sample of the effluent discharge due to insufficient flow from the discharge pipe, then
update this office with that information and continue to monitor the discharge and if
conditions for sampling become favorable, then arrange to collect a sample. Failure
to monitor the effluent discharge as required is a violation of NPDES General
Permit NCG550000.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 782E7673-B143-4006-800D-8D15D1A1F7D0

Ruby B. Brown, NCG550022
July 12, 2023 Page 3 of 3

6. Discharge outlet location. The permittee is required to conduct a visual review of the
outfall location at least twice each year (one at the time of sampling) to ensure that no
visible solids or other obvious evidence of system malfunctioning is observed. Any
visible signs of a malfunctioning system shall be documented, and steps taken to correct
the problem. The discharge pipe was visible and accessible the day of the inspection.
Please continue to ensure the outlet is always visible/maintained and cleared of
vegetation, soil, and leaves.

Part II Section B.14 of General Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to “pay the annual
administering and compliance monitoring fee within thirty days after being billed by the
Division.” Division records indicate the required annual fee ($60 per year) for the period ending
September 30, 2023 and due October 2, 2022, has been paid. There are no overdue fees for the
subject COC.

The wastewater treatment system should be periodically inspected to ensure the treatment
components are always maintained and in good operating order. You are also reminded to
maintain all monitoring data and associated maintenance records onsite for a minimum of
three years and available for inspection.

Within 30-days receipt of this letter, please submit a written response to this office indicating
the actions you will take or have taken to comply with or resolve the issues noted above.

If you have questions or comments about this inspection or the requirements to take corrective
action (if applicable), then please contact Vanessa Manuel at 919-791-4232.

Sincerely,

Vanessa E. Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ

Attachment(s): EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report
NCG55 Ownership Change form

Cc: Laserfiche
DocuSign Envelope ID: 782E7673-B143-4006-800D-8D15D1A1F7D0