NC0077615_Fact Sheet_20240123

NCDEQ / DWR / NPDES
EXPEDITED FACT SHEET - NPDES PERMIT RENEWAL
NPDES Permit NCO077615
Caroline Robinson / Compliance & Expedited Permitting Unit / caroline.robinsongdeq.nc. og_v / Jan 2024
FACILITY INFORMATION
Applicant/Facility Name
Origin Food Group, LLC (Halil Ulukaya, President)
Origin Food Group WWTP
Applicant Address
PO Box 7621, Statesville, NC 28687
Facility Physical Address
306 Stamey Farm Road, Statesville, NC 28687
Permitted Flow (MGD)
0.025 MGD
Type of Waste
100% Domestic, < 1 MGD
Facility Class
WW-2
County
Iredell
Permit Status
Renewal
Regional Office
MRO
STREAM CHARACTERISTICS
Receiving Stream
Third Creek
Stream
Classification
C
Stream Segment
12-108-20-4
Outfall Lat.
350 47' 08" N
7Q10 - Summer (cfs)
6.7
Outfall Long.
800 57' 25" W
7Q10 - Winter (cfs)
10
Drainage basin
Yadkin -Pee Dee River Basin
30Q2 (cfs)
12
Subbasin
03-07-06
Average Flow (cfs)
23
HUC
030401020302
IWC (%)
0.58% (summer) /
0.39% (winter)
303(d) List
No
BASIC INFO FOR EXPEDITED PERMIT RENEWAL
Does permit need Daily Max NH3 limits?
No
Does permit need TRC limits/footnote?
No — Already present in permit.
Does permit have toxicity testing?
No — not a complex wastestream
Does permit have any Special Conditions?
Yes — Nutrient Reopener for High Rock Lake
Does permit have instream monitoring?
No
New expiration date:
March 31, 2029
FACILITY SUMMARY
Origin Food Group, LLC operates a 100% domestic wastewater treatment plant for an estimated 45
workers. The Origin Food Group WWTP is a minor facility (flow < 1 MGD) with a design capacity and
permitted wastewater discharge of 0.025 MGD. The permit for the WWTP was originally issued in January
1990. This facility utilizes the following treatment components:
• Grease trap
• Duplex submersible pump station & forced main
• Influent bar screen
• Weir inlet flow splitter box
• Equalization tank w/pumps
• Aeration basin
• Clarifier with aerated sludge holding tank
• Chlorine contact basin w/tablet chlorination
• Dechlorination fume w/tablet dechlorination
Fact Sheet for Permit Renewal
Jan 2024 - NPDES Permit NCO077615 - Page 1

RENEWAL SUMMARY
This renewal contains the following changes:
• Updated language in the Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet.
• Updated eDMR language for electronic data submission in Part L A. (3).
• The Mooresville Regional Office recommended adding language in Part L A. (1). to emphasize that
ONLY domestic wastewater can be treated at the WWTP.
• MRO is aware that a future sewer line will be constructed to accommodate the waste streams from
both Origin and a large residential development within the next few years and requests notification
of the status of connection with the municipal sewer.
COMPLIANCE HISTORY
Origin Food Group WWTP has had six enforcements on record since the permit was originally issued in
April 2019. The facility was issued enforcements for Total Suspended Solids (TSS) limit violations in 2019,
TSS and BOD limit violations in 2022 and TSS and Fecal Coliform limit violations in 2023. The facility
has been issued 14 proceed to enforcement cases for BOD, Fecal Coliform, and TSS limit violations since
the permit was originally issued in April 2019.
Most recent inspection (November 2022) showed the facility to be in noncompliance. The facility was not
being operated or visited by one of the designated backup ORCs following the resignation of the previous
ORC in September 2022. The subject permit requires that either the designated ORC or backup ORC(s)
must visit the facility five days per week excluding holidays (Permit Condition Reference: Part II, Section
C(1) Certified Operator).
COMMENTS ON DRAFT PERMIT
Wes Bell (Mooresville Regional Office, Env. Specialist II) noted that the WWTP has an aerated
sludge holding tank and not a return holding tank. The facility's industrial wastewater (yogurt
washdown water, etc.) has been pumped over to a CAFO and blended with animal wastewater prior
to land application, allowed under a CAFO permit. MRO recommended that Origin's NPDES
permit emphasize that ONLY domestic wastewater can be treated at the WWTP. Mr. Bell also
noted that there was a previous incident at the WWTP, in which the industrial wastewater was sent
to the WWTP and a resulting NOV was issued and the WWTP was significantly impacted. Mr. Bell
also stated that MRO is aware that a future sewer line will be constructed to accommodate the
waste streams from both Origin and a large residential development within the next few years and
requests notification of the status of connection with the municipal sewer line.
Fact Sheet for Permit Renewal
Jan 2024 - NPDES Permit NCO077615 - Page 2