NC0021547_NOV2024PC0076_RESP_20240123

TOWN OF FRANKLIN
Daniel Boss, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
2090 Us 70 Hwy
Swannanoa, NC 28778
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Tracking Number: NOV-2024-PC-0076
Incident # 202400057
Unauthorized Bypass — January 9, 2024
Permit No. NCO021547
Macon County
Dear Mr. Boss,
This letter is in response to the Notice of Violation for the Unauthorized Bypass of Secondary Effluent that
occurred on January 9, 2024. Due to extreme rainfall during a 24-hour period, system inflows caused the
manhole between the secondary clarifiers and chlorine chamber to overflow. Approximately 175,000
gallons of partially treated waste water reached the Little Tennessee River.
Following the spill, the area has been cleaned of any debris, the flow area covered with clean dirt and lime
was applied immediately to cover not only the spillage area, but a buffer of 4 feet as well. Testing of the
water was completed both prior to entering the system and downstream as was required by NCDEQ
following the spill. The samples showed that water downstream was better than that upstream and our
NCDEQ contact noted that no additional testing was required. We reported via press release the spill to
the general public. A copy of that release is attached.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to Public Works Director, Bill Deal at
[e-mail] or Jason Hopkins, Wastewater ORC at ihonkinsgfranklinnc.com or by telephone
at 828-524-2516.
Respectfully submitted,
(1Lu • (oluo� nq
Amanda W. Owens
Town Manager
Attachment
C: via email Bill Deal, Public Works Director
Jim Zilbauer, Collections ORC
Lauren Armeni, NCDEQ

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Info Contact:
Arnie Owens, Town Manager
Town of Waynesville — Administrative Services
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
WASTEWATER SPILL AT TREATMENT FACILITY AND CRANE CIRCLE
The Town of Franklin had a discharge of partially treated wastewater on the premises of the
Wastewater Treatment Facility due to excessive flows into the system. The sanitary sewer overflow (SSO)
began on Tuesday, January 9 at 12:30 p.m. during periods of intense precipitation and ended at
approximately 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 10, 2024. The total spill amount is estimated at 350,000
gallons. The discharge ended when the water levels subsided. The flows in the plant were above 3.0 MGD
during this time. All spill areas have been contained and any adversely affected areas cleaned as
necessary. No boil water advisory was or is required as the discharge did not impact any water lines or
drinking water sources. The partially treated water was released into the Little Tennessee River. Water
monitoring samples are being taken upstream and downstream from the plant as is required by the State
following such an event.
A second discharge beginning at 9:45 a.m. on January 9 and ending at 2:45 p.m. the same day
resulted in 14,000 gallons of untreated wastewater being released from three manholes off East Main
Street and Crane Circle. 3,500 gallons of wastewater reached the Little Tennessee River. As with the
other spill, no drinking water source was impacted and the area has been cleaned appropriately.
During the times of overflow, precipitation was measured at 3.58 inches in Franklin. Maintenance
activities and sewer system rehabilitation are continually being performed to identify and correct issues
to prevent any future overflows. The weather event that triggered the overflows was unseasonable and
caused similar incidents throughout Western North Carolina. This notice is required by North Carolina
General Statutes 143-215. For more information contact Jason Hopkins, Wastewater Treatment Plant
ORC at [phone] or Water/Sewer Supervisor Jim Zilbauer at 828-524-2516.
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