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Home My WebLink AboutNC0023981_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20220208DocuSign Envelope ID: 9597C6C5-1850-4E3D-B3FA-1339ADD9989B ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER �. • , ,I Secretary S. DANIEL SMITH NORTH CAROUNA Director Environmental Qualify SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED. February 9, 2022 Elisa R. Triplett, Wastewater Superintendent City of Lenoir Lower Creek WWTP E-mail: I rtriplett@CI. LENOIR. NC. US SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report Lower Creek WWTP NPDES WW Permit No. NCO023981 Caldwell County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Lower Creek WWTP on 2/08/2022. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0023981. The findings and comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report entitled "Compliance Inspection Report". There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this inspection report is not required. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500 or via email at tim.heim@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, E DocuSigned by: Tim ffe"A"V , Environmental Engineer Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS Ec: LF, Radford Thomas — City of Lenoir y,"Mm'xFn.I'D �� Norlh Carolina oepar[merrtaf Environmental Qualrcy l owus ,rw—Rew—, Asheville Regional Office 1209005, Highway 7C 15wannan- Noah Carolha 2877E 828.296 Me DocuSign Envelope ID: 9597C6C5-1850-4E3D-B3FA-1339ADD9989B United States Environmental Protection Agency Form Approved. EPA Washington, D.C. 20460 OMB No. 2040-0057 Water Compliance Inspection Report 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 IN 1 2 u 3 I NCO023981 111 121 22/02/08 I17 18 LC] I 19 I s I 201 21111I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I r6 Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ---------------------- Reserved ------------------- 67 I 72 I n, I 71 I 74 79 I I I I I I I80 701 I 71 I LL -1 I I LJ Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date POTW name and NPDES permit Number) 09:30AM 22/02/08 21/08/01 Lower Creek WWTP 1905 Broadland Rd Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date Lenoir NC 28645 12:OOPM 22/02/08 26/02/28 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data Donnie Robert Hawkins/ORC/828-757-2198/ Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Elisa Robbins Triplett,PO Box 958 Lenoir NC 286450958H828-757-4462/ No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit 0 Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports Self -Monitoring Progran 0 Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Wate Other 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 2/9/2022 Timothy H Heim -rim A9 Rum DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4665/ Mikal Willmer 0828"°s"" 'a DWR/Division of Water Qua lity/828-296-4686/ e by CM wwu 2/9/2022 Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date -- ; 2/9/2022 C EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page# DocuSign Envelope ID: 9597C6C5-1850-4E3D-B3FA-1339ADD9989B NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type (Cont.) NCO023981 I11 12I 22/02/08 117 18 i c i Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Tim Heim and Mikal Willmer of the Asheville Regional Office performed a Compliance Inspection of the Facility on February 8, 2022. Lisa Triplett and Donnie Hawkins (City of Lenoir) were present and assisted with the inspection. The facility appeared well maintained and operated at the time of the inspection, and in compliance with Permit NC0023981. A significant number of upgrades and improvement have been made to the facility since the last inspection, including: Installation of new influent and effluent flow proportional samplers. Conversion to the use of liquid hypochlorite for disinfection. Installation of a new sludge storage tank with submersible mixers. Repair of diffusers in the north aeration basin (full replacement is planned in the future). Installation of new mixers in the anoxic zone of the aeration basin. Installation of a new SCADA system. Installation of a new solids handling process, including a gas powered sludge drying system (Currently in commissioning phase) The following additional items were noted at the time of the inspection: During high influent flow events, some solids and debris overtop the gate valve and enter the plant via the mechanical bar screen influent channel. Consider installation of a second mechanical bar screen in this influent channel. The facility does not have a permanent backup to the single sludge return pump. Consider installing a second sludge return pump. Page# DocuSign Envelope ID: 9597C6C5-1850-4E3D-B3FA-1339ADD9989B Permit: NCO023981 Owner -Facility: Lower Creek WWTP Inspection Date: 02/08/2022 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Other Yes No NA NE Comment: The facility appeared well maintained and operated at the time of the inspection, and in compliance with Permit NC0023981. Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable ❑ ❑ ❑ Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Comment: Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ application? Is the facility as described in the permit? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Are there any special conditions for the permit? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Compliance schedule for metals. Pump Station - Influent Yes No NA NE Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the wet well free of excessive grease? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all pumps present? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all pumps operable? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are float controls operable? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is SCADA telemetry available and operational? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? M ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Grit Removal Yes No NA NE Type of grit removal a.Manual ❑ b.Mechanical Is the grit free of excessive organic matter? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the grit free of excessive odor? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 9597C6C5-1850-4E3D-B3FA-1339ADD9989B Permit: NCO023981 Owner -Facility: Lower Creek WWTP Inspection Date: 02/08/2022 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Grit Removal Yes No NA NE # Is disposal of grit in compliance? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ 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? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are the diffusers operational? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin's surface? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the DO level acceptable? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/1) ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are weirs level? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of weir blockage? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is scum removal adequate? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the drive unit operational? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately'/4 of the sidewall depth) 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Influent Sampling Yes No NA NE # Is composite sampling flow proportional? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is sample collected above side streams? ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ Is proper volume collected? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 9597C6C5-1850-4E3D-B3FA-1339ADD9989B Permit: NCO023981 Owner -Facility: Lower Creek WWTP Inspection Date: 02/08/2022 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Influent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is the tubing clean? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ degrees Celsius)? Is sampling performed according to the permit? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is sample collected below all treatment units? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is proper volume collected? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the tubing clean? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # 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 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ representative)? Comment: Disinfection -Liquid Yes No NA NE Is there adequate reserve supply of disinfectant? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ (Sodium Hypochlorite) Is pump feed system operational? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is bulk storage tank containment area adequate? (free of leaks/open drains) 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination? ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Page# 5