NC0032719_QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT_20240129 (2)

CHOWAN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
P.O. Box 1030
Edenton, NC 27932
[phone]
[phone] fax
January 29, 2024
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Washington Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington NC 27889
ATT: Mr. Robert Tankard
SUBJECT: County of Chowan Progress Report
Valhalla Water Treatment Plant
NPDES Permit No. NC 0032719
EMC SOC WQ S16-003
Dear Mr. Tankard:
This is to update you on the progress that we have been making as of this date to comply with
the SOC deadlines for the Chowan County RO Water Treatment Plant, specifically our progress
on the RO WTP test wells and pilot plant studies since our quarterly report of October 31 2023.
Included is the anticipated schedule moving forward to ensure compliance with the SOC
deadline of October 1, 2024 for completion and receipt of the RO Pilot Plant Study report.
As previously reported on October 31, 2023, Magette Well & Pump Company, Inc. began work
on July 24, 2023, and as of the date of the report, they had completed the installation of two
wells at the Southern (Ward) site and development of both wells was ongoing. A second
drilling crew was brought in and mobilized to the Western (Leary) site, and to begin drilling the
pilot hole.
There were significant delays with the Southern site as the screens were not received until
September 9, 2023, creating a 4-week delay; and while completing the final drilling of the deep
well at the Southern (Ward) site (Upper Cape Fear aquifer), the contractor's drill rod detached
from the bit on September 18, 2023 and they subsequently had to abandon the lower aquifer
with neat cement and convert the test well to a shallow well (Castle Hayne aquifer). This

construction issue caused an additional 2-week delay in production. The contractor
subsequently drilled the second test well as the deep well (Upper Cape Fear aquifer).
Since October 31, 2023, the following has been completed:
November 3, 2023 — Southern (Ward) site, Upper Cape Fear (UCF) Aquifer; well development
was completed, and a 6-hour pumping test was conducted with a preliminary evaluation
indicating that a future production well at the site could support a withdrawal of 650 to 1000+
gpm using about half of the available drawdown. Water quality samples were also taken at
10:05 am, 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm and sent to Envirochem.
November 8, 2023 — Southern (Ward) site, Castle Hayne (CHA) Aquifer; well development
completed and 6-hour pumping test conducted with a preliminary evaluation indicating that
the well could support a withdrawal of 800 to 1000+ gpm using about half of the available
drawdown. Water quality samples were also taken at 9:20 am, 12:15 pm and 3:00 pm and sent
to Envirochem.
November 8, 2023 — Western (Leary) site, CHA and UCF Aquifers - a bore hole was drilled and
electric logs were completed for both aquifers with the results received by GMA for evaluation.
November 9, 2023 - GMA screen depth zone recommendations received.
November 9, 2023 thru November 16, 2023 — Magette drilling the UCF well in order to set the
well casing and screens.
November 20, 2023 — Magette began installing the well but when installing the tremie pipe, it
became stuck and had pulled apart approximately 40 feet below ground. The contractor then
attempted to recover the tremie pipe by pulling up the well, unfortunately the well casing
separated at a joint.
November 27, 2023 thru December 1, 2023 — Magette was successful in recovering the well and
tremie pipe except for two 21-foot segments of tremie pipe.
December 4, thru December 5, 2023 — Magette was unsuccessful in opening the UCF borehole
to reinstall the well due to a blockage and decided to abandon the UCF portion and convert the
borehole to the shallow CHA well (similar to what occurred at the Southern (Ward) test well
site). Abandonment of the lower portion of the well was completed by December 8, 2023.

December 13, 2023 — Western (Leary) site Shallow well (CHA) well installed and developed.
December 27, 2023 - Results were published by Envirochem for all six Ward test well water
samples.
January 2, 2024 — two crews from Magette were mobilized, one on the Western (Leary) site to
complete the UCF well and the second on the Eastern (Elliott) site.
January 12, 2024 — Magette completed the pilot hole and electric log for the Eastern (Elliott)
site.
January 16, 2024 — Received GMA's recommendations for the screen placement for both the
CHA and UCF wells on the Eastern (Elliott) site.
January 19, 2024 - Rivers & Associates, Inc. received a draft test well report from GMA of the
Ward Site for review and comments.
January 23, 2024 — Magette has completed drilling the Western (Leary) UCF well and
anticipates installing the well and gravel pack and complete development January 23 or 24,
2024. Aquifer testing and chemical samples collected for the Leary Site should be completed by
February 2, 2024.
Work is currently underway with the preparation of plans and specifications for the RO WTP
Pilot study. The Southern (Ward) site has been selected to house the pilot plant as we now
have the draft test well report for the Ward test wells. Once the remaining test wells reports
(Western and Eastern sites) are received, the results will be compiled with the Southern site
report. Receipt of the Western and Eastern site samplings are anticipated by March 11, 2024
and April 1S, 2024 respectively from Envirochem. Final test well reports on each of the three
test wells sites will be finalized by April 26, 2024 to make any necessary adjustments for the
operation of the RO pilot plant.
It is anticipated that the 3-month RO Pilot Plant Study will be underway by May 1, 2024 with a
final report complete by October 1, 2024 in accordance with the SOC milestone schedule.
Sincerely,
/6-'
Kevin 1-1 ward
County Manager