WQ0014319_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20240202

Compliance Inspection Report
Permit:WQ0014319 Effective:12/01/18 Expiration:11/30/23 Owner :Wayne T Barbee
SOC:
Contact Person:
Region:
County:
Directions to Facility:
Person
Raleigh
Wayne T Barbee
Effective:Expiration:Facility:164 Barbees Ln. SFR
164 Barbees Ln
Timberlake NC 27583
Title:Phone:
Take 15/501 North from Durham into person county. Turn right on Ashley Ave. At stop sign turn right on Helena Moriah Road. Third
road on left is Dink Ashley, turn left. Veer right on flatwoods. Third road on right is Barbee. system at end of road.
Secondary ORC(s):
Phone:Certification:Primary ORC:
System Classifications:
On-Site Representative(s):
Related Permits:
Secondary Inspector(s):
Primary Inspector:
Inspection Date:Exit Time:Entry Time:
Phone:
02/01/2024 11:00AM 12:00PM
Chris Smith 919-791-4200
Facility Status:
Permit Inspection Type:
Reason for Inspection:Inspection Type:
Not CompliantCompliant
Routine
Single-Family Residence Wastewater Irrigation
Compliance Evaluation
Question Areas:
Miscellaneous Questions Permit Status Septic Tank
Sand Filter/Treatment Pods Disinfection Tablets Pump Tank
Drip or Irrigation General
(See attachment summary)
Page 1 of 5
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0014319
02/01/2024 Compliance Evaluation
Wayne T Barbee
Routine
Inspection Summary:
On February 1, 2024 Staff from the Raleigh Regional Office visited your single-family residence (SFR) wastewater treatment
system to evaluate compliance with the subject Non-Discharge Permit. Multiple attempts to contact you by phone and by
mail prior to the inspection were made without success. No one was home at the time of the inspection.
Non-Discharge Permit WQ0014319 was issued December 1, 2018 and expired on November 30, 2023.
A renewal application was received December 20, 2023.
Our records indicate the treatment system consists of a 1,000 gallon baffled septic tank, a 360 square foot (ft2) subsurface
sand filter, a tablet chlorinator, a 2,400 gallon storage/pump tank with an irrigation pump, and audible/visual high-water
alarms, a 0.23 acre spray irrigation area with three full-circle 65-foot diameter spray heads, and all associated piping, valves,
controls, and appurtenances.
Non-Discharge Permit WQ0014319 authorizes the operation up to 360 gallons per day (GPD). The authorized irrigation is in
accordance with the effluent limits and monitoring requirements established within the Non-Discharge Permit. The items
below show what conditions were noted at your facility:
Findings during the inspection were as follows:
1.Treatment system operation: The wastewater treatment system shall be effectively maintained and operated at all times
so there is no discharge to surface waters, nor any contravention of groundwater or surface water standards. At the time of
this inspection the facility appeared to need extensive repairs.
2.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. Within 30-days of receiving this letter, please
send a copy of the most recent receipt/invoice to this office showing the date the septic tank was last checked and/or
pumped out.
3.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 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. During the inspection the sleeve tubes in both chlorinator tubes
were stuck and could not be removed for inspection. No obvious odor of chlorine was observed. Please take action to return
the chlorinator to a condition that allows for the required, regular inspection of the status of the chlorinator and chlorine
tablets. Additionally, please ensure that the correct disinfection tablets are used in the chlorinator.
4.Proper Operation and Maintenance: The system shall be inspected monthly to make certain of the proper operation of
the sprinklers, that the system is free of leaks, that the vegetative growth allows a proper spray pattern, that the soil is
assimilating the disposed treated wastewater with no surface runoff, and that no objectionable odors are being generated.
Any visible signs of a malfunctioning system shall be documented, and steps taken to correct the problem. On the day of
the inspection, the pump in the pump tank was operational. No visual or audible alarm was present outside the home, so
these components could not be evaluated for operational condition.
Permit condition III. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS 1. states “The facilities shall be properly
maintained and operated at all times. The facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated as a non-discharge system
to prevent the discharge of any wastewater resulting from the operation of this facility. The Permittee shall maintain an
Operation and Maintenance Plan pursuant to [15A NCAC 02T .0604(f)].”
Permit condition III. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS 4. States “Adequate measures shall be taken to
prevent effluent ponding in or runoff from the irrigation sites listed in Condition II. 4. [15A NCAC 02T .0605(o)].”
The three (3) spray risers did not have spray heads installed. Almost all the effluent was flowing from the top of one (1) spray
riser and was being applied to a small area approximately two (2) feet in diameter at the base of the riser. The effluent was
ponding around the base of the riser and surface run-off was observed leaving the designated spray field in a concentrated
Page 2 of 5
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0014319
02/01/2024 Compliance Evaluation
Wayne T Barbee
Routine
overland flow where it entered a roadside ditch and continued moving down grade off the property. It could not be determined
if the effluent was reaching, or has reached, a stream located approximately 500 feet from the spray field in the direction of
flow. All three (3) spray risers have gate valves installed. It is not known whether the two (2) risers that were not emitting
effluent were not doing so because the valves were closed or because of unobserved damage to the system.
Permit condition III. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS 8. states “Public access to the irrigation sites and
wastewater treatment facilities shall be prohibited. Fencing shall be provided to prevent access to the irrigation site
(minimum 2-strand wire) and treatment units shall be secured with locks on all tank accesses and control panels. [ 15A
NCAC 02T .0605(i)].”
The minimum 2-strand wire fence surrounding the spray field was predominantly missing.
5.Monitoring and Reporting Requirements: Permit condition IV. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 2.
Noncompliance Notification states “The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Raleigh Regional Office, telephone
number [phone], as soon as possible, but in no case more than 24 hours, or on the next working day following the
occurrence or first knowledge of the occurrence of any of the following:
a. Any process unit failure (e.g., mechanical, electrical, etc.), due to known or unknown reasons, rendering the facility
incapable of adequate wastewater treatment.
d. Ponding in or runoff from the irrigation sites. [15A NCAC 02T .0105(l)]”
No notification has been received by this office regarding the damage to the permitted system and resulting ponding and
runoff from the irrigation site.
6.Inspections: Permit condition V. INSPECTION states 1. “The Permittee shall provide adequate inspection and
maintenance to ensure proper operation of the wastewater treatment and irrigation facilities. [ 15A NCAC 02T .0108(b)]” and
2. “The Permittee or their designee shall inspect the wastewater treatment and irrigation facilities to prevent malfunctions,
facility deterioration and operator errors resulting in discharges, which may cause the release of wastes to the environment,
a threat to human health or a public nuisance... [15A NCAC 02T .0108(b)]”
Based upon conditions observed during the inspection the permit conditions regarding system inspections have not been
met.
Non-Discharge permit WQ0014319 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 January 31, 2025 and due February 3, 2024 has been paid. There are no overdue fees for the subject
Non-Discharge permit.
Page 3 of 5
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0014319
02/01/2024 Compliance Evaluation
Wayne T Barbee
Routine
Permit Status Yes No NA NE
# Is the current resident in the home the Permittee?
# If not, does the resident rent from the Permittee?
Change of Ownership form needed? (Mail the form with the inspection letter)
# Is there an inspection and maintenance agreement with a contractor?
If YES, who is the contractor (include contact info)?
Comment:
Septic Tank Yes No NA NE
*** The septic tank and filters should be checked annually and pumped/cleaned as needed. ***
Is all wastewater from the home connected to the septic tank?
# Does the permittee/resident know where the septic tank is located?
Has the septic tank been pumped in the last 5 years?
If YES, describe if known and proof (include date pumped):
# Does the septic tank have an EFFLUENT FILTER or SANITARY T?
If FILTER, when was the filter cleaned and by who?
No contact with permittee as of 02/02/2024.Comment:
Sand Filter/Treatment Pods Yes No NA NE
*** Accessible sand filter surfaces shall be raked/leveled every 6 months and vegetative growth shall be
removed manually. ***
# Is system something other than a sand filter?
# If YES, what kind? (examples - Peat, Textile or brand name - Advantex, etc.)
# Does the permittee know where the sandfilter is located?
Does the sandfilter require maintenance?
If maintenace is required, explain:
No ponding or excessive wetness observed in sandfilter location.Comment:
Disinfection Tablets Yes No NA NE
*** Tablet chlorinator unit shall be checked weekly to ensure continuous and proper operation. ***
Does the permittee have the correct chlorine tablets? (If none, mark No)
# Does the Permittee know the location of the chlorinator?
Were chlorine tablets observed in the chlorinator?
Are tablets contacting water? (If possible, poke them to determine.)
Sleeve tubes in chlorinator could not be removed to determine whether tablets were present.
No noticeable odor of chlorine was observed.
Comment:
Pump Tank Yes No NA NE
*** All pump and alarm sytems shall be inspected monthly. (Non-Discharge) ***
Page 4 of 5
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0014319
02/01/2024 Compliance Evaluation
Wayne T Barbee
Routine
Is the pump working?
Is the audible and visual high water alarm operational?
# Does the permittee know how to check the pump & high water alarm?
# Last functional test:unknown
No audible or visual alarms present outside the home.Comment:
Drip or Irrigation Yes No NA NE
*** Irrigation sysetm shall be inspected monthly to ensure system is free of leaks and equipment is operating
as designed. ***
# Type of system (DRIP or IRRIGATION):IRRIGATION
# If IRRIGATION, number of sprinkler heads:3
Are buffers and setbacks adequate?
Is the site free of ponding and runoff?
Does the application equipment appear to be working properly?
Is there a minimum two wire fence surrounding the entire irrigation area?
See summary.
Fencing mostly absent.
No spray heads installed on any of the 3 risers.
Ponding and runoff from the irrigation site and the permittees' property observed during the
inspection.
Only 1 riser was emitting (geysering) effluent during the inspection. Whether due to closed
valves or unobserved system damage is not known.
Comment:
General Yes No NA NE
# Are the treatment units locked and/or secured?
# Has resident had any sewage problems?
If YES, explain:
Does the system match the permit description?
If NO, explain:
Is the system compliant?
Is the system failing? (If yes, take pictures if possible)
If system is failing, describe any exposures to people/animals or environmental risks.
Significant ponding and overland flow of potentially improperly disinfected effluent on the unfenced spray
application site presents a possible exposure risk to people and animals.
Runoff of potentially improperly disinfected effluent from the spray field and the permittees' property presents
a possible exposure risk to people and animals.
Significant ponding and overland flow of potentially improperly disinfected effluent on the
unfenced spray application site.
Runoff of potentially improperly disinfected effluent from the spray field and the permittees'
property.
Comment:
Page 5 of 5