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Home My WebLink AboutNC0088056_NOV2023PC0468_20230905 September 05, 2023 Ed Nunez, Agent Registered Vista Developers, LLC 525 N Main St Hendersonville, NC 28792 SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION Tracking Number: NOV-2023-PC-0468 Permit No. NC0088056 Blacksmith Run WWTP Henderson County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Blacksmith Run WWTP on August 9, 2023. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0088056. A summary of the findings and comments noted during the inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report. The Compliance Evaluation inspection was conducted by Division of Water Resources staff from the Asheville Regional Office. The following violation(s) were noted during the inspection: Inspection Area Description of Violation _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Equalization Basins New pump installed one week prior to inspection. The visual alarm was not working. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Effluent Sampling Timed composite sampling is currently being performed rather than flow proportional sampling. Mr. Barr said the sampler should be set up for flow proportional sampling within three months. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ In addition, the issues below must also be addressed: Compliance Issue(s): Sludge blanket levels were very high. Remedial actions should have already been taken to correct this problem and prevent further occurrences in the future. The Division of Water Resources may pursue enforcement action for this and any additional violations of State law. DocuSign Envelope ID: D15B3275-B1D5-453F-98FE-979554103784 To prevent further action, please respond in writing to this office within 30 days upon your receipt of this Notice of Violation regarding your plans or measures to be taken to address the indicated violations and other identified issues, if applicable. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500. Sincerely, Daniel Boss, Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: Laserfiche, Bob Barr DocuSign Envelope ID: D15B3275-B1D5-453F-98FE-979554103784 EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 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 N 52 NC0088056 23/08/09 C S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Blacksmith Run WWTP Off Chimney Rock Rd Edneyville NC 28727 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:00AM 23/08/09 20/12/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Robert P Barr/ORC/828-251-1900/ Other Facility Data 11:00AM 23/08/09 25/10/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Ed Nunez,525 N Main St Hendersonville NC 28792//828-698-2400/8286988801 Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Self-Monitoring Program Effluent/Receiving Waters 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 Rachel Rose DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ Daniel J Boss DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4658/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page#1 DocuSign Envelope ID: D15B3275-B1D5-453F-98FE-979554103784 2/19/2024 2/19/2024 NPDES yr/mo/day 23/08/09 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) On 8/9/2023, Rachel Rose and I (Daniel Boss) met with Bob Barr (ORC) to conduct a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the Blacksmith Run WWTP. Also present were Jesse Barnes (Specialist Winston-Salem Region), Kevin Fowler (Specialist Raleigh Region), and Michael Hall (Specialist Raleigh Region). The plant seems to be running at a high solids level. There was only about one foot of clear supernatant in the clarifiers. The visual alarm for the equalization basin isn't working. The sampler is currently set up for timed composite sampling. Flow proportional effluent sampling is required by the permit. Mr. Barr said that the sampler should be set up for flow proportional sampling within 90 days. The grating over the equalization basin is rusted and needs to be replaced for safety. NC0088056 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: D15B3275-B1D5-453F-98FE-979554103784 Permit:NC0088056 Inspection Date:08/09/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Blacksmith Run WWTP Compliance Evaluation Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? 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 application? Is the facility as described in the permit? # Are there any special conditions for the permit? Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? Comment: Pump Station - Influent Yes No NA NE Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? Is the wet well free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Is SCADA telemetry available and operational? Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? Comment: Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual b.Mechanical Are the bars adequately screening debris? Is the screen free of excessive debris? Is disposal of screening in compliance? Is the unit in good condition? Comment: Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: D15B3275-B1D5-453F-98FE-979554103784 Permit:NC0088056 Inspection Date:08/09/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Blacksmith Run WWTP Compliance Evaluation Equalization Basins Yes No NA NE Is the basin aerated? Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment? Is the basin free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Are audible and visual alarms operable? # Is basin size/volume adequate? New pump installed one week prior to inspection. The visual alarm was not working.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? Are the diffusers operational? Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin’s surface? Is the DO level acceptable? Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/l) Settleable solids at 30 minutes was 60% in Train 1 and 68% in Train 2. The DO was about 1 mg/L and pH was about 7. Comment: Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier? Are weirs level? Is the site free of weir blockage? Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? Is scum removal adequate? Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? Is the drive unit operational? Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: D15B3275-B1D5-453F-98FE-979554103784 Permit:NC0088056 Inspection Date:08/09/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Blacksmith Run WWTP Compliance Evaluation Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately ¼ of the sidewall depth) Sludge blanket levels Train 1: 10' out of 11' depth and 6' out of 8' depth. Train 2: 10' out of 11' depth, and 7' out of 8' depth. Comment: Disinfection - UV Yes No NA NE Are extra UV bulbs available on site? Are UV bulbs clean? Is UV intensity adequate? Is transmittance at or above designed level? Is there a backup system on site? Is effluent clear and free of solids? There is a redundant UV bank.Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? The meter was calibrated on 8/9/2023.Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # 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 representative)? Timed composite sampling is currently being performed rather than flow proportional sampling. Mr. Barr said the sampler should be set up for flow proportional sampling within three months. Comment: Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: D15B3275-B1D5-453F-98FE-979554103784 Permit:NC0088056 Inspection Date:08/09/2023 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Blacksmith Run WWTP Compliance Evaluation Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? Comment: Standby Power Yes No NA NE Is automatically activated standby power available? Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source? Is the generator tested under load? Was generator tested & operational during the inspection? Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site? Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power? Is the generator fuel level monitored? This a natural gas powered generator. The owner of the facility has contracted with a third party for service of the generator. Comment: Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: D15B3275-B1D5-453F-98FE-979554103784