WQCS00011_NOV-2024-DV-0083 Response to Notice_20240301

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ROCKY MOUNT
WATER RESOURCES
THE CENTER OF IT ALL
March 1, 2024
Brenton Bent
Director of Water Resources
City of Rocky Mount
331 South Franklin Street
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Michael Hall, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
3800 Barrett Drive,
Raleigh, NC 27609
Subject: Notice of Violation
Tracking No.-NOV 2024-DV-0083
Collection System Permit No. WQCS00011
Dear Mr. Hall,
I received the Notice of Violation from the NCDEQ dated February 13, 2024, as identified by the
subject tracking number regarding the sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) event on 1/10/2024 at
Riverside Drive. The city of Rocky Mount takes these incidents very seriously and continues to
take steps to minimize the potential for such overflows within our sewer collection system.
The sustained rainfall experienced locally beginning on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, resulted
in the City of Rocky Mount experiencing a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) at River Side Drive.
The sanitary sewer system was overloaded because of saturated ground conditions, localized
flooding, and inflow/infiltration. Due to the saturated soil conditions and the 2.0 inches of rain
experienced locally, the sewer collection system was overwhelmed with heavily diluted
wastewater.
The entire roadway was flooded during the overflow, hampering staff Is efforts to remedy the
situation in real-time. However, once the water receded and the overflow ceased, the area was
cleaned of all debris by temporarily barricading the storm drain, washing the roadway, and
vacuuming it.
[phone] 1 331 S Franklin St,, PO Box 1180, Rocky Mount, NC 27802-1180 1 www.rockymountnc.gm

To alleviate these events in the future, the city engaged the services of WithersRavenel
Engineering Consultants to conduct a comprehensive study of the sewer collection system,
including a hydraulic sewer model. It is anticipated that upon completion of this project, the city
will be better equipped to identify areas of vulnerability and thus be able to address the source of
the problem directly. The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024.
Please be assured that the city of Rocky Mount is working with great care and perseverance to
reduce the number of sanitary sewer overflows in the collection system. This effort will remain a
top priority in the near future. As you can see, we are taking the necessary steps to address the
integrity of our whole collection system, and we hope that the Division. of Water Resources will
favorably consider these efforts as you deliberate on any further actions regarding these
incidents.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me
at 252-972-1299 or [e-mail].
Sincerely, ?-eq7'—
Brenton817,
Bent, Director of Water Resources
J252) 972-1325 J 331 S. Franklin St., PO Box 1180, Aocky Mount, NG 27802-1180 1 wwwsockymountnc.p2