NC0002861_Draft Permit_20240307

ROY COOPER . �
Governor 1�
DIONNE DELLI-GATTI ,
Secretary �n'w""O0
S.DANIEL SMITH NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
March 7, 2024
Victor Czar, Public Works Director
City of Sanford
PO Box 3729
Sanford,NC 27330-3729
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NC0002861
Sanford WTP
Grade I Physical Chemical WPCS
Lee County
Dear Permittee:
The Division has reviewed your request to modify the subject permit. Please review this draft carefully
to ensure your thorough understanding of the information, conditions, and requirements it contains.
The draft modified permit includes the following significant changes from the existing permit:
➢ Regulatory citations have been updated.
➢ The Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet has been updated to reference the 30 MGD water
treatment plant expansion.
➢ Limits have been added for Flow in Section A. (1), to become effective upon receipt of Final
Approval from DWR Public Water Supply for the 30 MGD plant expansion.
➢ Section A. (2)has been updated with the correct submission email for WET testing results.
Please note that the practical quantitation limits (PQLs) for Total Copper is 2 gg/L (per the Inorganic
Chemistry Branch of the Division of Water Resources Water Sciences Section) and monitoring data
should be reportable down to these levels.
The NPDES standard conditions (Parts II, III, and IV)that are a part of the permit are not included in
this draft document(cover, map, and Part I). The conditions are the same as in your current permit
except that agency and division names have been updated. The latest version is available
at https://bit.ly/3k5NFaL and can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF file.
With this notification, the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing a
notice in newspapers having circulation in the general Lee County area, per EPA requirements. Please
provide your comments, if any, to me no later than 30 days after receiving this draft permit.
�D .,,- No of Em Quality Wt Re
512rth NorthCarolina SalisburyDepartment Street 11617nviron Mail Serviceental Center ( Raleigh,Division Northofa
Carolina er sources 27699-1617
NOH111 C_H.,NA
Deportment m En.wnnmenW w«M 919.707.9000

Page 2 of 2
NPDES Permit NC0002861
DRAFT Permit Modification
Following the 30-day public comment period, the Division will review all pertinent comments and take
appropriate action prior to issuing a final permit. If you have questions concerning the draft, please
contact me at 919-707-3712, or via e-mail at sydney.deutermangdeq.nc.gov.
Sincerely,
Sydney Deuterman
Environmental Specialist II
NPDES Compliance and Expedited Permitting
cc: NPDES Files-Laserfiche
Raleigh Regional Office-Laserfiche
Wastewater Operator Certification Group
Aquatic Toxicology Branch
Public Water Supply

Permit NC0002861
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
(NPDES)
In compliance with the provisions of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1,other lawful standards and
regulations promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission,and
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act,as amended,the
City of Sanford
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Sanford WTP
7441 Poplar Springs Church Road
Sanford
Lee County
to receiving waters designated as an unnamed tributary to the Cape Fear River in subbasin 03-06-07
of the Cape Fear River Basin in accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and
other conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on July 31, 2026.
Signed this day
John E. Hennessy, Regional Office Section Chief
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 8

Permit NC0002861
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility,whether for operation or discharge are hereby revoked,
and as of this issuance,any previously issued permit bearing this number is no longer effective.Therefore,
the exclusive authority to operate and discharge from this facility arises under the permit conditions,
requirements,terms,and provisions included herein.
The City of Sanford
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate a conventional water treatment plant with discharge from filter backwash
wastewater. The facility currently has a design potable flowrate of 12 MGD with a planned
expansion up to 30 MGD. The current maximum, monthly average wastewater discharge is
approximately 0.778 MGD. This facility is located at the Sanford WTP, 7441 Poplar Springs
Church Road in Sanford in Lee County. Water and wastewater treatment consists of:
• Flash mixer
• Flocculation
• Sedimentation
• Filtration(dual media filters)
• Disinfection
• Sludge gravity thickener
• Belt filter press
• Clarifier
• Plate settler
• Dechlorination
• Chemical usage consists of:
o Aluminum sulfate
o Sodium hydroxide
o Fluoride
o Zinc
o Cationic polymer
o Sodium hypochlorite
o Chloramines
o Sodium thiosulfate
2. After receiving Final Approval from the Division of Water Resources Public Water Supply
Section for the expansion of potable flow to 30 MGD, operate a conventional water treatment
system with discharge of treated wastewater not to exceed a monthly average of 0.80 MGD.
3. Discharge from said treatment works via Outfall 001 at the location specified on the attached
map into an unnamed tributary to the Cape Fear River [Stream Segment: 18-(5.5)], a waterbody
currently classified WS-V in subbasin 03-06-07 [HUC: 030300040101] of the Cape Fear River
Basin.
Page 2 of 8

Permit NC0002861
PART I.
A. (1) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B.0400 et seq., 15A NCAC 02B.0500 et seq.]
Grade I Physical Chemical WPCS [15A NCAC 08G .0306]
Beginning with the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is
authorized to discharge treated wastewater from Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and
monitored' by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Parameter Code Monthly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
Average Maximum Frequency Type Location
Monitor&Report
Flow(MGD) 50050 Continuous Recording Effluent
0.80 MGD 2 1.2 MGD 2
Total Suspended Solids(mg/L) C0530 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L Weekly Grab Effluent
pH 00400 >6.0 s.u. and <9.0 s.u. Weekly Grab Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine 3 50060 17 pg/L Weekly Grab Effluent
Turbidity(NTU) 00070 Monitor&Report 2/Month Grab Effluent
Total Copper(pg/L) 01042 10.25 pg/L 13.99 pg/L Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Aluminum(pg/L) 01105 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Fluoride(pg/L) 00951 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Manganese (pg/L) 01055 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Zinc(pg/L) 01092 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Hardness—Total as 00900 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
[CaCO3 or(Ca+ Mg)]a(mg/L)
Ammonia Nitrogen (mg/L) C0610 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Nitrogen (mg/L) C0600 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Phosphorus(mg/L) C0665 Monitor& Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Whole Effluent Toxicity Monitoring 5 TGP3B Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the NC DWR's eDMR
application system [see Section A. (5)].
2. Effective beginning upon receipt of Final Approval from DWR's Public Water Supply Section for the
expansion of potable flow to 30 MGD.
3. The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 µg/1 to be in compliance with the
permit. However,the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a North
Carolina certified laboratory(including field certified), even if these values fall below 50 µg/l.
4. Effluent hardness sampling should be performed in conjunction with testing for hardness dependent
metals (copper and zinc).
5. Ceriodaphnia dubia 7-day pass/fail test at 90% effluent during the months of March,June,September
and December [see Section A. (2)].
Page 3 of 8

Permit NC0002861
THERE SHALL BE NO DISCHARGE OF FLOATING SOLIDS OR VISIBLE FOAM IN OTHER
THAN TRACE AMOUNTS.
A. (2) CHRONIC TOXICITY PASS/FAIL MONITORING (QUARTERLY)
[15A NCAC 02B .0200] [15A NCAC 02B .0500]
The permittee shall conduct quarterly chronic toxicity tests using test procedures outlined in the
"North Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure," (Revised December 2010, or
subsequent versions).
The effluent concentration defined as treatment two in the procedure document is 90 %. The testing
shall be performed as a Ceriodaphnia dubia 7-day pass/fail test. The tests will be performed during
the months of March,June, September, and December. These months signify the first month of
each three-month toxicity testing quarter assigned to the facility. Effluent sampling for this testing
must be obtained during representative effluent discharge and shall be performed at the NPDES
permitted final effluent discharge below all treatment processes.
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered electronically
using the Division's eDMR system for the month in which it was performed, using the parameter
code TGP3B. Additionally, DWR Form AT-1 (original) is to be sent to the following address:
North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,NC 27699-1621
Or, results can be sent to the email, ATForms.ATB@a,deq.nc.gov.
Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Water Sciences Section no later than
30 days after the end of the reporting period for which the report is made.
Test data shall be complete and accurate and include all supporting chemical/physical
measurements performed in association with the toxicity tests, as well as all dose/response data.
Total residual chlorine of the effluent toxicity sample must be measured and reported if chlorine is
employed for disinfection of the waste stream.
Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which toxicity monitoring
is required, the permittee will complete the information located at the top of the aquatic toxicity
(AT) test form indicating the facility name, permit number, pipe number, county, and the
month/year of the report with the notation of"No Flow" in the comment area of the form. The
report shall be submitted to the Water Sciences Section at the address cited above.
Page 4 of 8

Permit NC0002861
Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required, then
monthly monitoring will begin immediately. Upon submission of a valid test, this monthly test
requirement will revert to quarterly in the months specified above.
Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the North Carolina
Division of Water Resources indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream, this permit may be
re-opened and modified to include alternate monitoring requirements or limits.
NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as minimum
control organism survival, minimum control organism reproduction, and appropriate environmental
controls, shall constitute an invalid test and will require immediate follow-up testing to be
completed no later than the last day of the month following the month of the initial monitoring.
A. (3) PERMIT RE-OPENER: NUTRIENT MONITORING
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
Pursuant to N.C. General Statutes Section 143-215.1 and the implementing rules found in the North
Carolina Administrative Code at 15A NCAC 2H.0112 (b) (1) and 2H.0114 (a) and Part II sections
B-12 and B-13 of this permit, the Director may reopen this permit to require supplemental nutrient
monitoring of the discharge. The purpose of the additional monitoring will be to support water
quality modeling efforts within the Cape Fear River Basin and shall be consistent with a monitoring
plan developed jointly by the Division and affected stakeholders. In addition, the results of water
quality modeling may require that limits for Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus be imposed in
this permit upon renewal.
A. (4) PERMIT RE-OPENER: WHOLE EFFLUENT TOXICITY
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
Whole Effluent Toxicity monitoring results indicating aquatic toxicity may result in the Division re-
opening this permit or requesting by letter that further action be taken. Additional metals testing, a
toxicity identification evaluation, a toxicity reduction evaluation, and/or an assessment of discharge
treatment alternatives may be requested.
A. (5) ELECTRONIC REPORTING - DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS
[G.S. 143-215.1 (b)]
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) and
program reports. The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted and became effective on
December 21, 2015.
NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part II of
this permit(Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits):
Page 5 of 8

Permit NC0002861
• Section B. (11.) Signatory Requirements
• Section D. (2.) Reporting
• Section D. (6.) Records Retention
• Section E. (5.) Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements [Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (a)1
The permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's
Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet application.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month
and submitted electronically using eDMR. The eDMR system allows permitted facilities to
enter monitoring data and submit DMRs electronically using the internet. The eDMR system
may be accessed at: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr.
If a permittee is unable to use the eDMR system due to a demonstrated hardship or due to the
facility being physically located in an area where less than 10 percent of the households have
broadband access, then a temporary waiver from the NPDES electronic reporting requirements
may be granted and discharge monitoring data may be submitted on paper DMR forms (MR 1,
1.1, 2, 3) or alternative forms approved by the Director. Duplicate signed copies shall be
submitted to the following address:
NC DEQ /Division of Water Resources/Water Quality Permitting Section
ATTENTION: Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
See "How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month
and reported via the eDMR system no later than the last calendar day of the month following the
completed reporting period. Regardless of the submission method, the first DMR is due on the
last day of the month following the issuance of the permit or in the case of a new facility, on the
last day of the month following the commencement of discharge.
Starting on December 21, 2025, the permittee must electronically report the following
compliance monitoring data and reports, when applicable:
• Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports;
• Pretreatment Program Annual Reports; and
• Clean Water Act(CWA) Section 316(b) Annual Reports.
The permittee may seek an electronic reporting waiver from the Division (see"How to Request
a Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below).
Page 6 of 8

Permit NC0002861
2. Electronic Submissions
In accordance with 40 CFR 122.41(1)(9), the permittee must identify the initial recipient at the
time of each electronic submission. The permittee should use the EPA's website resources to
identify the initial recipient for the electronic submission.
Initial recipient of electronic NPDES information from NPDES-regulated facilities means the
entity (EPA or the state authorized by EPA to implement the NPDES program) that is the
designated entity for receiving electronic NPDES data [see 40 CFR 127.2(b)].
EPA plans to establish a website that will also link to the appropriate electronic reporting tool
for each type of electronic submission and for each state. Instructions on how to access and use
the appropriate electronic reporting tool will be available as well. Information on EPA's
NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule is found at:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-24954/national-pollutant-
discharge-elimination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule
Electronic submissions must start by the dates listed in the "Reporting Requirements" section
above.
3. How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting
The permittee may seek a temporary electronic reporting waiver from the Division. To obtain
an electronic reporting waiver, a permittee must first submit an electronic reporting waiver
request to the Division. Requests for temporary electronic reporting waivers must be submitted
in writing to the Division for written approval at least sixty (60) days prior to the date the
facility would be required under this permit to begin submitting monitoring data and reports.
The duration of a temporary waiver shall not exceed 5 years and shall thereupon expire. At
such time, monitoring data and reports shall be submitted electronically to the Division unless
the permittee re-applies for and is granted a new temporary electronic reporting waiver by the
Division. Approved electronic reporting waivers are not transferrable. Only permittees with an
approved reporting waiver request may submit monitoring data and reports on paper to the
Division for the period that the approved reporting waiver request is effective.
Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found
on the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.)
1n
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person described in
Part II, Section B. (11.)(a) or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in
Part II, Section B. (11.)(b). A person, and not a position, must be delegated signatory authority
for eDMR reporting purposes.
Page 7 of 8

Permit NC0002861
For eDMR submissions, the person signing and submitting the DMR must obtain an eDMR user
account and login credentials to access the eDMR system. For more information on North
Carolina's eDMR system, registering for eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account, please
visit the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
Certification. Any person submitting an electronic DMR using the state's eDMR system shall
make the following certification [40 CFR 122.22]. NO OTHER STATEMENTS OF
CERTIFICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED:
"I certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my
direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel
properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or
persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the
information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief true, accurate,
and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information,
including the possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations."
5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D. (6.)1
The permittee shall retain records of all Discharge Monitoring Reports, including eDMR
submissions. These records or copies shall be maintained for a period of at least 3 years from
the date of the report. This period may be extended by request of the Director at any time [40
CFR 122.41].
Page 8 of 8

----.......,,,nr\c,--- V' *.\ 0..
A. \
ro
73 o- �_ �\
G
N
\
\ I 41
\
\
218 f r \
\
Existing Intake
N1-6,
\ .
(:)
is,
N 4Z
rRive
r Rd
_,..___________ _
� �
Q-a 263 ft
,r *
Discharge Point
Facility Location
It)
Poplar Springs Church Rd /
274ft
274 ft 0
Bush Creek
Sources:Esri,Airbus DS,USGS,NGA,NASA,CGIAR,N Robinson,NCEAS,
NLS,OS,NMA,Geodatastyrelsen,Rijkswaterstaat,GSA,Geoland,FEMA
Intermap and the GIS user community,Esri Community Maps Contributors,
Chatham County,NC,Lee 6ewp t cSr�tatg of North Carolina DOT,Esri,
TomTom,Garmin,SafeGraph,GeoTechnologies,Inc, METI/NASA,USGS,EPA
NPS,US Census Bureau,USDA,USFWS
Sanford WTP N
NPDES Permit NCOOO2861
Receiving Stream: UT to Cape Fear River Longitude: 79°02' 55" W
Stream Index: 18-(5.5) Latitude: 35° 32' 19"N Facility
River Basin: Cape Fear Sub-Basin: 03-06-07 Location
Stream Class: WS-V HUC: 030300040101 SCALE
1:18,000 Lee County