HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0021181_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20240304ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Jonathan Wilson, Public Works Director
City of Belmont
Post Office Box 431
Belmont, NC 28012
SUBJECT: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
City of Belmont WWTP
NPDES Permit No. NCO021181
Gaston County
Dear Mr. Wilson:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
March 4, 2024
Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Evaluation Inspection (CEI) Report for the inspection conducted at the subject
facility on February 27, 2024, by Mr. Wes Bell of this Office. This Office would like to thank all of the City's wastewater staff
for their cooperation and assistance that was provided throughout this inspection. Please advise the facility's
Operator -in -Responsible Charge (ORC) of our findings by forwarding a copy of the enclosed report.
Should you have any questions concerning this report, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Bell at (704) 235-2192 or at
wes.bell(a,deq.nc. gov.
Enclosure:
Inspection Report
Cc: NPDES Program Files - Laserfiche
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by: v 4*tAw _ _
,,
27DF9ACF858043F...
Brandy Costner
Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Mooresville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Mooresville Regional Office 1 610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301 1 Mooresville. North Carolina 26115
704.663.1699
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Form Approved.
EPA Washington, D.C. 20460
OMB No. 2040-0057
Water Compliance Inspection Report
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 IN 1 2 u 3 I NCO021181 I11 121 24/02/27 I17 18I � I 19 I s I 201 I
211IIIII 111111III II III III1 I I IIIII IIIIIIIII II r6
Inspection
Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ---------------------- Reserved -------------------
67
2.0 701d I 71 I„ I 72 I r., I 71 I 74 79 I I I I I I I80
L—I ty L-1 I I
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
Entry Time/Date
Permit Effective Date
POTW name and NPDES Dermit Number)
09:30AM 24/02/27
19/12/01
Belmont WWTP
298 Parkdale Rd
Exit Time/Date
Permit Expiration Date
Belmont NC 28012
01:45PM 24/02/27
24/06/30
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
Other Facility Data
Tanya S Carter/ORC/704-825-3791/
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Miles Braswell,PO Box 431 Belmont NC 28012/City Manager/704-825-5586/
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit 0 Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports
Self -Monitoring Progran 0 Sludge Handling Dispo: Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Wate
Laboratory
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
Wes Bell Docusigned by: DWR/MRO WQ/704-235-2192/
�� Be& 3/4/2024
A61696D90CC3437...
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
Brandy Costner DWR/MRO WQ/704-235-2185/ Docusignedby: 3/4/2024
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. `27DFMCF858043F..
Page#
NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type
NC0021181 I11 12I 24/02/27 117 18 i c i
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
On -site Representatives:
The following City of Belmont staff were in attendance during the inspection: Mr. Jonathan Wilson,
Ms. Tanya Carter and Mr. Anthony Bain.
Page#
Permit: NCO021181 Owner -Facility: Belmont WWTP
Inspection Date: 02/27/2024 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Permit
Yes
No
NA
NE
(If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new
0
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application?
Is the facility as described in the permit?
0
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# Are there any special conditions for the permit?
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Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public?
0
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Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection?
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Comment: The City implements a Division -approved Industrial Pretreatment Program.
The Division received the City's permit renewal package on 12/6/23.
The last compliance evaluation inspection at this facility was performed by
DWR staff
on 2/28/23.
Record Keeping
Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit?
Is all required information readily available, complete and current?
Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)?
Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs?
Is the chain -of -custody complete?
Dates, times and location of sampling
Name of individual performing the sampling
Results of analysis and calibration
Dates of analysis
Name of person performing analyses
Transported COCs
Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters?
Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ?
(If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified
operator on each shift?
Is the ORC visitation log available and current?
Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification?
Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility
classification?
Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site?
Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review?
Yes No NA NE
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Page# 3
Permit: NCO021181
Inspection Date: 02/27/2024
Owner -Facility: Belmont WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Comment: The records reviewed durinq the inspection were organized and well maintained.
Discharge Monitoring Reports (eDMRs) were reviewed for the period January 2023
through December 2023. Effluent TSS limit violations were reported from May through
July 2023. In addition, effluent fecal coliform violations were reported from January
through July 2023. Upstream and downstream fecal coliform, conductivity, dissolved
oxygen and temperature monitoring violations were reported in September 2023. The
Division has previously addressed these violations through the issuances of either a
NOV or NOV/civil penalty assessment. The units of measurement of the quarterly
metals results will be corrected and the applicable eDMRs will be revised/resubmitted
startina January 2022.
Laboratory
Yes
No
NA
NE
Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory?
0
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Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab?
0
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# Is the facility using a contract lab?
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# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0
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degrees Celsius)?
Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees?
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Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees?
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Comment: Influent and effluent analyses (including field) are performed by Pace Analytical
Services.
Influent Sampling
# Is composite sampling flow proportional?
Is sample collected above side streams?
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 sampling performed according to the permit?
Comment: The subject permit requires influent composite BOD and TSS samples.
Effluent Sampling
Is composite sampling flow proportional?
Is sample collected below all treatment units?
Is proper volume collected?
Is the tubing clean?
Yes No NA NE
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Yes No NA NE
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Page# 4
Permit: NCO021181
Inspection Date: 02/27/2024
Owner -Facility: Belmont WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Effluent Sampling
# 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)?
Comment: The subject permit requires composite and grab effluent samples.
Upstream / Downstream Sampling
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type,
and sampling location)?
Comment:
Operations & Maintenance
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?
Yes No NA NE
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Yes No NA NE
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Yes No NA NE
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Comment: The wastewater treatment facility appeared to be adequately treatinq wastewater at the
time of the inspection. In-depth operation and maintenance records (including process
control measurements) were being performed and documented on -site.
The City contracted a company last year to reduce the solids inventory (via dewatering
and landfill disposal) at the WWTP. Additional dewatering to reduce the solids
inventory will be initiated within the near future.
Bar Screens
Yes
No
NA
NE
Type of bar screen
a.Manual
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b.Mechanical
Are the bars adequately screening debris?
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Is the screen free of excessive debris?
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Is disposal of screening in compliance?
0
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Is the unit in good condition?
0
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Comment:
Grit Removal Yes No NA NE
Type of grit removal
a.Manual ❑
b.Mechanical
Is the grit free of excessive organic matter? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Page# 5
Permit: NCO021181
Inspection Date: 02/27/2024
Grit Removal
Is the grit free of excessive odor?
# Is disposal of grit in compliance?
Owner -Facility: Belmont WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Comment: Screenings and grit are disposed at a permitted landfill.
Chemical Feed
Is containment adequate?
Is storage adequate?
Are backup pumps available?
Is the site free of excessive leaking?
Yes No NA NE
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Yes No NA NE
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Comment: Sodium hydroxide is added (via gravity) into the influent waste stream prior to the
aeration basin. The sodium hvdroxide tank is double -walled.
Aeration Basins
Mode of operation
Type of aeration system
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/1)
Yes No NA NE
Ext. Air
Surface
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Comment: The City contracted a company in June 2023 to reduce the solids inventory in the
aeration basin. The contracted company used a belt press to dewater solids for
disposal at the CMS landfill. The City has re -hired the contracted company to reduce
the solids inventory due to limited storage capacity. The 30-minute settleabilty test
performed during the inspection revealed a high solids inventory (960 ml/L).
Secondary Clarifier
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?
Yes No NA NE
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Page# 6
Permit: NCO021181 Owner -Facility: Belmont WWTP
Inspection Date: 02/27/2024 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Secondary Clarifier
Yes
No
NA
NE
Is the site free of excessive floating sludge?
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Is the drive unit operational?
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Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)?
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Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc?
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Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately'/4 of the sidewall depth)
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Comment: Both secondaries were operational and in service. The unlevel weirs did not create
short-circuiting conditions. The sludge blanket levels in the secondaries were
measured at seven and four feet.
Pumps-RAS-WAS
Yes
No
NA
NE
Are pumps in place?
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Are pumps operational?
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Are there adequate spare parts and supplies on site?
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Comment:
Disinfection -Gas
Are cylinders secured adequately?
Are cylinders protected from direct sunlight?
Is there adequate reserve supply of disinfectant?
Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable?
Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup?
Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination?
Does the Stationary Source have more than 2500 Ibs of Chlorine (CAS No.
7782-50-5)?
If yes, then is there a Risk Management Plan on site?
If yes, then what is the EPA twelve digit ID Number? (1000- - )
If yes, then when was the RMP last updated?
Yes No NA NE
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Comment: The accumulated sludqe levels in the chlorine contact chamber were measured
between 3.5 ft. to 4 ft. The level of settleable solids should be kept
at less than one
foot.
De -chlorination
Yes
No
NA NE
Type of system ?
Gas
Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)?
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Is storage appropriate for cylinders?
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Page# 7
Permit: NCO021181 Owner -Facility: Belmont WWTP
Inspection Date: 02/27/2024 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
De -chlorination Yes No NA NE
# Is de -chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment:
Are the tablets the proper size and type? ❑ ❑ ❑
Are tablet de -chlorinators operational? ❑ ❑ ❑
Number of tubes in use?
Comment:
Flow Measurement - Effluent
Yes
No
NA
NE
# Is flow meter used for reporting?
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Is flow meter calibrated annually?
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Is the flow meter operational?
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(If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter?
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Comment: The flow meter is calibrated quarterly and was last calibrated on 1/1/24 by
Experienced
Water Solutions, Inc.
Effluent Pipe
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?
Yes No NA NE
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Comment: The effluent appeared clear with trace suspended solids and no foam. The effluent is
discharged into the receiving stream via submerged outfall.
Aerobic Digester
Yes
No
NA
NE
Is the capacity adequate?
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Is the mixing adequate?
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Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank?
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# Is the odor acceptable?
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# Is tankage available for properly waste sludge?
0
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Comment: Both aerobic digesters were operational and in service. Bio-solids are land applied by
a contract company under land application permit No. WQ0003281. Dewatered sludge
from the aeration basin is disposed at a permitted landfill.
Standby Power
Is automatically activated standby power available?
Yes No NA NE
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Page# 8
Permit: NC0021181
Inspection Date: 02/27/2024
Owner -Facility: Belmont WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Standby Power
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?
Yes
No
NA
NE
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Comment: The backup generator can power the entire plant with the exception of the blowers in
the aerobic digesters and three surface aerators in the aeration basin. The generator
is tested (automatically) under load weekly and serviced annually by City staff. The
City also participates in a Load Management program.
Page# 9