NCG551645_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20240322

ROY COOPER
Covernnr
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Direr for
Tavi C. Hawn
629 Donlee Drive
Durham, NC 27712
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
March 22, 2024
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Single Family Wastewater Treatment System
General NPDES Permit NCG550000
Certificate of Coverage NCG551645
Facility: 629 Donlee Drive
Durham County
Dear Tavi C. Hawn:
On March 15, 2024, Jane Bernard from the Raleigh Regional Office visited your single-family
residence (SFR) wastewater treatment system to evaluate compliance with the subject General
NPDES Permit. Your assistance during the inspection was greatly appreciated. No one was at
home at the time of the inspection. The house appears empty and for sale. Please provide this
office with a telephone number that can be used to contact you regarding the inspection site
visit, our previous messages went unanswered.
Our records indicate the treatment system consists of a septic tank, sub -surface sand filter, tablet
chlorinator with chlorine contact chamber, discharge pipe and a rip -rap apron for post aeration.
General NPDES Permit NCG550000 and Certificate of Coverage (COC) NCG551645 authorize
the discharge of domestic wastewater from your treatment system to receiving waters designated
as Little River (classified WS-II; HQW; NSW; CA) in the Neuse River Basin. The authorized
discharge is in accordance with the effluent limits and monitoring requirements established
within the General Permit. The items below show what conditions were noted at your facility:
Findings during the inspection were as follows:
1. 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,
Q5
5
North Carolina Department of 1-mvirontnenml Quality I Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office 1 3800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
919.791.4200

The General NPDES Permit requires the permittee to retain records associated
with sewage disposal activities for a period of at least 5 years.
2. 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 discharged 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. Part 1, Section D (1) of General NPDES Permit
NCG550000 requires the permittee to inspect the tablet chlorinator weekly to
ensure there is an adequate supply of tablets for continuous and proper operation.
Section D (4) requires the permittee to maintain all system components,
including... disinfection units ... at all times and in good operating order. The
inspector did not observe any chlorine tablets in the chlorinator. Please ensure
the correct type of tablets are used and maintained in the chlorinator as
required by the General NPDES Permit. In addition, the chlorinator appears to
be corrugated black pipe in the ground and holding water/effluent indicating a
plugged discharge pipe%utfall. The corrugated black pipe is cracked and
broken without caps or covers Please have an appropriate chlorinator installed
as well as verify or install a chlorine contact chamber adjacent to but not part of
the chlorinator.
3. Dechlorination: Your system was installed after August 1, 2007, so must have a
means of dechlorination located downstream of the chlorinator and its contact
chamber. See Disinfection paragraph above. Please submit a schedule to this
office within 20 calendar days of receipt of this letter stating your plan for
correcting this deficiency. The inspection completed in 2019 indicates the
dechlorinator had been previously installed.
4. Analyzing the effluent: Part 1. C., Effluent Limitations and Monitoring
Requirements, within General Permit NCG550000 requires a permittee to sample
and analyze the effluent leaving his/her treatment system prior to discharge
annually. Parameters to be sampled and analyzed include Flow, BOD
(Biochemical Oxygen Demand), Total Suspended Solids, Fecal Coliform, Total
Residual Chlorine, Total Nitrogen, Ammonia Nitrogen and Total Phosphorous.
Please collect a representative sample of the effluent it analyzed by a
certified commercial laboratory and submit the results to this office no later
than June 30, 2024. In the last inspection letter dated September 13, 2019, the
previous permittee was requested to sample the effluent and to submit the
analytical results to this office. The results of the 2019 sampling event had
exceedances for Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Carbonaceous Biochemical
Oxygen Demand (CBOD) was analyzed instead of BOD. Failure to monitor the
effluent discharge annually as required by permit is a violation of NPDES
General Permit NCG550000.
5. Locations of treatment units are unknown: Within 30-days of receiving this
letter, provide this office with a picture of the discharge pipe (cleared of all
leaves and debris) and a map of the location of the treatment units (septic
tank, sand filter and outfalUdischarge point) in relation to the permitted
residence.
North Carolina Department off m ironmenla. Quality I DiVislOn of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Semce Cenler I Raleigh. North Carolina 27699 1611
tn�,D—EQ "� 919.707.9000

6. Discharge outlet location. The permittee is required to conduct a visual review
of the outfall location at least twice each year (one at the time of sampling) to
ensure that no visible solids or other obvious evidence of system malfunctioning
is observed. Any visible signs of a malfunctioning system shall be documented,
and steps taken to correct the problem. The end of discharge pipe was not visible
nor accessible the day of the inspection. To comply with the general permit
monitoring requirements, you need to be able to sample and analyze the
effluent from your SFR system through the discharge pipe/outfall. You need
to keep the area around the discharge pipe cleared of vegetation, soil, and
leaves. Please take the necessary steps to ensure the discharge outlet is
visible and accessible and submit pictures within 30 days of this letter.
Maintaining the area will allow you to monitor the discharge and to collect
effluent samples as required by the subject permit.
Part I1 Section B.14 of General Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to "pay the annual
administering and compliance monitoring fee within thirty days after being billed by the
Division."
The wastewater treatment system should be periodically inspected to ensure the treatment
components are always maintained and in good operating order. You are also reminded to
maintain all monitoring data and associated maintenance records onsite for a minimum of
three years and available for inspection.
Within 30-days receipt of this letter, please submit a written response to this office indicating
the actions you will take or have taken to comply with or resolve the issues noted items #I, #2,
#3, #4, #5, and #6 above.
If you have questions or comments about this inspection or the requirements to take corrective
action (if applicable), then please contact Jane Bernard at 919-791-4233.
Sincerely,
Vanessa E. Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Division of Water Resources -Raleigh Regional Office
Department of Environmental Quality
Attachment(s): EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report
Cc: Laserfiche
North Carolina Dcpartmcni of Environmental Quality I Division of water Resources
�ma ��QD_!:512 North Salisbury Streei 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh. North Carolina 27699-1611
919 ?07 9000
M>.Rrmi MriwTrn.n n�.

United States Environmental Protection Agency
Form Approved.
EPA Washington, D.0 20460
OMB No. 2040-0057
Water Compliance Inspection Report
Approval expires8-31-98
Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS)
Transaction Code NPDES yrlmolday Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type
1 1ti l 2 15 I 3 I NCG551645 I11 121 24/03/15 I17 18L 191 S I 20LJ
211_1 LI _ 1 11 l (_11 1 1 -H I .I I I I I l l l l l l I I I I I I I I r6
..l_I
Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ------ —------ Reserved-------------------
67 701 1 711 I 72 I ev I 73�74 71 I I I I 1 I I80
LJ l_J I I
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
Entry TimelDate
Permit Effective Date
POTW name and NPDES permit Number)
01:40PM 24/03/15
21/08/20
629 Donlee Drive
Exit Time/Date
Permit Expiration Date
629 Donlee Dr
Eno Valley NC 27712
02:10PM 24/03/15
25/10/31
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)mtles(s)1Phone and Fax Number(s)
Other Facility Data
X
Name, Address of Responsible OfficiaiMtle/Phone and Fax Number
Tavi C Hamm,4130 Garrett Rd #1023 Durham NC 2770711443-415-2593/ Contacted
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Other
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:
Jane Bernard DMNon Discharge Compliance Unit/919-791A2001
Signature of Management Q A Re 'ewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
n�
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
Page#

NPDES yrlmolday Inspection Type (Cont.) 1
NCG551645 111 12i 24/03/15 117 18 I r- I
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
1. 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 receiptlinvoice to this office showing the date the septic tank was last checked and/or
pumped out. The General NPDES Permit requires the permittee to retain records associated with
sewage disposal activities for a period of at least 5 years.
2. 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 discharged 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. Part 1, Section D (1) of General NPDES Permit
NCG550000 requires the permittee to inspect the tablet chlorinator weekly to ensure there is an
adequate supply of tablets for continuous and proper operation. Section D (4) requires the permittee
to maintain all system components, including... disinfection units —at all times and in good operating
order. The inspector did not observe any chlorine tablets in the chlorinator. Please ensure the
correct type of tablets are used and maintained in the chlorinator as required by the General NPDES
Permit. In addition, the chlorinator appears to be corrugated black pipe in the ground and holding
water/effluent indicating a plugged discharge pipe/outfall. The corrugated black pipe is cracked and
broken without caps or covers. Please have an appropriate chlorinator installed as well as verify or
install a chlorine contact chamber adjacent to but not part of the chlorinator.
3. Dechlorination: Your system was installed after August 1, 2007, so must have a means of
dechlorination located downstream of the chlorinator and its contact chamber. See Disinfection
paragraph above. Please submit a schedule to this office within 20 calendar days of receipt of this
letter stating your plan for correcting this deficiency. The inspection completed in 2019 indicates the
dechlorinator had been previously installed.
4. Analyzing the effluent: Part 1. C., Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements, within
General Permit NCG550000 requires a permittee to sample and analyze the effluent leaving his/her
treatment system prior to discharge annually. Parameters to be sampled and analyzed include Flow,
BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), Total Suspended Solids, Fecal Coliform, Total Residual
Chlorine, Total Nitrogen, Ammonia Nitrogen and Total Phosphorous. Please collect a representative
sample of the effluent, have it analyzed by a certified commercial laboratory and submit the results to
this office no later than June 30, 2024. In the last inspection letter dated September 13, 2019, the
previous permittee was requested to sample the effluent and to submit the analytical results to this
office. The results of the 2019 sampling event had exceedances for Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
and Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD) was analyzed instead of BOD. Failure to
monitor the effluent discharge annually as required by permit is a violation of NPDES General Permit
NCG550000.
5. Locations of treatment units are unknown: Within 30-days of receiving this letter, provide this
office with a picture of the discharge pipe (cleared of all leaves and debris) and a map of the location
of the treatment units (septic tank, sand filter and outfall/discharge point) in relation to the permitted
residence.
6. Discharge outlet location. The permittee is required to conduct a visual review of the outfall
location at least twice each year (one at the time of sampling) to ensure that no visible solids or other
obvious evidence of system malfunctioning is observed. Any visible signs of a malfunctioning system
shall be documented, and steps taken to correct the problem. The end of discharge pipe was not
visible nor accessible the day of the inspection. To comply with the general permit monitoring
requirements, you need to be able to sample and analyze the effluent from your SFR system through
the discharge pipe/outfall. You need to keep the area around the discharge pipe cleared of
vegetation, soil, and leaves. Please take the necessary steps to ensure the discharge outlet is
visible and accessible and submit pictures within 30 days of this letter. Maintaining the area will allow
you to monitor the discharge and to collect effluent samples as required by the subject permit.
Page# 2

Permit: NCG551645
Inspection Date: 03/15/2024
Other
Comment:
Owner - Facility: 629 Donlee Drive
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Yes No NA NE
Page#