NC0025453_NOV-2024-PC-0186 Response To Notice_20240313

March 19,2024
Vanessa E. Manuel
Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
3 800 Barrett Dr.
Raleigh NC, 27609
Re: Notice of Violation, Tracking Number: NOV-2024-PC-0186, Permit # N00025453, Sam's
Branch WRF (SWF), Johnston County
Ms. Manuel:
The Town of Clayton offers the following information for the NOV regarding the Unauthorized
Bypass that occurred the evening of 2/25/2024. This bypass is under incident number
202400523. Approximately at 11:30pm on 2/25/2024, the treatment plant suffered a power blip
that overloaded the VFDs for the effluent pump station. The effluent wetwell at this station
contains treated effluent water (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and UV treated) that is pumped to
our discharge outfall at the Neuse River. This overload of the VFDs caused the effluent pumps to
fail which caused the wetwell to overflow. Approximately 28,000 gallons of treated effluent
overflowed the wetwell, and no flow was found to enter any surface waters. The operator on call
was able to reset the VFDs and the bypass incident ended at 12:15am on 2/26/2024. Again, this
is considered a bypass at the plant and not an SSO. The incident was reported to Chris Smith of
the DEQ of NC by David White at 11:30am on 2/26/2024. A WWTP Bypass 5-Day Reporting
Form was then filled out and submitted to DEQ of NC via email at 11:15am on 2/28/2024. Chris
Smith and Michael Hall were copied on the email. In response to this bypass, the Town has
conducted preventive maintenance on the effluent pump VFDs so they would automatically reset
in case of a power blip and would not become overloaded. The Town has also created Standard
Operating Procedures (SOPS) for plant staff to enhance response time and provide improved
communication in the event another incident should occur.
With regards to the NOV received by the Town, we would like to verify that this is indeed
pertaining to the bypass at the treatment plant. In the notice, the first paragraph states that the
report was submitted by Claudia Hager on 3/28/2023 and that the incident pertained to NPDES
Permit NCO026051. We believe this is simply a typo but would like to make sure that it is. There
was also no notation stating the Town would need to respond within 10 business days of
receiving the notice. Again, we believe this is simply a typo but would like to verify just in case.
Please contact me at 919-594-0417 or email at dwfiite{. townofciaytotu-ic.org if you have any
questions.
Sincerely,
David White
Water Reclamation Superintendent
Town of Clayton, NC