WQ0004563_BIMS Report_20240327

Compliance Inspection Report
Permit: WQ0004563 Effective: 02/01/20 Expiration: 12/31/24 Owner: City of Hickory
SOC: Effective: Expiration: Facility: City of Hickory DCAR
County: Catawba 3200 20th Ave SE
Region: Mooresville
Newton NC 28658
Contact Person: Phillip Reynolds Title: Phone: [phone]
Directions to Facility:
System Classifications:
Primary ORC: Certification: Phone:
Secondary ORC(s):
On -Site Representative(s):
Related Permits:
NC0024279
City of Conover - Southeast WWTP
NC0081370
City of Claremont - McLin Creek WWTP
NC0032662
City of Claremont - North WWTP
NC0040797
City of Hickory - Henry Fork WWTP
NC0020401
City of Hickory - Northeast WWTP
NC0024252
City of Conover - Northeast WWTP
NC0039594
Town of Maiden - Maiden WWTP
NC0036196
City of Newton - Clark Creek WWTP
NC0025542
City of Hickory - Catawba WWTP
Inspection Date: 03/27/2024 Entry Time 07:30AM
Primary Inspector: Edward
Watson
Secondary Inspector(s):
Exit Time: 03:30PM
Phone:
Reason for Inspection: Routine Inspection Type: Annual Report Review
Permit Inspection Type: Distribution of Residual Solids (503)
Facility Status: Compliant ❑ Not Compliant
Question Areas:
Miscellaneous Questions Record Keeping Treatment
Sampling Pathogen and Vector Attraction Storage
Transport
(See attachment summary)
Page 1 of 5

Permit: WQ0004563 Owner - Facility: City of Hickory
Inspection Date: 03/27/2024 Inspection Type: Annual Report Review Reason for Visit: Routine
Inspection Summary:
Biosolids received from the Henry Fork, Hickory, and Hickory Catawba facilities were consistantly reported a pH below 6 and
often times the pH is acidic at or below pH 4.0, making it more difficult for the composting facility to process the sludge
being received from the consortium members.
A new facility is being constructed at the Henry Fork WWTP. A staff report was recently submitted for the new treatment
system. When the new biosolids treatment system is completed, the Hickory RCF will be closed. However, this is not
expected to happen until 2025 or 2026.
Populated calaculations were not presented for PAN or SAR in the AR.
In future, PAN and SAR values need to be presented in populated formulas. This can be presented by the laboratory
contractor.
Page 2 of 5

Permit: WQ0004563 Owner - Facility: City of Hickory
Inspection Date: 03/27/2024 Inspection Type: Annual Report Review Reason for Visit: Routine
Type
Yes No NA NE
Land Application
❑
Distribution and Marketing
Record Keeping
Yes No NA NE
Is GW monitoring being conducted, if required?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Are GW samples from all MWs sampled for all required parameters?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Are there any GW quality violations?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Is GW-59A certification form completed for facility?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Is a copy of current permit on -site?
❑
❑ ❑
Are current metals and nutrient analysis available?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Are nutrient and metal loading calculating most limiting parameters?
❑
0 ❑ ❑
a. TCLP analysis?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
b. SSFA (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis)?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Are PAN balances being maintained?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Are PAN balances within permit limits?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Has land application equipment been calibrated?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Are there pH records for alkaline stabilization?
❑
0 ❑ ❑
Are there pH records for the land application site?
❑
❑ 0 ❑
Are nutrient/crop removal practices in place?
❑
❑ ❑
Do lab sheets support data reported on Residual Analysis Summary?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Are hauling records available?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Are hauling records maintained and up-to-date?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
# Has permittee been free of public complaints in last 12 months?
0
❑ ❑ ❑
Has application occurred during Seasonal Restriction window?
❑
0 ❑ ❑
Comment: This is a distribution permit QCAR). LA equipment is not reviewed in these types
of permits.
Monitor wells are not required for this permit.
All analysis records were reported in the AR.
Pathogen and Vector Attraction
Yes No NA NE
a. Fecal coliform SM 9221 E (Class A or B)
❑ ❑ ❑
Class A, all test must be <1000 MPN/dry gram
Geometric mean of 7 samples per monitoring period for class B<2.0*10E6 CFU/dry gram
❑
Fecal coliform SM 9222 D (Class B only)
❑
❑ ❑
Geometric mean of 7 samples per monitoring period for class B<2.0*10E6 CFU/dry gram
❑
b. pH records for alkaline stabilization (Class A)
❑
❑ ❑
c. pH records for alkaline stabilization (Class B)
❑
❑ ❑
Page 3 of 5

Permit: WQ0004563 Owner - Facility: City of Hickory
Inspection Date: 03/27/2024 Inspection Type: Annual Report Review Reason for Visit: Routine
Temperature corrected
d. Salmonella (Class A, all test must be < 3MPN/4 gram day) ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
e. Time/Temp on: 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Digester (MCRT)
Compost
Class A lime stabilization ❑
f. Volatile Solids Calculations ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
g. Bench -top Aerobic/Anaerobic digestion results ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
Comment: Initial reduction is performed by aerobic digestion. PVAR is performed in vessel by time and
temperature to achieve maximum reduction.
Class "A" utilize fecal coliform SM-9221 C. A maximum MPN of 116 MPN/gram in the first
quarter of 2023. The minimum MPN for 2023 was <2 MPN/pram. These values are well within
permit limits for this product.
The composted material achieves additional reduction on the curring pad.
Treatment Yes No NA NE
Check all that apply
Aerobic Digestion
Anaerobic Digestion ❑
Alkaline Pasteurization (Class A) ❑
Alkaline Stabilization (Class B) ❑
Compost
Drying Beds ❑
Other ❑
Comment: The Time on Temperature records indicate the vesels are achieving a higher temperature than
required to generate further pathogen reduction. The higher reduction rate and the low MPN
values support the composted material can be considered as Class "A" for distribution to the
public.
Sampling Yes No NA NE
Describe sampling:
Is sampling adequate? ❑ ❑ ❑
Is sampling representative? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment:
Transport Yes No NA NE
Is a copy of the permit in the transport vehicle? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
Is a copy of the spill control plan in the vehicle? ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the spill control plan satisfactory? ❑ ❑ ❑
Does transport vehicle appear to be maintained? ❑ ❑ ❑
Page 4 of 5

Permit: WQ0004563 Owner - Facility: City of Hickory
Inspection Date: 03/27/2024 Inspection Type: Annual Report Review Reason for Visit: Routine
Comment: The regional compost facility distributes the Class "A product free to the public, local
landscaping companies and local governments. The reciever is provided with instructions for
best aoolication Dractices for Droduct use. However. once the material leaves the facilitv. it is
not tracked as to how the receiver handles the product.
The compost is collected in private vehicles.
Page 5 of 5