WQCS00011_NOV-2024-DV-0192 Response to Notice_20240429

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ROCKY MOUNT
WATER RESOURCES
THE CENTER OF IT ALL
April 29, 2024
Brenton Bent
Director of Water Resources
City of Rocky Mount
331 South Franklin Street
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Michael Hall, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
3800 Barrett Drive,
Raleigh, NC 27609
Subject: Notice of Violation
Tracking No.-NOV 2024-DV-0192
Collection System Pen -nit No. WQCS00011
Dear Mr. Hall,
1 received the Notice of Violation from the NCDEQ dated April 9, 2024, as identified by the
subject tracking number regarding the sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) events on 3/6/2024 at
Riverside Drive and 1101 Johnson Street. The city of Rocky Mount takes these incidents very
seriously and continues to take steps to minimize the potential for such overflows within our
sewer collection system.
Rocky Mount experienced two incidents of sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) resulting from the
sustained rainfall experienced locally beginning on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. The locations
impacted were Riverside Drive under the railroad trestle and 1101 Johnson Street. The sanitary
sewer system was overloaded because of saturated ground conditions, localized flooding, and
inflow/infiltration.
The overflow on Riverside Drive began at approximately 7:35 p.m. and ceased on Thursday,
March 7, 2024, at approximately 1:00 p.m. The SSO, it was estimated, resulted in approximately
213,000 gallons of heavily diluted wastewater reaching the Tar River. After the overflow
)252) 972-1121 1 331 S Franklyn St. PO Box 1180, Rocky Mount, NC 27802-1180 1 www.rockymountnc.gov

subsided, the paved roadway was washed with chlorinated water, vacuumed, and discharged into
the wastewater collection system.
The overflow on Johnson Street began at approximately 7:45 p.m. on March 6, 2024, and ceased
at approximately 9:45 p.m. This overflow resulted in approximately 6000 gallons of heavily
diluted wastewater reaching the Cokey Swamp. After the overflow subsided, the residual
wastewater was vacuumed, and the area was treated with hydrated lime and capped with sand
and topsoil.
Due to the saturated soil conditions and the roughly 2.75 inches of rain experienced locally, the
sewer collection system was overwhelmed with heavily diluted wastewater. `The heavily diluted
nature of the wastewater and the unusually high flows in the receiving water bodies helped to
reduce the potential impact of this event.
To alleviate these events in the future, the city engaged the services of WithersRavenel
Engineering Consultants to conduct a comprehensive study of the sewer collection system,
including a hydraulic sewer model. It is anticipated that upon completion of this project, the city
will be better equipped to identify areas of vulnerability and thus be able to address the source of
the problem directly. The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024.
Please be assured that the city of Rocky Mount is working with great care and perseverance to
reduce the number of sanitary sewer overflows in the collection system. This effort will remain a
top priority in the near future. As you can see, we are taking the necessary steps to address the
integrity of our whole collection system, and we hope that the Division of Water Resources will
favorably consider these efforts as you deliberate on any further actions regarding these
incidents.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me
at 252-972-1299 or [e-mail].
Sincerely, r
Brenton Bent, Director of Water Resources
[phone] 1 331 S. Franklin St., PO Box 1180, Rocky Mount, NC 27802-11801 www.rockymountrigoa)