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Home My WebLink AboutNC0079481_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20240220 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED. February 20, 2024 Dennis J Whitson, Owner Harmony Estates Email: dennisw@whitsonrealty.com SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report Harmony Estates WWTP NPDES WW Permit No. NC0079481 McDowell County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Harmony Estates WWTP on 2/01/2024. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0079481. The findings and comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report entitled "Compliance Inspection Report". There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this inspection report is not required. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mara Chamlee with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500 or via email at mara.chamlee@deq.nc.gov. Sincerely, Daniel Boss, Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: Laserfiche, Phillip Pittman (ORC) DocuSign Envelope ID: B11039EB-7511-482C-A601-7D178ACF89B5 EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 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 N 52 NC0079481 24/02/01 C S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Harmony Estates WWTP Deer Park Rd Marion NC 28752 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:30AM 24/02/01 20/06/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Phillip Charles Pittman/ORC/828-756-4111/ Other Facility Data 11:30AM 24/02/01 24/12/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Dennis J Whitson,3800 Sugarhill Rd Marion NC 28752//828-738-3540/8284384276 Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self-Monitoring Program Effluent/Receiving Waters 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 Mara G Chamlee DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page#1 DocuSign Envelope ID: B11039EB-7511-482C-A601-7D178ACF89B5 2/20/2024 2/20/2024 NPDES yr/mo/day 24/02/01 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Mara Chamlee, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the Harmony Estates WWTP on February 1, 2024. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0079481. Mr. Phillip Pittman (ORC) was present and assisted with the inspection. The following items were noted during the inspection: 1) Equalization Basin- It is recommended that the phone lines be hooked up at the facility in order to bring the auto-dialer into operation. A new influent grinder pump was installed in 2023 and has greatly increased the efficiency of the plant and EQ basin capacity, according to Mr. Pittman. 2) Bar screen- It is recommended that a screen with bars that are closer together still be installed. There was evidence of some debris present around the bar screen on the ground, and these screenings should be disposed of along with the remainder of screenings into the landfill. NC0079481 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: B11039EB-7511-482C-A601-7D178ACF89B5 Permit:NC0079481 Inspection Date:02/01/2024 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Harmony Estates WWTP Compliance Evaluation Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new application? Is the facility as described in the permit? # Are there any special conditions for the permit? Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? The gates remain locked to the facility, this has been corrected since the previous inspection that noted the gates were not locked and access was not restricted to the general public. Comment: Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE 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? The grating on the plant was fairly rusted. A new storage shed has been built. Mr. Pittman noted that he had replaced the grating above the clarifier with wood and was planning to do so above the EQ basin as well. Process controls analyzed include DO, pH, temperature, settleable solids, and sludge judge. Comment: Record Keeping Yes No NA NE 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? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: B11039EB-7511-482C-A601-7D178ACF89B5 Permit:NC0079481 Inspection Date:02/01/2024 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Harmony Estates WWTP Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE 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? Comment: Equalization Basins Yes No NA NE Is the basin aerated? Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment? Is the basin free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Are audible and visual alarms operable? # Is basin size/volume adequate? Mr. Pittman indicated that the float controls do not trigger a high-level alarm, rather the high-level float kicks on the influent grinder pump and begins pumping flow into the aeration basin. See summary for details. Comment: Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual b.Mechanical Are the bars adequately screening debris? Is the screen free of excessive debris? Is disposal of screening in compliance? Is the unit in good condition? The bars on the manual screen are spaced too far apart to be effectively screening debris. There was some debris present on the screen at the time of the inspection. Additionally, there were screenings present on the ground near the bar screen that had not been adequately disposed of. Mr. Pittman noted however that he does dispose of the screenings in the trash which gets hauled to the landfill. See summary for details. Comment: Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: B11039EB-7511-482C-A601-7D178ACF89B5 Permit:NC0079481 Inspection Date:02/01/2024 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Harmony Estates WWTP Compliance Evaluation Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext. Air Type of aeration system Diffused 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/l) A settleability test showed that there were very little solids present in the plant at the time of the inspection. Mr. Pittman indicated that they were in the process of refurbishing two of the aeration basin blowers. At the time of the inspection he was working to get the new blower online. The current blower runs continuously. An additional blower is present as a backup. Comment: Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE 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? Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? Is the drive unit operational? Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately ¼ of the sidewall depth) Mr. Pittman indicated that a sludge judge test the prior week showed a 6 inch blanket level. Comment: Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Number of tubes in use?1 Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: B11039EB-7511-482C-A601-7D178ACF89B5 Permit:NC0079481 Inspection Date:02/01/2024 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Harmony Estates WWTP Compliance Evaluation Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? Comment: De-chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system ?Tablet Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? Is storage appropriate for cylinders? # Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? Comment: Are the tablets the proper size and type? Are tablet de-chlorinators operational? Number of tubes in use?1 Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? The previous flow meter was destroyed by lightening in a storm one month prior to the inspection. A new flow meter was ordered and will include a totalizer. At present, the ORC measures the flow by recording the amount of well water that is used daily and adds rain fall levels from the McDowell County weather reports. Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? 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 the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: B11039EB-7511-482C-A601-7D178ACF89B5 Permit:NC0079481 Inspection Date:02/01/2024 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Harmony Estates WWTP Compliance Evaluation Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE The faclility uses a portable composite sampler for effluent sampling. At present, they are doing time-composite sampling as the flow meter is not operational. The samples were taken the morning prior to the inspection, therefore the sampler was not present to evaluate tubing and temperature. Comment: Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE 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? Comment: Standby Power Yes No NA NE Is automatically activated standby power available? 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? Since the community runs on well water, if the facility were to lose power the wells would go out and the facility would not recieve any influent flow. Comment: Page#7 DocuSign Envelope ID: B11039EB-7511-482C-A601-7D178ACF89B5