NC0023736_NOV2024DV0251_20240531

DocuSign Envelope ID: 833DO74B-5DCD-44B7-85D3-34BCE8487FOF
ROY COOPER
GY—or
ELIZABETH S. B[SER
s-1-y
RICHARD E. ROGERS,A
Director
srVt
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Qualfty
SENT ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY,'NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED.
May 31, 2024
Jeff Church, Public Utilities Director
City of Lenoir
Email: [e-mail]
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Gunpowder Creek WWTP
City of Lenoir
Tracking Number: NOV-2024-DV-0251
Incident No. 202400980
Permit No. NCO0237636
Unauthorized Bypass
Dear Mr. Church:
At approximately 9:40am on May 22, 2024, a glitch in the computer programming that operates the five SBR
tanks at Gunpowder Creek WWTP caused the facility to operate in safe mode. Safe mode opens the influent
valves, stops the air and mixing in the SBR tanks, and switches the SBR tanks into settling mode. Because of this,
SBR tank #3 had an unauthorized bypass of unchlorinated decant wastewater which flowed into the equalization
basin and onto the ground near Gunpowder Creek (11-55-[1.5]; Class WS-IV). It was reported that none of the
overflow reached the creek. Elisa Triplett (Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent, City of Lenoir) emailed
Rachel Rose (Asheville Regional Office, Division of Water Resources, Environmental Specialist) at 11:04am on May
22, 2024 to report the incident. Based upon the above findings and summary of the violation below, Gunpowder
Creek WWTP caused an unauthorized bypass of primary treated wastewater to the ground surface and into the
equalization basin with zero (0) gallons reaching surface waters.
Permit Condition
Violation Date
Description
Violation Type
Permit Condition Part
05/22/2024
Bypass of 3,500-4,200
Permit Condition Bypass
II.C.4.c.1:
gallons of unchlorinated
Bypass from the treatment
decant wastewater from
facility is prohibited and the
SBR Tank #3.
Permit Issuing Authority may
take enforcement action
against a Permittee for bypass.
Remedial actions, if not already implemented, should be taken to correct the above noncompliance. Please submit
a written response to this Notice of Violation. Your response is to be received by the regional office within 30
business days following receipt of this violation. Please include any additional documentation about this incident
in the response and include the steps that will be taken to prevent this type of illegal discharge from happening in
the future.
North Carolim Depart— of Environmental Qualky l Dlvlsicnor Water Resources
Mherille RNw-1 Off— 12090 U,5. HlghwWM I Swa.marwa, Noah Carolina 25775
62&296,0.500

DocuSign Envelope ID: 833DO74B-5DCD-44B7-85D3-34BCE8487FOF
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Rachel Rose with the Water Quality Section in
the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500 or via email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by:
vawil 66ss
E397192DABFB4FF...
Daniel Boss, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Ec: LF
Elisa Triplett (Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent)
Donnie Hawkins (ORC)
NnrM[aroli�Deparrment of Environmental QuslBy I DNNbnaFWaler Rea .—
Asher111e Regional Office 1 2090 U,5. HlghwW 10 1 5wann— North Carolina 28T78
828,296,MC