NC0083348_Draft Permit_20240807

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Mr. Walter Credle, Utilities Director
Town of Smithfield
PO Box 761
Smithfield, NC 27577
Dear Permittee:
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NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
August 6, 2024
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NCO083348
Smithfield WTP
Grade I Physical Chemical WPCS
Johnston County
The Division has reviewed your request to renew the subject permit. Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the draft
permit for your facility. Please review this draft carefully to ensure your thorough understanding of the
information, conditions, and requirements it contains.
The draft permit includes the following significant changes from the existing permit:
➢ Added the chemical usage list at the water treatment plant to the Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet.
➢ Updated the components list on the Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet.
➢ Updated footnotes to the effluent table in Section A. (1.).
➢ Removed the weekly average limits column from the effluent table in Section A. (1).
➢ Added effluent Hardness and instream Hardness, upstream of the facility's discharge, monitoring to the
table in Section A. (1) with corresponding footnotes. These parameters were added to comply with the
current NCDEQ water treatment plant strategy.
➢ Iron no longer has a state water quality standard and therefore monitoring for this parameter has been
removed from the permit.
➢ Manganese no longer has a state water quality standard and therefore monitoring for this parameter has
been removed from the permit.
➢ Fluoride monitoring was also removed from the permit. The 2018 permit renewal factsheet mentions that
the permittee stopped using Fluoride, the Permittee marked Fluoride as believed absent on the permit
renewal application, and Fluoride is not listed as a chemical additive on the plant schematic.
➢ Reporting for Total Nitrogen (TN) now includes the constituent parameters used in calculating TN. Total
Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) and Nitrate + Nitrite Nitrogen (NO3-N + NO2-N) have been added to the
effluent table in Section A. (1) with a corresponding footnote. The Sample Type for Total Nitrogen has
been updated from "Grab" to "Calculated".
➢ Added an effluent flow limit to the effluent table in Section A. (1) to comply with the current NCDEQ
water treatment plant strategy. The Division has determined that the volume of Water Treatment Plant
(WTP) discharges has the potential to impact receiving waters and should be controlled statewide. The
Division is moving to reinstate limits in permit renewals and include limits for new WTP permits. A flow
limit of 0.187 MGD has been added to this permit
➢ Added parameter units to the effluent table in Part 1. Section A. (1).
➢ Added the eDMR codes for every parameter to the effluent table in Part I. Section A. (1.).
➢ Whole Effluent Toxicity testing has been changed from monitoring to a Pass/Fail limit per the current
water treatment plant guidance for conventional treatment systems. Section A. (1) and Section A. (2) have
been updated accordingly.
➢ Added Special Condition A. (3) Permit Re -Opener: Whole Effluent Toxicity in Part 1.
D E Q�� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality) Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
NORTH CAROLINA 919.707.9000
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Page 2 of 2
NPDES Permit NC0083348
➢ Updated eDMR language for electronic data submission in Part I. A. (4).
➢ Updated the map.
Please note that the practical quantitation limit (PQL) for Total Copper is 2 µg/L (per the Inorganic Chemistry
Branch of the Division of Water Resources Water Sciences Section), and monitoring data should be reportable
down to this level. Limits for water treatment plants are determined by evaluating DMR data submitted to the
Division, along with a dilution factor (if applicable) and the maximum monthly average flow reported in the
previous 3 years at the time the review is completed.
The EPA approved NC 2015-2019 Water Quality Standard (WQS) Triennial Review includes new chronic and
acute dissolved metal standards for most metals. Further, the freshwater standards for several metals are expressed
as the dissolved form of the metals, and seven metals have hardness -dependent equations. As a result, the NPDES
Permitting Unit will need site -specific effluent hardness data and instream hardness data, upstream of the
discharge, for each facility monitoring these metals in order to calculate permit limitations. Effluent hardness and
instream hardness sampling, upstream of the discharge, have been added to the permit at a monitoring frequency
of quarterly. See Section A. (1) Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements.
The NPDES standard conditions (Parts II, III, and IV) that are a part of the permit are not included in this draft
document (cover, map, and Part 1). The conditions are the same as in your current permit except that agency and
division names have been updated. The latest version is available at https://bit.ly/3k5NFaL and can be viewed
online or downloaded as a PDF file.
With this notification, the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing a notice in
newspapers having circulation in the general Johnston County area, per EPA requirements. Please provide your
comments, if any, to me at the e-mail address below no later than 30 days after receiving this draft permit.
Following the 30-day public comment period, the Division will review all pertinent comments and take
appropriate action prior to issuing a final permit.
If you have questions concerning the draft, please contact me at caroline.robinson(a,deg.nc.gov.
Sincerely,
Environmental Specialist II
NPDES Compliance and Expedited Permitting
cc: NPDES Files
Raleigh Regional Office
Aquatic Toxicology Unit
Operator Certification Program

NPDES Permit NCO083348
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
(NPDES)
In compliance with the provision of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1, other lawful standards
and regulations promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina Environmental Management
Commission, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, the
Town of Smithfield
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Smithfield WTP
515 North Second Street
Smithfield
Johnston County
to receiving waters designated as Buffalo Creek in the Neuse River Basin in accordance with effluent
limitations, monitoring requirements, and other applicable conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III and IV
hereof.
This permit shall become effective
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on July 31, 2029.
If the permittee intends to continue to discharge at the facility beyond the term of this permit, a renewal
application must be submitted no later than February 1, 2029 (180 days before the expiration of this
permit).
Signed this day
John E. Hennessy, Section Chief Regional Operations
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 8

NPDES Permit NCO083348
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge are hereby
revoked. As of this permit issuance, any previously issued permit bearing this number is no longer
effective. Therefore, the exclusive authority to operate and discharge from this facility arises under the
permit conditions, requirements, terms, and provisions included herein.
The Town of Smithfield
is hereby authorized to:
Continue to operate a conventional water treatment plant producing drinking water with a discharge
of filter -backwash wastewater. This water treatment plant currently has a design potable flowrate of
6.2 MGD. This facility is located at 515 North Second Street, Smithfield, NC, in Johnston County.
Water and wastewater treatment includes the following components:
• Water storage reservoir
• Rapid mix chamber for alum and NaOH addition
• Four flocculators
• Three settling basins
• Three multi -media filters
• Filter backwash tank
• Two clearwells
• Sludge holding basin
• Screw press for sludge thickening
Chemical usage consists of:
• Powdered activated carbon
• Alum/aluminum sulfate
• Sodium hydroxide
• Chlorine
• Ammonia nitrogen/chloramines
• Tetrapotassium pyrophosphate
• Calcium thiosulfate
2. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map via Outfall 001,
into Buffalo Creek [Stream Index: 27-42], a waterbody currently classified C; NSW within subbasin
03-04-02 [HUC: 030202011105] of the Neuse River Basin.
Page 2 of 8

NPDES Permit NCO083348
Part I.
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B.0400 et seq., 15A NCAC 02B.0500 et seq.]
Grade I Physical Chemical WPCS [15A NCAC 08G .0306]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is
authorized to discharge filter backwash via Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored'°2 by the
Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT
LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
CHARACTERISTICS
Parameter Codes
Monthly
Daily
Measurement
Sample
Sample
Average
I Maximum
Fre uenc
Type
Location
Flow (MGD)
50050
0.187 MGD
Continuous
Recording
Effluent
TSS m /L
C0530
30 m /L
45 m /L
2/Month
Grab
Effluent
H Standard Units
00400
6.0 — 9.0 s.u.
2/Month
Grab
Effluent
Total Residual
Chlorine /L
50060
17 fag/L
2/Month
Grab
Effluent
Hardness -Total as
00900
Monitor & Report
p
Quarter) y
Composite
p
Effluent
CaCO3 m /L a
Hardness -Total as
00900
Monitor & Report
p
Quarter) y
Grab
Upstream
p
CaCO3 m /L 6
Aluminum /L
01105
Monitor & Report
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Ammonia Nitrogen
m /L
C0610
Monitor & Report
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Total Co er /L
01042
Monitor & Report
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Total Phosphorus (TP)
C0665
Monitor & Report
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
m /L
TKN m /L 6
00625
Monitor & Report
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
( 03-N + NO2-N
00630
Monitor & Report
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Total Nitrogen (TN)6
C0600
Monitor & Report
Quarterly
Calculated
Effluent
m /L
Whole Effluent Toxi city
TGP313
Pass/Fail
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Testing'
Footnotes,
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the Division's eDMR system
[see A. (6.)].
2. All practical quantitation limits (PQL) must be sufficiently sensitive considering the respective water
quality standard for each parameter [see Part 11. Section D. (4.)].
3. The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reportedbelow 50 µg/L to be in compliance with the
permit. However, the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a North
Carolina certified laboratory (including field certified), even if these values fall below 50 µg/L.
4. Effluent hardness shall be performed in conjunction with testing for hardness dependent metals
(cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, silver, and zinc).
5. The permittee shall sample instream hardness upstream of the facility's discharge. The sample shall be
representative of the hardness in the stream.
Page 3 of 8

NPDES Permit NCO083348
6. For a given wastewater sample, TN = TKN + NO3-N + NO2-N, where TN is Total Nitrogen, TKN is
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, and NO3-N and NO2-N are Nitrate and Nitrite Nitrogen, respectively.
7. Chronic Pass/Fail test using Ceriodaphnia dubia at 90% conducted during the months of January, April,
July, October. See Special Condition A. (2).
All samples collected should be from a representative discharge event.
THERE SHALL BE NO DISCHARGE OF FLOATING SOLIDS OR VISIBLE FOAM IN
OTHER THAN TRACE AMOUNTS.
A. (2.) CHRONIC TOXICITY PERMIT LIMIT (QUARTERLY)
[15A NCAC 02B .0500 et seq.] [15A NCAC 02B .0200 et seq.]
The effluent discharge shall at no time exhibit observable inhibition of reproduction or significant
mortality to Ceriodaphnia dubia at an effluent concentration of 90%.
The permit holder shall perform at a minimum, quarterly monitoring using test procedures outlined in
the "North Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure," (Revised December 2010, or
subsequent versions) or "North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test Procedure"
(Revised December 2010, or subsequent versions). The tests will be performed during the months of
January, April, July, and October. These months signify the first month of each three-month toxicity
testing quarter assigned to the facility. Effluent sampling for this testing must be obtained during
representative effluent discharge and shall be performed at the NPDES permitted final effluent discharge
below all treatment processes.
If the test procedure performed as the first test of any single quarter results in a failure or ChV
below the permit limit, then multiple -concentration testing shall be performed at a minimum, in
each of the two following months as described in "North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole
Effluent Toxicity Test Procedure" (Revised -December 2010, or subsequent versions).
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered electronically using
the Division's eDMR system for the months in which tests were performed, using the parameter code
TGP3B for the pass/fail results and THP311 for the Chronic Value. Additionally, DWR Form AT-3
(original) is to be sent to the following address:
North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1621
Or, results can be sent to the email, ATForms.ATB(adeq.nc.gov.
Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Water Sciences Section no later than 30
days after the end of the reporting period for which the report is made.
Test data shall be complete, accurate, include all supporting chemical/physical measurements and all
concentration/response data, and be certified by laboratory supervisor and ORC or approved designate
Page 4 of 8

NPDES Permit NCO083348
signature. Total residual chlorine of the effluent toxicity sample must be measured and reported if
chlorine is employed for disinfection of the waste stream.
Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which toxicity monitoring is
required, the permittee will complete the information located at the top of the aquatic toxicity (AT) test
form indicating the facility name, permit number, pipe number, county, and the month/year of the report
with the notation of "No Flow" in the comment area of the form. The report shall be submitted to the
Water Sciences Section at the address cited above.
Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required, monitoring
will be required during the following month. Assessment of toxicity compliance is based on the toxicity
testing quarter, which is the three-month time interval that begins on the first day of the month in which
toxicity testing is required by this permit and continues until the final day of the third month.
Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the North Carolina Division
of Water Resources indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream, this permit may be re -opened and
modified to include alternate monitoring requirements or limits.
NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as minimum control
organism survival, minimum control organism reproduction, and appropriate environmental controls,
shall constitute an invalid test and will require immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later
than the last day of the month following the month of the initial monitoring.
A. (3) PERMIT RE -OPENER: WHOLE EFFLUENT TOXICITY
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
Whole Effluent Toxicity monitoring results indicate aquatic toxicity may result in the Division of Water
Resources re -opening this permit or requesting by letter that further action be taken. Additional metals
testing, a toxicity identification evaluation, a toxicity reduction evaluation, and/or an assessment of
discharge treatment alternatives may be requested.
Page 5 of 8

NPDES Permit NCO083348
A. (4.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS
[NCGS 143-215.1 (b)]
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) and program
reports. The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted and became effective on December
21, 2015.
NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part II of this
permit (Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits):
• Section B. (11.) Signatory Requirements
• Section D. (2.) Reporting
• Section D. (6.) Records Retention
• Section E. (5.) Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements [Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (a)1
The permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's Electronic
Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet application.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and
submitted electronically using eDMR. The eDMR system allows permitted facilities to enter
monitoring data and submit DMRs electronically using the internet. The eDMR system may be
accessed at: https://deg.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr.
If a permittee is unable to use the eDMR system due to a demonstrated hardship or due to the facility
being physically located in an area where less than 10 percent of the households have broadband
access, then a temporary waiver from the NPDES electronic reporting requirements may be granted
and discharge monitoring data may be submitted on paper DMR forms (MR 1, 1. 1, 2, 3) or
alternative forms approved by the Director. Duplicate signed copies shall be submitted to the
following address:
NC DEQ / Division of Water Resources / Water Quality Permitting Section
ATTENTION: Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
See "How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and
reported via the eDMR system no later than the last calendar day of the month following the
completed reporting period. Regardless of the submission method, the first DMR is due on the last
day of the month following the issuance of the permit or in the case of a new facility, on the last day
of the month following the commencement of discharge.
Starting on December 21, 2025, the permittee must electronically report the following compliance
monitoring data and reports, when applicable:
Page 6 of 8

NPDES Permit NCO083348
Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports;
Pretreatment Program Annual Reports; and
Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 316 (b) Annual Reports.
The permittee may seek an electronic reporting waiver from the Division (see "How to Request a
Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below).
2. Electronic Submissions
In accordance with 40 CFR 122.41(1)(9), the pernttee must identify the initial recipient at the time
of each electronic submission. The permittee should use the EPA's website resources to identify the
initial recipient for the electronic submission.
Initial recipient of electronic NPDES information from NPDES-regulated facilities means the entity
(EPA or the state authorized by EPA to implement the NPDES program) that is the designated entity
for receiving electronic NPDES data [see 40 CFR 127.2 (b)].
EPA plans to establish a website that will also link to the appropriate electronic reporting tool for
each type of electronic submission and for each state. Instructions on how to access and use the
appropriate electronic reporting tool will be available as well. Information on EPA's NPDES
Electronic Reporting Rule is found at: https://www.federalre ig ster.gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-
24954/national-pollutant-d ischarge-elimination-system-npd es-e lectronic-reporting-rule
Electronic submissions must start by the dates listed in the "Reporting Requirements" section above.
3. How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting
The permittee may seek a temporary electronic reporting waiver from the Division. To obtain an
electronic reporting waiver, a permittee must first submit an electronic reporting waiver request to
the Division. Requests for temporary electronic reporting waivers must be submitted in writing to
the Division for written approval at least sixty (60) days prior to the date the facility would be
required under this permit to begin submitting monitoring data and reports. The duration of a
temporary waiver shall not exceed 5 years and shall thereupon expire. At such time, monitoring data
and reports shall be submitted electronically to the Division unless the permittee re -applies for and is
granted a new temporary electronic reporting waiver by the Division. Approved electronic reporting
waivers are not transferrable. Only permittees with an approved reporting waiver request may
submit monitoring data and reports on paper to the Division for the period that the approved
reporting waiver request is effective.
Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on
the following web page:
http://deg.nc.gov/about/divisions/Water-resources/edmr
Page 7 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0083348
4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.) (d)l
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person described in Part II,
Section B. (11.) (a) or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part II,
Section B. (11.) (b). A person, and not a position, must be delegated signatory authority for eDMR
reporting purposes.
For eDMR submissions, the person signing and submitting the DMR must obtain an eDMR user
account and login credentials to access the eDMR system. For more information on North
Carolina's eDMR system, registering for eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account, please visit
the following web page:
http://deg.nc.gov/about/divisions/Water-resources/edmr
Certification. Any person submitting an electronic DMR using the state's eDMR system shall make
the following certification [40 CFR 122.22]. NO OTHER STATEMENTS OF CERTIFICATION
WILL BE ACCEPTED:
"I certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my
direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel
properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or
persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information,
the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete. I
am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the
possibility offines and imprisonment for knowing violations. "
5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D. (6.)]
The permittee shall retain records of all Discharge Monitoring Reports, including eDMR
submissions. These records or copies shall be maintained for a period of at least 3 years from the
date of the report. This period may be extended by request of the Director at any time [40 CFR
122.41].
Page 8 of 8

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NCO083348 —
Smithfield WTP
Town of Smithfield
Latitude: 35' 31' 06" N
State Grid: Selma
Longitude: 78' 20' 41" W
Permitted Flow: 0.187 MGD
Receiving Stream: Buffalo Creek
Drainage Basin: Neuse River Basin
Stream Class: C - NSW
Sub -Basin: 03-04-02
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Facility X
Location
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