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Home My WebLink AboutNC0030473_CEI Inspection_20241007United States Environmental Protection Agency Form Approved. EPA Washington, D.C. 20460 OMB No. 2040-0057 Water Compliance Inspection Report 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 IN 1 2 u 3 I NCO030473 111 121 24/09/23 I17 18 I C I 19 Ls_] 201 I 211111 I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I r6 Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ---------------------- Reserved ------------------- 67 I 72 I ni I 71 I 74 79 I I I I I I I80 701 I 71 I LL J I I LJ Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date POTW name and NPDES Dermit Number) 11:15AM 24/09/23 23/04/01 Mill Ridge Development WWTP 229 Clubhouse Dr Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date Banner Elk NC 28604 12:30PM 24/09/23 27/09/30 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data Brandon K Hughes/ORCH Paul E. Isenhour/ORC/828-898-6277/ Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Brandon K Hughes,PO Box 1167 Banner Elk NC 286041167//423-278-6687/ No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit 0 Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports Self -Monitoring Progran 0 Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Wate Laboratory 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 Michael Gearren DWR/WSRO WQ/336-776-9800/ October 7, 2024 Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date by: , 6DocuSigned "D" " 4 10/7/2024 \—3 1B7 5 EPA Form 3W�8-FAev "4) Previous editions are obsolete. Page# NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type NCO030473 I11 12I 24/09/23 117 18 ici cJ (Cont.) Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) September 23, 2024 — Inspection Summary On September 23, 2024, Division of Water Resources staff Michael Gearren conducted a scheduled routine compliance inspection at Mill Ridge Development WWTP NPDES Permit #NC0030473. Brandon Hughes, Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC), was present during the entire inspection. A review of records, data, treatment components, and structures, was completed. This review reflected non-compliance with the subject permit. Violations, items of concern, and other observations made during the inspection are documented as follows. The following violation was noted: An emergency generator is located on site, but no records of maintenance or testing were available during the inspection. At the time of the inspection, Mr. Hughes was unable to start the emergency generator and was unable to verify that the generator is operational or that it would power automatically when necessary. Part II. Section C. 7. Power Failures requires that "the Permittee is responsible for maintaining adequate safeguards (as required by 15A NCAC 02H .0124) to prevent the discharge of untreated or inadequately treated wastes during electrical power failures either by means of alternate power sources, standby generators or retention of inadequately treated effluent." The following items of concern were noted: • At time of the inspection, the auditory and visual high-water alarms for equalization basin were non-functional when Mr. Hughes attempted to test them. Other observations: • Facility appeared well maintained and clean • Netting over both aerated basins to keep out leaves. • Facility uses Water Quality Labs Inc. located in Banner Elk Cert. #544, for all analysis except temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. • Sludge removal contracted with Triple T Pumping Inc out of Boone, NC. At time of inspection ORC stated that Mill Ridge WWTP rarely needs sludge removal. • ORC Brandon Hughes holds a WW Grade III, Certification # - 1012103. Back Up ORC is Paul Isenhour WW Grade IV, Certification # - 13154. • ORC Log Book has time on site each day and any maintenance or repairs that were performed each day. Larger repairs are done by Mill Ridge Development maintenance staff. • Debris is removed from bar screen manually and put into buckets with holes to drain any excess water back into equalization basin. Once buckets are full the debris is taken uphill to a dumpster. • Equalization Basin takes in overflow from influent splitter box, Equalization Basin is aerated. • Facility has dual aeration basins, located after the splitter box. Both aeration basins covered with cargo type netting to keep leaves out of basins. • Secondary Clarifier appear clear at time of inspection; both skimmers and return pumps are operational. • Effluent flow meter calibrated on 7/9/2024. • UV disinfection system working properly with extra bulbs located on site. • Back up disinfection achieved by chlorine tablets and dichlorination by "Chlor-Away"(Sodium Sulfite). • Effluent clear at time of inspection. • Effluent pipe well maintained. Page# Permit: NCO030473 Owner -Facility: Mill Ridge Development WWTP Inspection Date: 09/23/2024 Inspection Type: 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? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ 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? 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? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ 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? Page# 3 Permit: NCO030473 Inspection Date: 09/23/2024 Owner -Facility: Mill Ridge Development WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping 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: Q c,.. --- 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? Yes No NA NE ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Debris is removed from bar screen manually and put into buckets with holes to drain any excess water back into equalization basin. Once buckets are full the debris is taken uphill to a dumpster. Equalization Basins Yes No NA NE Is the basin aerated? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the basin free of excessive grease? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all pumps present? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all pumps operable? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are float controls operable? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are audible and visual alarms operable? ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ # Is basin size/volume adequate? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Alarm system is in place, ORC unable to test audible and visual alarms. Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext. Air Type of aeration system Diffused Is the basin free of dead spots? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are surface aerators and mixers operational? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Are the diffusers operational? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? S ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 4 Permit: NCO030473 Owner -Facility: Inspection Date: 09/23/2024 Inspection Type: Mill Ridge Development WWTP Compliance Evaluation Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin's surface? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the DO level acceptable? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/I) 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ 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? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Are weirs level? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of weir blockage? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is scum removal adequate? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the drive unit operational? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately'/4 of the sidewall depth) 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Secondary clarifier effluent appears clear at time of the inspection. Disinfection - UV Yes No NA NE Are extra UV bulbs available on site? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are UV bulbs clean? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is UV intensity adequate? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Is transmittance at or above designed level? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is there a backup system on site? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is effluent clear and free of solids? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Backup disinfection system is Chlorine tablets and "Chlor-away" (Sodium Sulfite) Pumps-RAS-WAS Are pumps in place? Are pumps operational? Are there adequate spare parts and supplies on site? Comment: Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 5 Permit: NCO030473 Owner -Facility: Mill Ridge Development WWTP Inspection Date: 09/23/2024 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Pumps-RAS-WAS Yes No NA NE 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? ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ Comment: Effluent flow meter calibrated 7/9/2024. 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)? Comment: Effluent sample refrigerator is in need of replacing. Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ and sampling location)? 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? ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ Page# 6 Permit: NCO030473 Inspection Date: 09/23/2024 Owner -Facility: Mill Ridge Development WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Standby Power 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? Yes No NA NE ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ Comment: Generator is onsite, ORC states that a former employee was responsible for runnin and load testing the generator. There are records on site that show generator testing, those records end in 2019. There are no current records that show maintenance, load testing or fuel levels. At the time of the inspection the ORC was unable to start the generator and put thru a load test. Recommend that ORC and backup ORC to become familiar with the backup generator and how to use it. Recommend keeping records of generator maintenance, load testing, and fuel levels available at WWTP site. Page# 7