NC0032191_Compliance Inspection_20241007

United 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 NCO032191 111 121 24/09/23 I17 18 I C I 19 Ls_] 201 I
21111I 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 n, 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)
10:OOAM 24/09/23
23/09/01
Hebron Colony & Grace Home WWTP
356 Old Tpke Rd
Exit Time/Date
Permit Expiration Date
Boone NC 28607
11:05AM 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/ORC//
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Jadd Wesley Brewer,PO Box 1167 Banner Elk NC 286041167//828-898-6255/
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
DocuSigned by:
10/7/2024
'---OD2D3CE3F1B7456.-
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
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NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type
NCO032191 I11 12I 24/09/23 117 18 i c i
(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 of the Hebron Colony & Grace Home WWTP, NPDES Permit
#NC0032191. Brandon Hughes, Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC), was present for the
inspection. A review of records, data, treatment components, and structures was completed. This
inspection 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:
• The current NPDES permit was not available for review during the inspection.
• There is no gate or access restrictions to the WWTP.
Other observations:
• Facility appears well maintained and clean.
• Facility uses Water Quality Labs Inc. located in Banner Elk, Certification # 544. All samples are
grab and are collected by the ORC.
• Sludge removal is contracted with Triple T Pumping Inc out of Boone.
• ORC, Brandon Hughes, holds a WW Grade III, Certification # - 1012103. Back up ORC is Paul
Isenhour, who holds a WW Grade IV, Certification # - 13154.
• ORC Log Book records time on site each day and daily maintenance or repairs. Larger repairs
are normally accomplished by Hebron Colony maintenance personnel.
• Bar Screen has very few screenings, according to Mr. Hughes.
• Equalization basin is aerated but it was not in use at time of inspection. Mr. Hughes indicated that
dissolved oxygen levels get too high when EQ aeration is used.
• Flow enters anoxic zone from splitter box and then flows to dual aeration basins. Only one basin
was in use at the time of the inspection.
• Effluent flow meter is located before UV disinfection and was last calibrated on 7/9/2024.
• Chlorine tablets are used as back-up disinfection. Chlor Away (Sodium sulfite tablets) are used
for dechlorination.
• Effluent was clear and odor free at time of inspection.
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Permit: NCO032191
Inspection Date: 09/23/2024
Owner -Facility: Hebron Colony & Grace Home WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Permit
(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: There is no pate or access restrictions to access the Hebron Colony WWTP.
Operations & Maintenance
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?
Yes No NA NE
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Yes No NA NE
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Comment: Any minor maintnance performed by ORC is documented on ORC Log Sheets.
Record Keeping
Yes
No
NA
NE
Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit?
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Is all required information readily available, complete and current?
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Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)?
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Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs?
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Is the chain -of -custody complete?
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Dates, times and location of sampling
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Name of individual performing the sampling
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Results of analysis and calibration
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Dates of analysis
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Name of person performing analyses
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Transported COCs
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Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters?
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Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ?
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(If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified
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operator on each shift?
Is the ORC visitation log available and current?
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Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification?
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Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility
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classification?
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Permit: NCO032191 Owner -Facility:
Inspection Date: 09/23/2024 Inspection Type:
Hebron Colony & Grace Home WWTP
Compliance Evaluation
Record Keeping
Yes
No
NA
NE
Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site?
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0
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Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review?
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0
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Comment: Facility did not have a copy of current permit, current copy was give to ORC. All other
labs and paperwork in compliance.
Bar Screens
Yes
No
NA
NE
Type of bar screen
a.Manual
b.Mechanical
❑
Are the bars adequately screening debris?
0
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Is the screen free of excessive debris?
■
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Is disposal of screening in compliance?
0
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Is the unit in good condition?
0
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Comment: Bar screens in good working order.
Equalization Basins
Yes
No
NA
NE
Is the basin aerated?
0
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Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment?
0
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Is the basin free of excessive grease?
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Are all pumps present?
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Are all pumps operable?
0
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Are float controls operable?
0
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Are audible and visual alarms operable?
0
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# Is basin size/volume adequate?
0
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Comment: EQ basins have capability for aeration but currently not in use, ORC states Disolved
Oxygen levels too high when EQ basin is aerated.
Aeration Basins
Yes No
NA
NE
Mode of operation
Ext. Air
Type of aeration system
Diffused
Is the basin free of dead spots?
0 ❑
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Are surface aerators and mixers operational?
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Are the diffusers operational?
0 ❑
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Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process?
0 ❑
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Page# 4

Permit: NCO032191
Inspection Date: 09/23/2024
Owner -Facility: Hebron Colony & Grace Home WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Aeration Basins
Yes
No
NA
NE
Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin's surface?
0
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Is the DO level acceptable?
0
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Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/I)
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0
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Comment: After Equalization Basin, flow enters splitter box where only one of the two aeration
basins is in use. Then flow goes into an "anexoc zone" before going into aeration
basin that is in use. Aeration basin's disolved oxygen
levels are from 3.0 to 3.5.
Secondary Clarifier
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'/4 of the sidewall depth)
Comment: Sludge blanket is between 3 to 4 feet. Depth of clarifier() us 12 feet.
Disinfection - UV
Are extra UV bulbs available on site?
Are UV bulbs clean?
Is UV intensity adequate?
Is transmittance at or above designed level?
Is there a backup system on site?
Is effluent clear and free of solids?
Yes
No
NA
NE
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Yes No NA NE
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Comment: Back-up disinfection system uses Chlorine tablets and "Chlor-Away" tablets (Sodium
Sulfite) is used for de -chlorination.
Pumps-RAS-WAS Yes No NA NE
Are pumps in place? ■ ❑ ❑ ❑
Are pumps operational? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Page# 5

Permit: NCO032191 Owner -Facility: Hebron Colony & Grace Home WWTP
Inspection Date: 09/23/2024 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Pumps-RAS-WAS Yes No NA NE
Are there adequate spare parts and supplies on site? ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment:
Effluent Sampling
Yes
No
NA
NE
Is composite sampling flow proportional?
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0
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Is sample collected below all treatment units?
0
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Is proper volume collected?
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Is the tubing clean?
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0
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# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0
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0
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degrees Celsius)?
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type
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representative)?
Comment: Effluent flow meter located before UV Disinfection and effluent weir. Effluent flow
meeter calibrated 7/9/2024.
Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
and sampling location)?
Comment:
Effluent Pipe
Yes
No
NA
NE
Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained?
0
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Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris?
M
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If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly?
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0
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Comment: Effluent pipe clear and path well maintained
Standby Power
Yes
No
NA
NE
Is automatically activated standby power available?
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0
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Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source?
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0
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Is the generator tested under load?
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0
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Was generator tested & operational during the inspection?
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0
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Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site?
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Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up
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power?
Is the generator fuel level monitored?
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Page# 6

Permit: NCO032191
Inspection Date: 09/23/2024
Standby Power
Owner -Facility: Hebron Colony & Grace Home WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Yes No NA NE
Comment: Generator is onsite, ORC states that the maintenance person for Hebron Colon
performs maintenance upkeep, there are no records that show maintenance, fuel
levels or load testing. At time of the inspection ORC was unable to start generator and
put thru a load test. Recommend that ORC and backup ORC become familiar with the
backup generator and how to use it. Recommend keeping records of generator
maintenance and testing available at WWTP site.
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