NC0004685_Report_20240927

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
DWR
Division of Water Resources
WWTP Upset, Spill, or Bypass 5-Day Reporting Form
(Please Print or Type Use Attachments if Needed)
Permittee: Electric Glass Fiber America, LLC Permit Number: NC0004685
Facility Name: Shelby Facility
Incident Started
Incident Ended
Level of Treatment:
None
Date: 27-Sep-2024
Date: 27-Sep-2024
County: _Cleveland
Time: 0900
Time: 1450
Primary Treatment _Secondary Treatment _Chlorination/Disinfection Only
Estimated Volume of Spill/Bypass:--10,000 gallons (must be given even if it is a rough estimate)
Did the Spill/Bypass reach the Surface Waters? Yes _X No
If yes, please list the following:
Volume Reaching Surface Waters: Surface Water Name: _
Did the Spill/Bypass result in a Fish Kill? Yes No
Was WWTP compliant with permit requirements? Yes No
Were samples taken during event? Yes No
Source of the Upset/Spill/Bypass (Location or Treatment Unit):
Catastrophic loss of power to entire campus from tropical storm Helene. Faulty electrical switch did not
allow plant generators to provide power to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).
Cause or Reason for the Upset/Spill/Bypass:
Loss of power disabled all pumps. Influent gravity flow was diverted to emergency holding pond until
pond filled (-400,000 gallons). Once influent gravity flow diversion stopped, water built up in influent pit
and overflow trenches within the WWTP. When the trenches filled, water overtopped the trench at the
lowest point and flowed to two points in a field west of the WWTP.
Describe the Repairs Made or Actions Taken:
Portable pump skid brought on site on September 27 at 1700 hours to pump untreated water into other
available storage. Portable generator brought on site and powered up the WWTP plant on September
28 at 1300 hours. The WWTP was returned to plant (offsite) power at approximately 0930 on September
30.
Spill/Bypass Reporting Form (August 2014)

WWTP Upset, Spill, or Bypass 5-Day Reporting Form
Page 2
Action Taken to Contain Spill, Clean Up and Remediate the Site (if applicable):
Perimeter of the field that accepted the overflow from the WWTP trench was visually monitored for
evidence of untreated wastewater. No wastewater was observed and a field pH measurement of
stormwater returned 7.1 s.u. pH of wastewater overflow from trench measured 9.0 s.u.
Action Taken or Proposed to be Taken to Prevent Occurrences:
Switch that allows the plant emergency generators to power the WWTP will be replaced. Plant
emergency procedures provide for procurement of an offsite generator within 24 hours if the Plant
emergency generators are unable to provide power to the WWTP. These plant emergency procedures
were exercised during the event and were successful.
Additional Comments About the Event:
24-Hour Report Made To: Division of Water Resources _X Emergency Management
Contact Name: Wes Bell Date: 27-Oct-2024 Time: 1450
Other Agencies Notified (Health Dept, etc):
Person Reporting Event: Terry Steinert Phone Number: 704.431.2261 x22007 (o), 316.204.4068 (m
Did DWR Request an Additional Written Report? _ Yes _X No
If Yes, What Additional Information is Needed:
Spill/Bypass Reporting Form (August 2014)