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Home My WebLink AboutNCG551087_Compliance Evaluation Inspection CEI_20241017 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources Raleigh Regional Office 3800 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 919.791.4200 October 17, 2024 Virginia Alworth 103 Pawnee Court Durham, NC 27712 Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection Single Family Wastewater Treatment System General NPDES Permit NCG550000 Certificate of Coverage NCG551087 Facility: 103 Pawnee Court Durham County Dear Ms. Alworth: On 9/24/2024, Kevin Fowler from the Raleigh Regional Office visited your single-family residence (SFR) wastewater treatment system to evaluate compliance with the subject General NPDES Permit. Your assistance during the inspection was greatly appreciated. Our records indicate the treatment system consists of a septic tank, sub-surface sand filter, tablet chlorinator, and discharge pipe. General NPDES Permit NCG550000 and Certificate of Coverage (COC) NCG551087 authorize the discharge of domestic wastewater from your treatment system to receiving waters designated as an unnamed tributary to Crooked Creek (classified WS-IV;NSW) in the Neuse River Basin. The authorized discharge is in accordance with the effluent limits and monitoring requirements established within the General Permit. The items below show what conditions were noted at your facility: Findings during the inspection were as follows: 1. Pumping the septic tank: You are required to inspect the septic tank at least yearly to determine if solids must be removed or if other maintenance is necessary. Septic tanks should be pumped out every five years or when the solids level is found to be more than 1/3 of the liquid depth in the septic tank compartment, whichever is greater. A pumping company can check the status periodically and determine when pumping is required. During the inspection, Virginia Alworth provided documentation showing the septic tank was pumped on 2/29/2024. The General NPDES Permit requires the permittee to retain records associated with sewage disposal activities for a period of at least 5 years. Docusign Envelope ID: 6240BC3D-B28E-45D9-9DD8-8B1191C62472 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 1611 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611 919.707.9000 2. Chlorine tablets in the chlorinator: You are reminded that it is required that chlorine tablets be maintained in the chlorinator to ensure proper disinfection of the discharged wastewater. Chlorine tablets provide effective disinfection and prevent/limit harmful bacteria from discharging to the environment. The product label for these tablets must indicate the tablets are approved for wastewater use and not for swimming pools. Part 1, Section D (1) of General NPDES Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to inspect the tablet chlorinator weekly to ensure there is an adequate supply of tablets for continuous and proper operation. Section D (4) requires the permittee to maintain all system components, including disinfection units at all times and in good operating order. The inspector observed chlorine tablets in the chlorinator. Please continue to ensure the correct type of tablets are used and maintained in the chlorinator as required by the General NPDES Permit. 3. Analyzing the effluent: Part 1. C., Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements, within General Permit NCG550000 requires a permittee to sample and analyze the effluent leaving his/her treatment system prior to discharge annually. Parameters to be sampled and analyzed include Flow, BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), Total Suspended Solids, Fecal Coliform, Total Residual Chlorine, Total Nitrogen, Ammonia Nitrogen and Total Phosphorous During the inspection, you informed the inspector that the effluent has not been monitored within the last 12 months. Please collect a representative sample of the effluent, have it analyzed by a certified commercial laboratory and submit the results to this office no later than 12/31/2024. If, during this time, you are unable to collect a representative sample of the effluent discharge due to insufficient flow from the discharge pipe, then update this office with that information and continue to monitor the discharge and if conditions for sampling become favorable, then arrange to collect a sample. Failure to monitor the effluent discharge as required is a violation of NPDES General Permit NCG550000. 4. Discharge outlet location. The permittee is required to conduct a visual review of the outfall location at least twice each year (one at the time of sampling) to ensure that no visible solids or other obvious evidence of system malfunctioning is observed. Any visible signs of a malfunctioning system shall be documented and steps taken to correct the problem. The discharge pipe was visible and accessible the day of the inspection. Please continue to ensure the outlet is always visible/maintained and cleared of vegetation, soil and leaves. 5. Part II Section B.14 of General Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to “pay the annual administering and compliance monitoring fee within thirty days after being billed by the Division.” Division records indicate the required annual fee ($60 per year) for the period ending 6/30/2022 and due 7/6/2024, has been paid. There are no overdue fees for the subject COC. Please continue to periodically inspect the wastewater treatment system) to ensure the treatment components are always maintained and in good operating order. You are also reminded to maintain all monitoring data and associated maintenance records onsite for a minimum of three years and available for inspection. Docusign Envelope ID: 6240BC3D-B28E-45D9-9DD8-8B1191C62472 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 1611 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611 919.707.9000 Within 30-days receipt of this letter, please submit a written response to this office indicating the actions you will take or have taken to comply with or resolve the issues noted in item 3 above. If you have questions or comments about this inspection or the requirements to take corrective action (if applicable), then please contact Kevin Fowler at 919-437-0047. Sincerely, Vanessa E. Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Raleigh Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ Attachment(s): EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report Cc: Laserfiche Docusign Envelope ID: 6240BC3D-B28E-45D9-9DD8-8B1191C62472 EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 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 N 52 NCG551087 24/09/24 C S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) 103 Pawnee Court 103 Pawnee Ct Durham NC 27712 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 01:28PM 24/09/24 21/12/28 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Other Facility Data 01:40PM 24/09/24 25/10/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Virginia Alworth,103 Pawnee Ct Durham NC 27712///Contacted Yes Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self-Monitoring Program Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Waters 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 Kevin Fowler DWR/RRO WQ/919-791-4200/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page#1 10/17/2024 Docusign Envelope ID: 6240BC3D-B28E-45D9-9DD8-8B1191C62472 10/18/2024 NPDES yr/mo/day 24/09/24 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) The permittee indicated that some of the pipes has been replaced due to the growth fo roots. The outfall is located at the corner of Tomahawk Trail and Pawnee Court. Septic tank was pumped on 2/29/2024. NCG551087 17 Page#2 Docusign Envelope ID: 6240BC3D-B28E-45D9-9DD8-8B1191C62472 Permit:NCG551087 Inspection Date:09/24/2024 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: 103 Pawnee Court 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: 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? Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? All documentation was readily available. No lab data.Comment: Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? Page#3 Docusign Envelope ID: 6240BC3D-B28E-45D9-9DD8-8B1191C62472 Permit:NCG551087 Inspection Date:09/24/2024 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: 103 Pawnee Court Compliance Evaluation Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Outfall is in ditchat the corner of Tomahawk Trail and Pawnee CourtComment: Septic Tank Yes No NA NE (If pumps are used) Is an audible and visual alarm operational? Is septic tank pumped on a schedule? Are pumps or syphons operating properly? Are high and low water alarms operating properly? Tank pumped on 2/29/2024Comment: Sand Filters (Low rate)Yes No NA NE (If pumps are used) Is an audible and visible alarm Present and operational? Is the distribution box level and watertight? Is sand filter free of ponding? Is the sand filter effluent re-circulated at a valid ratio? # Is the sand filter surface free of algae or excessive vegetation? # Is the sand filter effluent re-circulated at a valid ratio? (Approximately 3 to 1) Comment: Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Number of tubes in use?1 Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? 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? Page#4 Docusign Envelope ID: 6240BC3D-B28E-45D9-9DD8-8B1191C62472 Permit:NCG551087 Inspection Date:09/24/2024 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: 103 Pawnee Court Compliance Evaluation Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE There was a slight overgrowth of vegetation around the discharge pipe.Comment: Page#5 Docusign Envelope ID: 6240BC3D-B28E-45D9-9DD8-8B1191C62472