NC0085812_NOV2016LV0110 Remission_20160425

UNION COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
500 North Main Street, Suite 600, Monroe, NC' 28112
Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
April 22, 2016
Mr. W. Corey Basinger
Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Mooresville Regional Office
610 East Center Ave., Suite 301
Mooresville, NC 28115
RECEIVED/NCDENR/DWR
APR 25 2016
WQROS
MOORESVILLE REGIONAL OFFICE
Subject: Notice of Violation & Assessment of Civil Penalty:
Request for Remission
Case #: LV -2016-0083
Tracking #: NOV-2016-LV-0110
Grassy Branch WWTP
NPDES Permit No. NCO085812 - Union County
Dear Mr. Basinger:
Union County Public Works (UCPW) has received the Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil
Penalty with regards to the Grassy Branch WWTP for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and fecal
coliform violations. UCPW is requesting a remission for this action. Our request is based on the
following:
• Rainfall: During October 2nd and 3rd, the Grassy Branch basin received 1.5" and 4.3" of rain
(respectively), for a total of 5.8" of rainfall during a very short time period, slightly over 24
hours. Flooding was occurring across Union County as a result of these very heavy rains. For
the month of October alone, this basin received approximately 10.1" of rain, nearly one quarter
of the annual rainfall in one month.
• Parameter Violations: As a result of the extremely heavy rain on October 2nd & 3rd, the plant
received flows of 0.189 MGD (10/3) and 0.178 MGD (10/4). These flows were nearly four
times the permitted flow. Due to the very heavy flows into the plant, insufficient detention time
for solids to settle out, combined with the silt and clay of the creek water, the UV system was
blinded and not able to disinfect the effluent adequately.
Union County Public Works Actions: UCPW has been working to find the source of the
excessive flows to the Grassy Branch plant for the last 6 months. During the heavy rains of
Fall 2015 (Sept-bec), the WWTP was recording higher than normal peak flows into the plant,
indicating a change in the collection system. Staff believed there was a hole in the collection
system allowing the creek water to flow into the collection system due to influent flows
mimicking the creek level.
500 North Main St., Suite 600 • Monroe, NC 28112-4730 • Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

April 22, 2016
UCPW performed a visual inspection of the entire outfall and manholes during the Fall 2015.
When an obvious issue was not observed, staff performed smoke testing along the entire'
outfall between December 2015 and February 2016. The smoke testing identified some
potential storm drainage cross connection issues at the High School, but did not identify a
main source of the inflow.
NCDEQ Staff from the Mooresville Office, met with UCPW staff (2/23/2016) and walked the
entire Grassy Branch outfall. The condition of the outfall, MI -Is, R&Cs, and inserts were in very
good condition. NCDEQ Staff observed no obvious issues or problems to indicate an I&I
problem.
UCPW has installed five flow monitors in the basin on 3/21/2016 to help identify the
source/area of the inflow. UCPW will continue to work diligently to identify the problem and
will move to correct and/or repair the problem immediately.
Though there were two weekly violations during this week in October of very heavy rain, the plant
remained in compliance for the monthly permit limits. '
We appreciate your consideration in this matter. If you have any questions, please contact me at 704-
296-4215.
Sincerely,
^` and D. McMil6 , P.E. Dawn Padgett
Water & Wastewater Division Director Operations Manager- Charlotte Water
PC: Ed Goscicki, Executive Director
Jackie Jarrell, Operations Chief - Charlotte Water
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Wastewater Branch
Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
COUNTY OF UNION
IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN
OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST ) ADW4BTRATIVE HEARING AND
STIPULATION OF FACTS
Union County )
Grassy Branch WWTP )
PERMIT NO. NCO085812 ) CASE NO. LV -2016-0083
Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $300.53 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the Division
of Water Resources dated April 06, 2016, the undersigned, desiring to seek remission of the civil penalty, does hereby wa_ive__
the right to an administrative hearing in the above -stated matter and does stipulate that the facts are as alleged in the
assessment document. The undersigned further understands that all evidence presented in support of remission of this civil
penalty must be submitted to the Director of the Division of Water Resources within thirty (3 0) days of receipt of the notice
of assessment. No new evidence in support of a remission request will be allowed after (30) days from the receipt of the
notice of assessment.
This the 22nd day of April 920 16
SIG ATUAE
ADDRESS
Edward Goscicki, P.E.
Executive Director
500 North Main Street
Suite 600
Monroe, NC 28112
TELEPHONE
704-296-4212