NC0061638_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20170524

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Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
May 24, 2017
MR. BRYCE MENDENHALL
CAROLINA WATER SERVICE OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
PO Box 240908
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28224
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Permit No. NCO061638
Amherst WWTP
NPDES Wastewater Treatment and Discharge System
Wake County
Dear Mr. Mendenhall:
Govenior
MICHAEL S. RAGEN
Secretary
S. JAY Z.IMMERMAN
Director
RECEIVED/NCDEWWR
MAY 3 0 2017
Water Quality
Permitting Section
On May 5, 2017 Cory Larsen, PE with Wake County Department of Environmental Services, on
behalf of the Division of Water Resources, performed a compliance evaluation inspection of the
subject wastewater treatment system evaluate compliance with the above permit to discharge
wastewater. The assistance provided by Jeff Cooke, ORC and Steve Harrell during the
inspection was greatly appreciated.
At the time of the inspection the WWTP was operating normally and producing good quality
effluent. Please refer to the attached report for inspection details on all treatment units and
components. As a result of the inspection, two items were identified that require further action.
1. The existing bar screen was found to be corroded with broken or missing tines in areas.
A replacement screen has been cut but not installed. Please complete installation of the
new bar screen.
2. The effluent outfall location could not be positively identified for inspection. The outlet
appears to discharge to a stream/wetland complex. A permanent marker should be
installed at the outlet location to facilitate regular inspection effluent as it enters Middle
Creek. Also please maintain a trail to the final outfall location.
Please provide written reponse to this office by June 24, 2017. Your response should detail all
efforts to address the above items and their dates of completion. We appreciate your cooperation
in this matter. If you have any questions regarding the results of the inspection or need any
assistance in maintaining compliance with your permit please contact Cory Larsen at 919-480-
9998 or co .larsen cL'wakegov.com.
Division of Water Resources, Raleigh Regional Office, Water Quality Operations Section http://portal.ncdenr,org/web/wq/aps
1628 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1628 Phone: [phone]
Location: 3800 Barrett Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609 Fax: [phone]

NCO061638
Auld M17
Page 12
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Si cere • "f
Danny S th, Supervisor
Water-.. Quality. Regional Operations ..
Raleigh Regional Office
Enclosure: DWR Inspection Report
cc: Wake County Department of Environmental Services File
RRO File
Central Files
Charles Weaver — NPDES Permitting=Unit
Steve Harrell — Carolina Water Service of North Carolina, Inc.

United Slates Environmental Protection Agency
Form Approved.
EPA Washington, D.C. 20460
OMB No. 2040-0057
Water Compliance Inspection Report
Approval expires 6-31-98
Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS)
Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type
1 �N 2 15 1 3 + NCO061638 111 12 17/05/05 17 18 Lei I 191 S I 201
21111111 1111111 11 11 11I 1111 I 1 I11I1 1111111 II I I r6
Inspection Work Days - Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating 81 CIA Reserved
I 72 L� j 73 I I 174 751 1 1 1 1 1 1 180
67 1 70 U 71 Iitl L_I I I I
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
Entry Time/Date
Permit Effective Data
POTW name and NPDES permit Number)
11:30AM 17/05/05
13/09/01
Amherst Subdivision WWTP
Exit Time/Date
Permit Expiration Date
4917 Johnston Pond Rd
Apex NC 27539
01:10PM 17/05/05
18/04/30
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)mties(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
Other Facility Data
111
Jeffrey J. Cooke/ORC/919-662-7007/
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number -
Contacted
James T Highley,PO Box 240908 Charlotte NC 282240908/Senior Regional
Manager/704-525-7990/7045258174 No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit f Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports
Self -Monitoring Program Sludge Handling Disposal Facility Site Review ■ Effluent/Receiving Waters
Other
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
Cory Larsen RRO WO//919-856-7443/
S' natu of Manage nt Q A R i Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
r
r- .- v
EPA Form 35 -3 (Rev 9-94) revious editions are obsolete.
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NPDES . yr/mo/day Inspection Type (Cont.)
3'' NCO061638 11 12 17/05/05 17 18 1 C 1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
WCES conducted a compliance evaluation inspection on May 5, 2017 with the assistance of Jeff
Cooke, ORC and Steve Harrell. The WWTP was operating normally at the time of inspection and
producing good quality effluent. The ORC knows the plant well and does a good job operating and
maintaining it. The bar screen is corroded and anew screen was onsite but not yet installed. That
needs to be completed and the outfall location needs to be located and permanently marked for future
inspections. The outfall pipe discharges somewhere within a stream and wetland complex that is
difficult to navigate.
Page#

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Permit: NC0061638 Owner - Facility: Amherst Subdivision WWTP
Inspection Date: 05/05/2017 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Other Yes No NA NE
Comment: Sludge drying beds have not been used in at least 17 years.
O erations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE
Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? M ❑ ❑ ❑
Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable?
Comment: Plant is old but well kept.
Permit
Yes No NA NE
(If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new
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application?
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Is the facility as described in the permit?
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# Are there any special conditions for the permit?
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Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public?
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Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection?
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Comment: Plant area is fenced and secure. Permit is valid through April 2018.
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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 2417 with a certified operator
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on each shift?
Is the ORC visitation log available and current?
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Page# 3

Permit: NCO061636 Owner - Facility: Amherst Subdivision WwrP
inspection Date: 05/05/2017 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? M ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification?
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Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site?-
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Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? .
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Comment: Lab certification was current, permit is onsite Calibration records for meters are present.
ORC daily log was reviewed and complete.
DMRs reviewed for 2017 matched lab results and no violations were noted.
Upstream and downstream sampling is performed at the Johnson Pond Road Brldg_e and
Lake Wheeler Bride respectively.
TN load for 2016 was 938 lbs in comparison to a Qermit allocation of 1.072 lbs.
Effluent -1212 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? ❑ ❑ ❑
Ifeffluent (diffuserpipes-arerequired) are they operating properly?— ❑--®---0 J -
Comment: The outfall discharges to Middle Creek but its location could not be found. It will need to -be
located and marked for future ins ections.
Flow Measurement - Effluent
Yes No NA NE;
# Is flow meter used for reporting?
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1:1.
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Is flow meter calibrated annually?
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Is the flow meter operational?
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(If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter?
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Comment: A Stevens flow meter with 60 degree V notch weir appeared to be operating
properly and
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was last calibrated by Ken Nash on 12/15/16.
Comment: Digester 1) No odor, aerated occasionally. was almost empty
since it was recently
Aerobic Digester
Yes. No NA NE
Is the capacity adequate?
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Is the mixing adequate?
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Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank?
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# Is the odor acceptable?
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# Is tankage available for properly waste sludge?
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Comment: Digester 1) No odor, aerated occasionally. was almost empty
since it was recently
decanted.
Digester 2) no odor, low level, occasionally aerated.
The operator stalibizes sludge through alkaline stabilization and Granville Fames is
contracted to haul approximatley eve 1-2 months.
Page# 4

permit.• NCO061638
Inspection Date: 05/05/2017
Owner -Facility: Amherst Subdivision WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Type of bar screen
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PurnR Station - Influent
Yes
No NA NE
Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures?
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Is the wet well free of excessive grease?
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Are all pumps present?
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Are all pumps operable?
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Are float controls operable?
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Is SCADA telemetry available and operational?
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Is audible and visual alarm available and operational?
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Comment: Both pumps in the wet well were operated.
Grease cover was about 25%.
EQ#2! Aerated and was free of grease/solids, recently pumped out.
The high level alarm was activated and a mission dialer telemetry, system calls the operator
and appropdate staff.
Hioh level alarms were tested on both basins and auto -dialed aDnropriate
personnel._
Theoperator noted that the collection system receives low infiltration and inflow which helps-
el sthe
theVW TP operate.
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Bar Screens
Yes No NA NE
Type of bar screen
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a.Manual
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b.Mechanical
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Are the bars adequately screening debris?
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Is the screen free of excessive debris?
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Is disposal of screening in compliance?
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Is the unit in good condition?
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Comment: Bar screen tines were corroded or broken off losing about 20% screen capacity.
A new bar
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screen has been cut but not vet installed. It needs installation soon.
Comment: EQ#13 Aerated and contained approximatley 30% grease on surface.
Equalization Basins
Yes No NA NE
Is the basin aerated?
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Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment?
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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?
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Are float controls operable?
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Are audible and visual alarms operable?
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# Is basin size/volume adequate?
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Comment: EQ#13 Aerated and contained approximatley 30% grease on surface.
EQ#2! Aerated and was free of grease/solids, recently pumped out.
Hioh level alarms were tested on both basins and auto -dialed aDnropriate
personnel._
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5

Permit: NCO061638 Owner - Facility:
Amherst Subdivision WWTP
Mode of operation
Ext. Air
Inspection Date: 05/05/2017 Inspection Type:
Compliance Evaluation
Diffused
Equalization_ Basins
Yes No NA NE
Secondary Clarifier
Yes No NA NE
Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater?
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Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier?
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Are weirs level?
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Is the site free of weir blockage?
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Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting?
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Is scum removal adequate?
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Is the site free of excessive floating sludge?
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Is the drive unit operational?
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Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)?
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Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc?
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Is the sludge blanket -level -acceptable? (Approximately- 1/4 of the sidewall..depth)
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Comment: Clarifiers from Train 1 and Train 2 were both free of solids/scum and producing clear_
effluent over the weir. Floating skimmers present on the clarifiers work well to remove floc.
Sludge blanket in both clarifiers was 1 ft/ 10 ft death.
Aeration Basins
Yes No NA NE
Mode of operation
Ext. Air
Type of aeration system
Diffused
Is the basin free of dead spots?
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Are surface aerators and mixers operational?
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Are the diffusers operational?
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Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process?
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Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin's surface?
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Is the DO level acceptable?
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Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/I)
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Comment: Two train._ operation with six aeration compartments each.
Plant 1) -Mixed liquor was brown but appeared thin with low solids level. Fine/coarse combo
diffusers used and Providing good air. DO = 2.6 mg/L. 30 Min Settleometer = 160 mUL. No
foam.
Plant 21 Similar appearance to plant 1. DO = 4.1 mg/L. 30 Min Settleometer test = 120
mUL.
Filtration (Hirth Rate Tertiary
Type of operation:
Yes No NA NE
Down flow
Page# 6

4 + S
Permit: NG0061638 Owner - Facility: Amherst Subdivision WWrP
Inspection Date: 05105/2017 Inspection Type:. Compliance Evaluation
Filtration (High Rate Tertiary) Yes No NA NE
Is the filter media present?
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Is the filter surface free of clogging?
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Is the filter free of growth?
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Is the air scour operational?
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Is the scouring acceptable?
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Is the clear well free of excessive solids and filter media?
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Comment: 2 downflow sand filter units were in ood condition and operating
normally. A backwash
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Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination?
cycle was performed on one unit and the air scour was sufficent to clean the filter and return
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backwash for further treatment. The filters auto backwash when
ponding' occurs and the
float switch set above the filter is tripped.
De -chlorination Yes No NA NE
Type of system? Tablet
Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? M ❑ ❑ ❑
Is storage appropriate for cylinders? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
# Is de -chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment:
Are the tablets the proper size and type? ❑ ❑ ❑
Are tablet de -chlorinators operational? ❑ ❑ ❑
Number of tubes in use? 2
Comment: 2 of 4 tubes utilized and were stocked with fresh dechlor tablets.
Disinfection -Tablet
Yes No NA NE
Are tablet chlorinators operational?
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Are the tablets the proper size and type?
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Number of tubes in use?
3
Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable?
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Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup?
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Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination?
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Comment: 3 of 4 tubes utilized and were stocked with fresh chlorine tablets. The chlorine contact
chamber appeared relatively clean/clear.
Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, and ❑ ❑ ❑
sampling location)?
Page# 7

Permit: NCO061638 Owner - Facility: Amherst Subdivision WWTP
Inspection Date: 05/05/2017 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE
Comment: Upstream sampling for DO is cdnducted at the Johnson Pond Road Bridge and
downstream monitoring is conducted at the Lake Wheeler Road bridge on Middle Creek.
Standby Power
Is automatically activated standby power available?
Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source?
Is the generator tested under load?
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
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Comment: Generac 100 KW diesel generator was started and ran normally. Its fuel tank was 2/3 full
and it runs automatically on Mondays for 20 min each week.
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