NC0022900_Draft Permit_20170614

Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ROY COOPER
Govet 1101
MICHAEL S REGAN
Sect elmp
S. JAY ZIMMERMAN
Du ectot
June 14, 2017
Mr. Tony Konsul
Carolina Water Service, Inc. of NC
P.O. Box 240908
Charlotte, NC 28224
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NCO022900
Sugar Mountain WWTP
Avery County
Class WW -3
Dear Permittee:
The Division has reviewed your request to renew the subject permit. Please review this draft
carefully to ensure your thorough understanding of the information, conditions, and
requirements it contains.
The draft permit includes the following significant changes from the existing permit:
➢ Section A. (5) has been added to require electronic submission of effluent data.
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports
(DMRs).
➢ Regulatory citations have been added to the permit.
➢ An updated outfall map has been included.
With this notification, the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by
publishing a notice in newspapers having circulation in the general Avery County area, per
EPA requirements. Please provide your comments, if any, to me no later than 30 days
after receiving this draft permit.
Following the 30 -day public comment period, the Division will review all pertinent comments
and take appropriate action prior to issuing a final permit. Please note that this permit is not
transferable except after notice to the Division. The Division may require modification or
revocation and reissuance of the permit. This permit does not affect the legal requirements
to obtain any other Federal, State, or Local governmental permit that may be required. If you
have any questions concerning this permit, please contact Emily Phillips at [phone].
cc: NPDES files
Since ,
{� S
Emily Phillips
Compliance and Expedited Permitting Unit
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
919 807 6300 919-807-6389 FAX
https.//deq.nc.govlaboutldivisions/water-resources/water-resources-permits/wastewater-branchlnpdes-wastewater-permits

Permit NCO022900
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
In compliance with the provisions of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1, other
lawful standards and regulations promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina
Environmental Management Commission, and the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act, as amended,
Carolina Water Service, Inc. of North Carolina
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Sugar Mountain WWTP
291 Norwood Hollow Road
Avery County
to receiving waters designated as Flattop Creek in the Watauga River Basin
in accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other
conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective.
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on
September 30, 2022.
Signed this day.
S. Jay Zimmerman, P.G.
Director, Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 11

Permit NCO022900
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge are hereby
revoked. As of this permit issuance, any previously issued permit bearing this number is no longer
effective. Therefore, the exclusive authority to operate and discharge from this facility arises under the
permit conditions, requirements, terms, and provisions included herein.
Carolina Water Service, Inc. of North Carolina
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate an existing 0.50 MGD wastewater treatment system with the
following components:
• One common equalization basin
• Three separate plants operating in parallel
0 1 - 0.3 MGD plant
0 2 - 0.1 MGD plants
• Each plant has
o Aeration Basin
o Clarifier
o Sludge holding tank
o Liquid sodium hypochlorite disinfection
o Liquid sodium bisulfite Dechlorination, and
o Post aeration
• One common, combined flow meter
The facility is located in Norwood Hollow, southeast of Banner Elk, at 291
Norwood Hollow Road, in Avery County.
2. After receiving an Authorization to Construct from the Division of Water Quality,
construct the necessary facilities to increase the plant capacity to 1.0 MGD.
3. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map
into Flattop Creek, classified C waters in the Watauga River Basin.
Page 2 of 11

Permit NCO022900
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS - O.SMGD
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until
expansion above 0.5 MGD or expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge
from outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored6 by the Permittee
as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
Parameter Code
LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Locationl
Flow 50050
0.50 MGD
Continuous
Recording
Effluent
BOD, 5 -day (20°C) C0310
30.0 mg/L
45.0 mg/L
3/Week
Composite
Effluent
Total Suspended Solids C0530
30.0 mg/L
45 0 mg/L
3/Week
Composite
Effluent
NH3 as N
(April 1- October 31 C0610
12.0 mg/L
35.0 mg/L
3Meek
Composite
Effluent
NH3 as N
November 1- March 31 C0610
Monitor and Report
3/Week
Composite
Effluent
Dissolved Oxygen2 00300
Monitor and Report
3/Week
Grab
Effluent
Dissolved Oxygen2 00300
Monitor and Report
Variable'
Grab
Upstream &
Downstream
Fecal Coliform (geometric mean)
31616
200/100 mL
400/100 mL
3Meek
Grab
Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine (TRC)3
50060
24 ug/L
3Meek
Grab
Effluent
Temperature (°C) 00010
Monitor and Report
Daily
Grab
Effluent
Temperature (°C) 00010
Monitor and Report
Variablel
Grab
Upstream &
Downstream
Total Nitrogen
NO2+NO3+TKgen C0600
Monitor and Report
Semi -Annually
Composite
Effluent
Total Phosphorus C0665
Monitor and Report
Semi -Annually
Composite
Effluent
Chronic Toxicity4 TGP38
Monitor and Report
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
pH5 00400
Monitor and Report
3/Week
Grab
Effluent
Footnotes:
1. Upstream = 100 feet above discharge location; Downstream = at NC Highway 194. Upstream and
downstream sampling are to be performed 3/Week during the months of June, July, August and
September and once/week during the rest of the year.
2. The daily average dissolved oxygen effluent concentration shall not be less than 6.0 mg/L from
April 1 - October and not less than 5.0 mg/L from November 1 - March 31.
Page 3 of 11

Permit NCO022900
3. The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 pg/L to be in compliance with
the permit. However, the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a
North Carolina certified laboratory (including field certified), even if these values fall below 50 ug/L.
4 Chronic Toxicity (Ceriodaphnia) P/F at 72%, April, July, October and January; [See A.(3.)].
5. The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units.
6 The Permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the Division's eDMR
system [see A.(5.)].
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
A. (2.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS — 1MGD
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning upon expansion above 0.5 MGD and lasting until
expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from outfall 001. Such
discharges shall be limited and monitored6 by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
Parameter Code
LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Locationl
Flow 50050
10 MGD
Continuous
Recording
Effluent
BOD, 5 -day (20°C) C0310
30 0 mg/L
45.0 mg/L
3M/eek
Composite
Effluent
Total Suspended Solids C0530
30 0 mg/L
45.0 mg/L
3Meek
Composite
Effluent
NH3 as N
(April 1— October 31 C0610
12 mg/L
6 0 mg/L
3/Week
Composite
Effluent
NH3 as N
November 1 — March 31 C0610
2 2 mg/L
110 mg/L
3Meek
Composite
Effluent
Dissolved Oxygen2 00300
Monitor and Report
3/Week
Grab
Effluent
Dissolved Oxygen2 00300
Monitor and Report
Variable'
Grab
Upstream &
Downstream
Fecal Coliform (geometric mean)
31616
200/100 mL
400/100 mL
3/Week
Grab
Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine (TRC)3
50060
20 ug/L
3/Week
Grab
Effluent
Temperature (°C) 00010
Monitor and Report
Daily
Grab
Effluent
Temperature (°C) 00010
Monitor and Report
Variablel
Grab
Upstream &
Downstream
Total Nitrogen
NO2+NO3gen C0600
(TKTotal
Monitor and Report
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
Phosphorus C0665
Monitor and Report
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
Chronic Toxicity4 TGP38
Monitor and Report
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
pH5 00400
Monitor and Report
3Meek
Grab
Effluent
Page 4 of 11

Permit NCO022900
Footnotes:
1. Upstream = 50 feet above discharge location. Downstream = 2 miles below discharge location at
NCSR 194. Upstream and downstream sampling are to be performed 3/Week during the months
of June, July, August and September and once/week during the rest of the year.
2. The daily average dissolved oxygen effluent concentration shall not be less than 6.0 mg/ L from
April 1 - October and not less than 5.0 mg/L from November 1 - March 31.
3. The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 jig/ L to be in compliance with
the permit. However, the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a
North Carolina certified laboratory (including field certified), even if these values fall below 50 pg/L.
4. Chronic Toxicity (Ceriodaphnia) P/F at 84%, April, July, October and January; See A.(4).
5. The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units.
6. The Permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the Division's eDMR
system [see A.(5.)].
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
A. (3). CHRONIC TOXICITY PERMIT LIMIT (QRTRLY) - Until expansion above
0.5 MGD
[15A NCAC 02B .0200 et seq.]
The effluent discharge shall at no time exhibit observable inhibition of reproduction
or significant mortality to Ceriodaphnia dubia at an effluent concentration of 72%.
The permit holder shall perform at a minimum, quarterly monitoring using test
procedures outlined in the "North Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay
Procedure," Revised December 2010, or subsequent versions or "North Carolina
Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test Procedure" (Revised- December 20 10)
or subsequent versions. The tests will be performed during the months of January,
April, July and October. These months signify the first month of each three-month
toxicity testing quarter assigned to the facility. Effluent sampling for this testing
must be obtained during representative effluent discharge and shall be performed at
the NPDES permitted final effluent discharge below all treatment processes.
If the test procedure performed as the first test of any single quarter results in
a failure or ChV below the permit limit, then multiple -concentration testing
shall be performed at a minimum, in each of the two following months as
described in "North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test
Procedure" (Revised -December 2010) or subsequent versions.
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered on
the Effluent Discharge Monitoring Form (MR -1) for the months in which tests were
performed, using the parameter code TGP3B for the pass/fail results and THP3B for
the Chronic Value. Additionally, DWR Form AT -3 (original) is to be sent to the
following address:
Page 5 of 11

Permit NCO022900
Attention: North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1621
Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Water Sciences Section
no later than 30 days after the end of the reporting period for which the report is
made.
Test data shall be complete, accurate, include all supporting chemical/ physical
measurements and all concentration/ response data, and be certified by laboratory
supervisor and ORC or approved designate signature. Total residual chlorine of the
effluent toxicity sample must be measured and reported if chlorine is employed for
disinfection of the waste stream.
Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which
toxicity monitoring is required, the permittee will complete the information located at
the top of the aquatic toxicity (AT) test form indicating the facility name, permit
number, pipe number, county, and the month/year of the report with the notation of
"No Flow" in the comment area of the form. The report shall be submitted to the
Water Sciences Section at the address cited above.
Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is
required, monitoring will be required during the following month. Assessment of
toxicity compliance is based on the toxicity testing quarter, which is the three month
time interval that begins on the first day of the month in which toxicity testing is
required by this permit and continues until the final day of the third month.
Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the
North Carolina Division of Water Resources indicate potential impacts to the
receiving stream, this permit may be re -opened and modified to include alternate
monitoring requirements or limits.
NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as
minimum control organism survival, minimum control organism reproduction, and
appropriate environmental controls, shall constitute an invalid test and will require
immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later than the last day of the month
following the month of the initial monitoring.
Page 6 of 11

Permit NCO022900
A. (4.) CHRONIC TOXICITY PERMIT LIMIT (QRTRLY) - Upon expansion above
0.5 MGD
[ 15A NCAC 02B .0200 et seq.]
The effluent discharge shall at no time exhibit observable inhibition of reproduction
or significant mortality to Ceriodaphnia dubia at an effluent concentration of 84 %.
The permit holder shall perform at a minimum, quarterly monitoring using test
procedures outlined in the "North Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay
Procedure," Revised December 2010, or subsequent versions or "North Carolina
Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test Procedure" (Revised- December 20 10)
or subsequent versions. The tests will be performed during the months of January,
April, July and October. These months signify the first month of each three-month
toxicity testing quarter assigned to the facility. Effluent sampling for this testing
must be obtained during representative effluent discharge and shall be performed at
the NPDES permitted final effluent discharge below all treatment processes.
If the test procedure performed as the first test of any single quarter results in
a failure or ChV below the permit limit, then multiple -concentration testing
shall be performed at a minimum, in each of the two following months as
described in "North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test
Procedure" (Revised -December 2010) or subsequent versions.
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered on
the Effluent Discharge Monitoring Form (MR -1) for the months in which tests were
performed, using the parameter code TGP3B for the pass/fail results and THP3B for
the Chronic Value. Additionally, DWR Form AT -3 (original) is to be sent to the
following address:
Attention: North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1621
Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Water Sciences Section
no later than 30 days after the end of the reporting period for which the report is
made.
Test data shall be complete, accurate, include all supporting chemical/ physical
measurements and all concentration/ response data, and be certified by laboratory
supervisor and ORC or approved designate signature. Total residual chlorine of the
effluent toxicity sample must be measured and reported if chlorine is employed for
disinfection of the waste stream.
Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which
toxicity monitoring is required, the permittee will complete the information located at
Page 7 of 11

Permit NCO022900
the top of the aquatic toxicity (AT) test form indicating the facility name, permit
number, pipe number, county, anc the month/year of the report with the notation of
"No Flow" in the comment area of the form. The report shall be submitted to the
Water Sciences Section at the address cited above.
Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is
required, monitoring will be required during the following month. Assessment of
toxicity compliance is based on the toxicity testing quarter, which is the three month
time interval that begins on the first day of the month in which toxicity testing is
required by this permit and continues until the final day of the third month.
Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the
North Carolina Division of Water Resources indicate potential impacts to the
receiving stream, this permit may be re -opened and modified to include alternate
monitoring requirements or limits.
NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as
minimum control organism survival, minimum control organism reproduction, and
appropriate environmental controls, shall constitute an invalid test and will require
immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later than the last day of the month
following the month of the initial monitoring.
A. (5.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS
[NCGS 143-215.1 (b)]
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports
(DMRs) and program reports. The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was
adopted and became effective on December 21, 2015.
NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections
within Part II of this permit (Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits):
• Section B. (11.) Signatory Requirements
• Section D. (2.) Reporting
• Section D. (6.) Records Retention
• Section E. (5.) Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements [Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (a)]
The permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC
DWR's Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet application.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for
each month and submitted electronically using eDMR. The eDMR system allows
permitted facilities to enter monitoring data and submit DMRs electronically using
the internet. Until such time that the state's eDMR application is compliant with
Page 8 of 11

Permit NCO022900
EPA's Cross -Media Electronic Reporting Regulation (CROMERR), permittees will
be required to submit all discharge monitoring data to the state electronically
using eDMR and will be required to complete the eDMR submission by printing,
signing, and submitting one signed original and a copy of the computer printed
eDMR to the following address:
NC DENR / Division of Water Resources / Water Quality Permitting Section
ATTENTION: Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
If a permittee is unable to use the eDMR system due to a demonstrated hardship
or due to the facility being physically located in an area where less than 10
percent of the households have broadband access, then a temporary waiver from
the NPDES electronic reporting requirements may be granted and discharge
monitoring data may be submitted on paper DMR forms (MR 1, 1. 1, 2, 3) or
alternative forms approved by the Director. Duplicate signed copies shall be
submitted to the mailing address above. See "How to Request a Waiver from
Electronic Reporting" section below.
Regardless of the submission method, the first DMR is due on the last day of the
month following the issuance of the permit or in the case of a new facility, on the
last day of the month following the commencement of discharge.
Starting on December 21, 2020, the permittee must electronically report the
following compliance monitoring data and reports, when applicable:
• Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports;
• Pretreatment Program Annual Reports; and
• Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 316(b) Annual Reports.
The permittee may seek an electronic reporting waiver from the Division (see "How
to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below).
2. Electronic Submissions
In accordance with 40 CFR 122.41(l)(9), the permittee must identify the initial
recipient at the time of each electronic submission. The permittee should use the
EPA's website resources to identify the initial recipient for the electronic
submission.
Page 9 of 11

Permit NCO022900
Initial recipient of electronic NPDES information from NPDES-regulated facilities
means the entity (EPA or the state authorized by EPA to implement the NPDES
program) that is the designated entity for receiving electronic NPDES data [see 40
CFR 127.2(b)].
EPA plans to establish a website that will also link to the appropriate electronic
reporting tool for each type of electronic submission and for each state. Instructions
on how to access and use the appropriate electronic reporting tool will be available as
well. Information on EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule is found at:
https: / /www.federalregister.gov/ documents /2015 / 10/22 / 2015-24954 / national-
pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule
Electronic submissions must start by the dates listed in the "Reporting
Requirements" section above.
3. How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting
The permittee may seek a temporary electronic reporting waiver from the Division.
To obtain an electronic reporting waiver, a permittee must first submit an
electronic reporting waiver request to the Division. Requests for temporary
electronic reporting waivers must be submitted in writing to the Division for
written approval at least sixty (60) days prior to the date the facility would be
required under this permit to begin submitting monitoring data and reports. The
duration of a temporary waiver shall not exceed 5 years and shall thereupon
expire. At such time, monitoring data and reports shall be submitted
electronically to the Division unless the permittee re -applies for and is granted a
new temporary electronic reporting waiver by the Division. Approved electronic
reporting waivers are not transferrable. Only permittees with an approved
reporting waiver request may submit monitoring data and reports on paper to the
Division for the period that the approved reporting waiver request is effective.
Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting
waiver are found on the following web page:
http: / /deg.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes
Section B. (11.) (d)1
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person
described in Part II, Section B. (11.)(a) or by a duly authorized representative of
that person as described in Part II, Section B. (11.)(b). A person, and not a
position, must be delegated signatory authority for eDMR reporting purposes.
Page 10 of 11

Permit NCO022900
For eDMR submissions, the person signing and submitting the DMR must obtain
an eDMR user account and login credentials to access the eDMR system. For
more information on North Carolina's eDMR system, registering for eDMR and
obtaining an eDMR user account, please visit the following web page:
http: / /deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
Certification. Any person submitting an electronic DMR using the state's eDMR
system shall make the following certification [40 CFR 122.22]. NO OTHER
STATEMENTS OF CERTIFICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED:
7 certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were
prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to
assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information
submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system, or
those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information
submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete. I
am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information,
including the possibility off nes and imprisonment for knowing violations. "
S. Records Retention [Supplements Section D. (6.)1
The permittee shall retain records of all Discharge Monitoring Reports, including
eDMR submissions. These records or copies shall be maintained for a period of at
least 3 years from the date of the report. This period may be extended by request
of the Director at any time [40 CFR 122.41].
Page 11 of 11

Carolina Water Service, Inc. of NC Facility X
Sugar Mountain WWTP Location
Latitude: 36'07'56" N USGS Grid: Valle Crucis [not to scale]
Longitude: 81'51'07" W Permitted Flow: 0.500 MGD
Receiving Stream: Flattop Creek Drainage Basin: Watauga River Basin NPDES Permit No. NCO022900
Stream Class: C Sub -Basin: 04-02-01 North Avery County