NC0050610_Draft Permit_20170712

Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ROY COOPER
Gores no,
MICHAEL S REGAN
Sew eta?),
S JAY ZIMMERMAN
Du ecra
July 12, 2017
Mr. Jadd Brewer
Water Quality Utilities, Inc.
P.O. Box 384
Banner Elk, NC 28605-0384
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NCO050610
The Ponds WWTP
Watauga County
Class WW -2
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. (3.) 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 Watauga 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
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 gov/aboubdivisions/water-resources/water-resources-permits/wastewater-branch/npdes-wastewater-permits

Permit NCO050610
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,
Water Quality Utilities, Inc.
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at
The Ponds WWTP
184 Beech Lane
South of Foscoe
Watauga County
to receiving waters designated as the Watauga River 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
DRAFT
S. Jay Zimmerman, P.G.
Director, Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 7

Permit NCO050610
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.
Water Quality Utilities, Inc.
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate an existing 0.076 MGD wastewater treatment facility
consisting of paired 0.050 MGD and 0.026 MGD treatment systems that include
the following components:
♦ Influent flow control system with comminutor and bar screen
♦ Grit chamber
♦ Surge tank
♦ Extended aeration chamber with clarifier
♦ Tertiary system with UV disinfection
♦ Flow monitor and recorder
The facility is located at The Ponds WWTP, 184 Beech Lane, south of Foscoe in
Watauga County.
2. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map
into the Watauga River, a class B -Trout, HQW stream in the Watauga River Basin.
Page 2 of 7

Permit NCO050610
Part I.
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration,
the Permittee is authorized to discharge from outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited
and monitored4 by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Daily
Measurement
Sample
Sample Location
Parameter Code
Average
Maximum
Frequency
Type
Flow 50050
0.076 MGD
Continuous
Recorder
Influent or Effluent
BOD, 5 -day (20°C)
5 0 mg/L
7.5 mg1L
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
(April 1— October 31 C0310
BOD, 5 -day (20°C)
10.0 mg/L
15.0 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
November 1 — March 31 C0310
Total Suspended Solids C0530
10.0 mg/L
15.0 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
NH3 as N
(April 1— October 31 C0610
2.0 mg/L
10.0 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
NH3 as N
November 1— March 31 C0610
4.0 mg/L
20.0 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
Fecal Coliform
200 / 100 ml
400 / 100 ml
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
(geometric mean 31616
Effluent,
Temperature (°C) 00010
Weekly
Grab
Upstream &
Downstream
>6 0 mg/L
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
Dissolved Oxygen2 00300
Upstream &
Weekly
Grab
Downstream
Total Nitrogen
Semi-annually
Composite
Effluent
NO2+NO3+TKN C0600
Total Phosphorus C0665
Semi-annually
Composite
Effluent
pH3 00400
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
Footnotes:
1. Upstream = at least 100 feet upstream from the outfall. Downstream = at least 300 feet
downstream from the outfall.
2. The daily average dissolved oxygen effluent concentration shall not be less than 6.0 mg/ L.
3. The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units.
4. The Permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the Division's eDMR
system, [see A. (3.)].
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
Page 3 of 7

Permit NCO050610
See Condition A. (2.) for instructions should the facility's permitted UV system fail and an
alternate means of disinfection is required. Total Residual Chlorine monitoring
requirements and limits are applicable if chlorine compounds are used for disinfection.
A. (2.) TEMPORARY MEANS OF DISINFECTION
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
In the event that the wastewater treatment plant's ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system
should fail, underperform, or otherwise be removed from effective service, the permittee or
his agent should immediately inform the Surface Water Protection Section staff of the
Winston-Salem Regional Office of this development and discuss temporary, alternate means
for disinfection of the effluent.
If chlorine compounds are used as temporary means of disinfection, the total residual
chlorine (TRC) concentration of the effluent must be monitored on a daily basis while this
method of disinfection is in use and values must be reported on the discharge monitoring
report. TRC in the effluent may not exceed 28 µg/L; therefore, dechlorination methods may
also be necessary to ensure protection of water quality in the receiving stream.
In the event that TRC monitoring should occur, the Division shall consider all effluent TRC
values reported below 50 ug/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 jig/L.
Use of a disinfection system other than the permitted UV system during circumstances not
deemed as emergency and/or temporary (replacement of lamps, lamp cleaning or
maintenance, etc.) will be considered a violation of the terms of this permit.
A. (3.) 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.) (all
The permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's
Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet application.
Page 4 of 7

Permit NCO050610
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 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.
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
Page 5 of 7

Permit NC0050610
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 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.
111.) (d)l
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.
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: / /deg.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 122.221. 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
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Permit NCO050610
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 of fines and
imprisonment for knowing violations."
5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D. (6.)]
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
anytime [40 CFR 122.41].
Page 7of7

The Ponds WWTP
State Quad: Valle Crucis Latitude: 36209'20"
Longitude: 81946'19" Stream Class: B -Trout, HQW
Subbasin: 40201 HUC: 06010103
Receiving Stream: Watauga River Stream Index: 8-10
Facility \�
Location
(not to scale)
Watauga County
�Itl1 NCO050610