The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutNC0061123_Compliance Inspection Report_20170918A' . � ' WMS- T Certified Mail # 7016 1370 0001 6571 8027 Return Receipt Requested September 18, 2017 Matthew Velker The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center PO Box 1299 Highlands, NC 28741-1299 *19" RECEI V ED NCDEW WR SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report SEP 2 5 2017 The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center WWTP NPDES WW Permit No. NCO061123 Water Quality Macon County Permitting Section Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center WWTP on 9/12/2017. This inspection was conducted as part of the permit renewal process and to discuss options for a potential permit modification. Items noted and discussed during the inspection can be found in the attached Compliance Inspection Report. There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this inspection report is not required. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 828-296-4500 or via email at mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, DocuSigned by C� 4B4 OBABAEBEC2434B4 Mika[ Willmer, Environmental Specialist Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Cc WQS Asheville Regional Office - Enforcement File NPDES Compliance/Enforcement Unit - Enforcement File G \WR\WQ\Macon\Wastewater\Minors\Mountain Retreat 61123\Inspections\Inspect. 9-12-17\NC0061123.CVRLTR.091317. rtf State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources 2090 U S 70 Highway, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-296-4500 DocuSign Envelope ID D30FD396-2DF9-4C84-A21E-A20272E573F2 United States Environmental Protection Agency Form Approved EPA Washington, D C 20460 OMB No 2040-0057 -- - -- - WaterCampliance Inspactlon Report__ -`--4= ' ApprovaleXpirerSs=-31-98--Section A National Data System Coding (i e , PCS) Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type 1 E 2 15 I 3 I NCO061123 I11 12 17/09/12 117 18 Li I 19 I G I 201 21111111 1111111111111111111111111 11111111111 166 Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA -Reserved — 67 70 I I 71 I I 72 L r, � 731 1 174 75III l_1 LJ I 1 I 80 Section B Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date POTW name and NPDES permit Number) 10 15AM 17/09/12 12/09/01 The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center WWTP 3872 Dillard Rd Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date Highlands NC 28741 11 30AM 17/09/12 17/08/31 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data Brandon Keith Buchanan/ORC/828-586-5588/ Name, Address of Responsible Official[Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Matthew Velker,PO Box 1299 Highlands NC 287411299//828-526-5838/8285264505 Yes Section C Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit E Flow Measurement E Operations & Maintenance N Facility Site Review 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 Timothy R Fox DocuSigned by ARO WQ//828-296-4500/ Mika[ WillmerE ARO WQ//828-296 4686/ 9/13/2017 zlz,� OBABAEBEC2434B4 Signature of Manage me o Mp&% Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date _ 9/13/2017 EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete Page# DocuSign Envelope ID D30FD396-2DF9-4C84-A21E-A20272E573F2 NPDES yr/mo/day Inspect(on Type (Cont) 31 NCO061123 I11 12 17/09/12 17 18 ICI Section D Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Inspectors Mika] Willmer and Tim Fox with the Asheville Regional Office conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the WWTP that serves the Mountain Retreat and Learning Center on September 12, 2017 This inspection was conducted as part of the permit renewal process and to discuss options for a potential permit modification. Ted Wisniewski,with the Mountain Retreat, was present and assisted in the inspection. Overall it appeared the plant is being well maintained The facility is located a quarter of a mile down a gravel access road on the property Public access is limited because of its location, however, the Mountain Retreat may wish to consider installing a fence around the surface sand filters This would prevent public access to the plant and would help prevent wildlife from disturbing the sand filters and distribution lines Influent flow is used for permit reporting Please clarify if the facility has a continuous discharge If so, weekly instantaneous flow readings and required monitoring parameters are to be sampled and recorded on the monthly DMRs The permittee is considering requesting a switch to Ammonia limits in lieu of Chronic Toxicity Testing The options and speculative limits for such a switch were discussed during the inspection The WWTP discharges into Abes Creek, a Class C, Tr, ORW The Summer 7Q10 for Abes Creek is currently listed as 0. Suggested the Permittee contact the USGS for a re-evaluation of 7Q10 flow before requesting a permit modification At current 7Q10 flows, speculative summer ammonia limits would be 1 mg/L and 13 mg/L during the winter The addition of ammonia limits would require more frequent monitoring than chronic toxicity and may require additional treatment to meet limits consistently Page# DocuSign Envelope ID D30FD396-2DF9-4C84-A21E-A20272E573F2 Permit NCO061123 Owner - Facddy The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center WWI Inspection Date- 09/12/2017 Inspection Type Compliance Evaluation Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex MLSS, MCRT, Settleable ❑ ❑ E ❑ Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Comment This facility consists of multiple septic tanks and two surface sand filters See summary for additional details Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less) Has the permittee submitted a new 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ application? Is the facility as described in the permit? ® ❑ ❑ ❑ # Are there any special conditions for the permit? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment The wwtp is located a 1/4 of a mile down an access road The Mountain Retreat may wish to install a fence around some of the treatment units to prevent potential public access A fence may also help prevent wildlife from disturbing the sand filter and distribution lines. Sand Filters (Low rate) Yes No NA NE (If pumps are used) Is an audible and visible alarm Present and operational? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Is the distribution box level and watertight? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is sand filter free of ponding? E ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the sand filter effluent re -circulated at a valid ratio? ❑ ❑ ❑ 0 # Is the sand filter surface free of algae or excessive vegetation? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the sand filter effluent re -circulated at a valid ratio? (Approximately 3 to 1) ❑ ❑ ❑ 0 Comment Two surface sand filters Upper sand filter was not beinq used during the site visit Flow was directed to lower sand filter Maintenance manager recently raked both sand filters Disinfection -Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? E ❑ ❑ ❑ Are the tablets the proper size and type? N ❑ ❑ ❑ Number of tubes in use? 2 Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination? ❑ ❑ ❑ E Comment Staff are currently using Norweco tablets supplied by Environmental Inc Page# 3 DocuSign Envelope ID D30FD396-2DF9-4C84-A21E-A20272E573F2 Permit NC0061123 Owner - Facility The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center WWI Inspection Date- 09/12/2017 Inspection Type Compliance Evaluation De -chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system? Tablet Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? ❑ ❑ E ❑ Is storage appropriate for cylinders? ❑ ❑ N ❑ # Is de -chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? ❑ ❑ E ❑ Comment Are the tablets the proper size and type? N ❑ ❑ ❑ Are tablet de -chlorinators operational? N ❑ ❑ ❑ Number of tubes in use? 2 Comment Maintenance staff monitor tablets dL nng routine visits throughout the week Page# 4