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Home My WebLink AboutWQ0017530_Follow Up Inspection_20171214 State of North Carolina | Environmental Quality | Water Resources 2090 U.S. 70 Highway, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-296-4500 December 14, 2017 Jerry West, Director of Operations Highlands Cove Property Owner's Association Inc 705 Highlands Cove Box C Highlands, NC 28741 SUBJECT: Compliance Evaluation Inspection (Follow-up) Permit No. WQ0017530 Highlands Cove WWTP Jackson County Dear Mr. West: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted a follow-up inspection of the Highlands Cove WWTP on December 13, 2017. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in Non-discharge Permit No. WQ0017530. A summary of the findings and comments noted during the inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report. The Compliance Evaluation inspection was conducted by Division of Water Resources staff from the Asheville Regional Office. We appreciate the progress made thus far in addressing the non-compliant maintenance/operation issues noted in the August 25, 2017 inspection. The following issues remain non-compliant and were noted during the inspection: Inspection Area Description of Violation _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Treatment The racks used to hold the UV bulbs are not functioning properly. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Treatment An exterior elbow pipe (steel) located at the influent splitter box on the left-side train of the WWTP is heavily rusted. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Treatment The safety grates over the influent to the WWTP and the right-side train aeration basin are rusted. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Treatment Filters The exterior pipe (pvc) connecting the clear well and mud well of the tertiary filter tank is cracked. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Treatment Filters The nozzles in the tertiary filter underdrain appear to have been incorrectly installed. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DocuSign Envelope ID: B4920463-4881-4CBE-A705-9DAD0E708EEE In addition, the issues below must also be addressed: Compliance Issue(s): 1. The Operation & Maintenance Plan should be updated to include a.,c.,d. & e. See Permit Condition III.2. 2. In February/March 2016, Highlands Cove inquired about adding flow to the WWTP. The request was reviewed by the Asheville Regional Office and Nathaniel Thornburg. It was determined that the facility would be able to handle the additional flow. A flow reduction request was to be submitted to the PERCS Unit in Raleigh. Please verify that the flow reduction request was submitted. Remedial actions should have already been taken to correct these problems and prevent further occurrences in the future. The Division of Water Resources may pursue enforcement action for this and any additional violations of State law. Another follow-up inspection will be conducted during the first quarter of 2018. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 828-296-4500. Sincerely, Beverly Price Environmental Senior Specialist ATTACHMENT: Inspection Report Ec: Mark Teague, Environmental Inc. DocuSign Envelope ID: B4920463-4881-4CBE-A705-9DAD0E708EEE Compliance Inspection Report Permit:WQ0017530 Effective:02/03/15 Expiration:01/31/20 Owner :Highlands Cove Property Owner's Association Inc SOC: Contact Person: Region: County: Directions to Facility: Jackson Asheville Jerry West Effective:Expiration:Facility:Highlands Cove WWTP 2160 Highlands Cove Dr Highlands NC 28741 Title:Phone:828-526-3284Director of Operations From Cashiers intersection of Hwy. 64 and Hwy. 107: Travel west on Hwy. 64 for approximately three miles. Highlands Cove is located on the right, wait at guard house for ORC. Mark Fredrick Teague 989074 828-293-9396 Secondary ORC(s): 828-293-9396Phone:1000267Certification:Dale Howard WikePrimary ORC: SI,WW2,System Classifications: Corporate Responsible Official Jerry West 828-526-4185 On-site representative Dale Howard Wike 828-293-9396 On-site representative Mark F Teague 828-586-5588 On-Site Representative(s): Related Permits: Secondary Inspector(s): Primary Inspector: Inspection Date:Exit Time:Entry Time: Phone: 12/13/2017 10:00AM 11:00AM Beverly Price 828-296-4500 Mikal Willmer Facility Status: Permit Inspection Type: Reason for Inspection:Inspection Type: Not CompliantCompliant Follow-up Reclaimed Water Compliance Evaluation Question Areas: Miscellaneous Questions Treatment Treatment Filters Treatment Disinfection End Use-Reuse (See attachment summary) Page:1 DocuSign Envelope ID: B4920463-4881-4CBE-A705-9DAD0E708EEE Inspection Date: Permit: Inspection Type : Owner - Facility: Reason for Visit: WQ0017530 12/13/2017 Compliance Evaluation Highlands Cove Property Owner's Association Inc Follow-up Inspection Summary: This was a follow-up inspection conducted by Beverly Price and Mikal Willmer of the Asheville Regional Office. Mr. Dale Wike, Mr. Mark Teague and Mr. Jerry West were present and assisted with the inspection. The following operation/maintenance issues have been addressed since the last inspection: 1. An 18-inch extension has been added to the splitter box to prevent sludge from splashing onto the ground during sludge return. 2. The galvanized mudwell return pipe has been repaired and is no longer leaking. 3. The pinhole leak in the concrete basin housing the tertiary filter has been repaired. 4. Flex-seal tape has been applied to the exterior elbow pipe (pvc) located between the tertiary filter basin and the right-side clarifier. 5. The UV system has been evaluated; the control panel is operational. 6. Tertiary Filter: The media has been replaced. The pumps have been pulled and the solids have been pumped from the basins. 7. Environmental Inc. is hauling sludge to the Town of Rosman. The Residuals Management Plan has been updated. The current agreement with the Town of Rosman expires December 31, 2017. The facility is still not compliant but is actively working toward resolving the following Operation/Maintenance Issues: 1. The racks used to hold the UV bulbs are not functioning properly. 2. The Operation & Maintenance Plan should be updated to include sections a.c.d. & e. 3.The nozzles in the tertiary filter underdrain appear to have been incorrectly installed. 4. Safety Concern: The grates over the influent to the WWTP and the right-side train aeration basin are rusted. These grates should be evaluated as they pose a potential safety hazard. 5. An exterior elbow pipe (pvc) located between the tertiary filter basin and the right-side train clarifier is cracked. 6. An exterior elbow pipe (steel) located at the influent splitter box on the left-side train of the WWTP is heavily rusted. In February/March 2016, Highlands Cove inquired about adding flow to the WWTP. The request was reviewed by the Asheville Regional Office and Nathaniel Thornburg. It was determined that the facility would be able to handle the additional flow. A flow reduction request was to be submitted to the PERCS Unit in Raleigh. Please verify that the flow reduction request was submitted. Page:2 DocuSign Envelope ID: B4920463-4881-4CBE-A705-9DAD0E708EEE Inspection Date: Permit: Inspection Type : Owner - Facility: Reason for Visit: WQ0017530 12/13/2017 Compliance Evaluation Highlands Cove Property Owner's Association Inc Follow-up Type Yes No NA NE Infiltration System Single Family Spray, LR Lagoon Spray, LR Activated Sludge Drip, LR Activated Sludge Spray, HR Activated Sludge Spray, LR Recycle/Reuse Single Family Drip Reuse (Quality) Treatment Yes No NA NE Are Treatment facilities consistent with those outlined in the current permit? Do all treatment units appear to be operational? (if no, note below.) The UV system is not in use. The system has been evaluated since the last inspection. The control panel is functional but the racks that hold the UV bulbs need to be replaced. The safety grates over the WWTP influent and right-side train aeration basin are rusted and should be evaluated. The exterior pipe (pvc) connecting the clear well and the mud well of the tertiary filter tank has been taped with flex-seal since the last inspection but needs to be permanently repaired. The ORC indicated that this pipe might need to be re-plumbed so that it is not exposed. The exterior elbow pipe (steel) located at the influent splitter box on the left-side train of the WWTP is heavily rusted. Comment: Treatment Filters Yes No NA NE Is the filter media present? Is the filter media the correct size and type? Is the air scour operational? Is the scouring acceptable? Is the clear well free of excessive solids? Is the mud well free of excessive solids and filter media? Does backwashing frequency appear adequate? The filter media (sand & anthracite) has been replaced since the last inspection. The pumps were pulled and solids were pumped from the basins. The ORC indicated that the underdrain nozzles could be blocked and might have been installed incorrectly when originally placed. Additional maintenance/repairs will be required for the filter system. Comment: Treatment Disinfection Yes No NA NE Is the system working? Do the fecal coliform results indicate proper disinfection? Page:3 DocuSign Envelope ID: B4920463-4881-4CBE-A705-9DAD0E708EEE Inspection Date: Permit: Inspection Type : Owner - Facility: Reason for Visit: WQ0017530 12/13/2017 Compliance Evaluation Highlands Cove Property Owner's Association Inc Follow-up Is there adequate detention time (>=30 minutes)? Is the system properly maintained? If gas, does the cylinder storage appear safe? Is the fan in the chlorine feed room and storage area operable? Is the chlorinator accessible? If tablets, are tablets present? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Is contact chamber free of sludge, solids, and growth? If UV, are extra UV bulbs available? If UV, is the UV intensity adequate? # Is it a dual feed system? Does the Stationary Source have more than 2500 lbs of Chlorine (CAS No. 7782-50-5)? If yes, then is there a Risk Management Plan on site? If yes, then what is the EPA twelve digit ID Number? (1000-____-____) If yes, then when was the RMP last updated? The UV system is not in use. The system has been evaluated since the last inspection. The control panel is working but the rack that holds the UV bulbs needs to be replaced. Comment: End Use-Reuse Yes No NA NE Is the acreage in the permit being utilized? Does the acreage specified in the permit correspond to the measured acreage at the site? Are all essential units provided in duplicate? Is an automatically activated standby power source available? Is the equalization capacity adequate? Is aerated flow equalization present? Has the turbidity meter been calibrated in the last 12 months? Does the turbidity meter have recording capabilities? Is all flow diverted at the appropriate times? Is all upset wastewater diverted from reuse storage unit? Is all upset wastewater treated, retreated, or disposed of acceptably? Is upset wastewater treated prior to discharge to irrigation storage? Is public access restricted from irrigation area during active site use? If golf course, is a sign posted in plain sight on the club house? Is the cover crop acceptable? Are buffers adequate? Is the site free of ponding/runoff? Is the acreage in the permit being utilized? Page:4 DocuSign Envelope ID: B4920463-4881-4CBE-A705-9DAD0E708EEE Inspection Date: Permit: Inspection Type : Owner - Facility: Reason for Visit: WQ0017530 12/13/2017 Compliance Evaluation Highlands Cove Property Owner's Association Inc Follow-up Is the application equipment acceptable? Is the application area free of limiting slopes? How close is the closest water supply well? Are any supply wells within the CB? Are any supply wells within 250' of the CB? Is municipal water available in the area? Are GW monitoring wells required? Are GW monitoring wells located properly w/ respect to RB and CB? Are GW monitoring wells properly constructed, including screened interval? The acreage in the permit is not being used. The WWTP effluent has never been sprayed on the golf course. The sprayfield beneath the power lines was used briefly on one occasion. The sprayfield beneath the power lines has improved. The grass has been cut and the sprayheads have been located. However, areas remain that do not have an acceptable grass cover. Effluent not meeting turbidity limits is automatically diverted to the 5-day pond; effluent not meeting fecal coliform limits is not. Effluent in the 5-day pond can be re-routed to the head of the WWTP. Public access is not restricted as this is a golf course. There is no notification sign in the clubhouse as efluent is not being sprayed at this time. The closest water supply well would be >100 ft. from effluent spray if used. Comment: Page:5 DocuSign Envelope ID: B4920463-4881-4CBE-A705-9DAD0E708EEE