The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutNC0004464_NOV-2018-PC-0083 NOI_20180312 State of North Carolina | Environmental Quality | Water Resources 2090 U.S. 70 Highway, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-296-4500 Certified Mail # 7017 1070 0000 1775 9729 Return Receipt Requested March 12, 2018 D Marche Pittman Polk County PO Box 308 Columbus, NC 28722-0308 SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION & INTENT TO ASSESS CIVIL PENALTY Tracking Number: NOV-2018-PC-0083 Permit No. NC0004464 Woodland Mills WWTP Polk County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Woodland Mills WWTP on February 12, 2018. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0004464. A summary of the findings and comments noted during the inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report. The Compliance Sampling inspection was conducted by Division of Water Resources staff from the Asheville Regional Office. The following violation(s) were noted during the inspection: Inspection Area Description of Violation _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Permit Split grab sample result for TSS was reported as 53 mg/l by the Asheville Regional Office Laboratory. This exceeds the permit daily maximum limit of 45 mg/l _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ In addition, the issues below must also be addressed: Compliance Issue(s): Please provide a timeline for installation of the Phase I and Phase II improvements for the wastewater treatment plant. DocuSign Envelope ID: FB6B10AD-CC5D-47AF-8C64-7579A3EF612C State of North Carolina | Environmental Quality | Water Resources 2090 U.S. 70 Highway, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-296-4500 A Notice of Violation/Intent to Issue Civil Penalty is being issued for the noted violation of North Carolina General Statute (G.S.) 143-215.1 and the facility’s NPDES WW Permit. Pursuant to G.S. 143-215.6A, a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) may be assessed against any person who violates or fails to act in accordance with the terms, conditions, or requirements of any permit issued pursuant to G.S. 143-215.1. If you wish to provide additional information regarding the noted violation, request technical assistance, or discuss overall compliance please respond in writing within ten (10) business days after receipt of this Notice. A review of your response will be considered along with any additional information provided. You will then be notified of any civil penalties that may be assessed regarding the violations. If no response is received in this Office within the 10-day period, a civil penalty assessment may be prepared. Remedial actions should have already been taken to correct this problem 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. If the violations are of a continuing nature, not related to operation and/or maintenance problems, and you anticipate remedial construction activities, then you may wish to consider applying for a Special Order by Consent. Reminder: Pursuant to Permit Condition 6 in Section E, the Permittee is required to verbally notify the Regional Office as soon as possible, not to exceed 24 hours, from first knowledge of any non-compliance at the facility including limit violations, bypasses of, or failure of a treatment unit. A written report may be required within 5 days if directed by Division staff. Prior notice should be given for anticipated or potential problems due to planned maintenance activities, taking units off-line, etc. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Beverly Price with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500. Sincerely, G. Landon Davidson, P.G., Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: James & James Environmental WQS ARO Server LF 20180312_NC0004464_NOVNOI2018PC0083.rtf DocuSign Envelope ID: FB6B10AD-CC5D-47AF-8C64-7579A3EF612C EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 Approval expires 8-31-98 Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS) Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type 1 N 52 NC0004464 18/02/12 S S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Woodland Mills WWTP 4021 NC Hwy 108 Mill Spring NC 28756 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:30AM 18/02/12 14/08/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Juanita Reed James/ORC/828-697-0063/ Shannon D James/ORC/828-697-0063/ Other Facility Data 11:45AM 18/02/12 18/07/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number D Marche Pittman,PO Box 308 Columbus NC 287220308//828-894-3301/8288942263 Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Effluent/Receiving Waters 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 Beverly Price ARO WQ//828-296-4500/ Mikal Willmer ARO WQ//828-296-4686/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page#1 DocuSign Envelope ID: FB6B10AD-CC5D-47AF-8C64-7579A3EF612C 3/12/2018 3/12/2018 NPDES yr/mo/day 18/02/12 Inspection Type S3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) The inspection was conducted by Beverly Price and Mikal Willmer of the Asheville Regional Office. Ms. Juanita James assisted with the inspection. All process controls should be documented in the operations logbook. A sludge judge has been purchased by James & James for use at the facility. Excessive solids/pin floc were observed in the chlorine contact basin. The logbook for the 12th showed that the effleunt was very clear at 0910 that morning. Juanita James, Backup ORC indicated that the problem with the WWTP is surge flow and settling of solids. There is no EQ basin in the WWTP. Polk County is working to upgrade the WWTP to include a new chlorine contact chamber with baffles, a 4-tablet de-chlorination tank (2'x 2'x 2') which will provide easier sample collection. The second phase of upgrades will include an EQ basin and digester which should help with the solids issues. An AtoC was issued December 19, 2017 for the Phase I modifications. Operation & Maintenance issue: The WWTP is starting to rust and would benefit from a new coat of paint. The effluent flow meter was calibrated on October 26, 2017 by Matt Lassiter. Effluent Split Sample Results from the Asheville Regional Laboratory: pH = 6.66 Temperature = 12.7 degrees C Dissolved Oxygen = 5.97 mg/l Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD-5-Day) = 22 mg/l Fecal Coliform (MF) = 4 B2 Suspended Residue (TSS) = 53 mg/l - This exceeds the permit daily maximum limit of 45 mg/l Ammonia Nitrogen (NH-3 as N) = 13 mg/l Process Control Measurements: Settleometer = 45% - checked by James & James Sludge depth = 5.5' in Hopper A; 4.5' in Hopper B; depth is approximately 6.5' - checked by James & James Aeration Basin pH = 5.87 - checked by inspectors NC0004464 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: FB6B10AD-CC5D-47AF-8C64-7579A3EF612C Permit:NC0004464 Inspection Date:02/12/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Woodland Mills WWTP Compliance Sampling Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Settleable Solids are checked in the aeration basin. Settleable solids were approximately 45%. Comment: Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new application? Is the facility as described in the permit? # Are there any special conditions for the permit? Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? Comment: Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual b.Mechanical Are the bars adequately screening debris? Is the screen free of excessive debris? Is disposal of screening in compliance? Is the unit in good condition? Influent solids are pumped from the lift station prior to going to the WWTP. The system has a comminutor in addition to a bar screen so very few paper/plastics get to the bar screen. Comment: Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Plug flow Type of aeration system Diffused Is the basin free of dead spots? Are surface aerators and mixers operational? Are the diffusers operational? Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin’s surface? Is the DO level acceptable? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: FB6B10AD-CC5D-47AF-8C64-7579A3EF612C Permit:NC0004464 Inspection Date:02/12/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Woodland Mills WWTP Compliance Sampling Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/l) DO was measured at 7.34 mg/l; the optimal DO range is between 1-3mg/l.Comment: Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier? Are weirs level? Is the site free of weir blockage? Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? Is scum removal adequate? Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? Is the drive unit operational? Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately ¼ of the sidewall depth) Based on the sludge judge measurements taken at the time of the inspection, 5.5 ft in hopper A and 4.5 ft. in hopper B, too many solids are being held in the system. The last documented (maintenance log) solids removal was April 2017. Ms. James indicated that solids were also pumped in July 2017. Excessive solids have been and continue to be a problem with this system. Comment: Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Number of tubes in use?1 Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? Solids were visible in the contact chamber.Comment: De-chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system ?Tablet Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? Is storage appropriate for cylinders? Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: FB6B10AD-CC5D-47AF-8C64-7579A3EF612C Permit:NC0004464 Inspection Date:02/12/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Woodland Mills WWTP Compliance Sampling De-chlorination Yes No NA NE # Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? Are the tablets the proper size and type? One tube is used for chlorination and one tube is used for de-chlorination. It is not possible to determine if the feed ratio is this type of system is 1:1. Comment: Are tablet de-chlorinators operational? Number of tubes in use?1 Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? The log book showed heavy rain over the weekend. An entry on the 12th also showed that heavy flow came from the Mill which is supposed to be plugged off from the WWTP. Ms. James said the Mill is tied onto the system but should not be and that the plug allowing water to flow from the Mill was removed without permission from the County. Comment: Effluent Pipe 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? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? The effluent pipe appears to be tied in with a stormwater pipe approxiamtely 100' from the receiving stream. Comment: Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: FB6B10AD-CC5D-47AF-8C64-7579A3EF612C