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Home My WebLink AboutNC0023281_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20180320 State of North Carolina | Environmental Quality | Water Resources 2090 US 70 Highway, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-296-4500 March 20, 2018 Robin Turner and Adrian Bailey Tapoco Partners LLC 14981 Tapoco Rd. Robbinsville, NC 28771 SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report Tapoco Lodge and Village WWTP NPDES WW Permit No. NC0023281 Graham County, NC Dear Permittees: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the Tapoco Lodge and Village WWTP on March 15, 2018. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NDPES WW Permit No. NC0023281. Based on the on-site visit and discussions with plant staff, the facility was determined to be in compliance. The following additional items were noted during the inspection:  Maintenance: The internal components of the facility continue to rust. The sludge return lines, diffusers, internal structure, influent bar screen and effluent weirs are showing considerable corrosion.  Safety: The facility is fenced and locked; however, there is an access panel on the underside of the facility missing a door. Hand rails are only on one side of the facilities catwalk.  Housekeeping: There is currently no access to water at the WWTP to wash down the treatment components.  Inflow & Infiltration (I&I): ORC reports significant increase in flow during heavy rain events. Please refer to the enclosed inspection report for additional observations and recommendations. The assistance of ORC, Lamar Williams, was greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 828-296-4686 or by email at mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov. DocuSign Envelope ID: 60519000-84AD-4C8D-B182-6DBCEDBBF3FE Sincerely, Mikal Willmer, Environmental Specialist Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ Enclosure: Inspection Report Ec: Lamar Williams, ORC WQS-ARO Server NPDES-LF 20180320_NC0023281_CEI DocuSign Envelope ID: 60519000-84AD-4C8D-B182-6DBCEDBBF3FE 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 NC0023281 18/03/15 C 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) Tapoco Lodge & Village WWTP US Hwy 129 Tapoco NC 28771 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 11:30AM 18/03/15 12/11/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Everette Lamar Williams/ORC/828-479-3250/ Other Facility Data 12:30PM 18/03/15 17/10/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Robin L Turner,14981 Tapoco Rd Tapoco NC 28771//828-498-2800/Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self-Monitoring Program Sludge Handling Disposal Facility Site Review 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: 60519000-84AD-4C8D-B182-6DBCEDBBF3FE 3/20/2018 3/20/2018 NPDES yr/mo/day 18/03/15 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Inspectors Mikal Willmer and Beverly Price, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the Tapoco Lodge & Village WWTP on March 15, 2018. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0023281. Lamar Williams, ORC, was present and assisted in the inspection. Overall the facility is being operated in compliance; however, there were several maintenance/safety issues that should be addressed at the WWTP and within the collection system. Maintenance: The internal components of the facility continue to rust. The treatment units should be painted and/or replaced to prevent equipment failure. The sludge return lines, diffusers, internal structure, influent bar screen and effluent weirs are showing considerable corrosion. Access: The facility is fenced and locked; however, there is an access panel on the underside of the facility missing a door. This has been mentioned in previous inspection reports and poses a potential public safety issue and could potentially compromise the integrity of the facility. Safety: Hand rails are only on one side of the facilities catwalk. This is a potential trip/fall hazard for the ORC, maintenance workers and inspectors. Housekeeping: There is currently no access to water at the WWTP to wash down the treatment components. Inflow & Infiltration (I&I): ORC reports significant increase in flow during heavy rain events. As a reminder, the Tapoco Lodge & Village has a "deemed" collection system and is required to operate and maintain the system in compliance with 15A NCAC 02T.0403. The Lodge should take steps to assess and repair collection system I&I. The 02T.0403 Rules are attached for your records. NC0023281 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 60519000-84AD-4C8D-B182-6DBCEDBBF3FE Permit:NC0023281 Inspection Date:03/15/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Tapoco Lodge & Village WWTP Compliance Evaluation 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? ORC, Lamar Williams, does not perform process control.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? Facility classification has been updated to Class II. Currently no changes to monitoring frequencies. Temperature footnote has been removed. 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? Effluent pipe discharges below the surface of the Little Tennessee.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? Average facility flow is between 2,000 and 3,000 GPD. ORC reports he sees flows as high as 20,000 to 30,000 GPD during heavy rain events. ORC believes there is I&I coming into the collection system near the lodge. The flow meter was last calibrated by Thurman Horne. Comment: Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual b.Mechanical Are the bars adequately screening debris? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 60519000-84AD-4C8D-B182-6DBCEDBBF3FE Permit:NC0023281 Inspection Date:03/15/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Tapoco Lodge & Village WWTP Compliance Evaluation Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Is the screen free of excessive debris? Is disposal of screening in compliance? Is the unit in good condition? The influent bar screen is showing significant signs of corrosion, but still appears to be adequately screening debris. Recommend painting or replacing to prevent equipment failure. 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) Hopper style clarifier with airlift pump. Previous facility notes indicate an aerated sludge holding tank was on-site. ORC reports the WWTP does not have a sludge holding tank or digester. Comment: Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext. Air 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? Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/l) Aeration is cycled on and off throughout the day. ORC adjusts timer settings, as needed, throughout the year. Diffusers and sludge return lines are showing signs of corrosion. Comment: Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 60519000-84AD-4C8D-B182-6DBCEDBBF3FE Permit:NC0023281 Inspection Date:03/15/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Tapoco Lodge & Village WWTP Compliance Evaluation Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? Facility is only required to test for BOD, TSS and Temperature. Environmental Inc. is contracted for sampling and parameter analysis. Comment: Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: 60519000-84AD-4C8D-B182-6DBCEDBBF3FE � ®°�-_- -_- ,_��. ,t--_=-_ ,:... F .: i -_ ,� +�. Sy, .� `> I, V 0 �� _____ _ .: _._-- `'` I�Iilili�i��1�J�i . -0-7mlolb, �i�r��.�..Iall 1 1 1 i�1.�r1� d .. *� "e "� � , (<6�' .A Pr��