NC0020354_More Information Received_19980507

Wenforce\pitsi nfo. add
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Gl
A.
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NA 27609
9800 BARRETT DRIVE, S P„ONE 919E 101, -571 4700R FAX 9 9'571?4718
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER - 50% RECYCLED/10% POST -CONSUMER PAPER
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NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
_
RALEIGH REGIONAL OFFICE
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May 7 1998
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NCMNR
MEMORANDUM
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To: Don Safrit
JAMES B. HUW JR...
GOVERNOR
4
Through: Ken Schuster
Judy Garre
WAVNE MCDEVr"
SECRETARY
From: Ted Cashion
Subject: Pittsboro LM Case
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Additional Information
NPDES Permit No. NCO020354
Chatham County
a co of additional information that the Town of pittsboro has submitted
Attached is copy include this material m your
in response to the LM case prepared by the RRO. Please
review of the case.
RRO recommends that the enforcement action be presented to the Director
The still
for assessment of civil penalties.
If questions please call.
Wenforce\pitsi nfo. add
ltd c1' *
Gl
A.
TH
NA 27609
9800 BARRETT DRIVE, S P„ONE 919E 101, -571 4700R FAX 9 9'571?4718
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER - 50% RECYCLED/10% POST -CONSUMER PAPER

CHARLES R. DEVINNEY
Mayor
t WALTER F. HARRIS
Town Manager
PAUL S. MESSICK, JR.
Town Attorney
P.O. Box 759 — 635 East Street
P1TrSBORO, N.C. 27312
April 24,1998
Mr. Kenneth Schuster, P.E.
NCDENR
3800 Barrett Drive, Suite 101
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
Dear Mr. Schuster:
TOWN OF
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
GENE BROOKS
PAUL J. TRAGESER, JR.
CASSIE H. WASKO
ETHEL F. BURNS
CLINTON E. BRYAN, JR.
TELEPHONE
[phone]
FAX [phone]
I am writing in response to the compliance inspection by Ted Cashion at the Pittsboro WasteWater
Treatment Plant (NC0020345) on March 12, 1998. The plant operator in charge, John Poteat has been
instrumental in preparing this report. While I am new to the town as its manager, I am committed to see
that the WasteWater Treatment Plant will stay in compliance with State regulations.
Part I
It was first noticed that the LTV system might possibly need replacement around November 1996 after a
review of our repair records. We evaluated the cost of both the purchase of a new system versus the repair
of the current system. Pete Duty and Associates was called to determine the local service companies.
Emory Wilson and Associates was contacted in regards of the price for a new system.
The price of a new unit was estimated at $25,000 to $35,000 not including installation. The price to
repair the unit was estimated at $25,000. The total time required to receive all the estimates and to locate
service personnel able to repair the unit was about 4 months. The decision was made to buy a new LTV
system from Emory Wilson and those costs were included in the 1997-1998 budget. The interim plan was
to maintain the current system while waiting for budget approval, submission of the project for bid and
construction start up.
The money was approved in the budget. It was estimated that starting from August the process of
purchasing the new LJV system including the advertising for bids, awarding the contract, and actual
installation would take 6 to 9 months with completion in May or June of 1998. As this process would take
this long, it was determined to establish a solution that could be done immediately in order to maintain
low fecal levels. Chlorination was attempted but was abandoned as there"w"as no effective means of
controlling the amount added to the effluent that would not kill the life (goldfish and crawfish) in the
gym.
Piedmont Chlorinators was contacted in September 1997 about rebi
before they inspected the system and responded with a price qffl-l�e i
were attempted but were never returned. A decision was then
present Trojain 2000 system to a Trojain 3000 system by buym& ]
would fit into our present budget with no construction needed.
19'
in November 1997 however delivery was not until February
The cost of the new equipment was $15,000 for one bank. The sec
year. The fecal readings have been below the required limits since
r.NARTFRFD 1787
ildinq system. Two weeks passed
4$ date�for repair. A number of calls
ift�Octob 1 997 to upgrade the
ne rpcks `d bulbs. The new system
Trojaltn 3000"`, quipment was. ordered
S It .s installed the followng day.
ybankis planned forPe next budget
the unit was installed]`-'

Page 2
4/24/98
plant was out of compliance for fecal readings there has been constant maintenance on the UN
While our p is a list of violations and of dates work was completed.
system to keep it in service. The following
January 1997
17th. Repairs were made the 18th through the
The fecal readings
Were high from January 1 to January
20th. (The repairs involved removal of the racks, disassembly of the fir, The readings were drying
e less
e
protective covers, replacement and refitting of ns�' and
electrical repairs).
than 10 on January 20th. They started a
February 1997
for the entire month. Repairs (as described above) were carried out by the staff
The readings were high flows. The majority of the work on the unit was
but compliance was difficult to achieve due to the high
performed at the end of the month.
March 1997
The readings were low from the 1st of the month andidh o back up h of after the 16th however.e month as a result of the work that
was done at the end of February. The fecal reading g
April 1997
were made during the first part of the month the fecal readings
After further repairs to the W system
were low for the better part of this month. Compliance for all monthly and weekly averages was achieved.
May 1997
�ia3sthoede from the readings 21st tot e 23rted to rd. As soon as this
Results were good for the month of May until the
was noticed, additional repairs to the W system pe
June 1997
rs in late May, the reading went back down but rose again around the 23rd of the
Asa result of the repai
month.
July 1997
satisfactorily for the first part of the month. The levels were high
from the 1st
The system did not perform
rs were made to the system the 14th and 15th. The readings were low
through the 15th. Further repairs woe as described and performed
wed to climb the 24th through the 31st. Sir��T_ E
afterwards but pr
previously was done to the system.
C
August 1997
The fecal readings were lower than usual for most of the month. / Constant maintenance on h longer system
Th
was being done, however, the condition of the unit worsened. By now me to ettte readings below the
get the system to the point whereby it would work for a long enough g
limits required.

page 3
4/24/98
September 1997
The system did not work satisfactorily from the 1st through the 5th. Repairs were made to it on the 4th
and 5th. Compliance was attained on the 6th, however, the levels rose again from the 10th through the
30th although thev were still low overall.
October 1997
Compliance was maintained for the 1st through the 3rd but the levels were again high
from the 7th
de on the 9th and 10th the levels were low for the 13th and 14th
through the w th. After repairs were ma
but again were high the 16th through the 29th. The unit was worked on the 29th and the 3rd of
November.
November 1997
Levels were still high the 3rd to the 6th. The same type of repairs were made with samples afterwards
being lower yet not as low as desired. Additional repairs were made and the readings were in compliance
from the 17th through the 24th but results were not good on the 25th and 26th.
It was at this time that the decision to replace the W racks with new units was made.
December 1997
Readings were high and low for the entire month. High reading dates were the 2nd 4th, l Oth,lSth, 22nd.
and 31st.
rd, 9th, 17th, 19th, 23rd, 29th, and 30th. Disassembly and repairs
Low readings were reported on the 3
was again done on the 15th and 16th.
The staff is committed to careful attention
te �nto�� ly weekly
shed monthly reports are computer genets of the Discharge Monitoring rated.
These weekly averages are calculated
Another factor that comes into play has been having to wait for the lab analysis reports which creates a
time lag between when the sample is taken and reports are generated and action can be taken.
PART 6
Hach was called to check the expiration dates on the PH buffers that we use for calibrations. Those
buffers were received January of 1992. According to Hach the shelflife ii< ears. New buffers were
ordered and all out of date buffers have been discarded
PART 7
Operator in charge of collecting samples is to ree�rd the temperatures of both
One of the duties of the operator has been informed that this is his responsibility- and he
composite samples on a daily basis. The ope fiance samples as
has begun to record those temperatures. This also applies to the collection of comp
referenced in the permit.

page 4
4/24/98
PART 9
when filling out the Chain of custody. As of now, a
Directions of the lab have been followed in the past sheets, although a record of this
record of the sample collection times is placed on thent � contract lab should be informed b5' DEM
information is also on the daily sheets. May we suggest
that the sheets that they use are not correct.
PART 10
mpany has calibrated our flow meters and is changing the effluent
Monroe Dismuke with the KEMP Co
rrival of parts. The influent samples are already collected
sampler over to now proportional Pending a
flow proportionally.
PART 11
The grease trap inspection program is now in place. A new full item employee has been hired af the
WasteWater Treatment Plant. One of his responsibilities will be to inspect grease traps. inspection
grease traps is scheduled to begin in July, after budget approval and further training of the staff.
PART 16
See PART 1
PART 17
b, Inc. was contracted
Efforts have been made in the past to cone 6 of the worstmanholesn�Thee plan operators have walked late
1996 to perform manhole rehabilitation on problem areas and money is planned for the upcoming year for
75% or more of the sewer lines to identify pr
more rehabilitation. Camera work of the sewer lines is planned to locate any new sources of I / I.
Money that had been budgeted for inflow work was re -directed to purchase a sewer jet cleaner. The
priorities were changed in order to perform maintenance of the sewer lines. The lines are also being
coated with degreaser.
PART 19
The line in question is scheduled for replacement within the next few IT, ks..Price quotes for the work
have been received. Wet weather has also been a detention factor
C)
PART 20
laced and the alarm is working properly. Money
The light bulb at the Northwood lift station has been rep n We are in the process of getting price
will be budgeted for a generator at the Christian Village lift stab with DEM requirements bti.
quotes. It has been only in the past month that the responsibility for t station was actually
the town All efforts are being made to bring the station into full compliance
the staff
I hope that each explanation is clear and satisfactorily. . �� assure ere were
ou ta number of ie lnstancesattempting
of non-
ce comply fully with all Federal and State regal

compliance, most of those occurred within the last year and are attributable to the UV system problems.
That is now operating within compliance.
Page 5
4/24/98
We respectfully request that you reconsider recommending enforcement action against the town.
I have been a resident of Pittsboro for 25 years yet I am new to the experience of town management,
goals is to see that the infrastructure is improved to the highest levels of service.
however one of my top g v en you would be greatly appreciated both by me and
Any assistance and / a direction thawed thaatt Mr. Cashion conduct a return inspection in six months to
the town staff. It has also been Sugg
assist us in evaluating needs that our operation might have.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to working with you and your staff to provide these
necessary services to our townspeople. Please call me at [phone] or John Poteat at (9 19) 542-2444
for questions or further comments.
Sincerely,
TOWN OF PITTSBORO
Town Manager
Poteat
Superintendent, WasteWater Treatment Plant