NC0020737_Special Order By Consent_20180628

THE CITY OF KINGS MOUNTAIN
A
P.O.BOX 429 • KINGS MOUNTAIN,NORTH CAROLINA 28086 • 704-734-0333%Vie ; \
June 28, 2018
Derek Denard
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Water Quality Division RECEIVED/DENR/DWR
1617 Mail Service Center JUL 0 5 2018
Raleigh, NC 276994617 Water Resources
Permitting Section
Subject: July 2018 Status Report for Pilot Creek WWTP
Mr. Denard,
The City of Kings Mountain holds NPDES Permit NC0020737. After receipt of the extended
Special Order of Consent (SOC) by the Environmental Management Commision, Pilot Creek has
submitted quarterly Status Reports; informing the State, of ongoing efforts made to reduce
thallium in the collection system for the City of Kings Mountain. These reports will be
submitted quarterly until May 31, 2020, as stated in the Scheduled Activity section, Section 2.
(b).
Coremetech and City of KM TI data to date:
The following monthly data has been collected for 2018 regarding testing results for thallium at both
Pilot Creek WWTP and Coremetech (results are in mg/L):
0.04 Coremetech vs. KM
0.035
0.03
0.025
E0.02 ■Coremetch TI Results
0.015 ■KM TI Results
0.01 -/
0.005
0 I I
Dec. 2017 Jan. 2018 Feb. 2018 Mar. 2018 April. May. 2018
2018
The Historical City

Steag/Coremetech Progress Reports:
Time frame:02/12/18-03/16-18. Report was received on 4/20/18.
This report submitted by Cormetech stated the following:
Membrane Technology Continuous Flow Pilot Unit Trials:
Oxidation chemistry using microfiltration pilot unit:
The process has several variables such as pH/ORP/peroxide concentrations/permanganate
concentration which have been adjusted throughout the trial to optimize the process. Since the current
treatment process generates low level thallium discharge, the inlet to the pilot unit frequently had
thallium concentrations below the detection limit,thus the decision was made to spike thallium in the
T9 transfer tank to be able to determine the actual effect of Oxidation Chemistry.
The system is now controlling and operating well. They have pulled several recent samples that are most
representative of a future process. These samples were sent to Shealy Environmental for analysis and
thallium removal rates were between 85 and 95%were achieved.
Next steps include further optimizing in regards to chemical usage while maintaining same or higher
thallium removal efficiencies.
Time frame: 03/17/18-04/16/18. Report was received on 04/23/18.
Report highlighted:
Membrane Technology Continuous Flow Pilot Unit Trials:
Oxidation chemistry using microfiltration pilot unit:
Reduction Chemistry: Experimentation began with Reduction chemistry using Calcium Polysulfide
(current chemistry used in production). First trial was conducted on 04/04/2018 with positive results;
however,further verification through analysis by outside lab is required. Currently Cormetech is fine
tuning the process by optimizing calcium polysulfide and ferric chloride concentrations.
Cormetech is also exploring the possibility of removing thallium at various pH ranges (from 7.4-11.0)to
ensure continued control of other metals within permitted limits.
Time frame: 04/17/18-04/14/18. Report was received on 05/15/18.
Report highlighted:
Membrane Technology Continuous Flow Pilot Unit Trials: Stated in this section mimicked the previous
report submitted. The only changes in this report from the previous was testing which was completed
along with the project numbers.
Meetings/Conferences
04/09/2018: Marshall Goers sent information for mixers that would work for the Pilot Creek facility.
04/16/2018:Terry sent additional information on companies that clean out basins.
04/17/2018: Meeting held with Cormetech at their facility to discuss the upcoming meeting with DEQ.
The City and Cormetech set an agenda for the upcoming meeting. As mentioned in the previous Status
Report, the following was also discussed during this meeting:
• Email sent to Julie Gryzb on 3/9/18 to determine if Mrs. Gryzb had received the report Tetra
Tech provided. No response was received.

• A second email was sent to Ms. Gryzb to confirm receipt of the above mentioned email. No
response was received.
• On 4/13/18 Terry Albrecht had spoken with Julie about the previous DEQ meeting. In this
conversation he found that Mrs. Gryzb was not provided the TetraTech Report or the urgency of
this issue.
The City was informed by Marica Allocco of possible funding through the Division of Water
Infrastructure for updating the Pilot Creek Plant. You will find below, that I spoke with the Infrastructure
department on this.
Marshall recommended the City perform sampling at different points throughout the basin to determine
'dead spots'.
04/18/2018: Sampling was performed at 21 different areas in all three basins. Analysis was ran for As,TI
and Zn. All three analysis yielded the same dead spot areas in the three basins.This gave Pilot Creek an
idea as to where the mixers need to be placed. We believe that two mixers in each basin will produce
sufficient mixing and assist in metals removal.
05/02/2018: Final meeting with Cormetech prior to the DEQ meeting. Finalized agenda and topics of
discussion for meeting.
05/03/2018: Meeting held in Raleigh with DEQ to discuss thallium limit set for the upcoming permit
renewal for Pilot Creek. After this meeting took place, Marcia Allocco and myself visited the
Infrastructure Division to discuss possible grants for the City to improve the WWTP.Joel Woods (City's
engineer) is looking into applying for the type of grant which suits the WWTP's needs.
05/22/2018: Mixer quote received from Vand Solutions, LLC. in the amount of$6,250.00 each. After the
City's Electric Department investigated the power usage on the mixers, the conclusion was made that
the plant does not have enough incoming power to run the mixers. At that point I contacted to sales rep
and he then sent a quote using solar panels to produce the power. The City will determine the best
approach once Joe McGoughan (MBD Engineering) comes onboard in July of 2018. The City is also
looking into adding a larger transformer on the incoming power supply. Once a conclusion is made on
addressing this issue, DEQ will be informed.
05/29/2018: Conference call held between Cormetech and the City to touch base with the thallium
issue. Cormetech was wanting to know if the City had received any information from DEQ regarding the
thallium limit for Pilot Creek.
Miscellaneous information:
06/11/2018: Pilot Creek received a quote for cleaning the aeration basins from Synagro. According to
the proposal, Synagro believes this process will take approximately 20 operational days 5.5 days a week.
06/18/2018: Pilot Creek received the acknowledgement letter for receipt of the Permit Renewal
Application from Wren Thedford with Water Quality Permitting Section.

Proposed Capital Improvements for Pilot Creek include:
• Cleaning of all three aeration basins.
• Installing two mixers into each basin (once power issue is resolved)
• Rehab on clarifiers and contact chambers
• New laboratory and office building
• New conveyor belt for belt press
Council was originally set to vote on this proposal on June 26, 2018. This date has recently been
changed to August.
Pilot Creek will continue to operate the belt press and monitor thallium as required. Operators will
begin operating the belt press on a second shift schedule starting Monday June 25, 2018. An operator
will also run the belt press Saturdays and Sundays until a truck load is achieved. This will allow two
loads of dry solids to be removed daily (Monday-Friday), and one load disposed of on Saturday, until
optimal MLSS is achieved in the aeration basins.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me anytime.
Sincerely,
Richelle Meek
City of Kings Mountain
WWTP Superintendent/ORC/Pretreatment Coordinator
[e-mail]
Office#: [phone]