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Home My WebLink AboutNC0088056_Inspection_20180810EPA 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 NC0088056 18/08/09 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) Blacksmith Run WWTP Off Chimney Rock Rd Edneyville NC 28727 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:00AM 18/08/09 15/11/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Other Facility Data 11:00AM 18/08/09 20/10/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Ed Nunez,525 N Main St Hendersonville NC 28792//828-698-2400/Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self-Monitoring Program 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 Daniel J Boss ARO WQ//828-296-4658/ 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: A157AE06-DD98-46BB-AE1C-7E52F3E5054D 8/10/2018 8/10/2018 NPDES yr/mo/day 18/08/09 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) I (Daniel Boss) conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection at Blacksmith Run WWTP, on 8/9/2018. Richard Swilling (ORC), met with me for the inspection. Generally the plant seems to run well and the effluent appeared clear. According to Mr. Swilling the plant receives spikes in influent BOD that go above 1000 mg/L. He believes that those spikes along with an I&I issue are causing the periodic effluent BOD violations. Even during periods of high flow from I&I, the plant is still receiving substantially less than the design flow capacity. This indicates that a lack of detention time should not be an insurmountable factor causing the poor effluent quality. Furthermore, from inspecting the DMRs, there appears to be no correlation between high flows and BOD violations. In fact there may even be inverse relationship as the BOD violations seem to occur on days of lower flow. Mr. Swilling said that he has already attempted to combat the problem by increasing the aeration to the aeration basin. A couple other possible process adjustments would include raising the MLVSS level and increasing aeration to the EQ basin. I recommend further investigation of influent characteristics and sources of unusually high BOD from the subdivision. Mr. Swilling said that a refrigerated sampler is planned for purchase. Please let our office know when the sampler has been installed. Mr. Swilling was unsure of how the subdivision pool water was treated and disposed. This is something important to find out since high influent chlorine could inhibit microbial activity at the WWTP. The influent pump station contained a thick mat of grease and fiber. This should be removed more frequently to prevent disruption of the float operations. NC0088056 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: A157AE06-DD98-46BB-AE1C-7E52F3E5054D Permit:NC0088056 Inspection Date:08/09/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Blacksmith Run 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? Settleable solids, DO, and pH in aeration basins are analyzed every week or two. Mr. Swilling uses a sludge judge to check the clarifier blanket. 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: Pump Station - Influent Yes No NA NE Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? Is the wet well free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Is SCADA telemetry available and operational? Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? Autodialer hardware is present but not utilized.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? Comment: Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: A157AE06-DD98-46BB-AE1C-7E52F3E5054D Permit:NC0088056 Inspection Date:08/09/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Blacksmith Run WWTP Compliance Evaluation Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Equalization Basins Yes No NA NE Is the basin aerated? Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment? Is the basin free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Are audible and visual alarms operable? # Is basin size/volume adequate? 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) Mr. Swilling said the blanket is kept at about 4ft and the clarifier is at least 15ft deep.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? Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: A157AE06-DD98-46BB-AE1C-7E52F3E5054D Permit:NC0088056 Inspection Date:08/09/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Blacksmith Run WWTP Compliance Evaluation Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE 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) Mr. Swilling said that the DO in the basins is generally between 1.0 and 1.5 mg/L. He said that settleable solids typically measure around 30%. Comment: Disinfection - UV Yes No NA NE Are extra UV bulbs available on site? Are UV bulbs clean? Is UV intensity adequate? Is transmittance at or above designed level? Is there a backup system on site? Is effluent clear and free of solids? Mr. Swilling said that there are extra bulbs but no sleeves for the bulbs on site.Comment: Standby Power Yes No NA NE Is automatically activated standby power available? Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source? Is the generator tested under load? Was generator tested & operational during the inspection? Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site? Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power? Is the generator fuel level monitored? The generator is serviced by a third party.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? Comment: Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: A157AE06-DD98-46BB-AE1C-7E52F3E5054D Permit:NC0088056 Inspection Date:08/09/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Blacksmith Run WWTP Compliance Evaluation Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? Comment: 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)? Currently a portable ISCO sampler is used. The facility will be installing a refrigerated sampler soon, according to Mr. Swilling. Comment: Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: A157AE06-DD98-46BB-AE1C-7E52F3E5054D