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Home My WebLink AboutNC0083712_Inpsection_20180813 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources 2090 U.S. 70 Highway, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-296-4500 August 13, 2018 Robert M Sams Town of Mars Hill PO Box 368 Mars Hill, NC 28754-0368 SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report Mars Hill WTP NPDES WW Permit No. NC0083712 Madison County Dear Mr. Sams: I met with you and Jason Riddle for an inspection of the Mars Hill WTP wastewater treatment system on 8/13/2018. The facility was found to be in compliance with Permit No. NC0083712. Please be sure to send a new ORC designation form to the State after the PC exam this September and send an additional copy (electronic preferred) to our regional office. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500 or via email at daniel.boss@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Daniel Boss, Environmental Specialist Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS Cc: WQS ARO Server, Laserfiche 20180813_NC0083712_Letter.rtf DocuSign Envelope ID: 19F4742C-ED20-4673-AFB0-8864E0CD3842 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 NC0083712 18/08/13 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) Mars Hill WTP NCSR 1505 Mars Hill NC 28754 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:10AM 18/08/13 17/08/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Robert M Sams/ORC/828-689-2301/ Other Facility Data 11:10AM 18/08/13 22/07/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Robert M Sams,PO Box 368 Mars Hill NC 287540368//704-689-2301/Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Sludge Handling Disposal 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: 19F4742C-ED20-4673-AFB0-8864E0CD3842 8/14/2018 8/15/2018 NPDES yr/mo/day 18/08/13 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 at the Mars Hill WTP of the wastewater treatment system. I met with Robert Sams(ORC) and Jason Riddle for the inspection. Overall the system appears to be operated and maintained well. The lagoon looks to be in good condition. The dechlorinator had tablets in it. The effluent looked clear entering the stream. The Geotube (sludge-dewatering device) is full of solids and will probably be disposed of within a year. Mr. Sams predicted that the lagoon will need to have the sludge solids pumped out again in 1-2 years. One thing that should be corrected is the ORC designations. Robert Sams is the acting ORC, but Steve Rector is listed as the ORC and Robert Sams is listed as the backup ORC. I advised them to wait until Mr. Riddle had taken his exam in September before sending in a new form though, as Mr. Riddle is slated to become the new ORC should he pass the September PC-1 exam. NC0083712 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 19F4742C-ED20-4673-AFB0-8864E0CD3842 Permit:NC0083712 Inspection Date:08/13/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Mars Hill WTP 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? 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: Lagoons Yes No NA NE Type of lagoons?Facultative # Number of lagoons in operation at time of visit?1 Are lagoons operated in? # Is a re-circulation line present? Is lagoon free of excessive floating materials? # Are baffles between ponds or effluent baffles adjustable? Are dike slopes clear of woody vegetation? Are weeds controlled around the edge of the lagoon? Are dikes free of seepage? Are dikes free of erosion? Are dikes free of burrowing animals? # Has the sludge blanket in the lagoon (s) been measured periodically in multiple locations? # If excessive algae is present, has barley straw been used to help control the growth? Is the lagoon surface free of weeds? Is the lagoon free of short circuiting? There was a very small patch of weeds floating in the center of the lagoon.Comment: Drying Beds Yes No NA NE Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 19F4742C-ED20-4673-AFB0-8864E0CD3842 Permit:NC0083712 Inspection Date:08/13/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Mars Hill WTP Compliance Evaluation Drying Beds Yes No NA NE Is there adequate drying bed space? Is the sludge distribution on drying beds appropriate? Are the drying beds free of vegetation? # Is the site free of dry sludge remaining in beds? Is the site free of stockpiled sludge? Is the filtrate from sludge drying beds returned to the front of the plant? # Is the sludge disposed of through county landfill? # Is the sludge land applied? (Vacuum filters) Is polymer mixing adequate? The sludge from the lagoon is dried in a geotube, which is a large sludge-dewatering bag.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? # Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? Comment: Are the tablets the proper size and type? Are tablet de-chlorinators operational? Number of tubes in use?2 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 looked clear and receiving stream looked fine.Comment: Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 19F4742C-ED20-4673-AFB0-8864E0CD3842