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Home My WebLink AboutNC0087602_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20180824 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources 2090 U.S. 70 Highway, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-296-4500 August 24, 2018 Dan Harbaugh, Executive Director Tuckaseigee Water & Sewer Authority 1246 W Main St Sylva, NC 28779 SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report Whittier WWTP NPDES WW Permit No. NC0087602 Jackson County Dear Mr. Harbaugh: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Whittier WWTP on 8/20/2018. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0087602. Based on the on-site visit, the facility was determined to be in compliance. The following item was noted during the inspection:  Maintenance: Inadequate water pressure at facility to wash down treatment components (specifically clarifier weir plates). Recommend installing or having onsite a means to adequately clean treatment components that are not easily accessible. Additional findings and comments are provided in the enclosed inspection report under Section D, “Summary of Findings/Comments”. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 828-296-4500 or via email at mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Mikal Willmer, Environmental Specialist Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ DocuSign Envelope ID: 694548EE-730B-44F4-B451-4CACC059A392 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources 2090 U.S. 70 Highway, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-296-4500 ATTACHMENTS: Compliance Inspection Report EC: WQS-ARO Server LF Stan Bryson-Wastewater Operations Superintendent 20180824_NC0087602_CEI DocuSign Envelope ID: 694548EE-730B-44F4-B451-4CACC059A392 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 NC0087602 18/08/20 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) Whittier WWTP Jackson County Industrial Park Whittier NC 28789 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:00AM 18/08/20 17/11/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// George Harvey Bingham/ORC/828-586-9318/ Other Facility Data 11:00AM 18/08/20 22/08/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Dan Harbaugh,1246 W Main St Sylva NC 28779/Executive Director/828-586-5189/8286319089 Contacted Yes 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 Mikal Willmer Division of Water Quality//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: 694548EE-730B-44F4-B451-4CACC059A392 8/24/2018 8/24/2018 NPDES yr/mo/day 18/08/20 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Inspector Mikal Willmer, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a compliance evaluation inspection of the Whittier WWTP. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0087602. ORC, Harvey Bingham was present and assisted in the inspection. Overall the plant is being well operated and maintained. Facility receives little flow which makes maintaining healthy biota within the facility difficult. The plant was designed for 0.100 MGD and the ORC reports they average about 8000 to 9000 GPD. Since flow is not consistent, the operator batches treatment. All flow is directed into the EQ Basin/Surge tank before entering the AB. Additional item noted during the inspection: Algae is building up on the clarifier weir plates. This has the potential to cause weir blockage and uneven distribution of flow across the weirs. Currently there is inadequate water pressure at the facility to wash down the clarifier. Recommend installing or having onsite a means to adequately clean treatment components that are not easily accessible. NC0087602 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 694548EE-730B-44F4-B451-4CACC059A392 Permit:NC0087602 Inspection Date:08/20/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Whittier 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? DO, pH and Temp.Comment: Flow Measurement - Influent 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? A totalizer is used to record daily incoming flows.Comment: Influent Sampling Yes No NA NE # Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected above side streams? 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 sampling performed according to the permit? Influent sampling is time composite.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? ORC tests influent pump station floats and alarms once a week. Telemetry on pump station will notify on-call staff if alarms go off. Comment: Permit Yes No NA NE Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 694548EE-730B-44F4-B451-4CACC059A392 Permit:NC0087602 Inspection Date:08/20/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Whittier WWTP Compliance Evaluation 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? Section A.(2) Permit Reopener Provisions. Package plant design and treatment components should be clarified during the next permit renewal. Schematic shows two ABs and one surge tank; however, ORC indicated he was utilizing two EQ basins and one AB. Facility is using an effluent ultrasonic flow meter and Parshall flume. Comment: Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? Is all required information readily available, complete and current? Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? Is the chain-of-custody complete? Dates, times and location of sampling Name of individual performing the sampling Results of analysis and calibration Dates of analysis Name of person performing analyses Transported COCs Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? Maintains process control and effluent data on-site. Laboratory bench sheets are maintained at TWSA #1. Comment: Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 694548EE-730B-44F4-B451-4CACC059A392 Permit:NC0087602 Inspection Date:08/20/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Whittier WWTP Compliance Evaluation 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: 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) Blowers run for 1.5 hours and rest for two. ORC reports he tries to maintain a DO of 4 mg/L in the basin. 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? Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: 694548EE-730B-44F4-B451-4CACC059A392 Permit:NC0087602 Inspection Date:08/20/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Whittier WWTP Compliance Evaluation Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately ¼ of the sidewall depth) Scum cup is broken on one of the two clarifiers limiting scum removal capabilities. Does not appear to be exiting the clarifier. Algae is beginning to grow on weirs plates in both clarifiers. This has not caused weir blockage, but has the potential to restrict even distribution of flow. ORC reports he has no means of cleaning off the weir plates. Current water supply spigot is below the plant. Water pressure is too low to remove growth and the plates are not easily accessible for manually cleaning. Recommend supplying a means to wash down the weir plates to prevent further build up. Comment: Pumps-RAS-WAS Yes No NA NE Are pumps in place? Are pumps operational? Are there adequate spare parts and supplies on site? ORC reports he has only had to waste once this year due to low flow conditions. Only two loads were hauled to TWSA #1 last year. Comment: Filtration (High Rate Tertiary)Yes No NA NE Type of operation:Cross flow Is the filter media present? Is the filter surface free of clogging? Is the filter free of growth? Is the air scour operational? Is the scouring acceptable? Is the clear well free of excessive solids and filter media? System backwashes filters at set intervals. Only one set of disc filters is used at a time. Change over every six months and clean filters that are not in use. 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? ORC exercises the generator once a month.Comment: Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 694548EE-730B-44F4-B451-4CACC059A392 Permit:NC0087602 Inspection Date:08/20/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Whittier WWTP Compliance Evaluation Standby Power Yes No NA NE 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? ORC cleans UV bulbs every 2-3 weeks.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? Calibrated by ISI annually. Total flow is recorded daily to calculate daily flow. Chart recorder is present, but is not being used for reporting purposes. 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)? TWSA is in the process of setting sampling to flow proportional. DO and Temperature are not required effluent parameters, but are monitored by the permittee. The DO of the effluent has been around 2.5 mg/L and temperature has been approximately 35 degrees this month. Comment: Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, and sampling location)? Facility is only required to sample for ammonia.Comment: Page#7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 694548EE-730B-44F4-B451-4CACC059A392