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Home My WebLink AboutNC0071005_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20180917 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources 2090 U.S. 70 Highway, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-296-4500 September 17, 2018 Joan Beck Lynnbrook Estates Homeowners Assoc 43 Lynnbrook Way Columbus, NC 28722 SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report Lynnbrook Estates WWTP NPDES WW Permit No. NC0071005 Polk County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Lynnbrook Estates WWTP on 8/29/2018. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0071005. Based on the onsite visit, the facility was determined to be in compliance. The following items were noted during the inspection:  Blowers: One of the two blowers are inoperable. Recommend repair for redundancy.  Structural: The facility is showing signs of significant rust throughout all treatment components. The facility should be repainted to extend the life of the WWTP.  Safety: Metal grates across the WWTP have rusted through. This poses a fall hazard and should be replaced.  Maintenance: Significant amounts of leaves throughout the facility. Recommend a cover (netting, screens etc.) to reduce time spent removing leaves and prevent obstruction of pumps, weirs and screens. DocuSign Envelope ID: 577B8D47-51AC-4A7E-95D0-3D442A8CB600 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources 2090 U.S. 70 Highway, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-296-4500 Additional findings and comments are provided in the enclosed inspection report. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 828-296-4686 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 ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report EC: WQS-ARO Server LF Juanita James-James and James 20180917_NC0071005_CEI DocuSign Envelope ID: 577B8D47-51AC-4A7E-95D0-3D442A8CB600 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 NC0071005 18/08/29 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) Lynnbrook Estates WWTP NCSR 1135 Columbus NC 28722 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 12:00PM 18/08/29 18/08/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Danielle Ann Hunter/ORC/828-697-0063/ Other Facility Data 01:00PM 18/08/29 23/07/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Joan Beck,43 Lynnbrook Way Columbus NC 28722//828-859-6328/Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Self-Monitoring Program Sludge Handling Disposal 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: 577B8D47-51AC-4A7E-95D0-3D442A8CB600 9/17/2018 9/17/2018 NPDES yr/mo/day 18/08/29 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 Lynnbrook Estates WWTP on August 30, 2018. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0071005. Juanita James, James Lanstra and Danielle Hunter (ORC) with James and James were present and assisted in the inspection. Overall the facility was being operated and maintained in compliance at the time of the inspection. This facility is beginning to show signs of age and needs repair. The facility serves approximately four homes and receives around 100 gallons of flow daily, which is significantly under the permitted 9000 GPD. The facility regularly meets permit limits; however, there were some structural and safety items noted during the inspection that should be addressed. Blowers: One of the two blowers are inoperable. There appears to be adequate aeration with one blower; however, it is recommended the second blower be repaired for redundancy. Structural: The facility is showing signs of significant rust throughout all treatment components. ORC reports there have been no visual failures of the treatment plant exterior walls or piping; however, the facility should be repainted to extend the life of the WWTP. Safety: Metal grates across the WWTP have begun to rust through in spots. This poses a fall hazard, should the ORC or any facility staff need to walk over the treatment plant for accessibility. These should be replaced. Maintenance: Densely forested location deposits significant amounts of leaves throughout the facility. Recommend a cover (netting, screens etc.) to reduce the time spent raking leaves from the treatment components and prevent obstruction of pumps, weirs and screens. NC0071005 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 577B8D47-51AC-4A7E-95D0-3D442A8CB600 Permit:NC0071005 Inspection Date:08/29/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Lynnbrook Estates WWTP Compliance Evaluation 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: 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? ORC monitors settleable solids and DO regularly. Leaves are a continual maintenance issue at the facility. ORC removes leaves regularly from the basins. WWTP is in a very wooded area, recommend some form of cover over the facility to improve ease of operation. 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? Dechlorination is missing from the permit description. Facility monitoring is currently for a Class I facility. This may be subject to change in the future. 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? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 577B8D47-51AC-4A7E-95D0-3D442A8CB600 Permit:NC0071005 Inspection Date:08/29/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Lynnbrook Estates WWTP Compliance Evaluation Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Is the DO level acceptable? Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/l) One of the blowers is not operational; however, due to the size of the facility there is adequate aeration throughout the basin. Blower should be repaired as soon as possible for redundancy. ORC reported DO has been approximately 4 mg/L-5 mg/L in basin. Blower is set to run for 45 minutes and rest for 30. Settleability approximately 20%. 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) Significant floating sludge, but did not appear to be exiting the clarifier (may be due to older sludge age). Comment: Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Number of tubes in use?2 Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? Tablets added as needed. Minimal flow.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? Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 577B8D47-51AC-4A7E-95D0-3D442A8CB600 Permit:NC0071005 Inspection Date:08/29/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Lynnbrook Estates WWTP Compliance Evaluation De-chlorination Yes No NA NE # 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?1 Only one tube installed.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? Facility does not have standby power or a quick connect; however, the WWTP receives approximately 100 GPD of flow and is permitted for 9000 GPD. 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? Permit only requires instantaneous flows. ORC takes grab flow measurements.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)? Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: 577B8D47-51AC-4A7E-95D0-3D442A8CB600 Permit:NC0071005 Inspection Date:08/29/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Lynnbrook Estates WWTP Compliance Evaluation Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Samples are collected from the effluent pipe.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? Comment: Aerobic Digester Yes No NA NE Is the capacity adequate? Is the mixing adequate? Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank? # Is the odor acceptable? # Is tankage available for properly waste sludge? Listed as a sludge holding tank (aerated). The diffuser to the sludge tank was not operational at the time of the inspection. ORC reported this was working earlier in the week. No noticeable odor coming from the facility. Comment: Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 577B8D47-51AC-4A7E-95D0-3D442A8CB600