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Home My WebLink AboutNC0087122_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20180918 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources 2090 U.S. 70 Highway, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-296-4500 September 18, 2018 Donald R Cooper Cooper Riis Inc PO Box 416 Mill Spring, NC 28756 SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report Cooper Riis Healing Farm NPDES WW Permit No. NC0087122 Polk County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Cooper Riis Healing Farm on 8/28/2018. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0087122. Based on the onsite visit, the facility was determined to be in compliance. The following items were noted during the inspection:  Maintenance: Inadequate water pressure at facility to wash down treatment components. Recommend installing or having onsite a means to adequately and safely clean treatment components.  Disinfection: If chlorine is used as a backup disinfectant, a dechlorinating agent should also be used in conjunction to maintain levels below State water quality criteria. Additionally, if chlorine is used for cleaning within the clarifiers, it is recommended staff monitor effluent chlorine levels after use. Additional findings and comments are provided in the enclosed inspection report. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at 828-296-4686 or via email at mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov. DocuSign Envelope ID: 57750B51-2EAE-4231-9B2D-A0ABE5EA5217 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality | Division of Water Resources 2090 U.S. 70 Highway, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-296-4500 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_NC0087122_CEI DocuSign Envelope ID: 57750B51-2EAE-4231-9B2D-A0ABE5EA5217 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 NC0087122 18/08/28 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) Cooper Riis Healing Farm 101 Healing Farm Ln Mill Spring NC 287565808 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 01:00PM 18/08/28 13/10/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Other Facility Data 02:00PM 18/08/28 18/07/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Donald R Cooper,PO Box 416 Mill Spring NC 28756/Chairman/828-625-1389/Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports 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 Daniel J Boss ARO WQ//828-296-4658/ 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: 57750B51-2EAE-4231-9B2D-A0ABE5EA5217 9/17/2018 9/20/2018 NPDES yr/mo/day 18/08/28 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Inspectors Mikal Willmer and Dan Boss, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a compliance evaluation inspection of the Cooper Riis WWTP on August 28, 2018. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0087122. Juanita James and Danielle Hunter (ORC) with James and James were present and assisted in the inspection. Overall the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance. Facility receives little flow and therefore generates minimal solids. ORC reports minimal issues with maintaining healthy biota even with low flows. The following additional items were noted during the inspection: Maintenance: James and James reports water pressure at the facility is inadequate for washing down treatment components. Recommend installing or having onsite a means to adequately clean treatment components. Disinfection: If chlorine is used for back-up effluent disinfection, a dechlorinating agent should also be used in conjunction to maintain levels below state water quality criteria. Additionally, if chlorine is used for cleaning within the clarifiers, it is recommended facility staff monitor effluent chlorine levels after use and or use a dechlorinating agent. NC0087122 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 57750B51-2EAE-4231-9B2D-A0ABE5EA5217 Permit:NC0087122 Inspection Date:08/28/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Cooper Riis Healing Farm 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? Measure DO and settleable solids. ORC reports cleaning of treatment units is difficult due to inadequate water pressure. 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? Permit is in the renewal process. Contact information and owner affiliation should be verified, as mentioned in the draft permit cover letter dated June 27, 2018. Comment: Grease Removal Yes No NA NE # Is automatic grease removal present? Is grease removal operating properly? Cooper Riis staff maintain the facilities grease trap. Previous inspection indicated significant grease passing through to the EQ basin; however, James and James report this is no longer an issue. Cooper Riis staff are pumping the grease trap regularly. Comment: 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? Pumps and floats were operable at the time of the inspection. ORC reported Cooper Riis staff have an office near the plant and walk by daily. Facility only has a visual alarm which may be difficult for passers-by to see. Recommend an audible alarm or visual alarm closer to the fence line. Comment: Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 57750B51-2EAE-4231-9B2D-A0ABE5EA5217 Permit:NC0087122 Inspection Date:08/28/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Cooper Riis Healing Farm Compliance Evaluation 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) Air is currently cycled on for thirty minutes and off for thirty. Minimal solids within facility due to low flows. 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) Approximately 1' of solids in the first clarifier and 2' in the second. Minimal solids. ORC reports she does not have to waste very often. 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? Pumped as needed, minimal solids generated at facility.Comment: Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 57750B51-2EAE-4231-9B2D-A0ABE5EA5217 Permit:NC0087122 Inspection Date:08/28/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Cooper Riis Healing Farm Compliance Evaluation Aerobic Digester 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? Spare bulbs are kept on site in the event of bulb failure. Chlorine tablets were recommended as back-up disinfection in previous inspections; however, the facility has no means of dechlorination. If chlorine is used for effluent disinfection, a dechlorinating agent should also be used in conjunction to maintain levels below state water quality criteria. Additionally, if chlorine is used for cleaning within the clarifiers, it is recommended facility staff monitor effluent chlorine levels after use. 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 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)? 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? Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: 57750B51-2EAE-4231-9B2D-A0ABE5EA5217 Permit:NC0087122 Inspection Date:08/28/2018 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Cooper Riis Healing Farm Compliance Evaluation Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? 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? Cooper Riis maintains a fuel program for the onsite generator.Comment: Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 57750B51-2EAE-4231-9B2D-A0ABE5EA5217