NC0036242_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20180913

ROY COOPER NORTH CAROLINA
Governor Environmental Quality
MICHAEL S.REGAN
Secretary
LINDA CULPEPPER RECEIVED/DENR/DWR
Interim Director
September 13, 2018 SEP 2 5 2018
Mr. Jadd Brewer Water Resources
Permitting Section
Water Quality Utilities, Inc.
P.O. Box 1167
Banner Elk, NC 28604-1167
SUBJECT: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Woodland Hills Apartments WWTP
NPDES Permit No. NC0036242
Watauga County
Dear Mr. Brewer,
On September 11, 2018, Kelli Park of this office met with Josh Cagle to perform a
Compliance Evaluation Inspection on the Woodland Hills Apartments wastewater
treatment system. This type of inspection consists of two basic parts: an in-office file
review and an on-site inspection of the treatment facility. The attached Environmental
Protection Agency inspection form notes the areas that were evaluated for this inspection.
The findings and observations are outlined below:
I. Permit
The NPDES permit became effective December 1, 2017,and expires on September 30,
2022.
II. Self-Monitoring Program
A review of the monthly discharge monitoring reports (DMR) for the period January 2017
through August 2018 showed that the facility was in compliance with all permit limits other
than a daily maximum violation on September 20, 2017 for fecal coliform. This violation
has already been addressed via a separate correspondence.
Grab samples are taken from the contact chamber after dechlorination. This is due to the
effluent flowing directly into a storm drain before being discharged into the receiving
stream.
SDE Q
NORTH CAROLINA �/�
Depamrm W 9aYmmal WaYy�
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office 1450 Hanes Mill Road,Suite 300 I Winston-Salem,North Carolina 27103
336.776.9800

Woodland Hills Apartments,September 11,2018 •
Ill. Records/Reports
The permit on site has expired, and a new permit has been issued. Please print a hard
copy of the current permit and put it on site immediately. The visitation log is located on
site and adequately shows visitation times and plant conditions. Chain of custody forms
are in good order. All required monitoring was performed per the frequencies specified in
the NPDES permit. Miss Park noted no data transcription discrepancies from bench
sheets to DMRs. in her documentation review. Water Quality Labs maintains the
documentation.
IV. Flow Measurement
The instantaneous flow is measured by collecting influent in a bucket for a minute of time.
The effluent depth in the bucket is then measured, and the flow rate is manually calculated.
V. Operations and Maintenance
The wastewater treatment plant appeared to be well maintained and operated. The ORC
and backup ORC are sufficiently qualified to be running the plant.
VI. Facility Site Review
The facility is located near the Apple Cart headquarters on the NC105 Bypass. It is close
to the road and enclosed in a small, brown, concrete building.
All components of the 0.0067 million gallons per day facility appeared to be functioning
properly. Influent flows through a paper chamber before flowing into the plant. The paper
chamber is pumped twice a year by Triple T Pumping. The aeration basin had a light
brown color and a good earthy odor. All blowers were functioning properly and there were
no dead spots. The dissolved oxygen is maintained around 2 milligrams per liter. The
aeration basin is cycled 15 minutes on and 45 minutes off. Lime is added periodically to
the aeration basin. The secondary clarifier looked clean and was discharging clear
effluent. Effluent is disinfected by chlorine tablets placed in the weirs, and then
dechlorination tablets are used in an underground contact chamber before the effluent
leaves the plant. There is a clear path to where the effluent pipe discharges into the
receiving stream.
The sides and diffusers of the aeration basin had dried solids on them from day to day
splashing from the aeration and the return pipe. The plant would benefit from being
cleaned every so often. This can be done easily by spraying them down with a water
source and a standard hose. Please note that if Mr. Cagle does this that all liberated
solids must be captured and returned to the head of the plant for treatment.
•
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Woodland Hills Apartments,September 11,2018
VII. Effluent/Receiving Waters
The effluent from the facility was clear the day of inspection. Effluent was being
discharged into Brushy Fork Creek, class C waters, in the Watauga River basin.
VIII. Sludge Maintenance and Handling
Sludge in the clarifier was reported to be about 2 feet at the time of inspection and pumped
about twice a year due to low flow in the plant. Triple T Plumbing pumps the sludge.
Records are reported to be maintained by Triple T Pumping. Sludge records need to be
maintained on site starting immediately.
IX. Conclusions
Please notify Miss Park when the current permit is placed on site.
Mr. Cagle's efforts to comply with the permit are appreciated. If you have any questions
regarding the inspection or this report, please contact Kelli Park or me at [phone].
Sincerely,
;_,0_<,_V. Lo c i
Sherri V. Knight, P.E.
Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations
Division of Water Resources
Attachments: BIMS EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report
cc: Central Files
WSRO
NPD_ES Unit
•
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United States Environmental Protection Agency Form Approved.
EPA Washington,D C 20460 OMB No 2040-0057
Water Compliance Inspection Report 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 IN I 2 E 3 I NC0036242 111 12 I 18/09/11 117 18I i 19 12 i 201
21111111 1111111111111111111111111 11111111111 156
Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA Reserved
671 1 70 1 I 71 1 1 72 1 N 1 731 1 174 751 I I I 1 1 1 180
Section B Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected(For Industrial Users discharging to POTW,also include Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date
POTW name and NPDES permit Number) 10 30AM 18/09/11 17/12/01
Woodland Hills Apartments WWTP
Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date
NCSR 1107
11 OOAM 18/09/11 22/09/30
Boone NC 28607
Name(s)of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data
///
Joshua Kenneth Cagle/ORC/828-898-6277/
Name,Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Heather Sofield,355 Industrial Park Dr Boone NC 28607/1626-268-0994/8262623887
No
Section C Areas Evaluated Dunng Inspection(Check only those areas evaluated)
II Permit • Flow Measurement • Operations&Maintenance • Records/Reports
II Self-Monitoring Program IN Facility Site Review NI 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
Kell'A Park WSRO WQ//336-776-9689/ 9 / a g 1 1 9
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
1:,1, i l �Vg� q/'Y/ �
EPA Form 3560-3(Rev 9-94)Previous editions are obsolete
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NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type 1
31
NC0036242 11 121 18/09/11 117 18 Lcj
Section D-Summary of Finding/Comments(Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
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5
J
Permit: NC0036242 Owner-Facility: Woodland Hills Apartments VVWTP
Inspection Date: 09/11/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE
Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping'? • 000
Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex MLSS, MCRT, Settleable 00110
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 00 • 0
application'?
Is the facility as described in the permit'? • 000
#Are there any special conditions for the permit'? ❑ E ❑ ❑
Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public'? M ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? ,i 000
Comment'
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit'? • 000
Is all required information readily available,complete and current? • 000
Are all records maintained for 3 years(lab reg required 5 years)? • 000
Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? • 000
Is the chain-of-custody complete'? • 000
Dates,times and location of sampling II
Name of individual performing the sampling •
Results of analysis and calibration II
Dates of analysis III
Name of person performing analyses II
Transported COCs NI
Are DMRs complete do they include all permit parameters'? • 000
Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? 00110
(If the facility is=or>5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator ❑ ❑ E ❑
on each shift'?
Is the ORC visitation log available and current? M ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification'? U ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification'? • 000
Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site'? 0 • 00
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ti
Permit: NC0036242 Owner-Facility: Woodland HMIs Apartments WWTP
Inspection Date: 09/11/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? ❑ 0110
Comment Permit on site is expired.The new permit needs to be printed and put on site.
Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE
Mode of operation Ext.Air
Type of aeration system Diffused '
Is the basin free of dead spots? U 0 0 0
Are surface aerators and mixers operational'? 0 0 U 0
Are the diffusers operational'? U 0 0 0
Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process'? El 0 0 0
Does the foam cover less than 25%of the basin's surface'? U 0 0 0
Is the DO level acceptable'? U 0 0 0
Is the DO level acceptable?(1 0 to 3.0 mg/I) El 0 0 0
Comment.
Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE
Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater's El 0 0 0
Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier? 0 0 • 0
Are weirs level's • 0 -❑ 0
Is the site free of weir blockage'? U 0 0 0
Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting'? • ❑- 0 0
Is scum removal adequate'? U 0 0 0
Is the site free of excessive floating sludge'? U 0 0 0
Is the drive unit operational'? 0 0 II 0
Is the return rate acceptable(low turbulence)? - • U 0 0 0
Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc'? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the sludge blanket level acceptable'?(Approximately 1/4 of the sidewall depth) M ❑ ❑ ❑
Corn ment:
Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE
Are tablet chlorinators operational'? • DOD
Are the tablets the proper size and type'? IM ❑ ❑ ❑
Number of tubes in use'? 1
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T
Permit: NC0036242 Owner-Facility: Woodland Hills Apartments WWTP
Inspection Date: 09/11/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE
Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? ❑ 0 0 •
Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup'? • 0 0 0
Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? 0 0 0 •
Comment.
De-chlorination Yes No NA NE
Type of system? Tablet
Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount(1 to 1)9 • ❑ 0 0
Is storage appropriate for cylinders'? • ❑ 0 ❑
#Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers'? • 0 0 0
Comment-
Are
ommentAre the tablets the proper size and type'? • 0 0 0
Are tablet de-chlorinators operational'? • 0 0 0
Number of tubes in use'? 1
Comment
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