WQ0001817_Final Permit_19900213

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Management
512 North Salisbury Street • Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
James G. Martin, Governor
William W. Cobey, Jr., Secretary
February 13, 1990
Mr. Elwood Perry, Jr., President
Albemarle Utilities Inc.
Post Office Box 1118
Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27909
George T. Everett, Ph.D,
Director
Subject: Permit No. WQ0001817
Albemarle Utilities Inc.
Albemarle Plantation - First Phase
Wastewater Collection and Treatment
Perquimans County
Dear Mr. Perry:
In accordance with your application received May 30, 1989, we are forwarding herewith
Permit No. WQ0001817, dated February 13, 1990, to Albemarle Utilities Inc. for the construction
and operation of a Septic Tank S.T.E.P. Collection, Lagoon and Spray Irrigation Wastewater
Treatment and Disposal System.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until January 31 1995, and shall be
subject to the conditions and limitations as specified therein.
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit are unacceptable to you,
you have the right to request an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within 30 days
following receipt of this permit. This request must be in the form of a written petition, conforming
to Chapter 150B of North Carolina General Statutes, and filed with the Office of Administrative
Hearings, P.O. Box 11666, Raleigh, NC 27604, Unless such demands are made this permit shall
be final and binding.
One set of approved plans and specifications is being forwarded to you. If you need
additional information concerning this matter, pleasf--qontact Mr. John Seymour at 9191733-50$3.
Y,
George T. Eve to
cc: Perquimans County Health Department
Washington Regional Office
Carolina Benchmark, Engineers -Surveyors -Planners
Training and Certification Unit
Pollltion Prevention Pays
P.Q. Box 27687, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7687 Telephone [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
SPRAY IRRIGATION SYSTEM PERMIT
In accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of Chapter 143, General Statutes of North
Carolina as amended, and other applicable Laws, Rules, and Regulations
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO
Albemarle Utilities Inc.
Perquimans County
FOR THE
construction and operation of a 78,316 GPD low pressure S.T.E.P. pump spray irrigation
wastewater collection treatment and disposal system consisting of 1,200 gallon septic tanks to
se.-ve each unit; a 30 GPM pump station with dual submersible 30 GPM pumps, check valves,
high water alarm and alternator electric system to serve each septic tank unit; approximately 7,693
linear feet of 6-inch and approximately 2,700 linear feet of 4-inch sewer collection force mains; a
175 GPM master pump station with dual 175 GPM submersible pumps, high water alarms, and
approximately 10,400 linear feet of 6-inch force main; a 4-acre (1,880,750 gallon) baffled lagoon;
a 12-acre storage (19,549,728 gallon) lagoon; a 200 GPM pump station with dual 200 GPM
pumps, high water alarms, 6-inch automatic strainer, and a flow measurement device;
approximately 65.61 acres of spray irrigation fields; and associated piping, valves and
appurtenances to serve the First Phase of Albemarle Plantation with no discharge of wastes to the
surface waters, pursuant to the application received May 30, 1989 and in conformity with the
project plan, specifications, and other supporting data subsequently filed and approved by the
Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources and considered a part of this permit.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until January 31, 1995, and shall be
subject to the following specified conditions and limitations:
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
1. Upon completion of construction and prior to operation of this permitted facility, a
certification must be received from a professional engineer certifying that the permitted
facility has been installed in accordance with this permit, the approved plans and
specifications. Mail the Certification to the Permits and Engineering Unit, P.O. Box
27687, Raleigh, NC 27611.
2. The Washington Regional Office, phone no. 919/ 946-6481, shall be notified at least
forty-eight (48) hours in advance of operation of the installed facilities so that an
in -place inspection can be made. Such notification to the regional supervisor shall be
made during the normal office hours from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday through
Friday, excluding State Holidays.

3 . The spray irrigation facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated at all times so
that there is no discharge to the surface waters, nor any contamination of ground waters
which will render them unsatisfactory for normal use. In the event that the facilities fail
to perform satisfactorily, including the creation of nuisance conditions or failure of the
irrigation area to adequately absorb the wastewater, the Permittee shall take such
immediate corrective action to correct the problem, including actions as may be required
by the Division of Environmental Management.
4. The issuance of this permit shall not relieve the Permittee of the responsibility for
damages to surface or groundwaters resulting from the operation of this facility.
5. The sludge generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed of in accordance
with General Statute 143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the North Carolina
Division of Environmental Management.
b. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is
prohibited.
7. The following buffers shall be maintained:
a) 400 feet between wetted area and any residence under separate ownership,
b) 150 feet between wetted area and property lines,
c) 100 feet between wetted area and wells,
d) 100 feet between wetted area and drainage ways or surface water bodies,
e) 50 feet between wetted area and public right of ways,
f) 100 feet between wastewater treatment units and wells,
g) 50 feet between wastewater treatment units and property lines.
A leakage test shall be performed on all septic tanks and dosing tanks to insure that any
exfiltration occurs at a rate which does not exceed twenty (20) gallons per twenty-four
(24) hour ner 1,000 gallons of tank capacity. The engineer's certification will serve as
proof of compliance with this condition.
II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
l . The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. The Permittee shall employ a certified wastewater treatment plant operator to be in
responsible charge of the wastewater treatment facilities. The operator must hold a
certificate of the grade at least equivalent to the classification assigned to the wastewater
treatment facilities by the Certification Commission. Within thirty days after the
wastewater treatment facilities are 50% complete, the Permittee must submit a letter to
the Certification Commission which designates the operator in responsible charge.
3. A suitable vegetative cover of fescue grass shall be maintained. After establishment of
fescue grasses then bentgrass, Bermuda, or a fescue hybrid grasses may be used in
accordance with the soil scientist's recommendations for this project.
4. Irrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or when the ground is in a
condition that will cause runoff.
Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent wastewater runoff from the spray field.
2

6. The facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated as a non -discharge system to
prevent the discharge of any wastewater resulting from the operation of this facility.
7. The application rate shall not exceed: 0.5 inches per acre per week.
No type of wastewater other than domestic wastewater from Albemarle Plantation -
First Phase shall be sprayed onto the irrigation area.
9. No traffic or equipment shall be allowed on the disposal area except while installation
occurs or while normal maintenance is being performed.
10. Public access to the land application sites shall be controlled during active site use and
for the 12-month period following the land application event. Such controls must
include the posting of signs showing the activities being conducted at each site.
III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, soil or plant tissue
analyses) deemed necessary by the Division of Environmental Management to
insure surface and ground water protection will be established and an acceptable
sampling reporting schedule shall be followed.
2. Adequate records shall be maintained by the Permittee tracking the amount of wastewater
disposed. These records shall include, but are not necessarily limited to the following
information:
a) date of irrigation,
b) volume of wastewater irrigated,
c) field irrigated,
d) length of time field is irrigated,
e) continuous weekly, monthly, and year-to-date hydraulic (inches acre) loadings
for each field,
f) weather conditions, and
g) maintenance of cover crops.
3a. The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored daily by the Permittee
(if irrigation occurs during the calendar month) for the following parameters:
flow (gallons)
Residual Chlorine
3b. The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Permittee at the point
prior to irrigation every April, August and November (if irrigation occurs during the
calendar month) for the following parameters:
Parameter
Fecal Coliform
pH
NH3
Monthly monitoring reports shall be submitted to the Water Quality Section, Washington
Regional Office.
3

4. Three copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition 1112) and
all effluent monitoring data (as specified in condition 1113) and any other data as may be
required shall be submitted annually on or before January 31 of the following year to the
following address:
NC Division of Environmental Management
Water Quality Section
Facility Assessment Unit
PO Box 27687
Raleigh, NC 27611-7687
Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Washington Regional Office,
telephone no. 919/ 946-6481, as soon as possible, but in no case more than 24 hours or
on the next working day following the occurrence or first knowledge of the occurrence
of any of the following:
a. Any occurrence at the wastewater treatment facility which results in the treatment of
significant amounts of wastes which are abnormal in quantity or characteristic, such
as the dumping of the contents of a sludge digester; the known passage of a slug of
hazardous substance through the facility; or any other unusual circumstances.
b. Any process unit failure, due to known or unknown reasons, that render the facility
incapable of adequate wastewater treatment such as mechanical or electrical failures
of pumps, aerators, compressors, etc.
Any failure of a pumping station, sewer line, or treatment facility r�-sulting in a
by-pass directly to receiving waters without treatment of all or any portion of the
influent to such station or facility.
d. Any time that self -monitoring information indicates that the facility has gone out of
compliance with its permit limitations.
Persons reporting such occurrences by telephone shall also file a written report in letter
form within 15 days following first knowledge of the occurrence. This report must
outline the actions taken or proposed to be taken to ensure that the problem does not
recur.
IV. GROUNDWATER REQUIREMENTS
Any groundwater quality monitoring as deemed necessary by the Division of
Environmental Management shall be provided.
2. Prior to beginning waste disposal operations, seven (7) monitor wells, two (2)
upgradient and five (5) downgradient, must be installed to monitor groundwater quality.
The location and construction details for these wells must be approved by the
Washington Regional Office, from which a well construction permit must be obtained.
Ell

3. The monitor wells must be sampled initially after construction (and prior to waste
disposal operations) and thereafter every April, August, and November for the
following parameters:
NO3 (10.0) Ammonia Nitrogen
IDS (500.0) TOC
pH (6.5 - 8.5 standard units) Water Level
Chloride (250,0) Total Coliforms (1/100 ml)
TOX (in November only)
The measurement of water level must be made prior to sampling for the remaining
parameters. The measuring points (top of well casing) of all new monitoring wells shall
be surveyed relative to mean sea level (M.S.L.). The depth of water in each well shall
be measured from the surveyed point on the top of the casing. The water level elevation
shall then be determined relative to M.S.L.
4. The analytical methods used for TOX must be capable of detecting the total of all
halogenated organic compounds present at a concentration of 5.0 parts per billion (ppb)
or greater. In the event that a TOX concentration of 5.0 ppb or greater is detected, any
individual halogenated organic compound(s) present at a concentration at or above the
method detection limit (MDL) must be identified and quantified utilizing EPA methods
601, 602, 604, and 611.
5. If TOC concentrations greater than 10 mg/1 are detected in any downgradient monitoring
well, additional sampling and analysis must be conducted to identify the individual
constituents comprising this TOC concentration. If the TOC concentration as measured
in the background monitor well exceeds 10 mg/l, this concentration will be taken to
represent the naturally occurring TOC concentration. Any exceedances of this naturally
occurring TOC concentration in the downgradient wells shall be subject to the additional
sampling and analysis as described above.
6. The numbers in parentheses represent the maximum allowable concentrations in
groundwater for the various analytical parameters, as specified in 15 NCAC 2L
[Groundwater Classifications and Standards]. Unless otherwise noted, the units for
these concentrations are expressed as milligrams per liter.
7. The results of the sampling and analysis shall be sent to the N.C. Division of
Environmental Management on Form GW-59 (Compliance Monitoring Report Form)
every May, September, and December.
8. The ComPliance Boundary delineated on the attached site plan for the disposal system is
specified by regulations in 15 NCAC 2L, Classifications and Water Quality Standards
applicable to the groundwater of North Carolina. An exceedance of Groundwater
Quality Standards beyond the Compliance Boundary is subject to penalty provisions
applicable under General Statute 143-215.6(1)a. The sale of property, by the Permittee,
which is within or contiguous to the disposal system site may alter location of the
Compliance Boundary.
9. For facilities permitted on or after December 30, 1983, the Compliance Boundary is
established at the lesser of 250 feet from the lagoons and spray fields, or 50 feet within
the property boundary.
10. If the title to any property which may affect the location of the Compliance Boundary is
changed, the permittee shall notify the Division Director within 14 days. The Director
shall then establish a modified Compliance Boundary which will be done as a
modification to the Permit.
5

11. The REVIEW BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations in 15
NCAC 2L, Groundwater Classifications and Standards. A REVEEW BOUNDARY
is established around disposal systems midway between the Compliance Boundary and
the perimeter of the waste disposal area. When the concentration of any substance
equals or exceeds the maximum allowable concentration of that substance at the
REVIEW BOUNDARY, as determined by monitoring, the permittee shall either (i)
demonstrate, through predictive calculations or modeling, that natural site conditions,
facility design and operational controls will prevent a violation of standards at the
Compliance Boundary; or, (ii) submit a plan for the alteration of existing site conditions,
facility design or operational controls that will prevent a violation of standards at the
Compliance Boundary, and implement that plan upon its approval by the Director.
12. The lagoon shall have a liner of natural material at least one (1) foot in thickness at all
locations with a hydraulic conductivity of no greater than 1 x 10-6 centimeters per
second when compacted. Following installation and inspection of the lagoon liner, and
prior to waste disposal operations, verification of the liner's compliance with hydraulic
conductivity and thickness specifications must be provided to the Division of
Environmental Management, Groundwater Section, by the project engineer.
13. No waste shall be applied onto land surface when the vertical separation between the
waste and the water table is less than one (1) foot.
14. Prior to beginning waste disposal operations, one, (1), piezometer shall be installed to
monitor water levels in the spray field. Water levels shall be recorded monthly and the
information retained with the facility records for future use.
The measuring point (top[ of well casing) of the piezometer shall be surveyed relative to
mean sea level (M.S.L.). The depth of water in the piezometer shall be measured from
the surveyed point on the top of the casing. The water level elevation shall then be
determined relative to M.S.L.
V. INSPECTIONS
1. Adequate inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be provided by the Permittee to
insure proper operation of the subject facilities.
2. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the wastewater treatment and disposal
facilities to prevent malfunctions and deterioration, operator errors and discharges which
may cause or lead to the release of wastes to the environment, a threat to human health,
or a nuisance. The Permittee shall keep an inspection log or summary including at least
the date and time of inspection, observations made, and any maintenance, repairs, or
corrective actions taken by the Permittee. This log of inspections shall be maintained by
the Permittee for a period of three years from the date of the inspection and shall be made
available upon request to the Division of Environmental Management or other permitting
authority.
3. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division of
Environmental Management may, upon presentation of credentials, enter and inspect
any property, premises or place on or related to the disposal site and facility at any
reasonable time for the purpose of determining compliance with this permit; may inspect
or copy any records that must be kept under the terms and conditions of this permit; or
may obtain samples of groundwater, surface water, or leachate.
A

Vl. GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. This permit shall become voidable unless the facilities are constructed in accordance with
the conditions of this permit, the approved plans, specifications, and other supporting
data.
2. This permit is effective only with respect to the nature and volume of wastes described in
the application and other supporting data.
3. This permit is not transferable. In the event there is a desire for the facilities to change
ownership, or there is a name change of the Permittee, a formal permit request must be
submitted to the Division of Environmental Management accompanied by an application
fee, documentation from the parties involved, and other supporting materials as may be
appropriate. The approval of this request will be considered on its merits and may or
may not be approved.
4. Failure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit may subject the
Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division of Environmental Management in
accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6.
5. The issuance of this permit does not preclude the Permittee from complying with any
and all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed by other
government agencies (local, state, and federal) which have jurisdiction.
6. Prior to any transfer of this land, a notice shall be given to the new owner that gives full
details of the materials applied at this site.
7. A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject project must be retained by the
Permittee for the life of the project.
8. The annual administering and compliance fee must be paid by the Permittee within thirty
days after being billed by the Division. Failure to pay the fee accordingly may cause the
Division to initiate action to revoke this permit as specified by 15 NCAC 2H .0205
(c)(4).
9. The Permittee, at least six (6) months prior to the expiration of this permit, shall request
its extension. Upon receipt of the request, the Commission will review the adequacy of
the facilities described therein, and if warranted, will extend the permit for such period
of time and under such conditions and limitations as it may deem appropriate.
10. The free board of the 12-acre and 4-acre lagoons shall be maintained at greater than or
equal to two (2) feet.
Permit issued this the 13th day of February, 1990
CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Ge4g6 T. Everett, D' ecto
Division of Environme ement
By Authority of the Environme tal Management Commission
7