WQ0001284_Final Permit_20021113

Michael F. Easley, Governor
rjj 7� William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
Lloyd E. Bracy
Town of Conway
P.O. Box 365
Conway, N.C. 27820
November 13, 2002
Subject: Permit No. WQ0001284
Town of Conway Wastewater
Treatment Plant
Wastewater Surface irrigation
Northampton County
Dear Mr. Lloyd E. Bracy:
In accordance with your request for renewal and for modification received June 25, 2002, we are
forwarding herewith Permit No. WQ0001284, dated November 13, 2002, to Town of Conway for continued
operation of the subject wastewater treatment and surface irrigation facilities.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until October 31, 2007, shall void Permit No-
WQ0001284 issued January 8, 1998, and shall be subject to the conditions and limitations as specified therein.
Please pay particular attention to the monitoring requirements in this permit. Failure to establish an adequate
system for collecting and maintaining the required operational information will result in future compliance
problems. Please note conditions IV.1(a) and (c) under Groundwater Requirements.
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit are unacceptable, you have the right to
request an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within thirty (30) days following receipt of this permit. This
request must be in the form of a written petition, conforming to Chapter I50B of the North Carolina General
Statutes, and filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings, 6714 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-
6714. Unless such demands are made this permit shall be final and binding.
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Michelle Barnett at (919) 733-
5083 extension 544.
Sincerely
1//
/AIan W�Klimek, P.E.
cc: Northampton County Health Department
Raleigh Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Raleigh Regional Office, Groundwater Section
Groundwater Section, Central Office
Water Quality Central Files
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NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
SURFACE 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
Town of Conway
Northampton County
Continued operation of approximately 500 linear feet of eight inch and ten inch gravity sewer, a 260 GPM pump
station, and approximately 2,500 linear feet of six inch force main, and the
continued operation of a 150,000 GPD surface irrigation treatment and disposal facility consisting of 65 day
storage/treatment lagoon, a gaseous chlorinator, a 600 GPM spray irrigation pump station with approximately
15.9 acres of irrigation fields and three groundwater monitoring wells to serve the Town of Conway Wastewater
Treatment PIant, with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the application received June 25,
2002, and subsequent additional information received by the Division, and in conformity with the project plan,
specifications, and other supporting data subsequently filed and approved by the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources and considered a part of this permit.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until October 31, 2007, shall void Permit No.
WQ0001284 issued January 8, 1998, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
The surface 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 assimilate the
wastewater, the Permittee shall take immediate corrective actions including those actions that may be
required by the Division of Water Quality (Division), such as the construction of additional or
replacement wastewater treatment and disposal facilities.
2. 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.
The residuals generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed in accordance with General
Statute 143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the Division.
4. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is prohibited.

5. The following buffers shall be maintained:
a) 400 feet between wetted area and any residence or places of public assembly 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 treatment/storage units and any wells, and
g) 50 feet between treatment units and property lines.
Some of the buffers specified above may not have been. included in previous permits for this waste
treatment and disposal system. These buffers are not intended to prohibit or prevent modifications,
which are required by the Division, to improve performance of the existing treatment facility. These
buffers do, however, apply to modifications of the treatment and disposal facilities which are for the
purpose of increasing the flow that is tributary to the facility. These buffers do apply to any
expansion or modification of the irrigation areas and apply in instances in which the sale of property
would cause any of the buffers now complied with, for the treatment and disposal facilities, to be
violated. The applicant is advised that any modifications to the existing facilities will require a permit
modification.
H. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times,
2. Upon classification of the wastewater treatment and irrigation facilities by the Water Pollution
Control System Operators Certification Commission (WPCSOCC), the Permittee shall designate and
employ a certified operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) and one or more certified operator(s) to
be back-up ORC(s) of the facilities in accordance with 15A NCAC 8G .0201. The ORC shall visit
the facilities in accordance with 15A NCAC 8G .0204 or as specified in this permit and shall comply
with all other conditions specified in these rules.
A suitable year round vegetative cover shall be maintained.
4. Irrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or when the ground is in a condition that
will cause runoff.
5. Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent wastewater runoff from the irrigation field.
5. 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 a cumulative loading of 109.2 inches over any twelve (12)
month period at an instantaneous application rate not to cause ponding or runoff.
No type of wastewater other than that from Town of Conway Wastewater Treatment PIant shall be
irrigated 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 Iand application sites shall be controlled during active site use. Such controls
may include the posting of signs showing the activities being conducted at each site_
11. Freeboard in the storage/treatment lagoon shall not be less than two feet at any time.

12. A waste -level gauge, to monitor waste levels in the storage pond, shall be installed within 50 days of
issuance of this permit. This gauge shall have readily visible permanent markings indicating the
maximum liquid level at the top of the temporary liquid storage volume, minimum liquid level at the
bottom of the temporary liquid storage volume, and top of the darn elevations. Caution must be taken
not to damage the integrity of the liner when installing the gauge.
13. A protective vegetative cover shall be established and maintained on all earthen basin embankments
(outside toe of embankment to maximum pumping elevation), berms, pipe runs, erosion control areas,
and surface water diversions_ Trees, shrubs, and other woody vegetation shall not be allowed to grow
on the earthen basin dikes or embankments. Earthen basin embankment areas shall be kept mowed or
otherwise controlled and accessible.
14. A flow meter must be installed to measure flow entering the lagoon.
15. The permittee must submit an NDMR-1 monthly.
III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, soil or plant tissue analyses) deemed
necessary by the Division 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.
3. Freeboard in the storage/treatment lagoon shall be recorded weekly.
4. Influent flow shall be continuously monitored and daily flow values shall be reported on Form
NDMR.
The Permittee shall install an appropriate flow measurement device consistent with approved
engineering and scientific practices to ensure the accuracy and reliability of influent flow
measurement. Flow measurement devices selected shall be capable of measuring flows with a
maximum deviation of less than 10 percent from true flow, accurately calibrated at a minimum of
once per year, and maintained to ensure that the accuracy of the measurements is consistent with the
accepted capability of that type of device. Records of flow measurement device calibration shall be
kept on file by the Permittee for a period of at least three years. At a minimum, data to be included in
this documentation shall be:
a. Date of flow measurement device calibration
b. Name of person performing calibration
c. Percent from true flow
The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Permittee at the point prior to
irrigation every February, June and September for the following parameters:
BOD5 TSS
Fecal Coliform pH
NH3 as N

6. Three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition 111 2 and III 3) on
Form NDAR-1 and three (3) copies of all effluent monitoring data (as specified in condition III 4 and
III 5) on Form NDMR-1 shall be submitted on or before the Iast day of the following month. All
information shall be submitted to the following address:
NC Division of Water Quality
Water Quality Section
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
7. A representative annual soils analysis (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis) shall be conducted on each
irrigation field and the results maintained on file by the Permittee for a minimum of five years. The
Standard Soil Fertility Analysis shall include, but is not necessarily limited to, the following
parameters:
Acidity
Calcium
Copper
Magnesium
Cation Exchange Capacity
S. Noncompliance Notification:
Manganese Potassium
Percent Humic Matter Sodium
pH Zinc
Exchangeable Sodium Percentage Phosphorus
Base Saturation (by calculation)
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Raleigh Regional Office, telephone number (919) 571-
4700, 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.
c. Any failure of a pumping station, sewer line, or treatment facility resulting 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
five (5) 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.
4

IV. GROUNDWATER REQUIREMENTS
I. Well Construction / Abandonment Criteria:
a. Within ninety (90) days of permit issuance, on additional groundwater monitor well, MW4, shall
be installed to monitor groundwater quality. The well shall be constructed such that the water
level in the well is never above or below the screened (open) portion of the well at any time
during the year. The general location and name for the new well and the existing wells are
marked on the attached Layout. Each monitoring well is Iocated near the Review boundary,
constructed in accordance with this permit, and approved by the Raleigh Regional Office.
b. The well must be constructed by either a North Carolina Certified Well Contractor, the property
owner, or the property lessee according to General Statutes 87-98.4(b)(2). If the construction is
not performed by a certified well contractor, the property owner or lessee must physically
perform the actual well construction activities, and the well trust be constructed according to the
North Carolina Well Construction Standards (15A NCAC 2C .0108) and the local county rules.
c. Within sixty (60) days of permit issuance, monitor well MW-2 and the operation's building water
supply well shall be permanently abandoned. Within thirty (30) days of abandonment, a Well
Abandonment Record (GW-30 form.) shall be completed for each well abandoned and mailed to
the address listed in the "Reporting 1 Documentation" section of the Groundwater Requirements.
The wells must be abandoned by either a North Carolina Certified Well Contractor, the property
owner, or the property lessee according to General Statutes 87-98.4(b)(2). If the abandonment is
not performed by a certified well contractor, the property owner or lessee must physically
perform the actual well abandonment activities and the well(s) must be abandoned according to
the North Carolina Well Construction Standards (15A NCAC 2C .0113) and local county rules.
d. The Raleigh Regional Office, telephone number 919-57145700, shall be notified at least forty-
eight (48) hours prior to the construction of any monitoring well so that an inspection can be
made of the monitoring well location. Such notification to the regional groundwater 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.
e. Within thirty (30) days of completion of all well construction activities, a certification must be
received from a professional engineer or a licensed geologist certifying that the monitoring
well(s) are located according to this permit.
2. Sampling Criteria:
a. Monitor wells MW-1, MW-3, MW4 shall be sampled every February, June and September for
the parameters listed below. Prior to sampling the parameters, the measurement of water levels
must be taken. The depth to water in each well shall be measured from the surveyed point on the
top of the casing. The measuring points (top of well casing) of all monitoring wells shall be
surveyed relative to a common datum.
Nitrate Chloride pH
Total Ammonia Total Dissolved Solids Fecal Coliform
Total Organic Carbon Total Phosphorous Water Level
5

b. For Total Organic Carbon (TOC), if concentrations greater than 10 mg/1 are detected in any
down -gradient 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 down -gradient wells shall be subject to the additional sampling and
analysis as described above.
c. Any laboratory selected to analyze parameters must be Division of Water Quality (DWQ)
certified for those parameters required.
Reporting I Documentation:
a. All reports and documentation (GW-1. GW-30, GW-59) shall be mailed to the following address:
Groundwater Section
Permits and Compliance Unit
1636 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1636
Updated blank forms (GW-1, GW-30. GW-59) may be downloaded from the Groundwater Section's
website at http://gw.ehnr.state.nc.us/ or requested from the address mentioned above.
b. For the initial sampling of the new well MW-3, the permittee shall submit a copy of the GW-1
Form (Well Construction Record) with the Compliance Monitoring Form (GW-59) for each well
to the address Iisted in the "Reporting / Documentation" section of the Groundwater
Requirements. Initial Compliance Monitoring Forms that do not include copies of the GW-1
form may be returned to the permittee without being processed. Failure to submit these forms as
required by this permit may result in the initiation of enforcement activities pursuant to NC
General Statutes 143-215.6A.
c. The results of the sampling and analysis must be received on Form GW-59 (Groundwater Quality
Monitoring: Compliance Report Form) by the Groundwater Section (address Iisted in the
"Reporting / Documentation" section of the Groundwater Requirements), on or before the last
working day of the month following the sampling month. The data of all groundwater sampling
analyses required by the permit conditions must be reported using the most recent GW-59 form
along with attached copies of the laboratory analyses.
d. Within sixty (60) days of completion of all monitoring well construction and abandonment, the
permittee shall submit two original copies of a scaled site map (scale no greater than 1 "=100');
however, special provisions may be granted upon prior approval for large properties. The map(s)
roust include the following information:
1. The location and identity of each monitoring well.
2. The location of major components of the waste disposal system.
3. The location of property boundaries within 500 feet of the disposal area(s).
4. The latitude and longitude of the established horizontal control monument.
5. The elevation of the top of the well casing (which shall be known as the "measuring point")
relative to a common datum.
6. The depth of water below the measuring point at the time the measuring point is established.
7. The location of Review and Compliance boundaries.
8. The date the map is prepared and/or revised.

Control monuments shall be installed in such a manner and made of such materials that the monument
will not be destroyed due to activities that may take place on the property. Maps and any supporting
documentation shall be sent to the Groundwater Section as addressed in the "Reporting / Documentation"
above.
The permittee is responsible for the geographic accuracy of any map submitted, however produced.
4. Vertical Separation Requirements:
Waste application activities should not occur when the vertical separation between depth of application
and the water table is at less than three (3) feet, unless a demonstration is made using predictive
calculations or modeling methods, acceptable to the Director, that such placement will not result in the
contravention of classified groundwater standards. Verification of the water table elevation should be
confirmed by water level readings obtained from groundwater monitoring well(s) near the wetted area
of the spray irrigation facilities or auger boring(s), which should be preformed prior to application of
wastewater effluent. Any open borings shall be properly filled in according to 15A NCAC 2C
.0 1 13(b)(1)(G) to decrease the chance of any waste contaminating the groundwater.
5. Applicable Boundaries:
a. The COMPLIANCE BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations in 15A
NCAC 2L, Groundwater Classifications and Standards. The Compliance Boundary for the
disposal system individually permitted prior to December 30, 1983 is established at either 500
feet from the waste disposal area, or at the property boundary, whichever is closest to the waste
disposal area. An exceedance of Groundwater Quality Standards at or beyond the Compliance
Boundary is subject to immediate remediation action according to 15A NCAC 2L .0106(d)(2).
b. The REVIEW BOUNDARY is established around the disposal systems midway between the
Compliance Boundary and the perimeter of the waste disposal area. Any exceedance of standards
at the Review Boundary shall require action in accordance with 15A NCAC 2L .0106(d)(1).
6. Additional Requirements:
Any additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be
provided.
V. INSPECTIONS
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 or other permitting authority.
3. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division may, upon presentation of
credentials, enter and inspect any property, premises or place on or related to the disposal site or
facility at any reasonable time for the purpose of determining compliance with this permit; may
inspect or copy any records that must be maintained under the terms and conditions of this permit,
and may obtain samples of groundwater, surface water, or leachate.
7

VI. GENERAL CONDITIONS
This permit shall become voidable unless the facilities are constructed in accordance with the
conditions of this permit, the approved plans and 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
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. FaiIure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit may subject the Permittee
to an enforcement action by the Division in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-
215.6A to 143-215.6C.
5. The issuance of this permit does not exempt 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, including but not limited to applicable river buffer rules in 15A
NCAC 2B .0200, erosion and sedimentation control requirements in 15A NCAC Chapter 4 and under
the Division's General Permit NCG010000, and any requirements pertaining to wetlands under 15A
NCAC 2B .0200 and 211.0500.
6. A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject project must be retained by the Permittee
for the life of the project.
7. The annual administering and compliance fee must be paid by the Permittee within thirty (30) 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 15A NCAC 211.0205 (c)(4).
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.
Permit issued this the 13th day of November, 2002
NORTWCAROLINA IRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
ILI
Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0001284