HomeMy WebLinkAboutWQ0002001_Final Permit_20011025State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D, Acting Director
October 25, 2001
JOHN SAFRIT, PRESIDENT
WATERS EDGE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION
855 DEER LAKE RUN
SALISBURY, NC 28146
Dear Mr. Safrit:
0 AW1V02___
N CDENR
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL REsouRcEs
Subject: Permit No. WQ0002001
High Rock Properties
(Water's Edge Subdivision)
Wastewater Spray Irrigation
Rowan County
In accordance with your renewal request, received May 8, 2001, and responses to additional information
requests, received from August 22, 2001 to October 3, 2001; we are forwarding herewith Permit No.
WQ0002001, dated October 25, 2001, to Waters Edge Property Owners Association for the continued operation
of the subject wastewater treatment and spray irrigation facilities.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until September 30, 2006, shall void Permit No.
WQ0002001, issued February 21, I997, and shall be subject to the conditions and Iimitations 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. y
Please take time to review this permit thoroughly. Of special interest are the following items:
• Condition II. 2. Regarding the employment of a certified wastewater treatement plant operator
to be in responsible charge (ORC), and a designated back-up ORC per 15A NCAC 8G .0202
• Condition H. 7. Regarding Permittee responsibility to perform irrigation applications that do
not result in surface run-off or ponding conditions.
Condition H. 12. Regarding maintenance of original Division approved residential pump
facilities.
• Condition H. 14. Regarding the responsibility of the Waters Edge Property Owners
Association to maintain an inventory of sewer spare parts.
• Condition III. 3. Regarding monitoring of influent flow on form NDMR.
• Condition III. 4. Regarding the changed address of the Division.
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Telephone (919) 733-5083 Fax (919) 715-6048
An Equal opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycledl10% post -consumer paper
Condition III. 6. Regarding conducting an ANNUAL representative soil sample from each
spray field receiving wastewater. These records shall be kept by the Permittee for a minimum
of five years.
0 Condition IV. Section Regarding groundwater requirements of the Permittee.
• Condition VI. 1. This permit shall become void, if the spray irrigation treatment and discposal
facilities are modified. Should the Permittee modify the facility system, a modification
application will need to be submitted to the Division, prior to any modifications are made to the
originally -approved system.
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 30 days following receipt of this permit. This
request must be in the form of a written petition, conforming to Chapter 150B 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 Theresa Nartea at (919) 733-
5083 extension 375.
Sincer %
f
,90regory J. Thorpe, Ph.D.
cc: Rowan County Health Department
Mooresville Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Mooresville Regional Office, Groundwater Section
Groundwater Section, Central Office
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit (No Revised Rating)
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
Facilities Assessment Unit
NDPU files
NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
SPRAY IRRIGATION SYSTEM PERMIT
In accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of Chapter I43, General Statutes of North Carolina as amended, and
other applicable Laws, Rules, and Regulations
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO
Waters Edge Property Owners Association
Rowan County
FOR THE
continued operation of a 24,900 GPD spray irrigation treatment and disposal facility consisting of: one -odor control
basin with one -aerator (five horsepower); one -treatment lagoon (30-day storage); one -chlorine contact basin; one-416
GPM spray pump, approximately seven acres of spray irrigation; and approximately 8,010 linear feet of two-inch, 2.5-
inch, and three-inch pressure sewer, with each associated house using septic tanks, followed by a storage /pump tank
(having a sing e-45 GPM, 125 feet TDH pump) for pretreatment, and all associated piping, valves, spray nozzles, and
appurtenances (with adequate number of back-up pumps in storage, as described in Condition H. 14.), to serve the
High Rock Properties (Waters Edge Subdivision), with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the
renewal request, received May 8, 2001, and responses to additional information requests, received from August 22,
2001 to October 3, 2001; 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 September 30, 2006, shall void Permit No.
WQ0002001, issued February 21, 1997, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
1. 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 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 rest be disposed in -accordance with North
Carolina 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 drainageways or surface water bodies,
e) 50 feet between wetted area and public right of ways,
f) 100 feet between wastewater treatment units and wells, and
g) 50 feet between wastewater treatment units and property Iines.
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 spray 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.
II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. Upon classification of the facility by the Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification,
Commission (WPCSOCC), the Pemuttee shall employ a certified wastewater treatment plant operator to
be in responsible charge (ORC) of the wastewater treatment facilities. The operator must hold a certificate
of the type and grade at least equivalent to or greater than the classification assigned to the wastewater
treatment facilities by the WPCSOCC. The Permittee must also employ a certified back-up operator of the
appropriate type and grade to comply with the conditions of 15A NCAC 8G .0202. The ORC of the
facility must visit each Class I facility at least weekly and each Class II, III, and IV facility at least daily,
excluding weekends and holidays, and must properly manage and document daily operation and
maintenance of the facility and must comply with all other conditions of 15A NCAC 8G .0202.
3. 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 spray field.
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 a cumulative loading of 52 inches over any 12-month period. At no
time, shall the application rate (inches applied per hour, or inches applied per irrigation event) result in
surface run-off, or ponding conditions.
8. No type of wastewater other than that from High Rock Properties (Waters Edge Subdivision) 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. Such controls may
include the posting of signs showing the activities being conducted at each site.
11. Freeboard in the treatment lagoon shall not be less than two feet at any time.
12. All residential pump facilities shall maintain a control system with an alarm and the necessary
appurtenances which were originally approved by the Division to be compatible with the pressure sewer
and treatment systems.
13. Each pump station shall be clearly and conspicuously posted with the telephone number of the
owner/operator of the subject STEP sewer system, and instructions to call the number in the event of high
water alarm activation.
14. The Waters Edge Property Owners Association shall maintain an inventory of pressure sewer spare parts,
including the number of spare pumps on hand that equals ten percent of the number of installed units, for
maintenance of the individual residential pumps. Pump repair response shall occur with a maximum of six
hours from the time a call is received.
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
Cr. maintenance of cover crops.
Influent flow shall be continuously monitored and daily average flow values shall be reported on Form
NDMR. Flow may be estimated from water use records provided water use is metered. Daily average
values shall be calculated by dividing monthly flow volume by the number of days in the month.
4. The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Permittee at the point prior to irrigation
every March, July, and November for the following parameters:
BOD5 TSS
Fecal Coliform pH
NH3 as N
3
5. Three copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in Condition III. 2.) on Form NDAR-1, and
three copies of all influent and effluent monitoring data (as specified in Conditions III. 3. and Ill. 4.)
Form NDMR-1 shall be submitted on or before the last day of the month(s) following APRIL, AUGUS.
and DECEMBER. 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
6. A representative annual soils analysis (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis) shall be conducted on each spray
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
7. 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 Mooresville Regional Office, telephone number (704) 663-
1699, 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 signific
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
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
1. Sampling Criteria:
a. Any laboratory selected to analyze parameters must be Division of Water Quality (DWQ) certified for
those parameters required.
b. Monitor well(s) MW-1, MW-2, and MW-3, shall be sampled every APRIL, for the parameters listed
below. Monitor well MW-3 shall be sampled within 30 days after each spray field event for the
following parameters below. Prior to sampling parameters, the measurement of water levels must be
taken:
Water Level pH
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Fecal Coliforms
2. Reporting I Documentation:
a. All reports and domcumentation (GW-1, GW-30, GW-59) shall be mailed to the following address:
Groundwater Section
Permits and Compliance Unit
1636 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1636
Updated blank GW-59 forms may be downloaded from the Groundwater Section's website at
hgp:1/gw.ehnr.state.nc.us1, or requested from the address mentioned above.
b. The results of the sampling and analysis must be received on the most recent Form GW-59
(Groundwater Quality Monitoring: Compliance Report Form), by the Groundwater Section (address
listed in the "Report / 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.
3_ 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 31, 1983 is established at either (1) 500 feet from the waste
disposal area, or (2) 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 remediation action on the part of the Permittee, in accordance with
15A NCAC 2L .0106(d)(1).
4. Additional Requirements:
a. 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 prop,
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.
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. Failure 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 Ch. 4 and under the Division's General
Permit NCG0100000, and any requirements pertaining to wetlands under 15A NCAC 2B .0200 and 2H
.0500.
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 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 2H .0205 (c)(4).
S. The Permittee, at least six 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 twenty-fifth day of October, 2001
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D., Acting Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0002001
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