WQ0002708_Final Permit_19930817

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Management
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
August 17, 1993
Mr. Peter G. Bine, Manager
Town of Garner
Post Office Box 446
Garner, NC 27529
Subject: Permit No. WQ0002708
Town of Garner
Administrative Amendment
Wastewater Spray Irrigation Facility
Wake County
Dear Mr. Bine:
In accordance with a review by the Division of Environmental Management conducted August 9,
1993, we are forwarding herewith Permit No. WQ0002708 as amended, dated August 17, 1993, to the
Town of Garner for the continued operation of the subject wastewater spray irrigation facility. This
amendment consists of allowing the increase of wastewater flow to be tributary to the Town of Garner's
spray irrigation wastewater treatment facility to be increased to its design capacity of 1.54 MGD. In
addition, please be advised that several conditions have been deleted and others incorporated into this
amended permit (Condition 16 and Condition IV 2).
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until June 30, 1996, shall hereby void
Pen -nit No. WQ0002708 issued July 31, 1991, 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.
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit amendment are unacceptable, you
have the right to request an adjudicatory hearing on the modified portions of this permit 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. Drawer 27447, Raleigh, NC 27611-7447. Unless such demands are made
this permit amendment shall be final and binding.
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Ms. -Carolyn McCaskill at
[phone].
cc: Wake County Health Department
Raleigh Regional Office, Water Quality
Raleigh Regional Office, Groundwater
Jack Floyd, Groundwater Section
Training and Certification Unit
Facilities Assessment Unit
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer
Z
o oward, Jr. P.E.
Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
50% recycled/ 10% post -consumer paper

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
Town of Garner
Wake County
FOR THE
continued operation of a 1.54 MGD land application wastewater treatment system which consists of dual
25 acre stabilization/storage lagoons with a minimum of 30 days detention and an additional storage
capacity of 46 days, a lagoon liner of natural clay material with a minimum thickness/compaction of one
(1) foot and a maximum permeability of 1 x 10-6 cm/sec, chlorination facilities, spray irrigation pump
station housing four (4) 2,750 gpm pumps and a 100 gpm pump, spray irrigation line and spray risers
(solid set) covering 298 acres of wetted area and seven (7) monitoring wells to serve the Town of Garner
with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to. a review by the Division of Environmental
Management conducted August 9, 1993, 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 June 30, 1996, shall hereby void
Permit No. WQ00002708 issued July 31, 1991, 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 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.
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.

3 . 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.
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 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,
g) 50 feet between wastewater treatment units and property lines.
6. The Town of Garner shall maintain the capability to divert a minimum of 0.25 MGD of
wastewater flow (that would typically be tributary to the spray irrigation system) to the City
of Raleigh POTW. An alternate facility may be designated to receive this flow after approval
has been granted by the Division of Environmental Management
11. PRETREATMENT PROGRAM REOUIREMENTS
A. Requirements for Control of Pollutants Attributable to Industrial Users
1. Pollutants attributable to inputs from major contributing industries using the municipal
system may be present in the permittee's discharge. At such time as sufficient
information becomes available to establish limitations for such pollutants, this permit may
be revised to specify limitations for any or all such other pollutants.
2. Under no circumstances shall the pertnittee allow introduction of the following wastes in
the waste treatment system:
a. Wastes which create a fire or explosion hazard in the treatment works.
b. Wastes which will cause corrosive structural damage to treatment works, and in no
case discharges with pH less than 5 unless the system is specifically designed to
accommodate such discharges.
c. Solid or viscous substances in amounts which cause obstructions to the flow in
sewers or interference with the proper operation of the treatment works.
d. Wastewaters at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration which will cause an
inhibition or disruption of the POTW, its treatment processes, operation, or sludge
use and disposal.
e. Heat in amounts which will inhibit biological activity in the treatment works, resulting
in interference but in no case heat in such quantities that the temperature at the
treatment works influent exceeds 400C (1040F) unless the works are designed to
accommodate such heat.
3. It may be necessary for the permittee to supplement the requirements of 15A NCAC 2H
.0900 to ensure compliance by the pemuttee with all applicable limitations. Such actions
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by the permittee may be necessary regarding some or all of the contributing industries
discharging to the municipal system.
4. Permittee shall require any industrial dischargers into the permitted system to meet the
requirements of 15A NCAC 2H .0900. Prior to accepting wastewater from any
significant industrial user the permittee shall develop and submit to the Division for
approval a modified Pretreatment Program.
A significant industrial user is one which discharges wastewater into a publicly owned
treatment works and which:
a. has an average daily process wastewater flow of greater than 50,000 gallons per day,
or
b. contributes more than 5% of any design capacity of the wastewater treatment plant
which receives the discharge, or
c. is required to meet a national categorical pretreatment standard, or
d. is determined by the control authority to have a potential to adversely impact the
wastewater treatment plant, or to limit the POTW sludge disposal options.
5. This permit shall be modified, or alternatively, revoked and reissued, to incorporate or
modify an approved POTW Pretreatment Program or to include a compliance schedule
for the development of a POTW Pretreatment Program as required under 15A NCAC 2H
.0900 regulations or by the requirements of the approved State pretreatment program, as
appropriate.
B . Pretreatment Program Implementation
Under the authority of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1 and 143-215.3(14) and
implementing regulations 15 NCAC 2H .0900, and in accordance with the approved
pretreatment program all provisions and regulations. contained and referenced in the
Pretreatment Program Submittal are -an enforceable part of this non -discharge permit.
The permittee shall operate its approved pretreatment program in accordance with the State
Pretreatment Regulations 15 NCAC 2H .0900, and the legal authorities, policies,
procedures, and financial provisions contained in its pretreatment program submission. Such
operation shall include but is not limited to the implementation of the following conditions
and requirements:
1. The permittee shall develop specific limits to implement the prohibitions listed in 15A
NCAC 2H .0900.
2. Within 120 days of the effective date of this permit the permittee shall draft and submit
a monitoring program for the collection of facility specific data to be used in a
wastewater treatment plant headworks analysis for the development of specific local
pretreatment standards as required by paragraph 1 above. The permittee shall modify
and implement the monitoring program based on comments received by the Division
within 180 days of the effective date of this permit.
3. 180 days prior to the expiration date of this permit the permittee shall submit a
headworks analysis based on the data collected via the monitoring program required by
paragraph 2 above.
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4. The permittee shall issue permits for construction, operation and discharge to all
significant industrial users in accordance with NCGS 143-215.1. These permits shall
contain limitations, sampling protocols, reporting requirements, appropriate standard
conditions, and compliance schedules as necessary for the installation of control
technologies to meet applicable pretreatment standards and requirements. Prior to
issuance of a permit to construct or as a condition of the permit, an evaluation of the
treatment process proposed must be made as to its capacity to meet the permit
limitations.
5. The permittee shall carry out inspection, surveillance, and monitoring requirements as
described in its approved pretreatment program in order to determine, independent of
information supplied by industrial users, compliance with applicable pretreatment
standards. All significant industrial users must be sampled by the permittee at least
twice per year for limited parameters.
6. The permittee shall enforce and obtain appropriate remedies for violations of categorical
pretreatment standards promulgated pursuant to Section 307(b) and (c) of the Clean
Water Act (40 CFR 405 et. seq.), prohibitive discharge standards as set forth in 15A
NCAC 2H .0900 and specific local limitations. All enforcement actions shall be
consistent with any Enforcement Response Plan approved by the Division.
7. The permittee shall require all industrial users to comply with the applicable monitoring
and reporting requirements outlined in the approved pretreatment program, the
industry's pretreatment permit and/or in 15 NCAC 2H ,0908.
8. The permittee shall submit twice per year, 2 copies of a pretreatment report describing
its pretreatment activities over the previous six months. A report shall be submitted to
the Division by August 1 of each year describing pretreatment activities for January 1
through June 30 of that year, and a like report shall be submitted by February 1 of each
year for the activities conducted from July 1 through December 31 of the previous year.
These reports shall contain the following information:
a. a narrative summary of actions taken by the permittee to ensure compliance with
pretreatment requirements and standards
b. a list of any substantive changes made in the approved pretreatment program
c. a compliance status summary of all significant industrial users
d. a list of those significant industrial users in reportable noncompliance with
pretreatment requirements and standards, the nature of the violations, and actions
taken or proposed to correct the violations
e. sampling and analytical results recorded on forms approved by the Division
f. upon request, other information pertinent to the implementation of the permittee's
pretreatment program
9. The permittee shall retain for a minimum of three years record of monitoring activities and
results, along with support information including general records, water quality records,
and records of industrial impact on the POTW.
10. The permittee shall publish annually, pursuant to 15 NCAC 2H .0905, a list of
significant industrial users that have significantly violated pretreatment requirements and
standards during the previous twelve month period.
11. The permittee shall maintain adequate funding levels to accomplish the objectives of its
approved pretreatment program
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12. The permittee shall maintain adequate legal authority to implement its approved
pretreatment program.
13. The permittee shall update its industrial user survey at least once every five years.
14. Modifications to the approved pretreatment program including but not limited to local
limits modifications and monitoring program changes shall be considered permit
modification and shall be governed by 15 NCAC 211.0200.
III. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, 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 type and grade at
least equivalent to the classification assigned to the wastewater treatment facilities by the
Certification Commission.
3. A suitable 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) 1.4 inches/acre/week; and b) 0.30 inches/acre/hour.
8. No type of wastewater other than that from the Town of Garner 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. Runoff of irrigation effluent is prohibited.
IV. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. 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.
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2. A representative annual soils analysis (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis) shall be conducted
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 Manganese Potassium
Calcium Percent Humic Matter Sodium
Copper pH Zinc
Magnesium Phosphorus
Base Saturation (by calculation)
Cation Exchange Capacity (by calculation)
3. Adequate records shall be maintained by the Permittee tracicing 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.
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
v TS S
Fecal Coliform
V pH
✓ NH3 as N
TKN
-'Total Phosphorus
✓ Calcium
/NO3
Sodium
Magnesium
✓ COD
Conductivity
Sodium Adsorption Ratio by Calculation
5. Three copies of all representative soils analysis (as specified in condition III 2), all operation
and disposal records (as specified in condition III 3) and all effluent monitoring data (as
specified in condition I114) and any other data as may be required shall be submitted on or
before the last day of the following month to the following address:
NC Division of Environmental Management
Water Quality Section
Facility Assessment Unit
PO Box 29535
Raleigh, NC 27626-0535
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6. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Raleigh Regional Office, telephone no. (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 fast 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 pemut 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.
V . GROUNDWATER REQUIREMENTS
1. The seven (7) existing monitor wells shall be sampled every March, July, and November for
the following parameters:
NO3 (10.0) ✓ TDS (500.0)
TOC ✓ pH (6.5-8.5 standard units)
Ammonia Nitrogen Chlorides (250.0)
Water Level v Fecal Coliforms (1/100 ml)
Total Suspended Solids
Volatile Organic Compounds - In November only (by Method 1 or Method 2 below)
Method 1: Method 6230D (Capillary - Column), "Standard Methods for the
Examination of Water and Wastewater", 17th edition, 1989
Method 2: Method 502.2 "Methods for the Determination of Organic Compounds in
Drinking Water", United States Environmental Protection Agency - 600/4-
88/039
The measurement of water level must be made prior to sampling for the remaining
parameters.
The measuring points (top of well casing) of all monitoring wells shall be surveyed to
provide relative elevations of the measuring point for each of the monitoring wells. The
depth of water in each well shall be measured from the surveyed point on the top of the
casing.
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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 concentrations are given in parts
per million.
If TOC concentrations greater than 10 mg/l 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.
If any volatile organic compounds are detected by method 6230D, or the equivalent method
502.2, then EPA methods 604 and 611 must also be run to detect other organic compounds
which may be present. The results of all analysis specified in the monitoring requirements,
including 604 and 611 if required, must be submitted simultaneously.
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 April, August,
and December.
2. The Compliance Boundary 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.
For facilities permitted on or after December 30, 1983, the Compliance Boundary is
established at the lesser of 250 feet from the lagoon and spray field, or 50 feet within the
property boundary.
If the title to any property which may affect the location of the Compliance Boundary is
changed, the pen- ittee 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.
The REVIEW BOUNDARY_ for the disposal system is specified by regulations in 15 NCAC
2L, Groundwater Classifications and Standards. A REVIEW 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.
3. Any additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall
be provided.
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VI. 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.
VII. GENERAL CONDITIONS
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 20 years from March 25, 1991.
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.
Permit issued this the 17th day of August, 1993
NORTH CAROUNA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
r
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P ector
Division of Environmental Management
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0002708
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