WQ0013181_Final Permit_20010808

State 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
August 8, 2001
David Smith
Pender County Board of Education
925 Penderlea Hwy
Burgaw, NC 28425
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NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Subject: Permit No. WQ0013181
South Topsail Elementary School
Wastewater Spray Irrigation
Pender County
Dear Mr, Smith:
In accordance with your application received May 22, 2001, we are forwarding herewith Permit No.
WQ0013181, dated August 8, 2001, to Pender County Board of Education for the continued operation of the
subject wastewater treatment and spray irrigation facilities.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until July 31, 2006, shall void .Permit No.
WQ0013181 issued December 19, 1996, 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 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 150B of the North Carolina
General Statutes, and filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings, 6714 Mail Service Center, Ralei gh, 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 Sue Homewood at (919) 733-
5083 extension 502.
Since j
,/-Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D.
cc: Pender County Health Department
Wilmington Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Groundwater Section, Central Office
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, Borth Carolina 27699-1617 Telephone [phone] Fax [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/10% post -consumer paper

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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 143, General Statutes of North Carolina as amended, and
other applicable Laws, Rules, and Regulations
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO
Pender County Board of Education
Pender County
FOR THE
continued operation of a 7,200 GPD wastewater treatment and drip irrigation disposal facility consisting of a 1,500
gallon grease trap, an 8,000 gallon septic tank, a 10,000 gallon pump tank with dual, 90 GPM pumps with high water
alarm and 710 linear feet of 4 inch force main, a 35 foot by 80 foot surface sand filter, a tablet chlorinator, a 356,800
gallon holding/storage pond, a pert rite filtration system, a twelve zone, 3.1 acre drip irrigation area, 4,200 linear fe
of 2.5 inch return line and all necessary piping, fittings, electrical fixtures and appurtenances needed for proper
operation to serve South Topsail Elementary School, with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the
application received May 22, 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 July 31, 2006, shall void Permit No. WQ0013181
issued December 19, 1996, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and Iimitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
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 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 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 Permittee 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 11, 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.
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 26.0 inches over any twelve (12) month
period at an instantaneous application rate not to exceed 0.23 inches per hour.
8. No type of wastewater other than that from South Topsail Elementary School 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.
I0. 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 storage pond shall not be less than two feet at any time.
III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
FA
4
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.
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.
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.
The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by theFermittee at the point prior to irrigation
every March, July and November for the following parameters:
BOD,5 TSS
Fecal Coliform pH
NH3 as N
Three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition III 2) on Form NDAR-I
and three (3) copies of all effluent monitoring data (as specified in condition III 3 and 11I 4) on Form
NDMR-1 shall be submitted on or before the last 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
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 Wilmington Regional Office, telephone number (910) 395-
3900, 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.
IV. GROUNDWATER REQUIREMENTS
1. Within 90 days of permit issuance, three monitor wells, one upgradient designated as MW-I, and two
downgradient designated as MW-2 and MW-3, shall be installed to monitor groundwater quality. The
well(s) 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 each well is
marked on Attachment A. Each monitoring well shall be located at the review boundary, constructed in
accordance with this permit, and approved by the Wilmington Regional Office.
2. All wells that are constructed for purposes of groundwater monitoring shall be constructed in accordance
with 15A NCAC 2C .0108 (Standards of Construction for Wells Other than Water Supply) and any other
state and local laws and regulations pertaining to well construction.
The Wilmington Regional Office, telephone number(910) 395-3900, 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 5:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday, excluding state
holidays.
4. Within thirty (30) days of completion of all well construction activities, a certification must be received
from a professional engineer certifying that the monitoring wells are located and constructed in
accordance with the Well Construction ,Standards (15A NCAC 2C) and this permit. This certification
should be submitted with copies of the Well Completion Form (GW-1) for each well. Mail this
certification and the associated GW-1 forms to the Permits and Compliance Unit, Groundwater Section,
1636 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC, 27699-1636.
5. Monitor wells MW-1, MW-2 and MW-3 shall be sampled initially after construction and thereafter every
March, July, and November for the parameters listed below. 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) off
all monitoring wells shall be surveyed relative to a common datum.
Water Level pH
Chloride Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Fecal Coliforms Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
Nitrate -Nitrogen (NO3-N) Ammonia Nitrogen (NH3-N)
4

Volatile Organic Compounds - In November only using one of the following:
(A) Standard Method 6230D, PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less
(B) Standard Method 621 OD, PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less
(C) EPA Method 8021, Low Concentration, PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less
(D) EPA Method 8260, Low Concentration, PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less
(E) Another method with prior approval by the Groundwater Section Chief
Any method used must meet the following qualifications:
(1) A laboratory must be DWQ certified to run any method used.
(2) The method used roust, at a minimum, include all the constituents listed in Table VIII of
Standard Method 6230D.
(3) The method used must provided a PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less which must be supported by
laboratory proficiency studies as required by the DWQ Laboratory Certification Unit. Any
constituents detected above the MDL but below the PQL at 0.5 ug/L must be qualified
(estimated) and reported.
If any volatile organic compounds are detected by the methods Iisted, then the Wilmington Regional
Office Groundwater Supervisor, telephone number [phone], must be contacted immediately for
further instructions regarding any additional follow-up analyses required. The results of all initial and
follow-up analyses must be submitted simultaneously.
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. Anyexceedances.
of this naturally occurring TOC concentration in the downgradient wells shall be subject to the additional
sampling and analysis as described above.
The results of the sampling and analysis must be received on Form GW-59 (Groundwater Quality
Monitoring: Compliance Report Form) by the Groundwater Section, Permits and Compliance Unit, 1636
Mail Service Center Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1636 on or before the last working day of the month following
the sampling month.
6. Within sixty (60) days of completion of all monitoring wells, the permittee shall submit two original
copies of a scaled topographic map (scale no greater than 1 ":100') signed and sealed by a professional
engineer or a state licensed land surveyor that indicates all of the following information:
(a) the location and identity of each monitoring well,
(b) the location of the waste disposal system,
(c) the location of all property boundaries,
(d) the latitude and longitude of the established horizontal control monument,
(e) the relative elevation of the top of the well casing (which shall be known as the "measuring point"),
and
(f) the depth of water below the measuring point at the time the measuring point is established.
The survey shall be conducted using approved practices outlined in North Carolina General Statutes
Chapter 89C and the North Carolina Administrative Code Title 21, Chapter 56. The surveyor shall
establish a horizontal control monument on the property of the waste disposal system and determine the
latitude and longitude of this horizontal control monument to a horizontal positional accuracy of +/- 10
feet. All other features listed in a. through e. above shall be surveyed relative to this horizontal control
monument. The positional accuracy of features listed in a. through e. above shall have a ratio of precision
not to exceed an error of closure of I foot per 10,000 feet of perimeter of the survey. Any features locate
by the radial method will be located from a minimum of two points. Horizontal control monument 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. The map shall also be surveyed using the North American

Datum of 1983 coordinate system and shall indicate the datum on the map. All bearings or azimuths shall
be based on either the true or NAD 83 grid meridian. If a Global Positioning System (GPS) is used to
determine the latitude and longitude of the horizontal control monument, a GPS receiver that has the
capability to perform differential GPS shall be used and all data collected by the GPS receiver will be
differentially corrected.
The maps and any supporting documentation shall be sent to the Permits and Compliance Unit,
Groundwater Section, 1636 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC, 27699-1636.
5. The COMPLIANCE BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations in 15A NCAC 2L,
Groundwater Classifications and Standards. The Compliance Boundary is for the disposal system
constructed after December 31, 1983 is established at either (1) 250 feet from the waste disposal area, or
(2) 50 feet within 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 in addition to the penalty provisions applicable under General Statute 143-
215.6A(a)(1).
In accordance with 15A NCAC 2L, a REVIEW BOUNDARY is established around the disposal systems
midway between the Compliance Boundary and the perimeter of the waste disposal area. Anyexceedance
of standards at the Review Boundary shall require remediation action on the part of the permittee.
6. 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.
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 accompani,
by an application fee, documentation from the parties involved, and other supporting materials as may t,_
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 thePermittee to an
enforcement action by the Division in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6A to I43-
215.6C.
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 Iimited 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 thePermittee for the
life of tie 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 2H .0205 (c)(4).
8. The Permittee, at least six (6) months prior to the expiration of this permit, shall request its extebsion.
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 andlimitatior.
as it may deem appropriate.
Permit issued this the 8`h day of August, 2001
NORTH ROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
i
LJ r �
.%Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0013181

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