WQ0013181_Final Permit_20070111

O�QF W A rFR�i✓ Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
0 -r Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director
Division of Water Quality
January 11, 2007
David Smith
Pender County Board of Education
925 Penderlea Hwy
Burgaw, NC 28425
Dear Mr. Smith:
SCANNED
DATE: �—�,
Subject: Permit No. WQ0013181
South Topsail Elementary
School WWTF
Wastewater Surface Irrigation
Pender County
In accordance with your permit renewal request received June 14, 2006, we are forwarding
herewith Permit No. WQ0013181, dated January 11, 2007, to the Pender County Board of Education for
the continued operation of the subject wastewater treatment and surface irrigation facilities.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until December 29, 2011, shall void
Permit No. WQ0013181 issued August 8, 2001, 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, 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 Matthew Fleahman at
(919) 71fr6173.
Sinc rely, %
Y� an W. Klimek,/.E.
cc: Pender County Health Department
Wilmington Regional Office, Aquifer Protection Section
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit
APS Central Files
LAU Files
No Carolina
Niurally
Aquifer Protection Section 1636 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1636 Phone [phone] Customer Service
Internet: h2o,enr.state,nc.us 2728 Capital Boulevard Raleigh, NC 27604 FAX [phone]
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NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES ..1�
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
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 holdinglstorage pond, a PERC Rite filtration system, a twelve
zone, 3.1 acre drip irrigation area, 4,200 linear feet of 2.5 inch return line and all necessary piping,
fittings, electrical fixtures and appurtenances needed for proper operation to serve the South Topsail ,.gov
Elementary School, with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the application received
June 14, 2006, 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 December 29, 2011, shall void Permit
No. WQ001318I issued August 8, 2001, 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, 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.
3. 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.

The following buffers shall be maintained:
a) 100 feet between wetted area and any residence or places of public assembly under separate
ownership,
b) 50 feet between wetted area and property lines,
b) 100 feet between wetted area and wells,
c) 50 feet between wetted area and drainageways or surface water bodies,
c) 50 feet between wetted area and public right of ways,
d) 100 feet between treatment/storage units and any wells, and
e) 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 that 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.
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 irrigation 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 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 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.
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N
12. 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.
13. The chlorine tablets used in the disinfection facility shall be of the kind and type specified in the plans
and specifications approved by the Division.
III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. 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. 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.
3. The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Permittee at prior to irrigation every
March, July, and November for the following parameters:
L _ BOD5 TSS Fecal Coliform
NH3 as N pH
4. The Permittee tracking the amount of wastewater disposed shall maintain adequate records. 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.
5. Freeboard in the storage lagoon shall be recorded weekly.
6. Three (3) copies of all monitoring data [as specified in Conditions 111(2) and HI(3)] on Form NDMR-
1 and three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records [as specified in Conditions 111(4) and
11I(5)] on Form NDAR-1 shall be submitted on or before the last day of the following month. All
information shall be submitted to the following address:
Division of Water Quality
Information Processing Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
7. An annual representative 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:
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Acidity
Manganese
Potassium
Calcium
Percent Humic Matter
Sodium
Copper
pH
Zinc
Magnesium
Base Saturation (by calculation)
Phosphorus
Cation Exchana Ca aci
Exchangeable Sodium Percentage
8. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Wilmington Regional Office, telephone number (910)
796-7215, 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.
Occurrences outside normal business hours may also be reported to the Division's Emergency
Response personnel at telephone number [phone], [phone], or [phone].
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. Monitor wells MW-1, MW-2 and MW-3 shall be sampled 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
Chloride
Fecal Coliforms
Nitrate -Nitrogen (NO3-N)
pH
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
Ammonia Nitrogen (NH3-N)
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 6210D, 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
4

Any method used must meet the following qualifications:
(1) A laboratory must be DWQ certified to run any method used.
(2) The method used must, 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 listed, 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/1 are detected in any downgradient monitoring well,
additional sampling and analysis must be conducted to identify the individual constituents comprising
this TOC concentration. If the TOC concentration as measured in the background monitor well
exceeds 10 mg/l, this concentration will be taken to represent the naturally occurring TOC
concentration. Any exceedances of this naturally occurring TOC concentration in the downgradient
wells shall be subject to the additional sampling and analysis as described above.
The results of the sampling and analysis must be received on Form GW-59 (Groundwater Quality
Monitoring: Compliance Report Form) by the Division of Water Quality Information Processing Unit
1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617on or before the last working day of
the month following the sampling month.
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.
Any exceedance of standards at the Review Boundary shall require remediation action on the part of
the permittee.
3. Any additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be
provided.
V. INSPECTIONS
1. Adequate inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be provided by the Permittee to insure proper
operation of the subject facilities.
2. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the wastewater treatment and disposal facilities to prevent
malfunctions and deterioration, operator errors and discharges which may cause or lead to the release
of wastes to the environment, a threat to human health, or a nuisance. The Permittee shall keep an
inspection log or summary including at least the date and time of inspection, observations made, and
any maintenance, repairs, or corrective actions taken by the Permittee. This log of inspections shall
be maintained by the Permittee for a period of three years from the date of the inspection and shall be j
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
1. 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.
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 2H .0500.
6. The Permittee shall retain a set of approved plans and specifications for the life of the project.
7. The Permittee must pay the annual administering and compliance fee 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 02T .0105(e).
8. 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 a llth day of January, 2007
NORTH C LINA ZWIRO ENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
-Nan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0013181