NC0067008_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20180921

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ROY COOPER NORTH CAROLINA
Governor Environmental Quality ,
MICHAEL S.REGAN
Secretary
LINDA CULPEPPER RECEIVE®I0E�'r�l®�
Interim Director — a
September 21, 2018 ��� ® � 2�11
Water Resour on
Mr. Nathan Miller, Chairman permitting
Watauga County Board of Commissioners
814 West King Street, Suite 205
Boone, Nc 28607-0462
SUBJECT: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Old Cove Creek School WWTP
NPDES Permit No. NC0067008
Watauga County
Dear Mr. Miller,
On September 11, 2018, Kelli Park of this office met with Josh Cagle to perform a
Compliance Evaluation Inspection on the Old Cove Creek School's wastewater treatment
• system. This type of inspection consists of two basic parts: an in-office file review and an
on-site inspection of the treatment facility. The attached Environmental Protection Agency
inspection form notes the areas that were evaluated for this inspection. The findings and
observations are outlined below:
I. Permit
The NPDES permit became effective December 1, 2017, and expires on September 30,
2022. ,
II. Self-Monitoring Program
A review of the monthly discharge monitoring reports (DMR) for the period January 2017
through August 2018 showed that the facility was in compliance with all permit limits.
Grab samples are taken from the effluent pipe.
Ill. Records/Reports
The permit and visitation log were available during the inspection and show visitation
times and plant conditions. Chain of custody forms are in good order. All required
monitoring was performed per the frequencies specified in the NPDES permit. Miss Park
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North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office 1450 Hanes Mill Road,Suite 300 I Winston-Salem,North Carolina 27103
336.776.9800

Old Cove Creek School,September 11,2018
noted no data transcription discrepancies from bench sheets to DMRs in her
documentation review. Water Quality Labs maintains the documentation.
IV. Flow Measurement
The instantaneous flow is measured by collecting influent in a bucket for a minute of time.
The effluent depth in the bucket is then measured, and the flow rate is manually calculated.
V. Operations and Maintenance
The-wastewater treatment plant appeared to be well maintained and operated. The ORC
and backup ORC are sufficiently qualified to be running the plant.
VL Facility Site Review
All components of the 0.010 million gallons per day facility appeared to be functioning
properly. Influent flows through a paper chamber before flowing into the plant. The paper
chamber is pumped once a year by Triple T Pumping. The two aeration basins had a light
brown color and a good earthy odor.All blowers were functioning properly and there were
no dead spots. The dissolved oxygen is maintained around 2 milligrams per liter in the
first aeration basin, and around 1 milligram per liter in the second aeration basin. The
aeration basins are cycled 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off. Lime is added periodically
to the aeration basins. The secondary clarifier had some floating solids but was
discharging clear effluent. Effluent is disinfected by chlorine tablets placed in the weirs,
and then dechlorination tablets are used in a contact chamber before the effluent leaves
the plant. There is a clear path to where the effluent pipe discharges into the receiving
stream.
There used to be ultraviolet disinfection at this plant, but when the equipment went offline
it was never repaired. It is suggested that it be brought back online.
VII. Effluent/Receiving Waters
The effluent from the facility was clear the day of inspection. Effluent was being
discharged into an unnamed tributary to Cove Creek, class C waters, in the Watauga
River basin.
VIII. Sludge Maintenance and Handling
Sludge in the clarifier was reported to be about 2.5 feet at the time of inspection and
pumped about once a year due to low flow in the plant. Triple T Plumbing pumps the
sludge. Records are reported to be maintained by Triple T Pumping. Sludge records need
to be maintained on site starting immediately.
2

4 Old Cove Creek School,September 11,2018
• IX. Conclusions
Mr. Cagle's efforts to comply with the permit are appreciated. If you have any questions
regarding the inspection or this report, please contact Kelli Park or me at [phone].
Sincerely,
' ade.,-(. ,i- ,:g-4--
Sherri V. Knight, P.E.
Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations
Division of Water Resources
•
Attachments: BIMS EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report
cc: Central Files
WSRO
NPS' 6ESUnit''
3

United States Environmental Protection Agency
• Form Approved.
EPA Washington,D C 20460 OMB No 2040-0057
Water Compliance Inspection Report Approval expires 8-31-98
Section A National Data System Coding(i e.,PCS)
Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type
1 E 2 Li 3 N00067008 I11 12 18/09/11 117 18 Lin 19 [ j
201
21111111 1111111111111111111111111 11111111111 166
Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA - - Reserved -
671 1 70I I 711
I 72 731 1 174 751 1 1 1 1 1 1 180
Section B Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected(For Industrial Users discharging to POTW,also include Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date
POTW name and NPDES permit Number) 12 00PM 18/09/11 17/12/01
Old Cove Creek School
NCSR 1214 Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date
12 30PM 18/09/11 22/09/30
Sugar Grove NC 28679 •
Name(s)of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data
///
Joshua Kenneth Cagle/ORC/828-898-6277/
Name,Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Glenda Evans,PO Box 338 Sugar Grove NC 28679/1828-297-2919/
No
Section C Areas Evaluated During Inspection(Check only those areas evaluated)
II Permit • Flow Measurement II Operations&Maintenance II Records/Reports
Self-Monitoring Program II Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Waters
Section D Summary of Finding/Comments(Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
(See attachment summary)
Name(s)and Signature(s)of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
Kelli A Park WSRO WQ//336-776-96891
cti 19 18.
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
At�� � �
EPA Form 3560-3(Rev 9-94)Previous editions are obsolete
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NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type 1
31 NC0067008 I11 121 18/09/11 117 18 I_
Section D Summary of Finding/Comments(Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
. Page# 2

J
Permit: NC0067008 Owner-Facility: Old Cove Creek School
Inspection Date: 09/11/2018 Inspection Type. Compliance Evaluation
Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE
Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping'? • 0 0 0
Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex. MLSS, MCRT, Settleable 0 ❑ • 0
Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable'?
Comment.
Permit Yes No NA NE
(If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new ❑ 0 IN 0
application'?
Is the facility as described in the permit'? • ❑ 0 ❑
#Are there any special conditions for the permit'? ❑ • ❑ El
Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public'? • ❑ 0 0
Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection'? • ❑ ❑ El
Comment
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit'? • ❑ Cl El
Is all required information readily available, complete and current'? ❑ • El El
Are all records maintained for 3 years(lab reg required 5 years)? II ❑ ❑ ❑
Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? • 0 0 ❑
Is the chain-of-custody complete? • 0 ❑ ❑
Dates, times and location of sampling
Name of individual performing the sampling •
Results of analysis and calibration •
Dates of analysis U
Name of person performing analyses •
Transported COCs •
Are DMRs complete do they include all permit parameters'? • ❑ 0 El
Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? ❑ El • ❑
(If the facility is=or>5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator 0 0 II El
on each shift'?
Is the ORC visitation log available and current'? • 0 El El
Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification'? • 0 0 ❑
Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification'? • ❑ El El
Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site'? • El ❑ ❑
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Permit: NC0067008 Owner-Facility: Old Cove Creek School
Inspection Date: 09/11/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? 00 • 0
Comment: Log sheets missing for June 2018.the month that was being reviewed for bench sheet to
DMR reporting.
Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE
Mode of operation Ext.Air
Type of aeration system Diffused
Is the basin free of dead spots? M ❑ ❑ ❑
Are surface aerators and mixers operational? 00 • 0
Are the diffusers operational? • 000
Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? • 000
Does the foam cover less than 25%of the basin's surface'? • 000
Is the DO level acceptable? • 000
Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3 0 mg/I) • ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment
Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE
Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? • 000
Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier? 00110
Are weirs level? • 000
Is the site free of weir blockage? • 000
Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? • 000
Is scum removal adequate? 11 ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? • 000
Is the drive unit operational? ❑ ❑ E1 ❑
Is the return rate acceptable(low turbulence)? • 000
Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? • 000
Is the sludge blanket level acceptable?(Approximately 1/4 of the sidewall depth) • ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment
Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE
Are tablet chlorinators operational? • 000
Are the tablets the proper size and type? • 000
Number of tubes in use? 1
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Permit: NC0067008 Owner-Facility: Old Cove Creek School
Inspection Date: 09/11/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE
Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable'? 00011
Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup'? • 000
Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlonnatlon? - ❑ ❑ ❑
011
Comment
De-chlorination Yes No NA NE
Type of system? Tablet
Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount(1 to 1)? U 000
Is storage appropriate for cylinders'? U 000
#Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers'? I ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment
Are the tablets the proper size and type'? 1• 000
Are tablet de-chlorinators operational'? I 000
Number of tubes in use'? 1
Comment
Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE
Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained'? • 11:100
Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris'? • 000
If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly'? 00 • ❑
Comment:
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