NC0033448_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20180921

� II~ )
ROY COOPER NORTH CAROLINA R CE VEDl����® �
Governor Environmental Quality
MICHAEL S.REGAN OCT 0 2 2018
Secretary
LINDA CULPEPPER Water Resources
Section Director permitting
September 21, 2018
Ms. Sandra Carrigan, Owner
MS & SR Enterprises, LLC
104 Helen Ct.
Boone, Nc 28607
SUBJECT: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Valley Creek Apartments WWTP
NPDES Permit No. NC0033448
Watauga County
Dear Ms. Carrigan,
On September 11, 2018, Kelli Park of this office met with Josh Cagle to perform a
Compliance Evaluation Inspection on the Valley Creek Apartments 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 on site has expired, and a new permit has been issued. Please print a hard
copy of the current permit and put it on site immediately. The visitation log is located on
site and adequately shows visitation times and plant conditions. Chain of custody forms
D_E Q
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

Valley Creek Apartments,September 11,2018
I
are in good order. All required monitoring was performed per the frequencies specified in ,
the NPDES permit. Miss Park 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.
VI. Facility Site Review
All components of the 0.005 million gallons per day facility appeared to be functioning
properly. There is a digester, but it is not used. The aeration basin 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. The aeration
basin is cycled 30 minutes on and 45 minutes off. Lime is added periodically to the
aeration basins. The secondary clarifier looked clean and was discharging clear effluent.
Effluent is disinfected by chlorine tablets, and then dechlorination tablets are used to
remove the chlorine before the effluent is discharged to the stream. There are two tubes
to hold the tablets for both processes. There is a clear path to where the effluent pipe
discharges into the receiving stream.
This past May, Mr. Cagle filled in a leak in the clarifier (leaked to the chlorine contact
chamber) by resealing in the bottom of the clarifier with concrete. Mr. Cagle also built a
new return pipe as the previous return was not as efficient as it could have been. These
improvements to the plant are appreciated and contribute to maintaining compliance with
permit limits.
VII. Effluent/Receiving Waters
The effluent from the facility was clear' the day of inspection. Effluent was being
discharged into Valley Creek, class C trout waters, in the Watauga River basin.
VIII. Sludge Maintenance and Handling
Sludge in the clarifier was reported to be about 1 foot at the time of inspection and pumped
about once a year due to low flow in the plant. The sludge blanket is typically low at this
plant due to the scraper in the clarifier. Triple T Plumbing pumps the sludge as needed.
Records are reported to be maintained by Triple T Pumping. Sludge records need to be
maintained on site starting immediately.
2

Valley Creek Apartments,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,
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
atlJ nit
3

United States Environmental Protection Agency Form Approved
E PA 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 2 Li 3 I NC0033448 i 111 121 18/09/11 117 181,.1 19 12.] 201
21111111 1111111111111111111111111 11111111111 r6
Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA Reserved
671 1 70I I 71 IJ 72 LJ� , 73I I 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) 01 OOPM 18/09/11 17/12/01
Valley Creek Apartments WWTP
10894 NC Hwy 105 Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date
Banner Elk NC 28604 01 30PM 18/09/11 22/09/30
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
Sandra Carrigan,104 Helen Ct Boone NC 28607//828-892-9848/
No
Section C Areas Evaluated Dunng Inspection(Check only those areas evaluated)
El Permit • Flow Measurement • Operations&MaintenancE • Records/Reports
MI Self-Monitoring Program • Facility Site Review NI 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//336-776-9689/ l'
/Ka 104./2/.......
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
Agpt,L cv2.4)
EPA Form 3560-3(Rev 9-94)Previous editions are obsolete
Page# 1

NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type 1
31 NC0033448 111 121 18/09/11 117 18 I C
Section D:Summary of Finding/Comments(Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
Page# 2

• Valley Creek Apartments WWTP
Permit: NC0033448 Owner-Facility.
Inspection Date: 09/11/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE
Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping'? • 000
Does the facility analyze process control parameters,for ex MLSS;-MCRT,,-Settleable--- —00 • 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 00 • 0
application'?
Is the facility as described in the permit'? • 000
#Are there any special conditions for the permit'? ❑ • 1=10
Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public'? ❑ I ❑ ❑
Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection'? I ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment The plant is tucked away to the side of the apartment complex.
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit'? • 000
Is all required information readily available, complete and current? • 000
Are all records maintained for 3 years(lab reg required 5 years)' • 01:10
Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? • 000
Is the chain-of-custody complete'? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Dates,times and location of sampling
Name of individual performing the sampling •
Results of analysis and calibration
Dates of analysis II
Name of person performing analyses II
Transported COCs U
Are DMRs complete.do they include all permit parameters'? • 000
Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? ❑ ❑ I ❑
(If the facility is=or>5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator 00 • 0
on each shift'?
Is the ORC visitation log available and current'? 111000
Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification'? • 000
Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification'? • CIDD
Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site'? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Page# 3

Permit: NC0033448 Owner-Facility: Valley Creek Apartments VWVTP
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? 0 p 11 p
Comment
Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE
Mode of operation Ext Air
Type of aeration system Diffused
Is the basin free of dead spots'? • ❑ 0 0
Are surface aerators and mixers operational'? ❑ 0 • El
Are the diffusers operational'? • El ❑ ❑
Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process'? • ❑ ❑ El
Does the foam cover less than 25%of the basin's surface'? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the DO level acceptable'? • ❑ ❑ ❑
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? II ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier'? ❑ ❑ U ❑
Are weirs level'? • Cl 0 p
Is the site free of weir blockage? • El 0 El
Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting'? p ❑ • ❑
Is scum removal adequate'? • ❑ El ❑
Is the site free of excessive floating sludge'? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the drive unit operational'? ❑ ❑ • ❑
Is the return rate acceptable(low turbulence)? • ❑ El ❑
Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc'? • ❑ 0 ❑
Is the sludge blanket level acceptable'?(Approximately 1/4 of the sidewall depth) • ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment.
Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE
Are tablet chlorinators operational'? • ❑ El ❑
Are the tablets the proper size and type'? • p ❑ El
Number of tubes in use'? 2
Page# 4

Permit: NC0033448 Owner-Facility Valley Creek Apartments WWTP
Inspection Date: 09/11/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE
Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? ❑ 0 ❑
IN
Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? ❑ ❑ ❑ •
Comment .
De-chlorination Yes No NA NE
Type of system? Tablet
Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount(1 to 1)? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is storage appropriate for cylinders? U 0 ❑ ❑
#Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment.
Are the tablets the proper size and type? U 0 ❑ ❑
Are tablet de-chlorinators operational? • ❑ ❑ 0
Number of tubes in use? 2
Comment:
Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE
Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? • ❑ ❑ ❑
If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? ❑ ❑ • ❑
Comment:
Page# 5