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Home My WebLink AboutNC0032123_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20181203 1 ty, + NORTH CAROLiNA R O Y COOPER et"ronmentBIQU Governor MICHAEL S. REGAN Secretary LINDA CULPEPPER Interim Dnector December 3, 2018 RECEI\!ED/DENRIDWR Mr. Martin Lashua, VP DEC 12 2018 Carolina Water Service, Inc. of North Carolina P.O. Box 240908 Water Resources Charlotte NC, 28224 Permitting Section SUBJECT: Compliance Evaluation Inspection Hounds Ears WWTP NPDES Permit No. NC0032123 Watauga County Dear Mr. Lashua, On November 7, 2018, Kelli Park and Gary Hudson of this office, met with Christian Montgomery, Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC), as well as Neil Reese and Ken Whitaker to perform a Compliance Evaluation Inspection at the Hounds Ears wastewater treatment plant. 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 EPA inspection form details the areas that were evaluated during this inspection. Some pertinent findings from the inspection are described in the inspection summary. The only problem that was found was the permit on site has expired. Please put a current copy of the permit on the site as soon as possible. Otherwise, the inspection found the facility to be satisfactory. If you have any questions regarding the inspection or this report, please contact Kelli Park or me at (336) 776-9800 or by email at kelli.parkancdenr.gov or sherri.knightncdenr.gov. Sincerely, - Sherri V. Knight, P.E. Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Division of Water Resources Attachments: EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report cc: Central Files WSRO (NPDES Unif;. v, 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 El 2 IF I 3 I NC0032123 111 12I 18/11/07 117 18 m, 19I I 201 I 21 11 1 1 I 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I l66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA -Reserved ` 67I 70 I I 71 I I 72 I N I 731 I 174751 III III 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 OOPM 18/11/07 17/10/01 Hound Ears WWTP 1624 Dogwood Rd Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date Boone NC 28607 01 OOPM 18/11/07 22/09/30 Name(s)of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data /// Christian Alexander Montgomery/ORC/828-260-7936/ Name,Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Matthew Klein,PO Box 240908 Charlotte NC 28224/President/704-525-7990/ No Section C.Areas Evaluated During Inspection(Check only those areas evaluated) Permit El Flow Measurement II Operations&Maintenance Records/Reports II Self-Monitoring Program Facility Site Review 1. 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 Gary Hudson Division of Water Quality//336-776-9694i Kelli A Park/10): WSRO WQ//336-776-9689/ � rZI31lOt Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date EPA Form 3560-3(Rev 9-94)Previous editions are obsolete Page# 1 7 NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type (Cont) 1 31 NC0032123 111 121 18/11/07 117 18 IA Section D Summary of Finding/Comments(Attach additionalls_Jheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Kelli Park and Gary Hudson met with Christian Montgomery(ORC), Neil Reese(BORC), and Ken Whitaker(BORC) on 11/7/2018 to perform a Compliance Evaluation Inspection on the Hounds Ears 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 in this report: • Page# 2 a t Permit. NC0032123 Owner-Facility• Hound Ears WWTP Inspection Date: 11/07/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new 0 ❑ • ❑ application'? Is the facility as described in the permit? • 0 0 ❑ #Are there any special conditions for the permit'? 0 III 0 0 Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public'? • ❑ 0 ❑ Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection'? • 0 0 0 Comment. Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping'? • ❑ 0 Cl Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex. MLSS, MCRT, Settleable • 0 0 0 Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable'? Comment' Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit'? • 0 0 0 Is all required information readily available, complete and current'? • 0 ❑ ❑ Are all records maintained for 3 years(lab reg required 5 years)? • ❑ ❑ 0 Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? • 0 0 0 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 • Name of person performing analyses II Transported COCs Are DMRs complete do they include all permit parameters'? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? 0 0 • 0 (If the facility is=or>5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator 0 0 • 0 on each shift'? Is the ORC visitation log available and current'? • ❑ 0 0 Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification'? • 0 0 0 Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification'? • ❑ ❑ 0 Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site'? 0 M 0 ❑ Page# 3 a 1. Permit: NC0032123 Owner-Facility: Hound Ears WWTP Inspection Date: 11/07/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? ❑ ❑ • ❑ Comment: There is not a current permit on site.The permit on site has expired. Please put a copy of the current permit on site immediately. The visitation log is located on site and adequately shows 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 noted no data transcription discrepancies from bench sheets to DMRs in her documentation review. The ORC is a grade 3 and both backup ORCs are a grade 2. Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual • b Mechanical ❑ Are the bars adequately screening debris'? • ❑ El ❑ Is the screen free of excessive debris'? • ❑ 0 ❑ Is disposal of screening in compliance? • 0 ❑ ❑ Is the unit in good condition? • El El ❑ Comment. Screened debris are dried out, put into a trash can, and taken to a landfill Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Mode of operation Ext.Air Type of aeration system Diffused Is the basin free of dead spots'? III ❑ ❑ ❑ Are surface aerators and mixers operational'? • ❑ El ❑ Are the diffusers operational'? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? • ❑ El ❑ Does the foam cover less than 25%of the basin's surface'? • El ❑ ❑ Is the DO level acceptable'? II ❑ El ❑ Is the DO level acceptable?(1 0 to 3.0 mg/I) • El ❑ El • Page# 4 Permit: NC0032123 Owner-Facility: Hound Ears WWTP Inspection Date: 11/07/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE Comment. The aeration basins were functioning properly and had a good earthy odor All blowers were functioning properly and there were no dead spots.The DO is maintained around 2 mg/L. The aeration basin blowers are on timers and have different on/off settings depending on the time of day.The blowers stay on from 6am-9am, are on 30 minutes off 30 minutes throughout the rest of the day, and are on for 15 minutes per hour in the night time. There are two aeration basins, one is bigger than the other. Currently the flow is getting split evenly between the two due to the splitter box being worn down. It would be better if more flow could go to the bigger aeration basin. It is recomended that the splitter box get replaced to facilitate a better flow proportion to the basins. Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? • ❑ ❑ El Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier'? ❑ ❑ • ❑ Are weirs level? • 0 0 0 Is the site free of weir blockage? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? • ❑ El ❑ Is scum removal adequate? • El 0 ❑ Is the site free of excessive floating sludge'? • 0 0 El Is the drive unit operational'? El El III ❑ Is the return rate acceptable(low turbulence)? III ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the sludge blanket level acceptable?(Approximately%of the sidewall depth) • ❑ ❑ 0 Comment* There was some foam on top of the water in the clarifier but it was not considered to be bad. The depth of the sludge at the time of inspection was reported to be 3.5 ft deep in the 30ft deep clarifier. The clarifier was pumped about 10 weeks ago. Triple T pumping and Appalachian Pumping are used for pumping. Disinfection - UV Yes No NA NE Are extra UV bulbs available on site'? ❑ ❑ El Are UV bulbs clean? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is UV intensity adequate'? ❑ 0 ❑ • Is transmittance at or above designed level? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is there a backup system on site'? • El ❑ ❑ Is effluent clear and free of solids? • ❑ El ❑ Comment. The bulbs are consistently cleaned, and there are back up bulbs on site Chlorine and dechlorination tablets are available incase of the UV system failing. Page# 5 it as Permit: NC0032123 Owner-Facility Hound Ears wWiP Inspection Date: 11/07/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Disinfection -UV Yes No NA NE Flow Measurement-Effluent Yes No NA NE #Is flow meter used for reporting? • 0 0 0 Is flow meter calibrated annually? • ❑ 0 0 Is the flow meter operational? • 0 ❑ El (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? • ❑ El ❑ Comment: The flow meter was calibrated 2 weeks prior to the inspection.The flow meter is a Grayline Instruments OCF 5.0. Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? • ❑ 0 ❑ Is sample collected below all treatment units? • 0 0 ❑ Is proper volume collected? • ❑ 0 ❑ Is the tubing clean? • ❑ 0 0 #Is proper temperature set for sample storage(kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees • ❑ ❑ El Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit(frequency,sampling type • 0 ❑ ❑ representative)? Comment: The composite sampler is set to pull 150 ml per 6 pulses (aprox. 6000 gallons).The sample is kept on ice and is maintained around 3-4 degrees celcius The tubing was clean Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained'? • ❑ El 0 Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris'? II 0 ❑ ❑ If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? El ❑ • El Comment The effluent was clear the day of inspection. There were no noticable impacts to the stream. The effluent flows into the Watauga River(Class B trout waters, high quality waters), in the Watauga River Basin. Pump Station -Influent Yes No NA NE Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? • ❑ ❑ El Is the wet well free of excessive grease'? I ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all pumps present? • ❑ El El Are all pumps operable'? • 0 El ❑ Are float controls operable'? • ❑ ❑ El • Is SCADA telemetry available and operational'? • ❑ ❑ ❑ _ Page# 6 • , Permit: NC0032123 Owner-Facility: Hound Ears WWTP Inspection Date: 11/07/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Pump Station -Influent Yes No NA NE Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? IIIDDD Comment: The pump station has two pumps, both which were replaced in January of 2018.The loq was available and current.The station is checked about 2-3 times a week. • Page# 7