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Home My WebLink AboutNC0065242_Inspection_20190225 (2)ROY COOPER Governor MICHAEL S. REGAN Secretary LINDA CULPEPPER Director NORTH CAROLINA EhWronmerttaf Quality CERTIFIED MAIL # 7015 1370 0000 2591 1445 RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED 25 February 2019 Mr. Bill Willis, Mayor Town of Grover P.O. Box 189 Grover, NC28073 Subject: Notice of Violation and Recommendation for Enforcement Compliance Evaluation Inspection NOV-2019-PC-0099 Grover WWTP NPDES Permit No. NCO065242 Cleveland County Dear Mr. Willis: Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Evaluation Inspection for the inspection conducted at the subject facility on February 14, 2019, by Ori Tuvia. The cooperation of James Davis during the site visit was much appreciated. Please advise the staff involved with this NPDES Permit by forwarding a copy of the enclosed report. The following areas of concern were observed during the inspection: 1) The facility has no source of standby power. This is a continuing violation that was noted on the previous inspection report (dated December 20, 2017). Part II, Section C (7) of NPDES Permit No.NC0065242 dated September 1, 2018, states: Power Failures "The Permittee is responsible for maintaining adequate safeguards to prevent the discharge of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater during power failures by means of alternate power sources, standby generators or retention of inadequately treated effluent". 2) At the time of the inspection, the bar screen appeared too coarse, undersized, and insufficient to catch the debris in the influent flow. Rags, paper products and other debris were observed in downstream treatment units including at the effluent (see pictures below). Debris was evident at the facility effluent pipe into Jakes Branch. State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources I Water Quality Regional Operations Mooresville Regional Office 1 610 East Center Avenue, Suite 3011 Mooresville, North Carolina 28115 704 663 1699 3) As a reminder, the effluent sampler should be maintained such that the tubing and/or the sample container do not freeze in the winter months and that the sample is maintained at a temperature of no more than 6°C. Picture 1. Coarse bar screen Picture 2. Rags at the effluent ROY COOPER Governor MICHAEL S. REGAN Secretary LINDA CULPEPPER Director NORTH CAROLINA EhWronmerttaf Quality Please be advised that this correspondence is being issued as a Notice of Violation with a Recommendation for Enforcement Action. You are requested to respond to this Notice, in writing, regarding the above noted violations, within fifteen (15) days of receipt. The response should include all remedial actions, including the specific activities to prevent the recurrence of these violations. Failure to respond and/or failure to resolve the violations could subject you to further action by the Division of Water Resources. Please be advised that pursuant to G.S. 143-215.6A, a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) per day, per violation and may be assessed against any person who violates or fails to act in accordance with the terms, conditions, or requirements of any permit issued pursuant to G.S. 143-215.1. Should you have any questions concerning this Notice, please do not hesitate to contact Ori Tuvia at (704) 235-2190/ori.tuviagncdenr.gov or me at (704) 235-2194 corey.basinizernncdenr. gov Sincerely, DocuSigned by: A14CC681 AF27425... W. Corey Basinger Regional Supervisor Mooresville Regional Office Division of Water Resources Cc: NPDES, MRO Files (Laserfiche) James Davis (E-copy) State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources I Water Quality Regional Operations Mooresville Regional Office 1 610 East Center Avenue, Suite 3011 Mooresville, North Carolina 28115 704 663 1699 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 IN I 2 IF I 3 I NC0065242 111 12 I 19/02/14 I17 18 I S I 19 I G I 201 I 211111 I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I f6 Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ---------------------- Reserved ------------------- 67 2.0 70 71 [.. I 72 73 L_LJ74 751 I I I I I I I80 I —I u 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 oermit Number) 10:OOAM 19/02/14 18/09/01 Grover WWTP 1229 Bethlehem Church Rd Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date Grover NC 28073 11:10AM 19/02/14 23/08/31 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data James Lester Davis/ORC/704-813-9342/ Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Bill Willis,PO Box 189 Grover NC 280730189//704-937-9986/ No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self -Monitoring Program Sludge Handling Disposal Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Waters Laboratory 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 eo-DocuSigned by: OriATuvia ,--Eli MROWQ//704-663-1699/ 2/25/2019 Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date W. Corey Basinger Division of Water Quality//704-2; EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. DocuSigned by: eyj 2/25/2019 A14CC681AF27425... Page# NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type NCO065242 I11 121 19/02/14 117 18 JCJ Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Page# Permit: NCO065242 Owner - Facility: Grover WWTP Inspection Date: 02/14/2019 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 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Are there any special conditions for the permit? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The subject permit expires on 8/31/2023. Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is all required information readily available, complete and current? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? ❑ ❑ ❑ Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? 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 Name of person performing analyses Transported CM Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? ❑ ❑ ❑ Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? ❑ ❑ ❑ (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator ❑ ❑ ❑ on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? ❑ ❑ ❑ Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? ❑ ❑ ❑ Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Records reviewed during the inspection were well maintained. DMRs, COCs Calibration logs and ORC logs were reviewed for October 2018 through January 2019. Laboratory Yes No NA NE Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 3 Permit: NCO065242 Owner - Facility: Grover WWTP Inspection Date: 02/14/2019 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Laboratory Yes No NA NE Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the facility using a contract lab? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Celsius)? Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Comment: On -site analvses of TRC. DH. and temDerature are Derformed under field laborator certification #5497 (Grover WWTP). The permittee has also contracted Gel Labs (mercury) and Water Tech Labs, Inc. (laboratory certification #50) to provide the remaining testing requirements. The field instrumentation used on site was being checked/calibrated before daily use. Influent Sampling Yes No NA NE # Is composite sampling flow proportional? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is sample collected above side streams? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is proper volume collected? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the tubing clean? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Celsius)? Is sampling performed according to the permit? ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is sample collected below all treatment units? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is proper volume collected? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Is the tubing clean? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ representative)? Comment: At the time of the inspection the temperature in the composite sampler was -2 degrees. Asa reminder, the effluent sampler should be maintained such that the tubing and/or the sample container do not freeze in the winter months and that the sample is maintained at a temperature of no more than 6°C. Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Page# 4 Permit: NCO065242 Owner - Facility: Grover WWTP Inspection Date: 02/14/2019 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable ❑ ❑ ❑ Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Comment: At the time of the inspection the followina maintenance issues were observed: 1) The facility has no source of standby power. 2) At the time of the inspection the temperature in the composite sampler was -2 degrees. As a reminder, the effluent sampler should be maintained such that the tubing and/or the sample container do not freeze in the winter months and that the sample is maintained at a temperature of no more than 6°C. 3) At the time of the inspection, the bar screen appeared too coarse, undersized, and insufficient to catch the debris of the influent flow. Rags, paper products and other debris was observed in downstream treatment units including at the effluent Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual b.Mechanical ❑ Are the bars adequately screening debris? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ Is the screen free of excessive debris? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is disposal of screening in compliance? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the unit in good condition? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ Comment: At the time of the inspection, the bar screen appeared too coarse, undersized, and insufficient to catch the debris of the influent flow. Rags, paper products and other debris was observed in downstream treatment units includina at the effluent Aeration Basins Mode of operation Type of aeration system Is the basin free of dead spots? Are surface aerators and mixers operational? Are the diffusers operational? Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process? 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/1) Yes No NA NE Ext. Air Diffused ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ Comment: Both Blowers were operational. At the time of the inspection it was evident that the aeration basin had excessive amount of debris. Aeration basin debris should be removed. Page# 5 Permit: NC0065242 Inspection Date: 02/14/2019 Owner - Facility: Grover WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Secondary Clarifier Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier? Are weirs level? Is the site free of weir blockage? Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting? Is scum removal adequate? Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? Is the drive unit operational? Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately'/4 of the sidewall depth) Yes No NA NE ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Since the last inspection a new clarifier skimmer was installed, however floating sludge was still evident suggesting am additional skimmer might be needed. Disinfection -Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are the tablets the proper size and type? M ❑ ❑ ❑ Number of tubes in use? 5 Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ 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? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ # Is de -chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ Are the tablets the proper size and type? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The disinfection and dechlorination tablets are stored in closed containers in the same location Are tablet de -chlorinators operational? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Number of tubes in use? 6 Comment: Page# 6 Permit: NCO065242 Inspection Date: 02/14/2019 De -chlorination Owner - Facility: Grover WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Flow Measurement - Effluent # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? Comment: The Flow meter was calibrated on 1/28/2019. Effluent Pipe 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? Yes No NA NE Yes No NA NE ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ Comment: At the time of the inspection the effluent appeared clear however rags were evident in the effluent discharge location. Drying Beds Yes No NA NE Is there adequate drying bed space? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the sludge distribution on drying beds appropriate? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are the drying beds free of vegetation? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the site free of dry sludge remaining in beds? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of stockpiled sludge? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the filtrate from sludge drying beds returned to the front of the plant? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the sludge disposed of through county landfill? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the sludge land applied? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ (Vacuum filters) Is polymer mixing adequate? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Comment: Aerobic Digester Yes No NA NE Is the capacity adequate? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the mixing adequate? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the odor acceptable? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is tankage available for properly waste sludge? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 7 Permit: NC0065242 Inspection Date: 02/14/2019 Aerobic Digester Owner - Facility: Grover WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Yes No NA NE Comment: Waste sludge is pumped from the digester to the drying beds with the filtrate returning to the head of the plant. Residual cake is placed in the Republic Services covered dumpster on site Page#