WQ0001990_NOV-2019-PC-0204_20190319

Certified Mail # 7017 2620 0000 9759 0935
Return Receipt Requested

March 19, 2019

Seth Eckard
Town of Valdese
PO Box 339
Valdese, NC 28690

SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Tracking Number: NOV-2019-PC-0204
Permit No. WQ0001990
Town of Valdese DCAR
Burke County

Dear Permittee:

The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted inspections of the Town of Valdese DCAR on
February 19 and March 12, 2019. The inspections were conducted to verify that the facility is operating in
compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in Non-discharge Permit No. WQ0001990. A summary of
the findings and comments noted during the inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report.

The Complaint inspections were conducted by Division of Water Resources staff from the Asheville
Regional Office. The following violation(s) were noted during the inspections:

Inspection Area Description of Violation _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Treatment Sludge thickener troughs were cleaned in 2018. The solids were not properly disposed. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Treatment The air source for compost was not connected at the time of the inspection. The power
source was disconnected due to problems with the electrical panel. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Remedial actions should have already been taken to correct this problem and prevent further occurrences in the
future. The Division of Water Resources may pursue enforcement action for this and any additional violations of
State law.

DocuSign Envelope ID: C4919D05-E3BA-4794-898C-432027E047B7

To prevent further action, please respond in writing to this office within 30 days upon your receipt of this Notice
of Violation regarding your plans or measures to be taken to address the indicated violations and other identified
issues, if applicable.
If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Beverly Price with the Water Quality
Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500.

Sincerely,

G. Landon Davidson, P.G., Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ

ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report

Ec: WQS ARO Server
LF

G:\WR\WQ\Burke\Wastewater\Non-discharge\Town of Valdese\Inspections\Complaints 2-19-19 & 3-12-19\20190319_WQ0001990_NOV2019PC0204

DocuSign Envelope ID: C4919D05-E3BA-4794-898C-432027E047B7
Compliance Inspection Report
Permit:WQ0001990 Effective:02/23/18 Expiration:07/31/19 Owner :Town of Valdese
SOC:
Contact Person:
Region:
County:
Directions to Facility:
Burke
Asheville
Greg A Padgett
Effective:Expiration:Facility:Town of Valdese DCAR
2100 Lake Rhodhiss
Valdese NC 28690
Title:Phone:[phone]Director
From downtown Valdese, take 70E to left on Laurel Street, right on Lovelady Road, left on Lake Rhodiss Dirve, WWTP is located at
the end of the road.
Secondary ORC(s):
Phone:Certification:Primary ORC:
System Classifications:
24 hour contact name Christopher John Bortnick 828-879-2131
On-site representative Christopher John Bortnick 828-879-2131
On-site representative Greg A Padgett 828-879-2131
On-Site Representative(s):
Related Permits:
NC0041696 Town of Valdese - Lake Rhodhiss WWTP
Secondary Inspector(s):
Primary Inspector:
Inspection Date:Exit Time:Entry Time:
Phone:
02/19/2019 10:30AM 12:00PM
Beverly Price 828-296-4500
Linda S Wiggs Phone :[phone] Ext.4653
Facility Status:
Permit Inspection Type:
Reason for Inspection:Inspection Type:
Not CompliantCompliant
Complaint
Distribution of Residual Solids (503)
Complaint
Question Areas:
Miscellaneous Questions Treatment Pathogen and Vector Attraction
(See attachment summary)
Page 1 of 4
DocuSign Envelope ID: C4919D05-E3BA-4794-898C-432027E047B7
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0001990
02/19/2019 Complaint
Town of Valdese
Complaint
Inspection Summary:
On February 19, 2019, Bev Price and Linda Wiggs met onsite with Greg Padgett and Chris Bortnick.
A complaint was received by DWR stating “sludge and debris were deliberately dumped on a back-access road leading to
the lake behind the facilities #2 aeration basin”. The sludge thickener troughs were cleaned in 2018. Mr. Padgett and Mr.
Bortnick indicated the material, mostly grass and some sludge was placed on the back-access road to fill in ruts in the
road.
All solids should be properly disposed.

On March 12, 2019, Bev Price met onsite with Chris Bortnick.
An additional complaint (same complainant) was received by DWR on March 3, 2019, stating in part, “My concern is the
temperature readings of the compost and how they are obtained from the windrows”. Time and temperatures for each
compost pile are documented and appear to be compliant with permit requirements. I could not prove the allegations
regarding the way temperature readings are collected. However, the compost method used at the facility is aerated static
pile. At the time of inspection, there was no air source for the active pile. The ORC reported that two of the finished piles
also did not have air as the power source was disconnected due to problems with the electrical panel.
This method of composting would not be considered proper operation and maintenance of the residuals system.
Page 2 of 4
DocuSign Envelope ID: C4919D05-E3BA-4794-898C-432027E047B7
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0001990
02/19/2019 Complaint
Town of Valdese
Complaint
Type Yes No NA NE
Land Application
Distribution and Marketing
Pathogen and Vector Attraction Yes No NA NE
a. Fecal coliform SM 9221 E (Class A or B)
Class A, all test must be <1000 MPN/dry gram
Geometric mean of 7 samples per monitoring period for class B<2.0*10E6 CFU/dry gram
Fecal coliform SM 9222 D (Class B only)
Geometric mean of 7 samples per monitoring period for class B<2.0*10E6 CFU/dry gram
b. pH records for alkaline stabilization (Class A)
c. pH records for alkaline stabilization (Class B)
Temperature corrected
d. Salmonella (Class A, all test must be < 3MPN/4 gram day)
e. Time/Temp on:
Digester (MCRT)
Compost
Class A lime stabilization
f. Volatile Solids Calculations
g. Bench-top Aerobic/Anaerobic digestion results
Compost time/temperatures were documented and appeared to be compliant.Comment:
Treatment Yes No NA NE
Check all that apply
Aerobic Digestion
Anaerobic Digestion
Alkaline Pasteurization (Class A)
Alkaline Stabilization (Class B)
Compost
Drying Beds
Other
Compost - The method used is aerated static pile. Two of the three piles, one active and two
finished, were not connected to an air source. The ORC stated that the power supply was shut
off because the electrical panel door will not close and is subject to precipitation.
Thickeners - The facility maintains two sludge thickeners. The ORC reported that the thickener
troughs were cleaned in 2018. The solids (sludge/grass) were placed on the dirt access road
behind the WWTP to fill in ruts.
Comment:
Page 3 of 4
DocuSign Envelope ID: C4919D05-E3BA-4794-898C-432027E047B7
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0001990
02/19/2019 Complaint
Town of Valdese
Complaint
Page 4 of 4
DocuSign Envelope ID: C4919D05-E3BA-4794-898C-432027E047B7
Certificate Of Completion
Envelope Id: C4919D05E3BA4794898C432027E047B7 Status: Completed
Subject: Please DocuSign: 20190319_WQ0001990_NOV2019PC0204.docx, 20190319_WQ0001990_NOV2019PC0204.pdf
Source Envelope:
Document Pages: 6 Signatures: 1 Envelope Originator:
Certificate Pages: 2 Initials: 2 Beverly Price
AutoNav: Enabled
EnvelopeId Stamping: Enabled
Time Zone: (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
217 W. Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27699
[e-mail]
IP Address: 149.168.204.10
Record Tracking
Status: Original
3/19/2019 12:58:23 PM
Holder: Beverly Price
[e-mail]
Location: DocuSign
Signer Events Signature Timestamp
Beverly Price
[e-mail]
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style
Using IP Address: 149.168.204.10
Sent: 3/19/2019 1:02:55 PM
Viewed: 3/19/2019 1:03:05 PM
Signed: 3/19/2019 1:03:18 PM
Freeform Signing
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
Not Offered via DocuSign
Linda Wiggs
[e-mail]
DWR
DEQ
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)
Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style
Using IP Address: 149.168.204.10
Sent: 3/19/2019 1:03:19 PM
Viewed: 3/19/2019 1:11:06 PM
Signed: 3/19/2019 1:11:17 PM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
Not Offered via DocuSign
G. Landon Davidson
[e-mail]
Asheville Regional Office, Regional Supervisor
DEQ, Division of Water Resources, Water Quality
Regional Operatoins
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)
Signature Adoption: Uploaded Signature Image
Using IP Address: 149.168.204.10
Sent: 3/19/2019 1:11:18 PM
Viewed: 3/19/2019 1:12:08 PM
Signed: 3/19/2019 1:12:56 PM
Freeform Signing
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
Not Offered via DocuSign
In Person Signer Events Signature Timestamp
Editor Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Agent Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Intermediary Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Certified Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Carbon Copy Events Status Timestamp
Notary Events Signature Timestamp
Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps
Envelope Sent Hashed/Encrypted 3/19/2019 1:11:18 PM
Certified Delivered Security Checked 3/19/2019 1:12:08 PM
Signing Complete Security Checked 3/19/2019 1:12:56 PM
Completed Security Checked 3/19/2019 1:12:56 PM
Payment Events Status Timestamps