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Home My WebLink AboutNC0020940_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20190513 May 13, 2019 Chad Simmons, Town Manager Town of Murphy PO Box 130 Murphy, NC 28906-0130 SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report Murphy WWTP NPDES WW Permit No. NC0020940 Cherokee County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Murphy WWTP on 5/03/2019. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0020940. The findings and comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report entitled "Compliance Inspection Report". Please carefully reviews any comments and recommendations noted within the summary. There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this inspection report is not required. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to me at 828-296-4686 or via email at mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Mikal Willmer, Environmental Specialist I Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS EC: WQS-ARO Server LF G:\WR\WQ\Cherokee\Wastewater\Municipal\Murphy WWTP 20940\Inspections\May 3, 2019\20190513_NC0020940_CEI DocuSign Envelope ID: 03688CF9-84A1-4755-9A20-33556BC49934 EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 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 N 52 NC0020940 19/05/03 C S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Murphy WWTP Payne St Murphy NC 28906 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:00AM 19/05/03 13/12/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Tyler B White/ORC/828-837-5035/ Other Facility Data 11:15PM 19/05/03 17/08/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Tyler White,PO Box 130 Murphy NC 289060130//828-837-5035/Contacted 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 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 Mikal Willmer Division of Water Quality//828-296-4686/ 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 DocuSign Envelope ID: 03688CF9-84A1-4755-9A20-33556BC49934 5/13/2019 5/13/2019 NPDES yr/mo/day 19/05/03 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Inspector Mikal Willmer, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a compliance evaluation inspection of the Town of Murphy's WWTP. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0020940. Tyler White, ORC, was present and assisted in the inspection. Overall the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance. Records were organized and up to date. Staff are performing routine maintenance and general housekeeping around the facility. There were only a few items noted during the inspection that should be considered for further review. Annual Calibration: If not already being provided, the Town needs to request a calibration report from Carolina Technical Services. This report verifies the flow measuring device is reading within 10% of the true value. Headworks: Staff have attempted to contain debris from the mechanical bar screen as best as possible; however, debris is still leaving the concrete pad directly under the screen and dumpster. This needs to be addressed in future budgets to prevent the generation of nuisance conditions and to help staff more easily dispose of debris. Hypochlorite: The bulk hypochlorite tank sits on a concrete pad; however, there is no additional means of containment should the tank rupture or a leak occur. Recommend secondary containment to prevent a significant spill to the ground or surface waters. Drying Bed: Recommend an alternative backup solids storage solution during future upgrades, if additional solids storage is needed for the facility. The current bed does not appear to be easily maintainable. NC0020940 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 03688CF9-84A1-4755-9A20-33556BC49934 Permit:NC0020940 Inspection Date:05/03/2019 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Murphy WWTP Compliance Evaluation Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Setteable Solids and DO are monitored.Comment: Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new application? Is the facility as described in the permit? # Are there any special conditions for the permit? Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? Permit expired August 31, 2017 and is currently under review in Raleigh. A staff report will be generated for reference and made available to the permit writers. Comment: Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? Is all required information readily available, complete and current? Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? 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 Transported COCs 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? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 03688CF9-84A1-4755-9A20-33556BC49934 Permit:NC0020940 Inspection Date:05/03/2019 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Murphy WWTP Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? Annual report is posted on the Town's website and is available at Town Hall.Comment: Influent Sampling Yes No NA NE # Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected above side streams? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is sampling performed according to the permit? influent sampling is set to time composite.Comment: Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual b.Mechanical Are the bars adequately screening debris? Is the screen free of excessive debris? Is disposal of screening in compliance? Is the unit in good condition? The mechanical screen keeps most of the debris out of the SBRs; however, there is no additional grit chamber and the screened debris is difficult to transfer to the dumpster with the current setup. The ORC, Tyler White, reports issues with excessive rags from the jail. A significant amount of debris is still making it on the ground. Staff have attempted to create an easier conveyance for the debris, but it does not completely contain all items. Comment: Sequencing Batch Reactors Yes No NA NE Type of operation:Duplex Is the reactor effluent free of solids? Does minimum fill time correspond to the peak hour flow rate of the facility? Is aeration and mixing cycled on and off during fill? The operator understands and can explain the process? Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 03688CF9-84A1-4755-9A20-33556BC49934 Permit:NC0020940 Inspection Date:05/03/2019 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Murphy WWTP Compliance Evaluation Sequencing Batch Reactors Yes No NA NE SBRs mix/fill, react, settle and decant. One fills while the other settles. SBRs contain mixers and diffusers for aeration. A batch is approximately 6 hours. Diffusers have not been replaced/repaired since system was installed. Town is budgeting to rebuild/replace diffusers. Transducers with float back-ups are used as high-level alarms. No remote notification, operators must manually check PLC. Significant grease noted in SBRs at the time of the inspection. The Town is starting a FOGs program to help reduce O&G. Several restaurants may need to pump grease traps more frequently. Comment: Pumps-RAS-WAS Yes No NA NE Are pumps in place? Are pumps operational? Are there adequate spare parts and supplies on site? Staff waste from SBRs about once a day.Comment: Aerobic Digester Yes No NA NE Is the capacity adequate? Is the mixing adequate? Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank? # Is the odor acceptable? # Is tankage available for properly waste sludge? Do not have to press solids very often. When needed, solids are pressed and sent to the landfill. Comment: Equalization Basins Yes No NA NE Is the basin aerated? Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment? Is the basin free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Are audible and visual alarms operable? # Is basin size/volume adequate? Two basins gravity feed to chlorine contact chamber. If level rises, both basins are connected to handle overflow. Comment: Disinfection-Liquid Yes No NA NE Is there adequate reserve supply of disinfectant? Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: 03688CF9-84A1-4755-9A20-33556BC49934 Permit:NC0020940 Inspection Date:05/03/2019 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Murphy WWTP Compliance Evaluation Disinfection-Liquid Yes No NA NE (Sodium Hypochlorite) Is pump feed system operational? Is bulk storage tank containment area adequate? (free of leaks/open drains) Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? Liquid chlorine feed is flow proportional. Recommend additional containment around the hypochlorite bulk storage container to prevent major leak/spill to the ground or surface waters. Tank sits approximately 100' from the Hiwassee. Comment: De-chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system ?Liquid Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? Is storage appropriate for cylinders? # Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? Comment: Are the tablets the proper size and type? Are tablet de-chlorinators operational? Number of tubes in use? System is flow proportional. Sodium bisulfite has containment in the event of a leak.Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # 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? Meter was last calibrated on 5/2/2018 by Mr. Kruchkow with Carolina Technical Services. ORC reports they are scheduled to come out to recalibrate this month. If not already done so, the Town needs to obtain a calibration report from Carolina Technical for their records. This helps to demonstrate the meter is recording measurements within 10% of the true value. Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 03688CF9-84A1-4755-9A20-33556BC49934 Permit:NC0020940 Inspection Date:05/03/2019 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Murphy WWTP Compliance Evaluation Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? Environmental Inc. is collecting samples for the Town of Murphy. The fridge was reading 0.5 degrees Celsius at the time of the inspection. 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? Effluent pipe is located under water; however, access down to the river bank is maintained.Comment: Drying Beds Yes No NA NE Is there adequate drying bed space? Is the sludge distribution on drying beds appropriate? Are the drying beds free of vegetation? # Is the site free of dry sludge remaining in beds? Is the site free of stockpiled sludge? Is the filtrate from sludge drying beds returned to the front of the plant? # Is the sludge disposed of through county landfill? # Is the sludge land applied? (Vacuum filters) Is polymer mixing adequate? One of the original drying beds was closed out during upgrades, but the other was kept open. Doesn't appear new sludge has been placed within the bed. Recommend finding an alternative solution to the drying bed during future upgrades if additional solids storage capacity is needed. The bed has debris and weeds growing in it and doesn't appear easily maintainable. Comment: Page#7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 03688CF9-84A1-4755-9A20-33556BC49934 Certificate Of Completion Envelope Id: 03688CF984A147559A2033556BC49934 Status: Completed Subject: Please DocuSign: 20190513_NC0020940_CEI.ltr.docx, 20190510_NC0020940_CEI.inspect.pdf Source Envelope: Document Pages: 8 Signatures: 3 Envelope Originator: Certificate Pages: 2 Initials: 0 Mikal Willmer AutoNav: Enabled EnvelopeId Stamping: Enabled Time Zone: (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) 217 W. Jones Street Raleigh, NC 27699 Mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov IP Address: 149.168.204.10 Record Tracking Status: Original May 13, 2019 | 10:50 Holder: Mikal Willmer Mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov Location: DocuSign Signer Events Signature Timestamp Mikal Willmer mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov Environmental Specialist North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Security Level: Email, Account Authentication (None) Signature Adoption: Drawn on Device Using IP Address: 149.168.204.10 Sent: May 13, 2019 | 10:51 Viewed: May 13, 2019 | 10:51 Signed: May 13, 2019 | 10:51 Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure: Not Offered via DocuSign G. Landon Davidson landon.davidson@ncdenr.gov 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: May 13, 2019 | 10:51 Viewed: May 13, 2019 | 10:58 Signed: May 13, 2019 | 10:58 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 Witness Events Signature Timestamp Notary Events Signature Timestamp Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps Envelope Sent Hashed/Encrypted May 13, 2019 | 10:51 Certified Delivered Security Checked May 13, 2019 | 10:58 Signing Complete Security Checked May 13, 2019 | 10:58 Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps Completed Security Checked May 13, 2019 | 10:58 Payment Events Status Timestamps