NC0034754_Inspection_20190522

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
LINDA CULPEPPER
Director
Mr. Jeff Phillips, Sr. EHS Supervisor
CommScope, Inc.
6519 CommScope Road
Catawba, North Carolina 28609
Dear Mr. Phillips:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
22 May 2019
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
CommScope, Inc. WWTP
NPDES Permit No. NCO034754
Catawba County
Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Evaluation Inspection Report for the inspection conducted at the subject facility on
May 16, 2019, by Mr. Wes Bell of this Office. Please inform the facility's Operator -in -Responsible Charge (ORC) of our
findings by forwarding a copy of the enclosed report.
The report should be self-explanatory; however, should you have any questions concerning this report, please do
not hesitate to contact Mr. Bell at [phone] or at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by:
A4,01 w H PkUt
for
F 161 F869A2 D84A3...
W. Corey Basinger, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Enclosure:
Inspection Report
D Q
� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Mooresville Regional Office 1 610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301 1 Mooresville, North Carolina 28115
NORTH CAROLINA
Da"MoM a enWmn�bl mwnq 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 NCO034754 111 12 I 19/05/16 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 Id I 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)
09:30AM 19/05/16
18/12/01
Commscope WWTP
NCSR 1931
Exit Time/Date
Permit Expiration Date
Sherrills Ford INC 28673
11:45AM 19/05/16
22/04/30
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
Other Facility Data
Mark David Carpenter/ORC/828-241-6249/
Nicole Burch Johnston//336-835-9819 /
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Dayne Willis,PO Box 199 Catawba NC 28609/Director of Operations/828-241-6355/
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
EDo: by: 5/22/2019
Wes Bell �� �� MRO WQ//704-663-1699 Ext.2192/
A61696D90CC3437...
DocuSigned by:
Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
Signature of Manage r1`1611`969AMUAI
Andrew Pitner MRO WQ//704-663-1699 Ext.21 5.22.19
..
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
Page#

NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type
NCO034754 I11 121 19/05/16 117 18 JCJ
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
Page#

Permit: NCO034754
Inspection Date: 05/16/2019
Owner - Facility: Commscope WWTP
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
❑
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0
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application?
Is the facility as described in the permit?
0
❑
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# Are there any special conditions for the permit?
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0
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Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public?
0
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Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection?
0
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Comment: The last compliance evaluation inspection was performed by DWR staff on 1/26/17.
Record Keeping
Yes No NA NE
Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit?
0
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Is all required information readily available, complete and current?
0
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Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)?
0
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Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs?
0
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Is the chain -of -custody complete?
0
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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?
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Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ?
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(If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator
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on each shift?
Is the ORC visitation log available and current?
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Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification?
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Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification?
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Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site?
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Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review?
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Comment: The records reviewed durina the inspection were oraanized and well maintained. Discharae
Monitoring Reports (eDMRs) were reviewed for the period April 2018 through March 2019.
No effluent limit violations were reported and all monitoring frequencies were correct.
The facility staff must ensure to monitor for effluent TRC according to the Permit if chlorine
tablets are to be used in the clarifier troughs (algal/worm control, etc.) .
Page# 3

Permit: NCO034754 Owner - Facility: Commscope WWTP
Inspection Date: 05/16/2019 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Laboratory
Yes No NA NE
Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory?
0
❑
❑
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Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab?
0
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# Is the facility using a contract lab?
0
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# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees
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❑
0
❑
Celsius)?
Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees?
❑
❑
0
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Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees?
❑
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0
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Comment: On -site field analyses (dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature and TRC) are performed under
Commscope's field laboratory certification #5020. Statesville Analytical (all effluent
parameters except field) has also been contracted to provide analytical support.
Effluent Sampling
Yes No NA NE
Is composite sampling flow proportional?
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0
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Is sample collected below all treatment units?
0
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Is proper volume collected?
0
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Is the tubing clean?
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0
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# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees
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❑
0
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Celsius)?
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type
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representative)?
Comment: The subject permit requires effluent grab samples.
Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, and 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
sampling location)?
Comment:
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?
Page# 4

Permit: NCO034754
Inspection Date: 05/16/2019
Operations & Maintenance
Owner - Facility: Commscope WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Yes No NA NE
Comment: The wastewater treatment Dlant appeared to be properly operated and well maintained
Operations staff incorporate a comprehensive process control program with all
measurements being properly documented and maintained on -site.
The facility is equipped with a SCADA system (view only) to assist the staff with the
operation of treatment processes/units.
Both treatment trains were operational; however, only one train was in service due to low
influent flows. Each treatment train consists of two aeration basins (in series) and a
secondary clarifier.
Bar Screens
Yes No NA NE
Type of bar screen
a.Manual
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b.Mechanical
Are the bars adequately screening debris?
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Is the screen free of excessive debris?
0
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Is disposal of screening in compliance?
0
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Is the unit in good condition?
0
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Comment:
Pump Station - Influent
Yes No NA NE
Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures?
0
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Is the wet well free of excessive grease?
0
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Are all pumps present?
0
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Are all pumps operable?
0
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Are float controls operable?
0
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Is SCADA telemetry available and operational?
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0
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Is audible and visual alarm available and operational?
0
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Comment:
Equalization Basins
Yes No NA NE
Is the basin aerated?
0
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Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment?
0
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Is the basin free of excessive grease?
0
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Are all pumps present?
0
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Are all pumps operable?
0
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Are float controls operable?
0
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Page# 5

Permit: NCO034754 Owner - Facility: Commscope WWTP
Inspection Date: 05/16/2019 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Equalization Basins Yes No NA NE
Are audible and visual alarms operable? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
# Is basin size/volume adequate? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
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 ❑
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Are surface aerators and mixers operational?
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0
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Are the diffusers operational?
0 ❑
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Is the foam the proper color for the treatment process?
0 ❑
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Does the foam cover less than 25% of the basin's surface?
0 ❑
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Is the DO level acceptable?
0 ❑
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Is the DO level acceptable?(1.0 to 3.0 mg/1)
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0
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Comment: Magnesium hydroxide is added to maintain appropriate alkalinity/pH levels. Microbial
supplements are also added on an as -needed basis to maintain appropriate treatment
Secondary Clarifier
Yes No NA NE
Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater?
0
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Is the site free of excessive buildup of solids in center well of circular clarifier?
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0
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Are weirs level?
0
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Is the site free of weir blockage?
0
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Is the site free of evidence of short-circuiting?
0
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Is scum removal adequate?
0
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Is the site free of excessive floating sludge?
0
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Is the drive unit operational?
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0
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Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)?
0
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Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc?
0
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Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately'/ of the sidewall depth)
0
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Comment:
Filtration (High Rate Tertiary) Yes No NA NE
Type of operation: Down flow
Page# 6

Permit: NC0034754
Inspection Date: 05/16/2019
Owner - Facility: Commscope WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Filtration (High Rate Tertiary)
Yes No NA NE
Is the filter media present?
0
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Is the filter surface free of clogging?
0
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Is the filter free of growth?
0
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Is the air scour operational?
0
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Is the scouring acceptable?
0
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Is the clear well free of excessive solids and filter media?
0
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Comment: Both tertiary filters were operational and in service.
Flow Measurement - Effluent
Yes No NA NE
# Is flow meter used for reporting?
0
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Is flow meter calibrated annually?
0
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Is the flow meter operational?
0
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(If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter?
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0
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Comment: The flow meter is calibrated annually and was last calibrated by Kemp, Inc. on 8/18/18.
Disinfection - UV
Yes No NA NE
Are extra UV bulbs available on site?
0
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Are UV bulbs clean?
0
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Is UV intensity adequate?
0
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Is transmittance at or above designed level?
0
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Is there a backup system on site?
0
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Is effluent clear and free of solids?
0
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Comment:
Effluent Pipe
Yes No NA NE
Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained?
0
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Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris?
0
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If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly?
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0
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Comment: The effluent appeared clear with no floatable solids or foam. The receiving
stream did not
appear to be negatively impacted.
Aerobic Digester
Is the capacity adequate?
Is the mixing adequate?
Yes No NA NE
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Page# 7

Permit: NC0034754
Inspection Date: 05/16/2019
Aerobic Digester
Owner - Facility: Commscope WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Yes No NA NE
Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank?
0
❑
❑
❑
# Is the odor acceptable?
0
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# Is tankage available for properly waste sludge?
0
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Comment: The facility is equipped with an aerobic digester and decant tank. A contracted company
(currently Rick's Septic Tank Service)
removes wastewater solids on an as -needed basis.
Page# 8