NCG550820_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20190524

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
LINDA CULPEPPER
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
May 24, 2019
CERTIFIED MAIL 7017 0190 0000 9562 6407
RETURNED RECEIPT REQUESTED
Ryan Freeman
4015 Redwood Rd
Durham, NC 27704
Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Notice of Violation: NOV-2019-PC-0426
Single Family Wastewater Treatment System
40I5 Redwood Rod, Durham
Certificate of Coverage (CoC) NCG550820
Durham County
Dear Mr. Freeman,
On May 8, 2019, Jason Robinson and Erin Deck from the NC Division of Water Resources visited your
single-family residence (SFR) to evaluate compliance of the property's discharging wastewater
treatment system that is covered under NPDES General Permit NCG550000 and the Certificate of
Coverage (CoC) NCG550820. An information package was left at the front door requesting the owner
to contact this office. There is no record of this office receiving a return phone call or email from the
owner.
The following were observed during the inspection:
l . The chlorinator was in the fenced backyard and could not be accessed to determine if there were
chlorine tablets in it.
2. There are no records of the septic tank being pumped (required every 3-5 years) or the effluent
being analyzed (required annually).
3. It appeared that there may have recently been a wastewater overflow at the cleanout in the
backyard. The area around the cleanout appeared wet and sunken (see picture #1).
4. It appeared that some work had been done on the system recently; there was an area in the lawn
in the vicinity of the system that looked like it had been excavated recently (see picture #2).
DEQ�
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Div -Sion of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office: 1628 Mail Service Center. Raleigh. NC 27699.1628
Physical Address 3800 Barrett Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609 919-791.4200

5. The effluent was discharging at the time of the inspection. The discharge is just outside the
back of the backyard fence. The effluent was observed to be dark -colored and contained waste
solids. This is indicative of a failing system (see picture 43)This system discharges into an
unnamed tributga to Panther Creek a WS-IV Nutrient -Sensitive Water SW in a Critical
Area CA in the NeuselFalls Basin. The discharize is less than a mile from Falls Lake.
Based on the observation of the effluent, it appears the system is not functioning properly and is
discharging untreated or partially treated wastewater. This violates conditions of the general
permit including the following:
"O erations & Maintenance": Part I Section
" 1) Treatment systems shall be maintained at all times to prevent seepage of selvage to the
surface or ground hater "
" 6) A visual review: of the outfall location shall be executed tvt!ice each year (one at the time of
sampling) to ensure that no visible solids or other obvious evidence of system
rnalfirnctioning is observed. Any visible signs of a malfunctioning system shall be
documented and steps take to correct the problem, "
"Pro er Q eration and Maintenance": Part II Section C 2
"The Permittee shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems of
treatment and control (and related appurtenances) which are installed or used by the Permittee
to achieve compliance with this conditions of this permit. Proper operation and maintenance
also includes adequate laboratory controls and appropriate quality assurance procedures. This
provision requires the Permittee to install and operate backup or auxiliary facility only when
necessary to achieve compliance with the conditions of the permit [40 CFR 122.41(e)]. "
These and other general conditions of the permit can be found at the following website:
http:" portal.nedenr.org/web N-g:`s«p:ps_-npdes:generalpermits
(click on NCG550000 to access the general permit.)
Attachment B also includes a checklist of conditions that could result in failure to comply with permit
conditions.
Requested Response
Please submit_a written response to this Notice of Violation (NOV) to this office within 30 days
detailing how you will address the items above in a timely manner to bring the system back into
compliance of the permit conditions and to ensure the system is ftinctioning as intended.
The Division requests that the Permittee secure an engineer to inspect your existing system and
determine if re airs are needed and/or components need replacing to ensure that the system functions as
intended and meets the conditions of Your permit, including meeting the effluent monitoring limits
contained in the permit. Please do this within 60 days.
2 of

If the engineer determines that any part of the system needs to be repaired or replaced, the Permittee
should inform this office. The components that are required when replacing a system are included in
Section A of Part I of the general permit and in Attachment B of this letter. Before construction
begins, an Authorization to Construct (ATC) must be secured from the Division of Water Resources.
To apply for an ATC, you are required to submit the following:
a. A letter of request for an ATC to Charles Weaver, NPDES Permitting Unit, Division of
Water Quality, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617.
b. Plans and specifications of the proposed sandfilter system in triplicate. PIans and
specifications must be drawn and submitted by a licensed North Carolina professional
engineer.
If you believe that the system is functioning properly.lease provide recent effluent monitoring results
that demonstrate that the system is in compliance. This may be accomplished by contacting a certified
lab (provided in the packet that was given to you during the inspection) to perform this analysis and
submit the results to this office within 45 days of receipt of this letter. The parameter monitoring limits
can be found in Section A of Part I of the general permit and in Attachment B of this letter.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. This office requires that the violation, as described above,
be properly resolved in a timely manner. These violations and any future violations are subject to a
civil penalty assessment of up to $25,000.00 per day for each violation. Should you have any questions
regarding these matters, please contact me or Jason Robinson at Jason. T.Robinson.d. ncdenr.gov.
Attachments:
Compliance Inspection Report
Sincer ly,
Rtck Bolich, L.G., Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
cc: RROISWP Files
NPDES Permitting Unit, Charles Weaver
Attachment A: Pictures #1, #2 & #3
Attachment B: System Replacement Requirements and Effluent Parameter Limits
3 of 6

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Attachment B
As described in Section A of Part I of the permit, failing systems that require
replacement after August 1, 2007 require the following:
• Septic Tani: (with riser)
• Filter media
• Recirculating pump tank(s) per approved design (Multi -Phase Filter Systems only)
• Filter media component per approved design
• Disinfection unit (Chlorinationfdeclllorination, or equivalent means of disinfection)
• Effluent pipeloutfall
• Aeration/erosion control (rip rap).
Single Family Residences Effluent Parameter Limits
LISi1TS
MONITORING
EFFLU NT CHAIUCTERIST1Cs
RE [JIREII ENTS
[Parameter Coddel
Monthly
billy
Measurement
sample
Sample
Averse
Alaximum
Frequencv
Type
Location t
Flow (Spd) 2 50050
ISM gpd 2
Annually
Estimate
Effluent
DOD- 5-Day. 20QC (mglL) 3 C0310
30.0 mSiL
45.0 mL%fL
Annually
Grab
Effluent
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) (tngrl..) 3
C053n
30.0 mg+l.
45 0 mg/L
Annually
Grab
Effluent
Fecal Coliform lk; Io0m1.)3.4
31616
200 100 mL
400. 100 mL
Annually
Grab
Effluent
EnicrococciIWE00mL)3.4.5
61111
35.:M)mL
Annually
Grab
Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine (TRU) tpgtl 3,6.7 50060
Footnote 6 & 7
Annually
Grab
Effluent
gpd � gallons per day; BOD = Biochemical Oxygen Demand- mon
= mmin . me
— t;t—.
100mL = colonies per 100 milliliters. µg/L = micrograms per liter
Footnotes;
1. Effluent is defined as wastewater leaving the treatment system, prior to discharge into a creek or other
waterbod) _
? The wastewater discharge flow from this facility may not in any case exceed 1,000 gallons per day, The
Authorization to Construct (ATC) issued with the Certificate of Coverage (COC) may further limit the flow
authorized by the permit to a lower discharge volume.
I A North Carolina certified laboratory must perform the wastewater analysis
4. Fecal Coliform and Enterococci shall be calculated using the geometric mean, according to the procedure
detailed in Part 11. Section A.
5. AppIicable for discharges to SB and SC water only. In SB and SC waters, the requirement for a fecal coliform
sample is not required.
6. Receiving stream chlorine Icvels are not to exceed 17 µgrL for freshwater and 13 µgi L for saltwater. The
sample shall be taken from the effluent pipe, prior to discharge into a creek or other waterbody.
7. TRC limitation only applicable for facilities that are required to utilize dechlorination (see Part 1, B for
Treatment System Requirements). The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50
µg L to be in compliance with the permit. However, the Permittec shall continue to maintain records for all
values reported by North Carolina certified laboratory (including field certified), even if these values fail
below 50 µg/L.
Conditions:
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or foam visible in other than trace amounts.
s s"

United Stales Environmental Protecton Agency
Form Approved.
EPA Washington, D.C. 2448Q
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 yrlmolday Inspection Type
Inspector Fac Type
1 u 2 15 1 3 i NCG550820 I11 12 19,05,08 17 18 i r,1
lJ
19 LJ I s I 20!Ll I
21
6
Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating el OA
Reserved
I f 71 Lj 72 1 � 1 73I r 174
57 70 Li �1 LJJ
75H_j 11 80
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users d scharg rig to POTW, also include Entry TimelDaie
Permit Effective Date
POTW name and NPDES Permit Number)
12 OOPM 19/05/00 13108/01
4015 Redwood Road
4015 Redwood Rd Exit Time/Date
Penn t Expiration Date
Durham NC 27704 12 15PM 19:05:08
1810731
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)frides(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data
111
Name Address of Responsible OfftcialfTide/Phone and Fax Number
Ryan A Freeman,4015 Redwood Rd Durham NC 27704111 Contacted
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit E Operations & Maintenance E Effluent/Receiving Waters
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
(See attachment summary)
Name(&) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers
Date
1 �7
Jason T Robinson f/� / _„/� RRO WON
Signature of Management 0 A Reviewer Agency/OfficelPhone and Fax Numbers
Dat
�a
EPA Form 3560.3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
li
Page#

NPDES yrlmolday Inspection Type (Cont)
31 NcG550820 I11 121 19r05r09 i 17 18 Ld
Section D- Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
The following were observed during the inspection:
1. The chlorinator was in the fenced backyard and could not be accessed to determine if there were
chlorine tablets in it.
2. There are no records of the septic tank being pumped (required every 3-5 years) or the effluent
being analyzed (required annually).
3. It appeared that some work had been done on the system recently; there was an area in the lawn in
the vicinity of the system that looked like it had been excavated recently (see picture #1).
4. It appeared that there may have recently been a wastewater overflow at the cleanout in the
backyard. The area around the cleanout appeared wet and sunken (see picture #2).
5. The effluent was discharging at the time of the inspection. The effluent was observed to be
dark -colored and contained waste solids. This is indicative of a failing system (see picture #3). This
waste was discharging at the back of property outside of the fence into a unnamed tributary to Panther
Creek, a WS-IV, Nutrient -Sensitive Water (NSW) in a Critical Area (CA) in the Neuse/Falls Basin. The
residence is less than a mile from Falls Lake.
Based on the observation of the effluent, it appears the system is not functioning properly and is
discharging untreated or partially treated wastewater. This violates conditions of the general permit
including the following,
Page#

Permit NCG550820 Owner - Facility: 4015 Redwood Road
Inspection Data: 05108/2019 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
O erations & 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 ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable?
Comment: It appeared that wastewater had spilled out of the clean -out in the backyard, and that an area
in the vicinity of the system had been excavated.
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?
❑
M
❑
❑
Comment: Chlorinator was in fenced backyard
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? ❑0 ❑ ❑
If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑
Comment: Effluent discharge was dark -colored and contained solids.
Page# 3