NC0030325_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20190520

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ROY COOPER -'
Governor
MICHAEL1ta S.REGAN �:.�...:.,...,� RECEIVED/NEE
A/D
LINDA CULPEPPER NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
May 6, 2019
MAY 20 2019 "
ti
Water Quail
Mr. Aubrey L. Deaver Permitting Secph
A&D Water Service, Inc.
P. O. Box 1407
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768-1407
SUBJECT: Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Buffalo Meadows
NPDES Permit No. NC0030325
Ashe County
Dear Mr. Deaver,
On April 25, 2019 Kelli Park, Jenny Graznak, and I met with Gale Howell, operator in
responsible charge (ORC), and Michael Howell, backup operator in responsible charge, to perform a
Compliance Evaluation Inspection on the Buffalo Meadows wastewater treatment system. This type
of inspection consists of two basic parts: an in-office file review and an on-site inspection of the
treatment facility. The attached Environmental Protection Agency inspection form notes the areas that
were evaluated for this inspection. The following issue from the inspection is outlined below:
1) An unapproved chlorine meter had been used previously to report the chlorine levels of the
effluent. After discussions with the Laboratory Certification Branch, an approved chlorine
meter(Hach DR 900) has been purchased by you and was received by the ORC on April 26,
2019. According to the ORC it will be calibrated and begun to be used in May to follow permit
requirements. We will continue to follow up on this issue to ensure that the correct meter is
used at the facility.
If you have any questions regarding the inspection or this report, please contact Kelli Park or me at
[phone].
Sincerely,
CDocuSianW by:
t_o... T SMity
Lon Snider
Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations
Division of Water Resources
Attachments: BIMS EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report
cc: Central Files
WSRO
iNPDES Unit
DEQ North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
—) Winston-Salem Regional Office 1450 West Hanes Mill Road,Suite 300 I Winston-Salem.North Carolina 27105
a Enotrom. ; r 336.776.9800

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 Li 2 Li 3 I NC0030325 111 12 ( 19/04/25 117 18 I(,I 19 I s I 2011
21I1III1 IIIIIIIIII1 IIIIIII I I IINI IIIIIIIIII1 (66
Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA — -Reserved `
671 LJ 70I I 711 I 72 I N 73I I 1I74 751 I I I I I I l80
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 permit Number) 11:00AM 19/04/25 16/05/01
Buffalo Meadows WWfP
Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date
NCSR 1131
12:00PM 19/04/25 21/03/31
West Jefferson NC 28694
Name(s)of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data
///
Gale Dean Howell/ORC/336-384-6917/
Name,Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Thomas W Kilpatrick,PO Box 679 Etowah NC 287290679/Administrator/828-890-4810/
No
Section C:Areas Evaluated During Inspection(Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit gi Flow Measurement Operations&Maintenance II Records/Reports
II Self-Monitoring Program II Facility Site Review II 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
Kelli A Park WSRO WQ//336-776-9689/
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Doousigned by: Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
L - �Md� 5/13/2019
EPA Form 3560-3(Rev 9-94)Previous editions are obsolete.
Page# 1

NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type (Cont.) 1
31 NC0030325 111 121 19/04/25 117 18 IA
I
Section D:Summary of Finding/Comments(Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
On April 25, 2019 Kelli Park, Jenny Graznak, and Lon Snider of this office met with Gale Howell,
operator in responsible charge(ORC), and Michael Howell, backup operator in responsible charge, to
perform a Compliance Evaluation Inspection on the Buffalo Meadows wastewater treatment system.
This type of inspection consists of two basic parts: an in-office file review and an on-site inspection of
the treatment facility. The attached Environmental Protection Agency inspection form notes the areas
that were evaluated for this inspection. The violation found during the inspection is outlined below:
1) An unapproved chlorine meter had been used previously to report the chlorine levels of the effluent.
After discussions with chemists within the Division, an approved chlorine meter(Hach DR 900) has
been purchased by you and was received by the ORC on April 26, 2019.According to the ORC it will
be calibrated and begun to be used in May to follow permit requirements.
If you have any questions regarding the inspection or this report, please contact Kelli Park or me at
[phone].
Other Findings:
1) Sludge is pumped by Doby's. The plant was pumped a week prior to inspection. Records are
maintained of how much is pumped. Sludge is pumped from the influent tank, clarifier, post clarifier
settling tank, and chlorine tank. Scum from the influent tank is removed quarterly by Doby's.
2)There is an aerated sludge holding tank, however it has not been used in 2-3 years.
Page# 2

Permit: NC0030325 Owner-Facility: Buffalo Meadows WWTP
Inspection Date: 04/25/2019 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 ❑ ❑ • ❑
application?
Is the facility as described in the permit? • 0 ❑ 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? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment:
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?
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 U
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? ❑ ❑ III ❑
(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

Permit: NC0030325 Owner-Facility: Buffalo Meadows VVVVTP
Inspection Date: 04/25/2019 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? 0 0 • ❑
Comment: October 2018 DMR had transciption errors for the temperature. ORC is fixing this and
resubmitting the DMR.
The ORC is a grade 4, and the backup ORC is a grade 1.
Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE
Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? • 0 ❑ ❑
Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? II ❑ ❑ ❑
If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? 0 ❑ • ❑
Comment: Effluent was clear the day of inspection.
Aeration Basins Yes No NA NE
Mode of operation Ext.Air
Type of aeration system Diffused
Is the basin free of dead spots? U 0 ❑ ❑
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/I) ❑ ❑ ❑ •
Comment: During the day the blowers are on 15 minutes, off 15 minutes. During the night time or
periods of long flow they are on a 2 hour rotation.
The diffusers were replaced 2 years ago.
Both blowers are being used and are operational.
Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE
Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? • 0 ❑ ❑
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? M ❑ ❑ ❑
Is scum removal adequate? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Page# 4

Permit: NC0030325 Owner-Facility: Buffalo Meadows WWTP
Inspection Date: 04/25/2019 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Secondary Clarifier Yes No NA NE
Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the drive unit operational? 0 ❑ • ❑
Is the return rate acceptable(low turbulence)? • ❑ 0 ❑
Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? • ❑ 0 ❑
Is the sludge blanket level acceptable?(Approximately'/4 of the sidewall depth) • ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment: The sludge blanket was reported to be about 2.5 ft deep. The clarifier depth is 16-18 ft.
Disinfection-Tablet Yes_No NA NE
Are tablet chlorinators operational? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Are the tablets the proper size and type? II ❑ ❑ ❑
Number of tubes in use'? 4
Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? ❑ ❑ ❑ II
Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? ❑ ❑ ❑ U
Comment: NorWeco tablets are being used.
De-chlorination Yes No NA NE
Type of system? Tablet
Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount(1 to 1)? • ❑ 0 ❑
Is storage appropriate for cylinders'? U ❑ ❑ ❑
#Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment:
Are the tablets the proper size and type'? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Are tablet de-chlorinators operational'? II ❑ ❑ ❑
Number of tubes in use'? 4
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'? ❑ ❑ 10 ❑
Page# 5

Permit: NC0030325 Owner-Facility: Buffalo Meadows VWVTP
Inspection Date: 04/25/2019 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Flow Measurement-Effluent Yes No NA NE
Comment: The Isco flow meter was calibrated in July 2018. Flow is measured
A chart recorder is not required for this plant via the permit.
Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE
Is composite sampling flow proportional? ❑ ❑ • 0
Is sample collected below all treatment units? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is proper volume collected? • 0 0 0
Is the tubing clean? DOME
#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 11 0 ❑ ❑
representative)?
Comment: Grab samples
Page# 6