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WQ0001048_Compliance Report_20190717
�o Cft&io�vo44w Seureye �Oijtz" CMSD POST OFFICE BOX 477 GRIFTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28530 CHARLES M. SMITHWICK, JR. DISTRICT MANAGER July 17, 2019 Mr. Randy Sipe, P.G., Hydrogeologist Water Quality Regional Operations Section Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ 943 Washington Square Mall Washington, NC 27889 Re: Groundwater Standard Exceedances Permit No: WQ0001048 Dear Mr. Sipe: d d O few �90�" q� �9� SOn 9io o r, � 0 d "kco As per our telephone conversations and a response to the certified letter received by this office dated April 24, 2019, 1 am providing the following report concerning the Groundwater Standard Exceedance on CMSD's Biosolids Land Application Sites. This report was completed by Groundwater Management Associates, Inc. (GMA, Greenville, NC) and presents the results of GMS's evaluations. Please advise if you have questions or comments. Sinc 1 , Charles M. Smithwick, Jr. Ir District Manager, CMSD Enclosure GMA OROUNDWATEI MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES. INC. July 12, 2019 Mr. Chuck Smithwick District Manager Contentnea Metropolitan Sewerage District PO Box 477 Grifton, NC 28530 4300 Sapphire Court, Suite 100 Greenville, North Carolina 27834 Telephone 252-758-3310 www.amo-nc.com Re: Report of Groundwater Evaluation, Contentnea Metropolitan Sewerage District Residuals Land Application Sites, Grifton, North Carolina Dear Chuck, Groundwater Management Associates, Inc. (GMA) is pleased to provide this summary report of a groundwater evaluation conducted at the Contentnea Metropolitan Sewerage District (CMSD) residuals land application sites. On March 28, 2011, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) issued a Notice of Regulatory Requirements (NORR) to CMSD. The NORR cited groundwater quality standard exceedances in monitoring wells associated with the residual solids land application areas under Permit No. WQ0001048. Of particular concern to the NCDEQ were reported values of chromium in some monitoring well samples. CMSD responded with a letter in June of 2011 that described a variety of conditions that were believed to have affected the water -quality results, and CMSD asserted that the elevated chromium was not related to the land application of biosolids. On April 24, 2019, the NCDEQ issued a letter to CMSD citing the continued exceedance of groundwater quality standards in the monitoring wells based upon the 2018 Annual Report dated March 11, 2019. The NCDEQ requested that CMSD fulfill the requirements of the original NORR of March 28, 2011. CMSD contracted GMA to evaluate the hydrogeologic setting of the site and to evaluate the possibility that detected concentrations of chromium may be naturally occurring. This letter report presents the results of GMA's evaluations. Background Information and Hydrogeoloeic Setting The CMSD wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is at 900 Wiley Gaskins Road, east of the Town of Grifton, North Carolina. The WWTP provides treatment of sewage from the Towns of Grifton, Ayden, and Winterville. The treatment process generates residual solids that are land applied to five areas Mr. Smithwick Page 2 (Figure 1). CMSD monitors six monitoring wells (MW9, MW10, MW14, MW15, MW17 and MW18) in accordance with the land application permit (Figures 1 and 2). The CMSD land application sites lie in the North Carolina Coastal Plain, a broad, generally flat region that is underlain by marine, estuarine, and fluvial sediments deposited along the North American continental margin. These sediments range in age from Late Cretaceous to Recent. The mapped Coastal Plain sediments exposed near Grifton are from the Late Cretaceous age Peedee Formation (NCGS, 1985). The Peedee Formation is a fossiliferous dark green to black marine clay unit interbedded with calcareous sandstone and olive gray sands. Locally, the fossiliferous sandy limestone of the Rocky Point Member may occur near the top of the Peedee Formation. Outcrops of Peedee Formation, including some sandy limestone typical of the Rocky Point Member, occur along Contentnea Creek south and west of the CMSD facility. The land surface at the CMSD land application sites exhibits a fluvial terrace topography. Quaternary sands, deposited by the ancestral Neuse River and/or Contentnea Creek, underlie the fluvial terrace region. Lidar data of the site vicinity (Figure 3) clearly illustrate the fluvial terrace topography encompassing the CMSD facilities. Braid bars, remnant stream channels, and flood plain areas occur within the terraces. Within the upper (northern) reaches of the fluvial terraces, Carolina Bay pocosins are also evident. The fluvial terrace deposits lie unconformably above the Peedee Formation, and they comprise the Surficial Aquifer sediments. In this setting, Surficial Aquifer groundwater generally flows from upland recharge areas (in the north) to the regional discharge area (Contentnea Creek) south of the CMSD facilities. Field Monitoring Event —June 11, 2019 A GMA geologist visited the site on June 11, 2019 to observe, document, and participate in sampling of six monitoring wells near the residuals land application sites. Figure 1 shows the locations of residuals land application sites and monitoring wells. CMSD contracted with a registered land surveyor (Spruill and Associates) to establish the locations and top of casing elevations for the three newest wells (MW15, MW17, and MW18), as casing elevations for these wells were not previously established. Table 1 presents details of well construction, well locations, casing elevations, and water -level measurements collected on 6/11/19. CMSD personnel conducted the monitoring well sampling using standard methods with a disposable bailer. CMSD person nel.purged 5 gallons from each well before sample collection. GMA measured turbidity of the last bail of purge water using a calibrated Hach 2100Q Portable Turbidimeter. Table 2 presents the turbidity measurement from each monitoring well at the end of purging. CMSD filled laboratory containers from the bailer following completion of purging of each well. It should be noted that CMSD implemented a redevelopment program for their monitoring well network after receiving the April 24, 2019 letter from NCDEQ. The redevelopment program entailed repeated bailing of the wells to remove sediment and to reduce turbidity. The redevelopment program preceded the June 11, 2019 Mr. Smithwick Page 3 sampling event. CMSD staff reported that turbidity was notably reduced by the redevelopment program. CMSD selected two monitoring wells (MW10 and MW14) for additional sampling evaluations by GMA. These two wells have a history of elevated chromium concentrations. GMA used a peristaltic pump to purge wells MW10 and MW14 using a low -flow rate. We monitored pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and temperature using a YSI Professional Plus multi - parameter meter and a flow -through cell. Field turbidity was monitored from the effluent of the pump using the Hach 2100Q Turbidimeter. Low -flow purging was continued until turbidity was <10 NTU and other field parameters stabilized. The YSI meter was calibrated on 6/10/19, and the calibration record is included as an attachment. GMA expected that low -flow sampling could achieve a lower turbidity prior to sample collection than the bailing method that CMSD normally uses. Low turbidity is important for metals analyses because naturally occurring metals in the sediments can leach from sediment particles into the laboratory bottles. Laboratory protocol for metals analyses requires the use of a nitric acid preservative in the sample containers. In high -turbidity samples, the nitric acid can leach metals into solution from sediment particles, thereby resulting in elevated concentrations in the laboratory analyses. Reducing turbidity to less than 10 NTU was a goal for the low -flow sampling methods, as 10 NTU is a common threshold for metals sampling. For example, Gibbons & Sara (1993) found no statistical difference between filtered and unfiltered samples for metals when turbidity is <10 NTU. Table 2 presents the turbidity results for wells MW10 and MW14 from the flow -flow sampling method. The low -flow sampling method achieved a significant reduction in turbidity. Table 3 presents the stabilized field water -quality parameters for low -flow sampling of MW10 and MW14. Once stabilization criteria were met, CMSD collected water samples for chromium and copper analyses. Water Table Mapping and Groundwater Flow Direction Knowing the top of well casing elevations, GMA calculated the water table elevation at each monitoring well using water depth measurements from 6/11/19. Table 1 presents the water table elevations. Figure 2 presents a contour map of the water table elevation based upon the monitoring well data collected on 6/11/19. The water table surface across the land application sites ranges in -elevation from 26.8 feet above mean sea level (MSL) to 17.47 feet MSL, and it slopes from the north toward the south at an average hydraulic gradient of 0.0026 ft/ft. Wells MW14 and MW17 are upgradient of all land application sites. Wells MW9, MW10, and MW15 are in downgradient locations within the wellfield. Groundwater flow from the land application areas is directed toward Contentnea Creek, which is the local groundwater discharge boundary for the site. Mr. Smithwick Page 4 Water Quality Laboratory Results CMSD arranged all laboratory analyses for sample collected on June 11, 2019. Samples collected by bailer were analyzed by Environmentl for fecal coliform bacteria, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total organic carbon, total dissolved residue, total chromium, copper, conductivity, and phosphate. Samples collected by low -flow purging from wells MW10 and MW14 were analyzed for total chromium and copper. A copy of the laboratory results are attached. Table 4 presents a comparison of chromium, copper and turbidity analyses from well MW10 and MW14 based upon sampling method. As is demonstrated by the data, turbidity in samples collected after low -flow purging was lower than the bailed samples. The chromium and copper concentrations of samples collected from MW10 and MW14 by the low -flow method were less than the detection limits for these analytes. Chromium was reported at a concentration of 7 µg/L in the bailed sample from MW14, but copper was less than the detection limit in that same sample. Both chromium and copper were below the detection limits in the bailed sample from MW10. Chromium was also detected in samples collected by CMSD from MW15 and MW17, both at a concentration of 5 µg/L. It is notable that well MW15 also had the highest turbidity after bailing of any of the monitoring wells sampled. None of the chromium detections exceeded the 15A NCAC 02L groundwater quality standard (10 µg/L) in any of the wells sampled on June 11, 2019. It is reiterated here that CMSD implemented a redevelopment program for their monitoring well network after receiving the April 24, 2019 letter from NCDEQ. The redevelopment program entailed repeated bailing of the wells to remove sediment and to reduce turbidity. Although some wells still produce elevated turbidity following purging, the lack of exceedance of the chromium groundwater quality standard in any well during the June 11, 2019 sampling event suggests that the redevelopment program has been effective at reducing elevated metals resulting from excessive turbidity. Conclusions and Recommendations GMA offers the following conclusions from this evaluation: • Groundwater in the surficial aquifer at the CMSD site flows from the north toward the south under and average hydraulic gradient of 0.0026 ft/ft. • Wells MW14 and MW17 are hydraulically upgradient of all of CMSD's residuals land application sites. • The water -quality associated with samples from upgradient wells MW14 and MW17 represent groundwater conditions from off -site upgradient areas (and/or from sediment in the aquifer at those wells) and would not be related to residuals land application activities downgradient of those wells. • Low -flow sampling performed at wells MW10 (downgradient) and MW14 (upgradient) demonstrates that the bailing method results in higher turbidity than the low -flow sampling method. This study also provides evidence that higher turbidity samples are associated with higher reported concentrations of chromium in the samples. Mr. Smithwick Page 5 • Redevelopment of the monitoring wells by CMSD appears to have reduced turbidity in the wells to the point that chromium concentrations did not exceed the groundwater standards in the most recent sampling event. • GMA concludes that historical reports of chromium concentrations exceeding the groundwater standards in the monitoring wells at the facility were most likely associated with excessive turbidity. As such, these chromium detections would be naturally occurring in the aquifer materials. The June 11, 2019 sampling results do not indicate the presence of groundwater contamination by metals (such as chromium) associated with residuals land application areas. Report Certification This groundwater evaluation report was prepared by Groundwater Management Associates, Inc., a professional corporation licensed to practice geology (#C-121) and engineering (#C-0854) in North Carolina. I, James K. Holley, am a NC licensed geologist employed by GMA, and I do certify that the information contained in this report is correct and accurate to the best of my knowledge. Groundwater Management A t?, teA".Z •.,� p1 s z 1060 James K. Holley, P.G. C S~ Senior Hydrogeologist �•.,�9�� iOG�o��,��.• .y°° S K 1'► � ��. °°OQ��se000eo®e� References: Gibbons, R.D. and M.N. Sara, 1993, "Statistical Comparison of Metals Concentrations in Filtered and Unfiltered Ground -Water Samples, in Ground Water Sampling", A Workshop Summary: Dallas, Texas. November 30 - December 2, 1993. U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, EPA/600/R-94/205, pp. 54-58. North Carolina Geological Survey, 1985, "Geologic Map of North Carolina", 1 sheet. Table 1. CMSD Monitoring Well Data 162601 Well Name Total Depth (Feet) North (M) East (M) North (F) East (F) Latitude Longitude TOC Elev. DTW (6/11/19) WT Elev. (6/11/19) MW9 8 179,461.84 753,424.06 588,785.59 2,471,863.78 35.3574601° -077.4173231° 20.67 3.2 17.47 MW10 8 179,724.98 753,156.93 589,648.91 2,470,987.38 35.3598702° -077.4202161° 21.09 2.1 18.99 MW14. 13 180,785.39 753,467.55 593,127.93 2,472,006.49 35.3693833° -077.4166123° 34.9 8.25 26.65 MW15 6.75 179,705.42 754,148.87 589,584.74 2,474,241.79 35.3595511° -077.4093055° 21.9 2.31 19.59 MW17 8 180,585.42 753,696.80 592,471.86 2,472,758.61 35.3675479° -077.4141248° 31.1 4.3 26.8 MW18 10 180,319.31 753,344.33 591,598.79 2,471,602.21 35.3652001° -077.4180500° 30.41 5.34 25.07 Coordinates and Elevations Surveyed by Spruill and Associates, Inc. - Greenville, NC (M) - Meters (F) - Feet TOC - Top of Casing of the Well North and East = NC State Plane Coordinates Elev. - Elevation in Feet DTW - Depth to Water Measured in Feet Relative to the Top of the Well Casing Table 2. Field Turbidity Data during Sampling - 6/11/19 Well Number Static Water Level* Turbidity (Bailing)** Turbidity (Pumping) MW9 3.20 feet 5.96 NTU NA MW10 2.10 feet 25.0 NTU 7.68 NTU MW14 8.25 feet 64.7 NTU 2.21 NTU MW15 2.31 feet 91.6 NTU NA MW17 4.30 feet 4.27 NTU NA MW18 5.34 feet 55.5 NTU NA * All water level depths were measured from the top of the well casing. ** Turbidity samples were taken from the last bailer after purging 5 gallons from the well. NA - Not Applicable Table 3. Field Water -Quality Parameters from Low -Flow Sampling Parameter MW10 MW14 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 2.86 5.47 pH (standard units) 5.31 5.57 Oxidation -Reduction Potential (mv) 96.4 87.7 Conductivity (PS/cm) 50.5 33.7 Temperature (°C) 21.2 18.1 Water -quality results are for stabilized readings from a YSI meter using a flow -through cell. Table 4. Comparison of Chromium and Copper Concentrations by Sample Methods. Parameter MW10 MW14 Bailing Low -Flow Bailing Low -Flow Chromium (µg/L) <5 <5 7 <5 Copper(µg/L) <10 <10 <10 <10 Turbidity (NTU) 25.0 7.68 64.7 2.21 NTU - Nephelometric Turbidity Units y Yl,. `-"n'I ��•;�,. , '. • '�1� ' S ff ' f r�t��J �u �1� s a,p A Y% ��f 1 I �1 l�/ i Aw ell, Tj 17, WORM law it ig i,. � / r'Y O ,. 11 �. Lrk ,� ,j �1i3 �8 c � ^r v �!� .} ,..1•Il.. .... _ Y ` i v 4 \ L tk � `��" ^ it, -�_J ■ 1'�� � Y Y �� I-�l -I _:�� � I J }II L.� -.. I' �'(), 7Y �� g r _ , � � '` i)'�_;� ,- 1 max. ^ r,7 `-_`i Y i.(� ;• ^� S tt11 r . -.. '.�^ ♦� R .Y l . _ f _ � ']` f � iY ,%� .}i� .:;:b�. �� � II yy ���.�, AJf S d . IyyI �'�jy'V�F����� ��_ 4 � Q C��j �° "` "!' .. 1 �, • i� II - ■... •.- -- ■ - ..- 1 � a ._ ..T4� ti. �, r .,, ��If � -;l �.. a r`-�l �,...• -• ''M.�(,+e� � 7 �i' I M a - � lr '' .J• !i p � i - t _ f ' �,,tf° s r�� 1m i &,,:. ,� „.-= �� • 'ire ,� �� q 7 1! , � „ � �7 �, � ✓'�' �.. y,�f � a �' T,�' ;� �_ �((� n - r t rr- , a r s / W "r IL jp FIELD CY 18.99 a If L(Af S� w l3i�j, _ I�-. s Ln-✓e.h'• y 7i-�` -,,y `y[ K' a " ®� J„ ' I jam MIGURS, 1 u a k [, • , J, W. e g� 0 CarolinaQ Y , iEPY OD t141309 Grdt9,f1 itL11+ �� y MW 17 ^t FAW18 rl sla. r s, - _ ftI0/ 10 a 4.11 Goo- IE`EarthT `USGS, r _ Attachments: YSI Meter Calibration Record Laboratory Reports from Environmentl YSI CALIBRATION. LOG C MA Date/Time: &A // � Technician: Instrument Serial Nurif 13y9,7-i Software Revision:fi. Cable Model Num: Temperature Reading ;Z 0 C Temperature Accurate: N DO Sensor in use: olaro rap i 'Galvanic Sensor notated. in Sensor menu? Y R DO membrane changed? Y(P Color of Membrane Color notated in Sensor menu?Y N . Record the following calibration values: pH Buffer open Post cal value. Ad Pre Cal value. pH mV value Acce table mV Range date of last std pH:' 7 .-. Range 0 mV ± 50 mV s"` -7, -- H 4 Range +165 to +180 from 7 buffer mV value 'r�.! Ll , o t pH 10 t Range -165 to -180from 7 buffer mV value La . 0 t NOTE: See pH Cal tips section for additional information. Span between pH 4. and 7 and 7 and 10 mV values should be z 165 to 180 mV. 177 is the ideal distance or 59 mV per pH unit. Pre Cal After Cal Conductivity /3 6' zjg/ - 1 "/0 ORP M. v DO True Barometric Pressure �s�•S Record the following diagnostic, numbers after calibration, by viewing the .glp file and reading the values for the day's calibration: Conductivity Cal Cell Constant _(9, Range 5.0 +/ 1.0 acceptable. DO Sensor Value (uA) � 3 (Membrane dependent, see DO Cal Tips) pH Slope (z 55 to 60 mV/pH, 59 ideal) pH Slope % of ideal 00 Hach Turbidi'meter: 20' NTU value: N A 800 NTU value: Comments: 100 NTU value: 10 NTU Verification Std value: EmAummumq old hmpufflUd CMBD (SLUDGE & WELLS ACCT) CONTENTNSA METRO. SEWAGE DIET. MS. RENEE PRIDGEN P.O. BOX 477 GRIFTON ,NC 28530 ID#: 416 DATE COLLECTEDt 06/11/19 DATE REPORTED t 07/08/19 REVIEWED BY: Well #9 Well #10 Well #14 Well #15 Well #17 Analysis Method PARANIMRS Date Analyst Code Fecal Collrorm (Ml?), /100 Mis <1 1 4 10 <1 06/11/19 MAR 9222D-06 Ahmnonia Nitrogen as N, mg11 0.99 <0.04 <0.04 0.38 <0.04 06/13/19 DTL 350.1 112-93 Nitrate Nitrogen as N, :ng/l 0.15 0.55 0.29 0.19 0.48 06/12/19 AICS 353.2 112-93 Total Organic Carbon, mg/1 7.82 3.89 2.42 9.22 1.73 06/13/19 SEl 531OC-11 Total Dissolved Residue, mg1l 46 - 30 35 126 47 06/13/19 I(DS 2540C-11 Total Chromium, ug/l <5.0 <5.0 7 5 5 06/13/19 LFJ EPA200.7 Copper, ::g/1 <10 <10 <W <10 <10 06/13/19 LFJ EPA200.7 Conductivity (at 25c), uMhos/cm 65.0 55.0 35.9 137 38.9 06/17/19 JMS 2510B-11 Total Ortho-Phosphate as P, mg/1 0.07 0.06 0.06 0.04 0.16 06/12/19 KDS 450OPE-11 0 Environment 1, Inc. CHAIN OF CUSTODY RECORD P.O. Box 7085,114 Oakmont Dr. Page 1 of 1 MIDI • �• • -I .• • NONE 1 • • N `• • u _ - - it�-� i!®e�¢3:�'�',, ems; < 'si" ■■■■■■■■ DNNl=WATEFI ©.. ■' SOUDWASTE SECTION RM rr. �'r •1i ��e ewe Y•?r �?`' w, '' a .��3 �� ��, ■■■■■■■■ :I �N �:�.'.% �wc Rs�'. � ���5 /My ■■■■■■■■ •�/i.7is������ CHAIN OF CUSTODY (SEAL) MAINTAINED 'DURINGrENTIDELIV�RY MIURM, WAM Sampler must place a T. for.camposite sample or a "G" for FORM YS PLEASE -READ. Instructions for.completing this.form. on ilia reve[se Side. Grab maple in the blocks above for each parameter requested.N _. 0 3=6717 5 Emkomnmq % himpumbd CMSD (SLUDGE & WELLS ACCT) CONTENTNEA METRO. SEWAGE DIET, NO. RENEE PRIDGEN P.O. BOX 477 GRIFTON ,NC 28530 Well #18 Analysis Method PARAMEMERS Date Analyst Code Fecal Collform (MF), /100 Mls > 600 06/11/19 MAR 9222D-06 Ammonia Nitrogen as N, mg/l <0.04 06/13/19 DTL 350.1 R2-93 Nitrate Nitrogen as N, mg/1 0.05 06/12/19 AKS 353.2 R2-93 Total Organic Carbon, mg/1 7.92 06/13/19 SEJ 531OC-11 Total Dissolved Residue, mg/1 108. 06/13/19 I(DS 2540C-11 Total Chromium, ugh <S.0 06/13/19 LFJ EPA200.7 Copper, ug/i <10 06/13/19 LFJ EPA200.7 Conductivity (at 25c), uMhos/cm 151 06/17/19 JMS 2S10D-11 Total Ortho-Phosphate as P, mg/1 0.02 06/12/19 KDS 450OPE-11 ID# t 416 DATE COLLECTEDi 06/11/19 DATE REPORTED t 07/08/19 REVIEWED BYt Environment 1, inc. P.O. Box 7085,114 Oalanont Dr. rn CHAIN OF CUSTODY RECORD Page —Lof.- «• DISINFECnON UV NONE CHDAICALPFIESERVATION • B-IM, « C-HSO, ... CLASSIRCAnoK- DFWW4GWATER DNPM GINNIE ONE MENEM IMMEMEMEMEMEMMEMEN ■■■ ■■■ CHAIN 11- 11 1 1 A 190 W__ } I 0 ti 1'1 ■�� - M �1 ■ / PLEASE.READ.Instructions.for.completing.this form. on the reverse side: Sampler mustplace a "C" for -composite sample or a "Gfor FORM 05 Grab sample in the blocks above for each parameter requested. N 2 362730 v EMOU IMEW �, bgOOV CMSD (SLUDGE & WELLS ACCT) CONTENTNEA METRO. SEWAGE DIST. MS. RENEE PRIDGEN P.O. BOX 477 GRtFTON ,NC 28530 PARAMETERS Total Chromium, ugll Copper, ugA Well #10 Well #14 ID#: 416 Y DATE COLLECTED: 06/11/19 DATE REPORTED : 07/08/19 REVIEWED BYt Analysts Method Date Analyst Code <5.0 <U 06/13/19 LFJ EPA200.7 <10 <10 06/13/19 LFJ EPA200.7 i Eavkonment 1, Inc. CHAIN OF •CUSTODY RECORD P.O. Box 7085. I24-0al monr Dr. Page i Caernviile- NC 2?85& IMMOFIAGAMM •w•1 •u� r,i •gull .I- lli.: ri:, t r•, _N6•:., iz- `•P 1 D-NACH. `• II ;P • m a _ - , -"I I t�._ IS �Tci i,ffffl�Mrli F 01 , , a, 35 .�- I ., •:1 tint /,., 7 1 d •r—o: :, : , ■ � L 1 PLWE READ Instudonsfor-oomple6g this.form on tfie-rev wsfde S�m�lermust.pYaoe'a'�'for a sample oFa,`C�"#or r0w_^5 Gmbsamplyin.theblo*-abovetor...ea&.paramew-mquaw-d- No 367154 b