The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutNC0025861_Inspection_20190906ROY COOPER Governor MICHAEL S. REGAN Secretary LINDA CULPEPPER Director Mr. Kevin Krouse Public Works Director 101 West First Street Lowell, NC 28098 Dear Mr. Krouse: NORTH CAROLINA E)%Wh ftWen1&1 Qegority September 6, 2019 Subject: Compliance Inspection Lowell WWTP NPDES Permit No. NCO025861 Gaston County Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Inspection report for the inspection conducted at the subject facility on September 3, 2019, by Maria Schutte and Ori Tuvia. Daniel Dougherty's cooperation during the site visit was much appreciated. Please advise the staff involved with this NPDES Permit by forwarding a copy of the enclosed report. The main area of concern observed during the inspection was that there was evidence of stormwater erosion around the influent pump station. Stormwater control measures (such as riprap) should be placed along the side and entrance to the influent pump station to prevent erosion damage and to prevent stormwater from flowing into the pump station wet well. Additionally, the clarifier drive unit arm did not appear to be removing all the surface scum. The report should be self-explanatory; however, should you have any questions concerning this report, please do not hesitate to contact Ori Tuvia at (704) 235-2190, or at ori.tuvia&ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, DocuSigned by: A14CC681 AF27425... W. Corey Basinger Regional Supervisor Mooresville Regional Office Division of Water Resources Cc: NPDES, MRO Files (Laserfiche) State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources I Water Quality Regional Operations Mooresville Regional Office 1 610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301 1 Mooresville, North Carolina 28115 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 15 I 3 I NCO025861 111 12 I 19/09/03 I17 18 I S I 19 I G I 201 I 211111 1 1 I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 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 131 QA ---------------------- Reserved ------------------- 67 1.0 70 71 [„ I 72 n 73 L_LJ74 751 u u I I I I I I I80 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) 02:10PM 19/09/03 15/02/01 Lowell WWTP NCSR 2380 Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date Lowell NC 28098 03:30PM 19/09/03 20/01/31 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data Daniel James Dougherty/ORC/704-477-5514/ Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Daniel J Dougherty, Saxony Dr Lowell NC 28098/ORC/704-477-5514/ 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 Maria Schutte Division of Water Quality//704-663-1699) Ori A Tuvia MRO WQ//704-663-1699/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date W. Corey Basinger Division of Water Quality//704-2; EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. DocuSigned by: eyl � 9/6/2019 AtaccsatAFvazs... Page# NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type NCO025861 I11 121 19/09/03 117 18 JCJ Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Page# Permit: NCO025861 Owner - Facility: Lowell WWTP Inspection Date: 09/03/2019 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 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ application? Is the facility as described in the permit? 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? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The subject permit expires on 1/31/2020. Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is all required information readily available, complete and current? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the chain -of -custody complete? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ 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? ❑ ❑ ❑ 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? ❑ ❑ ❑ Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The records reviewed during the inspection were organized and well maintained. DMRs, COCs, Calibration logs and ORC logs were reviewed for the period January 2019 through May 2019 Laboratory Yes No NA NE Page# 3 Permit: NCO025861 Owner - Facility: Lowell WWTP Inspection Date: 09/03/2019 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Laboratory Yes No NA NE Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the facility using a contract lab? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Celsius)? Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Comment: On -site field analvses (dissolved oxvaen. oH. temDerature. total residual chlorine) are performed under the City's field laboratory certification #5082. PAR Labs, Inc. has been contracted to perform influent and effluent analyses. K&W Labs, Inc. has also been contracted to perform the chronic toxicity analyses. The laboratory instrumentation used for field analyses appeared to be properly calibrated/verified and documented. Influent Sampling Yes No NA NE # Is composite sampling flow proportional? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is sample collected above side streams? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is proper volume collected? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the tubing clean? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # 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? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The subject permit requires composite biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and TSS influent samples. Aliquot pulled during the inspection was 150 mL Effluent Sampling Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? 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 the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The subject permit requires composite and grab effluent samples. Aliquot pulled during the inspection was 170 mi. Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Page# 4 Permit: NCO025861 Inspection Date: 09/03/2019 Owner - Facility: Lowell WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation 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? Comment: The facility appeared to be properly operated and well maintained. At the time of the inspection, there was evidence of stormwater erosion around the influent pump station Bar Screens 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? Comment: The facility is equipped with mechancial and manual bar screens (coarse) Flow Measurement - Influent # 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? Yes No NA NE ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Flow meter is calibrated/verified annually and was last calibrated/verified on 9/21/2018 by Clearwater Inc Pump Station - Influent Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? Is the wet well free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Is SCADA telemetry available and operational? Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ Page# 5 Permit: NCO025861 Inspection Date: 09/03/2019 Pump Station - Influent Owner - Facility: Lowell WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Yes No NA NE Comment: SCADA is not available however. there is an auto dialer to contact the ORC in case of power outage. At the time of the inspection, there were some questions regarding which floats tripping cause the dialer to call the ORC. This should be further examined. At the time of the inspection, there was evidence of stormwater erosion around the influent pump station. Stormwater control measures (such as riprap) should be placed along the side and entrance to the influent pump station to prevent erosion damage and stormwater flowing into the pump station wet well. Aeration Basins Mode of operation Type of aeration system Is the basin free of dead spots? 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/1) Yes No NA NE Diffused ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The facility uses the contact stabilization treatment process. Sodium Hydroxide is added. Secondary Clarifier Is the clarifier free of black and odorous wastewater? 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? Is scum removal adequate? Is the site free of excessive floating sludge? Is the drive unit operational? Is the return rate acceptable (low turbulence)? Is the overflow clear of excessive solids/pin floc? Is the sludge blanket level acceptable? (Approximately'/ of the sidewall depth) Comment: The clarfier drive unit arm seemed to not remove all the surface scum. Disinfection -Gas Are cylinders secured adequately? Yes No NA NE ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Yes No NA NE ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 6 Permit: NCO025861 Owner - Facility: Lowell WWTP Inspection Date: 09/03/2019 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Disinfection -Gas Yes No NA NE Are cylinders protected from direct sunlight? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is there adequate reserve supply of disinfectant? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Does the Stationary Source have more than 2500 Ibs of Chlorine (CAS No. 7782-50-5)? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ If yes, then is there a Risk Management Plan on site? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ If yes, then what is the EPA twelve digit ID Number? (1000- If yes, then when was the RMP last updated? Comment: About 900 Ibs. of chlorine stored on site. De -chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system ? Gas Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is storage appropriate for cylinders? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is de -chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ Are the tablets the proper size and type? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Comment: The chlorination and dechlorination cVlinders are stored together inside a building equipped with ventilation and a leakage detection system. Are tablet de -chlorinators operational? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Number of tubes in use? Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # Is flow meter used for reporting? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is flow meter calibrated annually? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the flow meter operational? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Flow meter is calibrated/verified annually and was last calibrated/verified on 9/21/2018 by Clearwater Inc 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? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 7 Permit: NC0025861 Owner - Facility: Lowell WWTP Inspection Date: 09/03/2019 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Comment: The effluent appeared clear Aerobic Digester Yes No NA NE Is the capacity adequate? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the mixing adequate? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the odor acceptable? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is tankage available for properly waste sludge? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Drying Beds Yes No NA NE Is there adequate drying bed space? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the sludge distribution on drying beds appropriate? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Are the drying beds free of vegetation? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the site free of dry sludge remaining in beds? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the site free of stockpiled sludge? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the filtrate from sludge drying beds returned to the front of the plant? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the sludge disposed of through county landfill? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ # Is the sludge land applied? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ (Vacuum filters) Is polymer mixing adequate? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: Dewatered sludge is transported to landfill. Standby Power Yes No NA NE Is automatically activated standby power available? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the generator tested under load? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Was generator tested & operational during the inspection? ❑ ❑ ❑ Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the generator fuel level monitored? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The standby generator is tested (automatically) once per week. The City/Permittee contracts a company to service the generator twice per year. Page# 8 Permit: NC0025861 Inspection Date: 09/03/2019 Owner - Facility: Lowell WWTP Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Page#