NC0080691_NOV-2019-PC-0619_20190904

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
LINDA CULPEPPER
Director
CERTIFIED MAIL #: 7018 0360 0002 2099 1871
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Mr. Shannon V. Becker, President
Aqua North Carolina, Inc.
202 Mackenan Court
Cary, North Carolina 27511
Dear Mr. Becker:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
4 September 2019
Subject: Notice of Violation
Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Windemere WWTP
NPDES Permit No. NCO080691
Iredell County
Tracking #: NOV-2019-PC-0619
Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Evaluation Inspection Report for the inspection conducted at the subject facility on
August 27, 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.
This report is being issued as a Notice of Violation (NOV) due to the failures to properly calibrate and maintain the flow
meter which are violations of the subject NPDES Permit and North Carolina General Statute (G.S.) 143-215 as detailed in the
Flow Measurement - Effluent Section of the attached report. Pursuant to G.S. 143-215.6A, a civil penalty of not more than
twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) per violation, per day may be assessed against any person who violates or fails to act
in accordance with the terms, conditions, or requirements of any permit issued pursuant to G.S. 143-215.1. Penalties may also
be assessed for any damage to surface waters of the State that may result from the violations.
It is requested that a written response be submitted to this Office by September 25, 2019, detailing the actions taken to
address the above -noted violations. The response shall also include the actions taken (including copies of operator training
SOPS, list of proper equipment, etc.) to ensure all future flow meter calibrations (at all WWTPs) will be properly calibrated and
maintained. In responding, please address your comments to the attention of Mr. Wes Bell.
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

Mr. Shannon V. Becker
4 September 2019
Page Two
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 wes.bellkncdenr.gov.
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by:
A14CC681 AF27425...
W. Corey Basinger, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Enclosure:
Inspection Report

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 2 15 1 3 I NCO080691 111 12 I 19/08/27 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 71 [.. I 72 73 L_LJ74 751 I I I I I I I80
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)
11:15AM 19/08/27
15/04/01
Windemere WWTP
NCSR 1328 Heronwood Rd
Exit Time/Date
Permit Expiration Date
Sherrills Ford INC 28673
12:40PM 19/08/27
20/03/31
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
Other Facility Data
Ricky Dean Reynolds/ORC/785-307-0864/
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Shannon V Becker,202 Mackenan Ct Cary NC 27511/President/919-653-5570/
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
Wes Bell MRO WQ//704-663-1699 Ext.2192/
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:
9/4/2019
AtaccsatAFvazs... Page#

NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type (Cont.)
NCO080691 I11 121 19/08/27 117 18 JCJ
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
FLOW MEASUREMENT - EFFLUENT SECTION cont'd:
The flow meter was not programmed properly to determine flow rates from the 83 degree V-notch weir.
The flow meter was currently programmed to measure flows from a 90 degree V-notch weir.
Please be advised that the NPDES Permit requires the following: flow measurement devices be
installed, calibrated, and maintained to ensure that the accuracy of the measurements is consistent
with the accepted capability of that type of device; flow measurement devices shall be accurately
calibrated a minimum of once per year; and devices selected shall be capable of measuring flows with
a maximum deviation of less than 10% from the true discharge rates throughout the range of expected
discharge volumes. (Permit Condition Reference: Part II, Section D.3 Flow Measurements).
Following discussions with the ORC and Aqua NC staff regarding flow meter calibrations, this Office is
concerned with the level of training and lack of instrumentation (proper staff gauges, etc.) used to
perform these calibrations. Therefore, the Permittee must contract a third party experienced in flow
meter calibrations to reprogram and calibrate this flow meter. In addition, this Office recommends a
third party recalibrate all flow meters at all Aqua NC WWTPs located in the DWR/Mooresville Regional
Office's territory.
Page#

Permit: NCO080691 Owner - Facility: Windemere WWTP
Inspection Date: 08/27/2019 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
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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?
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: Overall, the facility is adequately described in the Permit; however, the facility is not
equipped with a bar screen. The facility description will need to be updated during the next
Permit renewal process.
The last compliance evaluation inspection by DWR staff was performed on 6/17/16.
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)?
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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 COCs
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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Page# 3

Permit: NCO080691
Inspection Date: 08/27/2019
Record Keeping
Owner - Facility: Windemere WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Yes No NA NE
Comment: The records reviewed durina the inspection were oraanized and well maintained. Discharae
Monitoring Reports (eDMRs) were reviewed for the period July 2018 through June 2019. No
effluent limit violations were reported and all monitoring frequencies were correct.
The ORC must ensure that the effluent composite sampling start and end times are
documented (verify 24-hr. sampling event) and all on -site documentation is legible.
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
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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 analyses (dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, total residual chlorine) are
performed under Aqua NC's laboratory certification #5035. Water Tech Labs (all permit
parameters except field) has also been contracted to provide analytical support.
The ORC must ensure to do initial and post calibration checks on the dissolved oxygen
meter.
Effluent Sampling
Yes No NA NE
Is composite sampling flow proportional?
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?
0
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# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees
0
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Celsius)?
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type
0
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representative)?
Comment: The subject permit requires composite and grab effluent samples.
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 wastewater treatment facility appeared to be properly operated and well maintained.
Process control measurements were being documented and maintained on -site.
The facility's telemetry -type alarm system functioned properly during the on -site test.
Page# 4

Permit: NCO080691 Owner - Facility:
Inspection Date: 08/27/2019 Inspection Type:
Windemere WWTP
Compliance Evaluation
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?
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0
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Are float controls operable?
0
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Are audible and visual alarms operable?
0
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# Is basin size/volume adequate?
0
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Comment: One of the influent pumps is in the process of being repaired/replaced.
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)
0 ❑
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Comment: The 30-minute settleability tests performed during the inspection were 870/840 ml/L with a
clear supernates. The ORC/Permittee must ensure that an adequate sludge wasting
program is implemented (via process control program, etc.) to maintain an appropriate
solids inventory and sludge age in the aeration basins.
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?
Yes No NA NE
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Permit: NC0080691 Owner - Facility:
Inspection Date: 08/27/2019 Inspection Type:
Windemere WWTP
Compliance Evaluation
Secondary Clarifier
Yes No NA NE
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'/4 of the sidewall depth)
0
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Comment:
Filtration (High Rate Tertiary)
Yes No NA NE
Type of operation:
Down flow
Is the filter media present?
0 ❑
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Is the filter surface free of clogging?
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Is the filter free of growth?
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Is the air scour operational?
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Is the scouring acceptable?
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Is the clear well free of excessive solids and filter media?
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Comment: The air scour system for one of the tertiary filters will be repaired within the near future.
Disinfection -Tablet
Yes No NA NE
Are tablet chlorinators operational?
0
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Are the tablets the proper size and type?
0
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Number of tubes in use?
2
Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable?
0
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Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup?
0
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Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination?
0
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Comment:
De -chlorination
Yes No NA NE
Type of system ?
Tablet
Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)?
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0
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Is storage appropriate for cylinders?
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0
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# Is de -chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers?
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0
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Comment:
Are the tablets the proper size and type? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Are tablet de -chlorinators operational? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑
Number of tubes in use? 3
Page# 6

Permit: NCO080691 Owner - Facility: Windemere WWTP
Inspection Date: 08/27/2019 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
De -chlorination Yes No NA NE
Comment:
Flow Measurement - Effluent
Yes No NA NE
# Is flow meter used for reporting?
0
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Is flow meter calibrated annually?
M
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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 was last calibrated/verified by the ORC/Aaua NC staff on 8/7/19. See
"Summary" Section for additional comments.
Effluent Pipe
Yes No NA NE
Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained?
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Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris?
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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 effluent is discharged into
the receiving stream via submerged outfall. in the receiving stream.
Aerobic Digester
Yes No NA NE
Is the capacity adequate?
0
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Is the mixing adequate?
0
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Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank?
0
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# Is the odor acceptable?
0
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# Is tankage available for properly waste sludge?
M
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Comment: Wastewater solids are removed on an as -needed basis by a contracted company (currently
Rick's Septic Tank Service).
Standby Power
Is automatically activated standby power available?
Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source?
Is the generator tested under load?
Was generator tested & operational during the inspection?
Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site?
Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power?
Is the generator fuel level monitored?
Yes No NA NE
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Page# 7

Permit: NCO080691
Inspection Date: 08/27/2019
Standby Power
Owner - Facility: Windemere WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Yes No NA NE
Comment: The backup generator currently has to be manually activated. The Permittee must ensure
that the operational issues associated with the automatic transfer of power are resolved
within the near future.
The generator is exercised (automatically) weekly and placed under load (by ORC)
quarterly. Aqua NC contracts a company (currently Palmer Generator) to service the
generator.
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