WQCS00046_NOV-2019-DV-0331 Response_20190827

August 27, 2019
',Yf City of Belmont
116N. MIN STREET
POST OFFICE BOX 431
BELMONT, N.C. 28012
PHONE [phone]
Certified Mail Receipt # 70141820 0002 21861928
North Carolina Division of Water Quality
610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301
Mooresville, North Carolina 28115
Attn: W. Corey Basinger - Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Ref: Notice of Violation - Tracking No. NOV-2019-DV-0331 and NOV-2019-DV-0343
City of Belmont - WQCS00046
Dear Mr. Basinger:
The City of Belmont is in receipt of the above NOV's and as required by your letter, our
response to this violation is as follows:
Incident # 201901024- This overflow incident, located at a manhole near 1709 Cardinal Court,
was the result of rocks, rags and other debris found in the line. The City could not determine
how or why the rocks and other debris was introduced into the line. City crews responded to
reports of the overflows and immediately, the crews cleared the line of all of the debris and
rocks, via the use of our vacuum truck. Lime was applied to the area around the manhole after
incident.
On behalf of the City of Belmont, our crews responded to the overflow as soon as the incident
was reported and began the process of removing the obstruction. Once the repair was
completed, our crews cleaned the area and lime was applied to the affected area.
Incident # 201901038- This overflow incident, located at the Morgan's Branch liftstation 701
Ardent Trail, was caused by a power failure of the energy provider's equipment, lost a leg of
power coming into the liftstation. The emergency generator did activate and transfer, but the
generator abruptly shut down due to a malfunctioning oxygen sensor. City crews responded
to this overflow immediately. The crews utilized the City owned pump truck and the services of
a contracted pumping company to pump the wet well. The waste had to be hauled 4 miles to
the nearest gravity sewer main until normal power was restored.
On behalf of the City of Belmont, this incident occurred during a heavy rain and the
precipitation was the possible cause for the loss of power, the power transformer box was
flooded. Also, the oxygen sensor failing and causing the complete shutdown of the emergency
generator, could not have been predicted. The emergency generator was repaired as soon as we
could replace the failed part and has been tested with a load on a monthly basis since this
incident. Once the power was restored, the area was cleaned, via our pump and vacuum trucks
and lime was applied to the affected area.

Incident # 201901265- This overflow incident, located at a manhole near 601 Park Street, was
caused by a buildup of grease in the main. City crews responded to this overflow as soon as it
was reported. The crew used the City owned vacuum truck to remove the blockage of grease.
Lime was applied to the area around the manhole after the after the incident.
On behalf of the City of Belmont, the five FOG contributing establishments located in the area
are inspected on a monthly basis. Each establishment has been compliant with our FOG
ordinance, with no violations or warnings issued in the 6 months prior to this incident. All
interceptors are pumped according to schedule and paperwork kept onsite for review. The City
did issue reminders to each of the establishment after this incident.
Sincerely;
Charles B. owers, Jr.
Utility Director
Cc: David Isenhour- Director of Public works
Adrian Miller - City Manager
Danny Whisnant -Collection System ORC
Jake Kanburoglu-Back-up Collection System ORC
Tanya Setzer- Interim WTTP Superintendent