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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0043559_NOV-2020-PC-0301_20200624Roy COOPER Gm ernar MICHAEL S. REGAN Se c-roary S. DANIEL SMITH Director Certified Mail # 70172680000022366774 Return Receipt Requested 5T. NOR ri i CAROLINA Environmental Quality June 24, 2020 Roy B Fitch Fitch Creations Inc D/B/A Fearrington Utilities 2000 Fearrington Village Pittsboro, NC 27312 SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION Tracking Number: NOV-2020-PC-0301 Permit No. NCO043559 Fearrington Village WWTP Chatham County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Fearrington Village WWTP on June 11, 2020. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0043559. A summary of the findings and comments noted during the inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report. The Reconnaissance inspection was conducted by Division of Water Resources staff from the Raleigh Regional Office. The following violation(s) were noted during the inspection: Inspection Area Description of Violation Aerobic Digesters Digesters at Train #2 and #3 were almost full. Operator was only able to waste to digester at Train #1. Secondary Clarifiers Overflow looked cloudy. Sludge blanket were checked and found high (more than 8 feet) at all three trains. Chemical Feed Only one pump operable for sodium aluminate feed. Sodium aluminate was fed to Train #1 only at the time of visit. Only one pump available for caustic feed (to splitter box), the pump worked sporadically and needed repair, as a result, pH was less than 6 in aeration basins of Train #1 and #3. Aeration Basins Some diffusers were clogged and not working, resulted in dead spots in aeration basins. Large amount of foam was noted at Train #3. �DW Q�' -I' The site inspection revealed the following violation of NPDES permit condition (NC0043559) which state the following: NPDES Permit NCO051314 Part II. Section C.2. Proner Overation and Maintenance Proper Operation and Maintenance The Permittee shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems of treatment and control (and related appurtenances) which are installed or used by the Permittee to achieve compliance with the conditions of this permit. Proper operation and maintenance also includes adequate laboratory controls and appropriate quality assurance procedures. This provision requires the Permittee to install and operate backup or auxiliary facilities only when necessary to achieve compliance with the conditions of the permit [40 CFR 122.41(e)]. In addition, the issues below must also be addressed: Compliance Issue(s): The facility had already exceeded total phosphorous annual load limit by the end of April, 2020. The facility has exceeded total phosphorous annual load limit in the past three years. The Division strongly urges you to improve the efficiency of phosphorous removal/ chemical feed at the facility in order to return to compliance. Remedial actions should have already been taken to correct this problem and prevent further occurrences in the future. The Division of Water Resources may pursue enforcement action for this and any additional violations of State law. To prevent further action, please respond in writing to this office within 30 days upon your receipt of this Notice of Violation regarding your plans or measures to be taken to address the indicated violations and other identified issues, if applicable. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Cheng Zhang with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Raleigh Regional Office at 919-791-4200. Sincerely, Vanessa E. Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Raleigh Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS Cc: WQS Raleigh Regional Office - Enforcement File NPDES Compliance/Enforcement Unit - Enforcement File Laserfche �DK �4- -7"'