NC0026913_Draft Permit_20220111

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ROY COOPER
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ELIZABETH S.BISER ` sy! ;<.
Secretary @ 01""^°�-
S.DANIEL SMITH NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
January 11, 2022
Attn: Town Manager
Town of Sparta
PO Box 99
Sparta,NC 28675
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NC0026913
Sparta WWTP
Grade III Biological WPCS
Alleghany County
Dear Permittee:
The Division has reviewed your request to renew the subject permit. Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the draft
permit for your facility.Please review this draft carefully to ensure your thorough understanding of the
information,conditions,and requirements it contains.
The draft permit includes the following significant changes from the existing permit:
➢ The limit for Mercury has been removed from the effluent table in Section A.(1.),as it is no longer
required based on the results of the Mercury TMDL Evaluation. Monitoring of Mercury is still required,
per current permitting policy for municipalities.
➢ Silver has been removed from the effluent table in Section A. (1.),as the pollutant was not detected based
on monitoring data during the last permit cycle.
➢ Hardness has been removed from the effluent table in Section A. (1.),as the facility is no longer
monitoring hardness-dependent metals
➢ Section A. (2.)has been updated to include the new effluent concentration of 4.9%and electronic
submission information for testing results.
➢ Section A.(3.)for the Effluent Mercury Analysis has been added,per current permitting policy for
municipalities.
➢ Section A. (4.)has been updated regarding electronic submission of effluent data. Federal regulations
require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports(DMRs).
The NPDES standard conditions(Parts II,III,and IV)that are a part of the permit are not included in this draft
document(cover,map,and Part I). The conditions are the same as in your current permit except that agency and
division names have been updated. The latest version is available at https://bit.ly/2BZ4xxx and can be viewed
online or downloaded as a PDF file.
With this notification,the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing a notice in
newspapers having circulation in the general Alleghany County area,per EPA requirements.Please provide your
comments,if any,to me at the address below no later than 30 days after receiving this draft permit.
Following the 30-day public comment period,the Division will review all pertinent comments and take
appropriate action prior to issuing a final permit. If you have questions concerning the draft,please contact me at
919-707-3712,or via e-mail at svdney.carpenter(a,ncdenr.gov.
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Page 2 of 2
NPDES Permit NC0026913
DRAFT Permit Renewal
Sincerely,
Sydney Carpenter
Environmental Specialist I
NPDES Compliance and Expedited Permitting
ec: NPDES File[Laserfiche]
Winston-Salem Regional Office[Laserfiche]
Operator Certification Program
Aquatic Toxicology Unit

NPDES Permit NC0026913
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
(NPDES)
In compliance with the provisions of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1, other lawful standards
and regulations promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina Environmental Management
Commission, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended,
Town of Sparta
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Sparta WWTP
140 River Road
Sparta
Alleghany County
to receiving waters designated as Little River in the New River Basin in accordance with effluent
limitations,monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I,II, III, and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on March 31,2026.
If the permittee intends to continue to discharge at the facility beyond the term of this permit, a renewal
application must be submitted no later than October 2, 2025 (180 days before the expiration of this
permit).
Signed this day
S. Daniel Smith, Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0026913
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility,whether for operation or discharge are hereby revoked. As of
thispermit issuance,anypreviouslyissued perm
it t bearingthis number is no longer effective. Therefore,the
P g
exclusive authority to operate and discharge from this facility arises under the permit conditions,requirements,
terms,and provisions included herein.
Town of Sparta
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate an existing 0.60 MGD wastewater treatment facility. This facility is located at
the Sparta WWTP, 140 River Road, Sparta in Alleghany County. The wastewater treatment system
includes the following components:
• Bar screen
• Influent lift station
• Flow splitter box
• Equalization tank
• Sequencing batch reactor tank
• Floating decanter
• Aeration basin
• Coarse bubble diffusers
• Clarifier
• Chlorine contact chamber
• Dechlorination system
• Submersible sludge pump
• Aerated digester
2. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map into Little River,
currently classified C waters [Stream Index: 10-9-(6)] in sub-basin 05-07-03 [HUC: 050500010406]
of the New River Basin.
Page 2 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0026913
PART I
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B.0400 et seq., 15A NCAC 02B.0500 et seq.]
Grade III Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G .0302]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the
Permittee is authorized to discharge from outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored'
by the Permittee as specified below:
LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
[eDMR Code] Monthly Weekly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
Average Average Maximum Frequency Type Location
Flow(MGD) [50050] 0.60 MGD Continuous RecordingInfluent or
Effluent
BOD,5 day(20°C)(mg/L)2 Influent&
(April 1 —October 31) [C0310] 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L 3/Week Composite Effluent
Total Suspended Solids(TSS)(mg/L)2 [C0530] 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L 3/Week Composite Influent&
Effluent
NH3 as N (mg/L)
(April 1 —October 31) [C0610] 9.3 mg/L 27.9 mg/L 3/Week Composite Effluent
NH3 as N (mg/L) [C0610] Monitor&Report Weekly Composite Effluent
(November 1 —March 31)
Total Residual Chlorine(pg/L)3 [50060] 28 pg/L 3/Week Grab Effluent
Fecal Coliform(geometric mean) [31616] 200/100 ml 400/100 ml 3/Week Grab Effluent
Total Nitrogen(mg/L)(NO2-N+NO3-
N+TKN) [C0600] Monitor&Report Semi-Annually Composite Effluent
Total Phosphorus(TP)(mg/L) [C0665] Monitor&Report Semi-Annually Composite Effluent
Temperature(°C) [00010] Monitor&Report 3/Week Grab Effluent
pH [00400] >6.0 and<9.0 standard units 3/Week Grab Effluent
Chronic Toxicity 4 [TGP3B] Monitor&Report Quarterly Composite Effluent
Total Mercury(ng/L)5 [COMER] Monitor&Report 1/Permit Cycles Composite Effluent
Table A. (1.) Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the Division's eDMR system.
[see Section A. (4)]
2. The monthly average effluent BODS and Total Suspended Solids concentrations shall not exceed 15% of the
respective monthly average influent value(85% removal).
3. The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 µg/L to be in compliance with the
permit. However,the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a North Carolina
certified laboratory(including field certified), even if these values fall below 50 µg/L.
4. Chronic Toxicity(Ceriodaphnia dubia)pass/fail test at 4.9% in March,June, September, and December [see
Section A. (2)].
Page 3 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0026913
5. See Section A. (3)for details regarding the mercury analysis. EPA Method 1631E must be used for Total
Mercury sampling and analysis.
All samples collected should be from a representative discharge event.
THERE SHALL BE NO DISCHARGE OF FLOATING SOLIDS OR VISIBLE FOAM IN OTHER THAN
TRACE AMOUNTS.
A. (2.) CHRONIC TOXICITY PERMIT LIMIT (QUARTERLY)
[15A NCAC 02B .0200]
The effluent discharge shall at no time exhibit observable inhibition of reproduction or significant
mortality to Ceriodaphnia dubia at an effluent concentration of 4_9%.
The permit holder shall perform at a minimum, quarterly monitoring using test procedures outlined in
the"North Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure," (Revised December 2010, or
subsequent versions) or"North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test Procedure"
(Revised December 2010, or subsequent versions). The tests will be performed during the months of
March,June, September, and December. These months signify the first month of each three-month
toxicity testing quarter assigned to the facility. Effluent sampling for this testing must be obtained
during representative effluent discharge and shall be performed at the NPDES permitted final effluent
discharge below all treatment processes.
If the test procedure performed as the first test of any single quarter results in a failure or ChV
below the permit limit, then multiple-concentration testing shall be performed at a minimum,in
each of the two following months as described in "North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole
Effluent Toxicity Test Procedure" (Revised-December 2010, or subsequent versions).
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered electronically using
the Division's eDMR system for the months in which tests were performed,using the parameter code
TGP3B for the pass/fail results and THP3B for the Chronic Value. Additionally, DWR Form AT-3
(original) is to be sent to the following address:
North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,NC 27699-1621
Or,results can be sent to the email,ATForms.ATB@a,ncdenr.gov.
Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Water Sciences Section no later than 30
days after the end of the reporting period for which the report is made.
Test data shall be complete, accurate, include all supporting chemical/physical measurements and all
concentration/response data, and be certified by laboratory supervisor and ORC or approved designate
Page 4 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0026913
signature. Total residual chlorine of the effluent toxicity sample must be measured and reported if
chlorine is employed for disinfection of the waste stream.
Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which toxicity monitoring is
required,the permittee will complete the information located at the top of the aquatic toxicity (AT)test
form indicating the facility name,permit number,pipe number, county, and the month/year of the report
with the notation of"No Flow"in the comment area of the form. The report shall be submitted to the
Water Sciences Section at the address cited above.
Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required,monitoring
will be required during the following month. Assessment of toxicity compliance is based on the toxicity
testing quarter,which is the three-month time interval that begins on the first day of the month in which
toxicity testing is required by this permit and continues until the final day of the third month.
Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the North Carolina Division
of Water Resources indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream, this permit may be re-opened and
modified to include alternate monitoring requirements or limits.
NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as minimum control
organism survival,minimum control organism reproduction, and appropriate environmental controls,
shall constitute an invalid test and will require immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later
than the last day of the month following the month of the initial monitoring.
Page 5 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0026913
A. (3.) EFFLUENT MERCURY ANALYSIS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
The Permittee shall provide one effluent mercury analysis, using EPA Method 1631E, in conjunction
with the next permit renewal application. The analysis should be taken within 12 months prior to the.
application date. Any additional effluent mercury measurements conducted from the effective date of
this permit and up to the application date shall also be submitted with the renewal application.
If the result of the mercury analysis is not provided with the application,the application may be returned
as incomplete and the Permittee considered non-compliant.
A. (4.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING —DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS
[NCGS 143-215.1 (b)]
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports(DMRs) and program
reports. The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted and became effective on December
21, 2015.
NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part II of this
permit(Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits):
• Section B. (11.) Signatory Requirements
• Section D. (2.) Reporting
• Section D. (6.) Records Retention
• Section E. (5.) Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements [Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (a)1
The permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's Electronic
Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet application.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and
submitted electronically using eDMR. The eDMR system allows permitted facilities to enter
monitoring data and submit DMRs electronically using the internet. The eDMR system may be
accessed at: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr.
If a permittee is unable to use the eDMR system due to a demonstrated hardship or due to the facility
being physically located in an area where less than 10 percent of the households have broadband
access,then a temporary waiver from the NPDES electronic reporting requirements may be granted
and discharge monitoring data may be submitted on paper DMR forms(MR 1, 1.1, 2, 3)or
alternative forms approved by the Director. Duplicate signed copies shall be submitted to the
following address:
NC DEQ/Division of Water Resources/Water Quality Permitting Section
ATTENTION: Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Page 6 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0026913
Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
See "How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and
reported via the eDMR system no later than the last calendar day of the month following the
completed reporting period. Regardless of the submission method,the first DMR is due on the last
day of the month following the issuance of the permit or in the case of a new facility, on the last day
of the month following the commencement of discharge.
Starting on December 21,2025,the permittee must electronically report the following compliance
monitoring data and reports,when applicable:
• Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports;
• Pretreatment Program Annual Reports; and
• Clean Water Act(CWA) Section 316(b) Annual Reports.
The permittee may seek an electronic reporting waiver from the Division(see"How to Request a
Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below).
2. Electronic Submissions
In accordance with 40 CFR 122.41(1)(9),the permittee must identify the initial recipient at the time
of each electronic submission. The permittee should use the EPA's website resources to identify the
initial recipient for the electronic submission.
Initial recipient of electronic NPDES information from NPDES-regulated facilities means the entity
(EPA or the state authorized by EPA to implement the NPDES program)that is the designated entity
for receiving electronic NPDES data [see 40 CFR 127.2(b)].
EPA plans to establish a website that will also link to the appropriate electronic reporting tool for
each type of electronic submission and for each state. Instructions on how to access and use the
appropriate electronic reporting tool will be available as well. Information on EPA's NPDES
Electronic Reporting Rule is found at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-
24954/national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule
Electronic submissions must start by the dates listed in the"Reporting Requirements" section above.
3. How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting
The permittee may seek a temporary electronic reporting waiver from the Division. To obtain an
electronic reporting waiver, a permittee must first submit an electronic reporting waiver request to
the Division. Requests for temporary electronic reporting waivers must be submitted in writing to
the Division for written approval at least sixty (60)days prior to the date the facility would be
required under this permit to begin submitting monitoring data and reports. The duration of a
temporary waiver shall not exceed 5 years and shall thereupon expire. At such time,monitoring data
and reports shall be submitted electronically to the Division unless the permittee re-applies for and is
granted a new temporary electronic reporting waiver by the Division. Approved electronic reporting
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NPDES Permit NC0026913
waivers are not transferrable. Only permittees with an approved reporting waiver request may
submit monitoring data and reports on paper to the Division for the period that the approved
reporting waiver request is effective.
Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on
the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.) (d)1
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person described in Part II,
Section B. (11.)(a) or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part II,
Section B. (11.)(b). A person, and not a position,must be delegated signatory authority for eDMR
reporting purposes.
For eDMR submissions,the person signing and submitting the DMR must obtain an eDMR user
account and login credentials to access the eDMR system. For more information on North
Carolina's eDMR system,registering for eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account,please visit
the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
Certification. Any person submitting an electronic DMR using the state's eDMR system shall make
the following certification [40 CFR 122.22]. NO OTHER STATEMENTS OF CERTIFICATION
WILL BE ACCEPTED:
"I certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my
direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel
properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or
persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information,
the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief true, accurate, and complete. I
am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the
possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations."
5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D. (6.)1
The permittee shall retain records of all Discharge Monitoring Reports, including eDMR
submissions. These records or copies shall be maintained for a period of at least 3 years from the
date of the report. This period may be extended by request of the Director at any time [40 CFR
122.41].
Page 8 of 8

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Receiving Stream: Little River Longitude: 81° 06' 15" W ,-'
Stream Index: 10-9-(6) Latitude: 36° 29' 50" N Facility -"
River Basin: New Sub-Basin: 05-07-03 Location
Stream Class: C HUC: 050500010406 SCALE
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