NC0020028_Draft Permit_20230804

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Mayor Vershumn Hawkins
Town of Plymouth
124 E Water St
Plymouth, NC 27962
Dear Permttee:
STATE ,y
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NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
August 8, 2023
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NCO020028
Plymouth WWTP
Class WW-2 Biological WPCS
Washington County
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:
➢ A fecal coliform limit has been added. The limit will take effect in 2028 to allow time for your facility to
install disinfection equipment.
➢ Electronic data submission requirements have been updated.
➢ Your request to delete temperature monitoring cannot be granted. Temperature is a required parameter
for all discharges from publicly owned treatment works.
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/3k5NFaL 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 Washington County area, per EPA requirements. Please provide
your comments, if any, to me at the e-mail 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
chy rl es, weav er@Lkq. nc. gav .
Si noerel y,
Environmental Specialist II
NPDES Compliance and Expedited Permitting
North Carolina Department of Enviromnental Quality I Division of Water Resources
D E Q 512 North Salisbury Street 11617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
NQO 111 C.AFKtiJNA 919.707,9000
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Permit NCO020028
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
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, the
Town of Plymouth
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Plymouth WWTP
End of Gage Lane
Plymouth
Washington County
to receiving waters designated as the Roanoke River in the Roanoke 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 August 31, 2028.
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 March 4, 2028 (180 days before the expiration of this
permit).
Signed this day
Richdrd E. Rogers, Jr., Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 6

Permit NCO020028
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge, are hereby superseded and, as of this
issuance, any previously issued permit describing this treatment facility or bearing this number is no longer effective.
Therefore, the exclusive authority to operate and discharge from this facility arises under the permit conditions,
requirements, terms, and provisions described herein,
The Town of Plymouth is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate a 0.8 MGD wastewater treatment system that includes the following
components:
■ Mechanical bar screen with screw auger
■ Parshall flume
■ Grit chamber with grit classifier
■ One 800,000-gallon aeration basin
■ Two Clarifiers — 25,000 and 35,000 gallons
■ Aerobic sludge digesters
o Two — 65,000 gallons each
o One — 320,000 gallons
■ Effluent weir box with flow recorder and totalizer
■ Backup Sludge drying beds
■ Standby generator
This facility is located at the Plymouth WWTP, at the end of Gage Lane north of Plymouth in
Washington County.
2. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map into the
Roanoke River (Stream Index: 23-(53), subbasin 03-02-09), currently classified C-Swamp waters
in the Roanoke River Basin.
Page 2 of 6

Permit NCO020028
PART I
Grade WW-2 Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G .0302]
A. (I.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
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:
Effluent Characteristics
Effluent Limits
Monitoring Requirements
Monthly
Weekly
Measurement
Sample Type
Sample Location
Average
Average
Frequency
50050 — Flow
0.8 MGD
Continuous
Recorder
Effluent
00010 —Temperature (°C)
Daily
Grab
Effluent
C0310 - BOD, 5 day (201C)2
30.0 mg/L
45.0 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Influent and
(November 1 — March 31)
Effluent
C0310 - BOD, 5 day (20°C) 2
19.0 mg/L
28.5 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Influent and
(April 1 —October 31
Effluent
C0530 - Total Suspended Solids 2
30.0 mg/L
45.0 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Influent and
Effluent
00610 - NH3 as N
7.0 mg/L
10.5 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
(April 1 — October 31
00610 - NH3 as N
14.0 mg/L
21.0 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
November 1 — March 31
31616 — Fecal Coliform 3
200/100 mL
400/100 mL
Daily
Grab
Effluent
(geometric mean
00400 - pH
> 6.0 and < 9.0 standard
2/month
Grab
Effluent
units
00665 — Total Phosphorus (as P)
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
m /L
00600 — Total Nitrogen
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
NO2+NO3+TKN m /L
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the Division's eDMR system
[see A. (2.)].
2. The monthly average effluent BOD5 and total suspended solids concentrations shall not exceed 15% of
their respective influent values (85% removal).
3. Fecal coliform limits take effect 1/l/2028. Until then, the permittee shall monitor Fecal Coliform with no
effluent limit.
All samples much be collected from a typical discharge event.
THERE SHALL BE NO DISCHARGE OF FLOATING SOLIDS OR VISIBLE FOAM IN OTHER THAN
TRACE AMOUNTS.
Page 3 of 6

Permit NCO020028
A. (2.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF 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.)
• Section D. (2.)
• Section D. (6.)
• Section E. (5.)
Signatory Requirements
Reporting
Records Retention
Monitoring Reports
1. Reportine Requirements (Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (a)]
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://deg.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
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.
Page 4 of 6

Permit NC0020028
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.jzov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-
24954/national-pollutant-di scharae-elimination-sv stem -nudes -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 Renortina
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
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:
h!tp:Hdeg.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
Page 5 of 6

Permit NCO020028
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:
bM://deg.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.)]
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 6 of 6

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