NCS000444_MS4 Annual Report (2022-23 FY)_20230804

NCS000444_LOWELL 2023 ANNUAL SELF ASSESSMENT
Permit Year
(July 1- BMP Measurable Goal Reporting Metric Comments
Ref.
June 30)
City of Lowell submitted in September 2022 after 30 day
2 1 Did Lowell submit the Annual Self-Assessment to NCDEQ prior to August 31 each year? YES submittance extension granted by NCDEQ.
2 3.B.3. Did Lowell select a funding mechanism? YES 6.75/ERU; ERU = 2,827 square feet
2 If so, what is the program funding mechanism? UTILITY 6.75/ERU; ERU = 2,827 square feet
2 3.B.4. Did Lowell implement the selected funding mechanism? YES Implemented July 1, 2021
Did Lowell mail fliers on all four topics (general awareness, illicit discharges, illegal
2 5.B.1. dumping, proper waste disposal)? YES Summer 2022 and Spring 2023
2 5.B.1. If so, how many utility bill insert fliers were distributed? 3,283 Summer 2022 = 1,677; and Spring 2023 = 1,606
_ 2 5.B.2. Did Lowell spotlight stormwater pollutants on the City's Facebook page? YES
General Stormwater Awareness, Pool Maintenance BMP,
Public Involvement and Participation, Proper Litter
Disposal, Bulk Pick-up Policy, Proper Trash Disposal,
Things to do to help with SW, Proper Lawn Waste
Disposal, Washing your Car, Christmas Tree Disposal,
Illicit Discharge, Proper Household Waste Disposal,
2 5.B.2. If so, what topics were covered? Grass Clippings and Leaves Composting, and Recycling
Did Lowell identify key neighborhoods that have the most significant nutrient impacts
2 6.B.2. to major outfalls to the South Fork River? YES River Falls and River View
2 6.B.2. If so, did Lowell target those citizens with fertilizer awareness program/mailers? YES 358 Houses
Did Lowell provide painting Industry BMP flyers to new construction builders to keep
2 8.B.4. on the jobsite? YES
Provided to Pro Touch,True Homes, Mill Street townhome
2 8.B.4. If so, how many painting Industry BMP flyers were distributed? 4 buider, and 101 E First Street
Did Lowell provide handouts of worksheets, puzzles, coloring pages, word finds, prize
2 9.B.1. giveaways, etc to citizens of all ages at annual festival? YES Lowell Treat Walk on 10/25/2022
Interacted with over 1,000 people of all ages. Handed out 105
Creepy Creek Crawlers Environmental Education Certificates,
15 RSPC pens, 15 Gaston County Nat. Resources pencils, 78
Don't Pollute handouts, 86 Let's Talk Storm Drains handouts,
2 9.B.1. If so, how many citizens were interacted with at annual festival? see comments and 75 kids' activity pages
TV Ad Counts: 322 Fall and 312 Spring for a total of 634
2 9.B.2. Did Lowell utilize the RSPC for cost sharing of tv/radio advertising? YES Radio Ad Counts:45 Fall and 67 Spring for a total of 112
2 10.B.1. Did Lowell distribute quarterly fliers/newsletters on litter/waste management? YES Spotlighted in Spring News Letter 2023 Newsletter
If so, how many quarterly fliers/newsletters on litter/waste management were
2 10.B.1. distributed? 1,606
Policy was was amended in January 2023 to be more stringent
and increase enforcement and fees related to bulk item
2 10.B.2. Did Lowell implement the bulk waste pickup policy? YES collection.
2 10.B.2. If so, how many tons of bulk waste were collected? 15 Lowell Dump Receipt 7-10-23-combined.pdf
2 10.B.3. Did Lowell enforce the Litter Ordinance? YES
Truck Loads Causing Litter on Highway citation issued June
2 10.B.3. If so, how many Litter Ordinance enforcement actions were issued? 1 22/2023

NCS000444_LOWELL 2023 ANNUAL SELF ASSESSMENT
2 11.B.4. Did Lowell post the MS4 Annual Self-Assessment on the web page? YES https://www.lowellnc.com/documents/2022-annual-self-
2 �11.B.4. Did Lowell verify all links and contact info are current/active on the web page? YES
2 12.B.1. Did Lowell maintain the hotline/helpline? YES
2 '12.B.1. If so, was the hotline/helpline publicized on the city's web page? YES
2 12.B.1. If so, was the hotline/helpline publicized in the city's newsletter? YES
2 12.B.1. If so, was the hotline/helpline publicized in the city's educational fliers? YES
2 13.B.1. Did Lowell provide an annual volunteer opportunity for litter sweep? YES Completed April 15, 2023.
2 13.B.1. If so, how many annual volunteer litter sweep participants were there? 8
2 13.B.2. Did Lowell provide an annual volunteer opportunity with River Sweep? Yes Completed November 5, 2022
5 Lowell Residents/5 Lowell Nonresidents.Collected 220
2 13.B.2. If so, how many annual volunteer River Sweep participants were there? 10 pounds of trash.
Did City staff bring stormwater issues before the planning board to receive citizen input
2 14.B.1. and factor stormwater into development decisions? YES https://www.lowellnc.com/stormwater-commission-meetings/
Did Lowell utilize the stormwater website for submission forms for asking a stormwater https://www.lowellnc.com/#/city/report/embed/report-a-
2 14.B.2. question or report a concern? YES stormwater-concern
Besides these online submissions, Lowell also received 13
If so, how many online submissions asking a stormwater question or reporting a additional stormwater issues/concerns in the permit year: 4 by
2 14.B.2. concern were received? _ _ _ 3 email, 4 by phone,4 by field observations, and 1 by in-person.
Launched Summer Litter Patrol Social Media Campaign and
coordinated pop-up George Poston Park clean-up with Gaston
2 16.B.2. Did Lowell coordinate clean-up of public areas? YES County for July 2023
As of end of Permit Year 2 no citizens have participated in
Summer Litter Patrol Social Media Campaign. Coordination
with Gaston County happened in Permit Year 2 but actual clean-
2 16.B.2. If so, how many citizens participated in coordinated clean-up of public areas? 0 up is scheduled for Permit 3
As of end of Permit Year 2 no citizens have participated in
Summer Litter Patrol Social Media Campaign. Coordination
If so, how many tons of trash were removed during coordinated clean-up of public with Gaston County happened in Permit Year 2 but actual clean-
2 16.B.2. areas? 0 up is scheduled for Permit 3
Did Lowell host an Elected Officials workshop to discuss stormwater issues with
2 18.B.2. regional elected officials? YES 3 elected officals. Completed March 9th, 2023
Signed up as vendor. Distributed 99 Stormwater Activities For
Did Lowell Participate in the public event RiverFest(Catawba River Keeper) in Belmont Kids, 99 Wendell and Penelope Learn About Stormwater, 99
2 18.B.3. to discuss stormwater with local citizens? YES The Surprising Story of Stormwater
4,193 features was collected during the initial MS4 mapping:
1,417 inlets, 762 ditches, 1,407 pipes, 11 open channels, and
2 19.B.1. Did Lowell conclude initial MS4 mapping? YES 595 outlets
'2 22.B.3. Did Lowell implement the IDDE Plan? YES
2 23.B.1. Did Lowell train staff to implement the IDDE ordinance, IDDE Plan and SOP? YES
If so, how many staff were trained on IDDE ordinance, IDDE Plan and SOP
2 23.B.1. implementation? 2

NCS000444_LOWELL 2023 ANNUAL SELF ASSESSMENT
Prior to the adoption of the IDDE plan, staff did identify a local
business discharing FOG (fats, oil,grease) from collection bin
into an onsite catch basin. Business was sent the food industry
2 24.B.1 Did Lowell conduct IDDE inspections in accordance with the IDDE Plan? NO BMP. No further action was needed.
As of July 31, 2023 we have a new Stormwater Admin who will
2 24.B.1 If so, how many IDDE inspections were performed? 0 be performing IDDE inspections going forward.
2 24.B.1 How many confirmed illicit discharges were documented? 0
2 24.B.1 IHow many illicit discharges were remedied? 0
2 24.B.1 How many illicit discharge enforcement actions were issued? 0
2 24.B.2. Did Lowell perform dry weather outfall inspections? YES
Twenty-seven comprise 40%of the 67 outfalls discovered
during the initial mapping. Per the 1.6.4 section of Lowell's
IDDE Plan, at least 20%of the outfalls within the MS4 boundary
2 24.B.2. If so, how many dry weather outfall inspections were performed? 27 will be screened yearly.
Only one training happened in Permit Year 2. As of July 31,
Did Lowell implement a quarterly training program for Public Works staff to identify 2023 we have a new Stormwater Admin who will be
2 27.B.1. and report illicit discharges? YES performing quarterly IDDE trainings going forward.
2 27.B.1. If so, how many Public Works staff were trained to identify and report illicit discharges? 8
https://www.lowellnc.com/documents/illicit-discharge-fact-
2 28.B.1. Did Lowell create fact sheets for illicit discharges for employee common areas? YES sheet/
Illicit discharge fact sheets on display in Lowell City Hall, Police
If so, how many fact sheet posters for illicit discharges for employee common areas Department, and Public Works employee commom areas; Part
2 28.B.2. were displayed? 3 of Precon Meeting Packet
Did Lowell train municipal staff on proper handling of construction site runoff control
2 31.B.1. complaints? YES
If so, how many staff were trained on proper handling of construction site runoff
2 31.B.1. control complaints? 8
Did Lowell develop an ordinance to require construction site operators to control
2 33.B.1. waste? YES Code of Ordinances, Section 50.03
Did Lowell create waste management requirement fact sheets to share during pre- City of Lowell decided to use the NCG01 Ground Handling and
2 34.B.1. construction meetings? YES Materials Handling Sheet.
Did Lowell add waste management requirement fact sheets to the stormwater web https://www.lowellnc.com/documents/ground-stabilization-
2 34.B.2. page? YES and-materials-handling-sheet/
Did Lowell distribute waste management requirement fact sheets during pre-
2 34.B.3. construction meetings? YES Part of Precon Meeting Packet.
If so, how many waste management requirement fact sheets were distributed during
2 34.B.3. pre-construction meetings? 2
2 35 Did Lowell track the number of low-density and high-density plan reviews performed? YES
2 35 If so, how many low density project reviews were performed? 1 Gaston County
2 35 'If so, how many high density project reviews were performed? 0 Gaston County
2 35 If so, how many low density project reviews were approved? 1 Gaston County
2 35 'If so, how many high density project reviews were approved? 0 Gaston County
Did Lowell maintain a current inventory of low-density projects and constructed SCMs,
including SCM type or low-density acreage, location, last inspection date and type of
2 35 enforcement action (if any)? YES

NCS000444_LOWELL 2023 ANNUAL SELF ASSESSMENT
Mailed out SCM inspection letters of notice but didn't received
2 35 How many high density non-municipally owned SCM inspections were performed? 0 inspection results in Permit Year 2.
Mailed out SCM inspection letters of notice but didn't received
2 35 How many low-density inspections were performed? 0 inspection results in Permit Year 2.
2 35 How many post-construction enforcement actions were issued? 0
2 41.B.2. Did Lowell Include pet waste disposal criteria information in city newsletter? YES Included in Spring News Letter 2023 Newsletter
9 inspections performed: Bob Bolick Park, City Hall, Edgewood
Cemetery, Harold Rankin Park, Community Center, McCord
Family Park, Police Department, Public Works, and Wastewater
2 42.B.2. Did Lowell perform inspections of the municipal PPGH inventory facilities? YES Treatement Plant
Public Works and Wastewater Treatment Plant were classifeid
as being high potential of stormwater pollution runoff and all
2 42.B.2. If so,were the municipal PPGH facilities classified as low, medium and high potential? YES other 7 facilities are considered to have a low potential.
Did Lowell identify and obtain industrial stormwater permits for subject city-owned Lowell has already identified and already obtained a NPDES
2 42.B.3. industrial facilities? YES permit for the City of Lowell Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant: Discharge (< 1MGD)
permit type, originally issued 4/29/1981, reissued 7/1/2020,
2 42.B.3. If so, how many municipal industrial facilities were permitted? 1 expires 1/31/2025
SPCC does not current apply to any municipal facilities.All
2 42.B.4. Did Lowell determine which city owned facilities require a SPCC Plan? YES facilities are below the threshold for required federal mandate.
City has future plans to build a new Public Works facility in the
next 5 years. Stafff will re-evaluate this measure during plan
2 42.B.4. If so, how many facilities require a SPCC Plan? 0 design for this project.
2 42.6.4. If so, how many facilities received a SPCC Plan? _ 0
Did Lowell update the municipal PPGH industrial facility inventory with new or closed
2 42.B.5. facilities? YES added McCord Park and Edgewood Cemetery
https://lowellnc-
Did Lowell create a PPGH SOP for inspection of City facilities, including inspection mv.sharepoint.com/:b:/p/tstroupe/Ee9SPz5 bFFKiVPuG-
2 43.B.1. forms,frequencies, and report documentation? YES Pusl4BevCiTgz9rEVviHa_C3rDuQ?e=fllobm
Did Lowell develop a staff training program for general stormwater pollution
2 44.B.1. prevention for public works employees? YES
Did Lowell perform a staff training program for general stormwater pollution
2 44.B.1. prevention for public works employees? YES Training happened on March 9, 2023.
2 44.B.1. If so, how many staff were trained on general stormwater pollution prevention? 8
2 45.B.1. Did Lowell train municipal staff on spill response? YES Training happened on March 9, 2023.
2 45.B.1. If so, how many staff were trained on spill response? 8
2 45.B.4. Did Lowell train VFD on spill response? YES 45.B.4 VFD Spill Response Memo.pdf
As of July 31, 2023 we have a new Stormwater Admin who will
Unknown, see attached be participating in training events with the VFD and will
memo from Chief document the number of personnell trained as well as the date
2 45.B.4. If so, how many VFD staff were trained on spill response? Cunningham or dates of Hazmat training.
Did Lowell develop a training program for conducting MS4 system inspections and
2 48.B.1. maintenance? YES

NCS000444_LOWELL 2023 ANNUAL SELF ASSESSMENT
Inspection data fields and attributes were added to the MS4
data collection ArcGIS Online web layers used in the initial
mapping. Field Inspections were performed on inlets,
conveyance, and outlets not digitized from plans or
engineering drawings. Initial and future inspections for inlets
included the condition of the inlet, any standing water in the
box, and dry weather flow, and any blockage inside the box or
pipe;for conveyance, included the shape of ditches; and for
outlets, included the possibility of an illicit discharge, condition
of outlet, any blockages, and shape of the ditch at the
2 48.B.2. Did Lowell create a stormwater collection system inspection form? YES discharge point.
2 48.B.3. Did Lowell perform stormwater collection system inspections? YES
1,030 Inlets,
749 Ditches, and 507
2 48.B.3. If so, how many stormwater collection system inspections were performed? Outlets
Did Lowell staff maintain core, right-of-way, and ornamental pest control applicator
2 51.B.1 certifications? YES
If so, how many certified core, right-of-way, and ornamental pest control applicator
2 51.B.1 staff does Lowell have? 1 Thomas Shrewbury, Public Work Director
Did Lowell develop or identify a pollution prevention and chemical use, storage and
2 51.B.2. handling training program? YES
2 51.B.4. Did Lowell require City contractors to provide NC Pesticide License for inspection? NO Not Applicable
Did lowell create an NPDES Permit tracking mechanism to document and track
municipal facilities with an industrial stormwater permit, expiration dates, and Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant: Discharge (< 1MGD),
2 52.B.5. inspections? YES expires in 2025
Did Lowell perform inspections of municipal vehicle and equipment cleaning
2 53.B.2. maintenance facilities? YES
If so, how many municipal vehicle and equipment cleaning maintenance facility 10 Public Works vehicles, 14 Police vehicles, 2 Administration
2 53.B.2. inspections were performed? 26 vehicles
Did Lowell reinspect any deficient municipal vehicle and equipment cleaning
2 53.B.3. maintenance facilities to ensure corrective actions were implemented? YES
Four vehicles needed reinspections (3 Public Works and 1
Police) in Permit Year 2.Two of the Public Works vehicles are
If so, how many reinspections of deficient municipal vehicle and equipment cleaning on loan to another community, so reinspections for these
2 53.B.3. maintenance facilities were performed? 2 vehicles will take place at the beginning of Permit Year 3.
Did Lowell implement a SOP with a schedule of leaf collection,gutter blowing, and
2 54.B.2. street cleaning and standardized documentation? YES
2 54.B.2. How many cubic yards of leaves were collected? 1,132
2 54.B.2. How many street miles were swept? 508 Public works has a truck with a leaf vacuum but not a sweeper.