NC0007684_Draft Permit_20240108

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Steve Ward, Utilities Director
Harnett County
PO Box 1119
Lillington, NC 27546
Dear Mr. Ward:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
January 9, 2024
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NC0007684
Harnett County Regional WTP
Grade I Physical Chemical WPCS
Harnett County
Attached with this letter is a copy of the Draft NPDES permit renewal for your facility. Please review
this draft carefully to ensure thorough understanding of the requirements and conditions it contains. We
understand from your renewal application that there have been no treatment system changes. There are
a few changes in the draft attached here from the existing permit. These changes are summarized below.
• Regulatory Citations - Language has been added where necessary in the permit to provide regulatory
citations for permit requirements.
• Electronic Reporting - Permit language has been modified to be consistent with the finalization of
federal requirements for electronic reporting.
• Language on the Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet has been updated. This includes modification of
the treatment system components and correction of the proper stream segment referenced for the
Cape Fear River to 18-(16.7).
• Total Copper - Your previous permit set permit limits for copper. The Reasonable Potential Analysis
(RPA) using data from the last three years and updated low flow statistics from USGS, showed no
reasonable potential for discharge to result in water quality impacts. The limits for copper established
in the last permit have been removed from the draft permit but monitoring requirements will remain.
• Total Iron — Iron monitoring has been removed from the draft permit consistent with Water Treatment
Plant Guidance.
• Footnote 2 on continuous flow has been removed. This footnote was essentially an explanation for
the addition of continuous monitoring for flow and is no longer needed. All the other footnotes have
been renumbered due to this removal.
• Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) — As noted above, low flow values have been obtained from the
USGS for the receiving stream. Based on these final numbers and your reduced flow over the last
few years, the Effluent Concentration used in your WET analyses has been modified. This
information indicates an Instream Waste Concentration (IWC) of 0.85%. The Effluent Concentration
for your WET testing has been set at this IWC value of 0.85%.
• Map Update — The permit map and descriptive information on the permit map have been updated.
• Permit Expiration — Date has been changed to January 31, 2029 to allow for a nearly full permit term.
D E Q�� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
o vn:, ..i,;."'. 1., �
nevae+oren..o .maia�amq 919.707.9000

Steve Ward
Harnett County Regional WTP Draft Renewal
Page 2
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. The latest
version of the standard conditions is available at https://bit.ly/3k5NFaL and can be viewed online or
downloaded as a PDF file.
Concurrent with this notification the Division is publishing a notice in a newspaper having general
circulation in the Harnett County area soliciting public comments on this draft permit.
Please provide any written comments you may have to me no later than 30 days after receipt of 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 this draft permit,
please contact me by email at [e-mail]. At this time, contact by email is the most
effective method. If we need to set up a call to discuss any issues, we can set that up through email.
Sincerely,
Bradley Bennett
Compliance and Expedited Permitting Unit
cc: NPDES Files - electronic
Fayetteville Regional Office / Water Quality — electronic
Operator Certification Program/Jeffrey Talbott — electronic
Aquatic Toxicology / Cindy Moore and Molly Nicholson - Electronic

Draft Permit NC0007684
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PF,RMTT
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
Harnett County Department of Public Utilities
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Harnett County Regional WTP
310 West Duncan Street
Lillington
Harnett County
to receiving waters designated as the Cape Fear River in the Cape Fear 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 January 31, 2029.
If the permittee intends to continue discharging at the facility beyond the term of this permit, a renewal
application must be submitted no later than August 4, 2028 (180 days before the expiration of this permit)
Signed this day
John Hennessey
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 9

Draft Permit NC0007684
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge are hereby
revoked. As of this permit issuance, any previously issued permit 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 included herein.
The Harnett County Department of Public Utilities
is hereby authorized to:
Continue to operate a Conventional water treatment plant with a discharge of wastewaters from
media filter backwash and concentrated sludge utilizing alum, polymer and powder activated carbon,
with sludge handling and backwash components. This water treatment plant currently has a design
potable flowrate of 42 MGD and a maximum, monthly average wastewater discharge of 1.59 MGD.
This facility is located at Harnett County Regional WTP at 310 West Duncan Street, in Lillington, in
Harnett County. Water and wastewater treatment consists of:
• Aeration and Flash Mixers
• Superpulsators / Upflow Clarifiers
• Dual Media Filters
• Granular Activated Carbon Filters
• UV Disinfection
• Alum Sludge Pump Station
• Alum Sludge Holding Basins
• Backwash Surge/Sludge Holding Basins
• Rewash Decant Piping
• Sludge Transfer Pump Station
• Sludge Loading Station
Chemical Usage Consists of. Copper Sulfate; Aluminum Sulfate; Sulfuric Acid; Sodium
Hydroxide; PAC (carbon); Chlorine Dioxide; Cationic Polymer; Sodium Hypochlorite;
Orthophosphate; Hydrofluorosilicic Acid; Lime and Ammonium Hydroxide.
2. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map into the Cape Fear
River [Stream Segment: 18-(16.7)], a waterbody currently classified WS-IV waters within subbasin
03-06-07 [HUC: 0303000405] in the Cape Fear River Basin.
Page 2 of 9

Draft Permit NC0007684
PART I
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS - FINAL
[15A NCAC 02B.0400 et seq., 15A NCAC 02B.0500 et seq.]
Grade I Physical / Chemical WPCS [15A NCAC 08G .0306]
During the period beginning on the effective date of the 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
Parameter Code
LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Avera a
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Fre uenc
Sample
Type
Sample
Location
Flow 50050
Continuous
Recording
Effluent
Total Suspended Solids C0530
30.0 mg/L
45.0 mg/L
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
pH 00400
>_ 6.0 s.u. and <— 9.0 s.u.
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine 2 50060
28 pg/L
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
Turbidity 3 00070
See Footnote 3
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
Total Aluminum 01105
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Total Copper 01042
Monthly
Grab
Effluent
Total Manganese 01055
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Total Fluoride 4 00951
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Total Zinc 5 01092
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Ammonia Nitrogen 6 C0610
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Total Phosphorous (TP) C0665
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Total Nitrogen (TN) C0600
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Hardness — Total as
CaCO3 or Ca + M 1,8 00900
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Hardness — Total as
CaCO3 or Ca + M 1,8 00900
Quarterly
Grab
Upstream
Whole Effluent Toxicity Monitoring 9 TGP3B
Monitor & Report
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Footnotes
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the Division's eDMR system
[see A. (5)].
2. Limit and monitor only if the facility adds chlorine or chlorine derivatives to water that is eventually
discharged. 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.
3. Effluent turbidity shall not exceed 50 NTUs or cause the natural background turbidity to be increased. If
the effluent exceeds 50 NTUs the Permittee shall take an upstream and downstream measurement of
turbidity and demonstrate that the natural background turbidity, measured upstream of the discharge, is
Page 3 of 9

Draft Permit NC0007684
not increased. All samples (upstream, downstream, and effluent) shall be taken within the same 24-hour
period. NTU — Nephelometric Turbidity Unit.
4. Fluoride should be monitored if the Permittee backwashes with fluoridated finished water.
5. Zinc should be monitored if the Permittee adds zinc orthophosphate as a corrosion inhibitor prior to
backwashing.
6. Ammonia nitrogen should be monitored if the Permittee used chloramines (adds ammonia to chlorinated
water) for secondary disinfection prior to backwashing.
7. Effluent hardness sampling should be performed in conjunction with testing for hardness dependent
metals (cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, silver, and zinc).
8. The Permittee shall sample instream hardness, upstream of the facility's discharge. The sample shall be
representative of the hardness in the receiving stream. If the Permittee is a member of the Monitoring
Coalition Program, sampling for instream hardness may be waived as long as the Monitoring coalition
agrees to sample hardness at the nearest upstream location, at a minimum frequency of quarterly, and the
Permittee has obtained approval from DWR-NPDES Permitting Unit that the upstream station being
monitored by the Coalition is representative of the receiving stream for this discharge. The Permittee is
responsible for submitting instream hardness test results with its permit renewal application package. If
Coalition membership is cancelled or the Coalition terminates instream hardness sampling at the
approved station, the Permittee will immediately notify the Division and resume sampling for instream
hardness, upstream of its discharge.
9. Ceriodaphnia dubia 7 day pass/fail test @ 0.85% concentration. See Condition A. (2.) for toxicity testing
requirements. Toxicity testing should be performed during the months of January, April, July and October.
All samples must be collected from a typical discharge event.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
A. (2.) CHRONIC TOXICITY MONITORING (QUARTERLY)
[15A NCAC 02B .0200 et seq.] [15A NCAC 02B .0500 et seq]
The permittee shall conduct quarterly chronic toxicity tests using test procedures outlined in the "North
Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure," (Revised December 2010, or subsequent
versions).
The effluent concentration defined as treatment two in the procedure document is 0.85%. The testing
shall be performed as a Ceriodaphnia dubia 7-day pass/fail test. The tests will be performed during the
months of January, April, July and October. 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.
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered electronically using
the Division's eDMR system for the month in which it was performed, using the parameter code
TGP3B. Additionally, DWR Form AT-1 (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
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Draft Permit NC0007684
Or, results can be sent to the email, ATForms.ATBgdeq.nc.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 and accurate and include all supporting chemical/physical measurements
performed in association with the toxicity tests, as well as all dose/response data. 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, then
monthly monitoring will begin immediately. Upon submission of a valid test, this monthly test
requirement will revert to quarterly in the months specified above.
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.
A. (3.) PERMIT RE -OPENER: NUTRIENT MONITORING
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
Pursuant to N.C. General Statutes Section 143-215.1 and the implementing rules found in the North
Carolina Administrative Code at 15A NCAC 2H.0112 (b) (1) and 211.0114 (a) and Part II sections B-12
and B-13 of this permit, the Director may reopen this permit to require supplemental nutrient monitoring
of the discharge. The purpose of the additional monitoring will be to support water quality modeling
efforts within the Cape Fear River Basin and shall be consistent with a monitoring plan developed
jointly by the Division and affected stakeholders. In addition, the results of water quality modeling may
require that limits for Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus be imposed in this permit upon renewal.
Page 5 of 9

Draft Permit NC0007684
A. (4.) PERMIT RE -OPENER: WHOLE EFFLUENT TOXICITY MONITORING
[G. S. 143-215.1(b)]
Whole Effluent Toxicity Monitoring results indicating aquatic toxicity may result in the Division of
Water Quality re -opening this permit or requesting by letter that further action be taken. Additional
metals testing, a toxicity identification evaluation, a toxicity reduction evaluation, and/or an assessment
of discharge treatment alternatives may be requested.
A. (5.) 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.) 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)]
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
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
See "How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below.
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Draft Permit NC0007684
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:
hgps://www.federalre ig ster.gov/documents/20l5/lO/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
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.
Page 7 of 9

Draft Permit NC0007684
Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on
the following web page:
hllp://deq.ne.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:
h!Ltp:Hdeq.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 8 of 9

Harnett Co
Regional WTP
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Harnett County
Harnett County Regional WTP
Receiving Stream: Cape Fear River Stream Class: WS-Iv
River Basin: Cape Fear Sub -Basin: 03-06-07
Outfall Latitude: 35' 24' 30" Outfall Longitude: 78' 49' 00"
Stream Segment 18-(16.7) HUCM 0303000405
Grid/Quad: F23NE / Lillington County: Harnett
Facility
Location
(not to scale)
7TH NPDES Permit NC0007684
Page 9 of 9