Document 4vv57qXxpQ88Xk3r6JXgy7YR

EPA Region 5 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division INSPECTION REPORT Inspection Entry Date/Time Inspection Exit Date/Time Weather Media Statute(s)/Program(s) Type of Inspection 11/08/2022 11:46 AM (ET) Announced: Yes 11/08/2022 02:10 PM (ET) Access: Granted Sunny, dry Water Clean Water Act, NPDES, WWTP CEI - Compliance Evaluation Inspection Permittee Name Facility or Site Name Facility/Site Physical Address City, State, Zip Code County/Borough/Parish Facility GPS Coordinates Mailing Address (If different) City, State, Zip Code Scioto County Commissioners (West Portsmouth WWTP) West Portsmouth WWTP 27 Hygean Run Rd West Portsmouth, OH 45663 Scioto 38.7498, -83.03415 Same as location address Same as location address FRS ID 110006217619 Permit Number(s) (If Applicable) OH0076309 SIC and/or NAICS 4952 Regulatory Representatives Participating in Inspection: Title Name NPDES Inspector Andi Hodaj Organization EPA Region 5 Lead Inspector: Danny Nguyen NPDES Inspector Supervisor Review: Mr. Brooke Furio Multimedia Section Chief DANNY NGUYEN Digitally signed by DANNY NGUYEN Date: 2023.01.05 12:20:50 -05'00' 1/5/2023 EPA Region 5 nguyen.danny@epa.gov (440) 250-1709 BROOKE FURIO EPA Region 5 Digitally signed by BROOKE FURIO Date: 2023.01.05 12:40:33 -05'00' furio.brooke@epa.gov 1/5/2023 (440) 250-1705 1 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 SECTION I - INTRODUCTION Site Entry and Inspection Objectives: United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 5 inspectors arrived at the West Portsmouth Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) (the "Site" or "Facility"), located at 27 Hygean Run Rd, West Portsmouth, OH 45663, at 11:46 AM (ET) on 11/08/2022 for an announced inspection. EPA Region 5 Lead Inspector Mr. Danny Nguyen presented credentials to Mr. Jayson Coleman, Plant Operator, and informed him that this was an EPA inspection to determine compliance with the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The inspection was conducted under the authority of Section 308 of the CWA. This report is based on information supplied by Facility representatives, direct observations made by the EPA Region 5 inspectors, records and reports maintained by the permittee and other information including: photographs taken by EPA Region 5 inspectors, physical evidence collected by the EPA Region 5 inspectors, measurements taken by EPA Region 5 inspectors, verbal or written statements made by information supplied by Facility representatives during or subsequent to the on-site Inspection, and materials, processes, data, photographs, or documents shown, demonstrated, or submitted to the EPA Region 5 inspectors by Facility representatives during or subsequent to the on-site Inspection. In addition, information gathered prior to or subsequent to the Inspection from a review of EPA, State, and/or public records may be included in this report. Attendees Organization EPA Region 5 EPA Region 5 West Portsmouth WWTP Attendee Name Danny Nguyen Andi Hodaj Jayson Coleman Title Lead NPDES Inspector Present in Opening Conf. Yes Senior NPDES Inspector Yes Plant Operator Yes Present in Closing Conf. Yes Yes Yes Facility/Site Description EPA Region 5 lead inspector confirmed the following facility information: The facility is owned by Scioto County. It has a design flow of 0.9 million gallons per day (MGD) and serves approximately 1,200 residents connected to a sanitary-only collection system. No industrial users discharge process waste to the WWTP. The facility consists of a pump station, headworks that include a spiral screen and a bar screen, flow splitter box, Aeration Basin #1 (old plant, currently used as digester with return flow), Aeration Basin #2 (new plant with built in clarifier and skimmer), single sludge press, and four sand filters used for sludge holding. The facility discharges into Hygean Run via Outfall 001. Mr. Coleman stated the new plant with Aeration Basin #2 was built to efficiently process wastewater. In the future, Aeration Basin #1 could be rebuilt to increase design flow, but also be able to provide redundancy if one aeration basin is shutdown, the WWTP would continue to operate without having to shut down. Mr. Coleman stated that Aeration Basin #1 is being used as a digester with return flow until it can be upgraded. 2 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Photo(s) 1. RIMG2895.JPG 2. RIMG2896.JPG 3. RIMG2906.JPG Facility/Site Information: Responsible official Mr. Jayson Coleman WWTP Design Capacity & Average Daily Flow Design flow is 0.9 MGD, average flow is approximately .45 MGD WWTP Approx. # of residents served 1,200 Outfalls: (and do the numbers, locations, and receiving waters match the permit?) One outfall, 001. Number and location match the permit. Operation schedule (days of operation, # shifts/day, # operators/shift, coverage overnight, weekends & emergencies), and is staffing sufficient for proper operation? Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-4:30PM, 363 days a year. One plant operator and 2 maintenance personnel on-site Do you use in-house or contract out for laboratory analyses? (including for metals or WET testing?) No laboratory analysis is conducted in-house. Samples are taken to Wheelersburg, OH Lab for analysis and calibration of sample instruments. Do you accept waste No from septage haulers? If so, what problems have you experienced? Is there currently any No portion of the treatment train that is non-operational? Are there any plans for renovation or additional equipment to allow for increased wastewater flow? Yes. Aeration Basin #1 could be upgraded in the future to double processing capacity. 3 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Location(s): Location/Area/Sub-area Digester Outfall 001 Primary Treatment Secondary Treatment Description Aeration Basin #1 from old WWTP is used as digester with return flow. Outfall 001 discharges into Hygean Run. The primary treatment consists of the spiral screen, bar screen, the flow splitter box, Aeration Basin #2 with built-in clarifier. The secondary treatment consists of Aeration Basin #2 with built-in clarifier, Aeration Basin #1 digester with return flow, sludge press, and four sand filters that are currently used for sludge holding. SECTION II - OBSERVATIONS Location: Primary Treatment Observation #: DN2-OB-001 Date: 11/08/2022 The USEPA inspection team started the walk-through of the facility at the headworks. The team observed three influent pipes. All three pipes were observed to be corroded. The spiral and bar screens were operational. Mr. Coleman stated the screens are cleaned twice a day. The influent autosampler was not operational at the time of inspection to take required composite samples and no working thermometer was observed to meet sample cooling requirements. Mr. Coleman stated the influent autosampler was non-operational and grab samples are taken after the wastewater goes through the spiral screen. Mr. Coleman stated that all samples are taken to the Wheelersburg WWTP lab twice a week for analysis and all sampling instruments are calibrated each time by the lab. Mr. Coleman stated that was the only time the instruments would get calibrated. Based on Mr. Coleman's statements, it was observed that the calibration of the pH meter was not being conducted daily prior to taking samples and the pH was not measured within 15 minutes of taking a sample. Photo(s) 1. RIMG2899.JPG 2. RIMG2900.JPG 3. RIMG2898.JPG Location: Secondary Treatment Observation #: DN2-OB-002 Date: 11/08/2022 From the inflow channel, the wastewater can be split to flow to Aeration Basin #1, or Aeration Basin #2. Currently, wastewater is routed to Aeration Basin #2 for activated sludge treatment and from there to the clarifier. Sludge from the clarifier is returned either to Aeration Basin #1, that acts as an aerobic digester or to Aeration Basin #2 for the activated sludge process. Mr. Coleman stated a timer is set to pump wastewater to Aeration Basin #1 every 6 hours for 15 minutes. The waste from Aeration Basin 1 can be returned back into the process as needed. Three blowers in the blower building are used for aeration in Aeration Basin #2. The basin has a built-in clarifier and skimmer for solid settling and removal. From the clarifier, wastewater is routed to Outfall 001 for discharge. The sludge is taken to the sand filters for sludge holding and drying until shipment offsite. 4 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 The USEPA inspectors observed the pump station, the blower building, the sand filters, and the sludge press. Photo(s) 1. RIMG2897.JPG 2. RIMG2903.JPG 3. RIMG2904.JPG 4. RIMG2907.JPG 5. RIMG2908.JPG 6. RIMG2905.JPG 7. RIMG2911.JPG 8. RIMG2910.JPG 9. RIMG2909.JPG 10. RIMG2917.JPG 11. RIMG2916.JPG 12. RIMG2920.JPG 13. RIMG2921.JPG 14. RIMG2922.JPG 15. RIMG2923.JPG Location: Digester Observation #: DN2-OB-003 Date: 11/08/2022 The USEPA inspectors observed Aeration Basin #1 that was currently being used as an aerobic digester during the time of the inspection. The digester's return flow was routed back into the process. The USEPA inspectors observed two built-in clarifiers in Aeration Basin #1 that were not operational at the time of inspection. Photo(s) 1. RIMG2902.JPG 2. RIMG2901.JPG 3. RIMG2912.JPG 4. RIMG2913.JPG 5. RIMG2914.JPG 6. RIMG2915.JPG Location: Outfall 001 Observation #: DN2-OB-004 Date: 11/08/2022 The USEPA inspectors observed a non-operational effluent autosampler at the time of the inspection. The thermometer inside the autosampler displayed 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Mr. Coleman confirmed the autosampler was not operational and grab samples were taken at the effluent instead. The USEPA inspectors observed Outfall #1 and the signage with the correct outfall number and facing the receiving stream. 5 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Photo(s) 1. RIMG2918.JPG 2. RIMG2919.JPG 3. RIMG2925.JPG 4. RIMG2926.JPG SECTION III - RECORDS REVIEW Records may not be in sequential order. Record: Other - operator's certificate for wastewater treatment facilities Ref #: DN2-RR-002 Reviewed By: Danny Nguyen AOC: No Reviewed Date: 11/08/2022 The USEPA inspectors reviewed the certificate for the operator of record. Mr. Jayson Coleman had a Class II Wastewater Treatment Professional Operator Certificate. Record: Process Description/Flow Diagram Ref #: DN2-RR-001 Reviewed By: Danny Nguyen AOC: No Reviewed Date: 11/08/2022 The USEPA inspectors reviewed the process engineering diagrams and map that displayed the old and new parts of the plant. SECTION IV - SAMPLING ACTIVITIES AND ANALYTICAL RESULTS No sampling was conducted. SECTION V - AREAS OF CONCERN Areas of Concern may not be in sequential order. The presentation of areas of concern does not constitute a formal compliance determination or violation. AOC Reference #: DN2-OB-001 Location: Primary Treatment All three influent pipes were observed to be corroded. AOC Reference #: DN2-OB-001 Location: Primary Treatment The influent autosampler was not operational at the time of inspection to take required composite samples and no working thermometer was observed to meet sample cooling requirements. AOC Reference #: DN2-OB-001 Location: Primary Treatment Based on Mr. Coleman's statements, it was observed that the calibration of the pH meter was not being conducted daily prior to taking sample and the pH was not being measured within 15 minutes of taking a sample. 6 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 AOC Reference #: DN2-OB-001 Location: Primary Treatment There was not an overall sampling and calibration procedures for personnel to follow to ensure the permit sampling requirements were being met. Additional Notes: SECTION VI - CLOSING CONFERENCE AND FOLLOW UP Closing Conference: The EPA Region 5 Lead Inspector held a closing conference with Facility personnel at 02:10 PM (ET) on 11/08/2022 for the inspection. During the closing conference, EPA Region 5 Lead Inspector discussed the observations and Areas of Concern identified during the inspection. Observations and Areas of Concern have not yet been evaluated for a formal compliance determination. The USEPA lead inspector requested the following follow-up documents : Last 3 months of sample Chain of Custodies and lab reports Sludge reports and invoices Last SSO report Last 3 months of DMRs Follow Up: The EPA lead inspector requested the following follow-up documents: Last 3 months of DMRs Last 3 months of sample Chain of Custody and lab reports Sludge reports and invoices Last SSO report Communication Log: No additional information received by EPA Region 5 after exiting the Facility on 11/08/2022. SECTION VII - LIST OF APPENDICES 1. Photo Log 7 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 APPENDIX 1: PHOTO LOG All Photographs taken by Andi Hodaj, Environmental Engineer, USEPA Camera: RICOH WG-4 Time stamps in the photographs are in eastern time zone 8 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 WWTP Schematic RIMG2895.JPG 11/08/2022 12:23 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj [Location/Area] No CBI No PII Photo of the West Portsmouth WWTP schematic that includes both the old and the new WWTP. WWTP Schematic 11/08/2022 12:23 PM [Location/Area] Schematic of the new and old treatment plant. RIMG2896.JPG Photographer: Andi Hodaj No CBI No PII 9 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 New clarifier 11/08/2022 01:00 PM [Location/Area] View of the new clarifier. Camera looking west. RIMG2906.JPG Photographer: Andi Hodaj No CBI No PII Pump station RIMG2902.JPG 11/08/2022 12:55 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Digester No CBI No PII Pump station and checkout pit. Camera looking southeast. 10 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Old aeration tank RIMG2901.JPG 11/08/2022 12:52 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Digester No CBI No PII View of the old aeration tank. The pipe flowing in is the return flow from the clarifiers. Camera looking south. Aerobic digester RIMG2912.JPG 11/08/2022 01:08 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Digester No CBI No PII Aerobic digester and the valve pit that controls the flow from the clarifier. Camera looking northwest. 11 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Old clarifier RIMG2913.JPG 11/08/2022 01:12 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Digester No CBI No PII The old clarifier next to the old aeration tank. The return flow pipe can be seen in the background. Camera looking west. Skimmer RIMG2914.JPG 11/08/2022 01:12 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Digester No CBI No PII Skimmer in the old clarifier. Camera looking north. 12 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Old aeration tank RIMG2915.JPG 11/08/2022 01:14 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Digester No CBI No PII Overview of the old aeration tank with the aeration pipes in it. The old aeration tank was being used as an aerobic digester. Camera looking north. Final effluent RIMG2918.JPG 11/08/2022 01:22 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Outfall 001 No CBI No PII Final effluent channel. The v-notch weir and depth sensor can be seen in it. Camera looking west. 13 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Autosampler RIMG2919.JPG 11/08/2022 01:25 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Outfall 001 No CBI No PII The autosampler at the final effluent. The bottle inside the autosampler had water in it but the operator stated that no sample was being taken that day. The thermometer in the autosampler was not working. Outfall 001 11/08/2022 02:20 PM Outfall 001 Outfall 001. Camera looking west. 14 of 24 RIMG2925.JPG Photographer: Andi Hodaj No CBI No PII West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Outfall 001 11/08/2022 02:20 PM Outfall 001 Outfall 001. Camera looking west. RIMG2926.JPG Photographer: Danny Nguyen No CBI No PII Spiral screen RIMG2899.JPG 11/08/2022 12:44 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Primary Treatment No CBI No PII Close-up view of the spiral screen at the headworks. Camera looking west. 15 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Influent pipes 11/08/2022 12:46 PM Primary Treatment Three rusted influent pipes. Camera looking east. RIMG2900.JPG Photographer: Andi Hodaj No CBI No PII Headworks RIMG2898.JPG 11/08/2022 12:43 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Primary Treatment No CBI No PII Overview of the headworks. Camera looking northeast. 16 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 New aeration tank RIMG2897.JPG 11/08/2022 12:39 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Secondary Treatment No CBI No PII Overview of the new aeration tank. Camera looking north. New Blowers RIMG2903.JPG 11/08/2022 12:57 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Secondary Treatment No CBI No PII New blowers and the blower building in the background. Camera looking south. 17 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Old blowers 11/08/2022 12:57 PM Secondary Treatment Old blowers. Camera looking southwest. RIMG2904.JPG Photographer: Andi Hodaj No CBI No PII New Clarifier RIMG2907.JPG 11/08/2022 01:00 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Secondary Treatment No CBI No PII New clarifier next to the new aeration tank. Camera looking west. 18 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Clarifier effluent 11/08/2022 01:02 PM Secondary Treatment Effluent from the new clarifier. RIMG2908.JPG Photographer: Andi Hodaj No CBI No PII New aeration tank RIMG2905.JPG 11/08/2022 01:00 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Secondary Treatment No CBI No PII View of the new aeration tank. Camera looking west. 19 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Return flow RIMG2911.JPG 11/08/2022 01:06 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Secondary Treatment No CBI No PII Return flow from the clarifier to the aeration basin at the east end of the clarifier. Camera looking south. New clarifier RIMG2910.JPG 11/08/2022 01:04 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Secondary Treatment No CBI No PII New clarifier and the skimmer in it moving west. Camera looking west. 20 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 New clarifier RIMG2909.JPG 11/08/2022 01:04 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Secondary Treatment No CBI No PII New clarifier and the skimmer in it moving west. Camera looking west. Dosage tanks RIMG2917.JPG 11/08/2022 01:19 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Secondary Treatment No CBI No PII Dosage tank splits the flow from the aeration tank to the sand filters. Camera looking north. 21 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Sand filters RIMG2916.JPG 11/08/2022 01:17 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Secondary Treatment No CBI No PII Four sand filters. The first two in the photo had sludge in them and the third one was the only one being used. Camera looking north. Post-aeration tank RIMG2920.JPG 11/08/2022 01:27 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Secondary Treatment No CBI No PII Post aeration tank and the flow meter at final tank. Camera looking east. 22 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Final tank RIMG2921.JPG 11/08/2022 01:28 PM Photographer: Andi Hodaj Secondary Treatment No CBI No PII Overview of the final tank. Camera looking northeast. Sand filters 11/08/2022 01:32 PM Secondary Treatment Sand filters 3 and 4. Camera looking west. RIMG2922.JPG Photographer: Andi Hodaj No CBI No PII 23 of 24 West Portsmouth WWTP Inspection Date(s): 11/8/2022 Sand filters 11/08/2022 01:33 PM Secondary Treatment Sand filters 3 and 4. Camera looking west. RIMG2923.JPG Photographer: Andi Hodaj No CBI No PII 24 of 24