Document 8V2DXy342ByzKyr2VMkNvzD7Z

Division EPA Region 5: Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Purpose: NPDES SSO Inspection Report Facility: City of Chicago Heights, Illinois NPDES ID Number (No NPDES Permit): ILN000013 Date of Inspection: October 25, 2022 EPA Inspectors: Ted Flatebo, EPA Region 5; (312) 886-9402; flatebo.ted@epa.gov Cheryl Burdett, EPA Region 5; (312) 886-1463; burdett.cheryl@epa.gov Illinois EPA Inspectors: None City of Chicago Heights Representatives: None Inspection Report Prepared by: Ted Flatebo, EPA Region 5 Inspector Digitally signed by Flatebo, Flatebo, Theodore Theodore EPA Inspector Signature: ____________________D_a_te_: _20_2_2._11_.2_9_1_0:_33_:3_4_-0_6_'0_0'_ Approver Name and Title: Ryan Bahr, Section 2 Supervisor Water Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Branch Ryan Bahr Digitally signed by Ryan Bahr Approval Signature and Date: ____________________D_at_e:_2_02_2_.1_1._29_1_0_:5_2:_48_-_0_6'0_0_' 1 Table of Contents I. Introduction 3 II. Inspection Activity Summary - October 25, 2022 3 III. Areas of Concern 5 IV. Attachment 1 - Photo Log 6 2 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report October 25, 2022 I. INTRODUCTION On October 25, 2022, Untied States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5 (EPA) inspectors Ted Flatebo and Cheryl Burdett conducted a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) reconnaissance inspection in the City of Chicago Heights (City) and observed locations with a history of SSO complaints and other areas of interest to document if there were discharges of sanitary waste or evidence of recent discharges. Between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM on October 25, 2022 there was approximately 1.1 inches of rain in the City of Chicago Heights. The City of Chicago Heights does not own a treatment plant to treat its sanitary sewage. The City does own its sanitary sewer collection system which is tributary to the Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW). Because the City does not treat and discharge its own wastewater, it does not have a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The City does have coverage under a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). The City's MS4 permit number ILR400174. This is a general permit that was scheduled to expire on February 28, 2021 but has been administratively extended by IEPA. Its requirements were in effect on the date of inspection. The City of Chicago Heights Mayors Office was notified of the inspection at 2:10 PM on October 25, 2022. Aaron Delvalle, City of Chicago Heights Public Works Director, was notified of the inspection by phone call at 2:25 PM on October 25, 2022. No City representatives joined the EPA inspectors as they conducted their inspection. This trip report summarizes the inspection observations. II. INSPECTION ACTIVITY SUMMARY - MARCH 23, 2022 Location #1: Pamela Drive South EPA inspectors arrived 110 Pamela Drive South at 2:41 PM. According to City records, there have been complaints of a sewage smell coming from a storm drain in front of this address. EPA inspectors did not note any odor in this area. Location #2: South Normandy Drive EPA inspectors arrived 121 South Normandy Drive at 2:45 PM. According to City records, there have been complaints of a sewage smell along this block. EPA inspectors did not note any odor in this area. Location #3: West Greenbriar Avenue EPA inspectors arrived at 156 West Greenbriar Avenue at 2:51 PM. According to City records, there have been complaints of water exiting a manhole in front of this address. EPA inspectors did not observe an overflow. 3 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report October 25, 2022 Location #4: Hillcrest Avenue EPA inspectors arrived at a manhole in the alley west of 170 Hillcrest Avenue at 3:07 PM. According to City records, there have been complaints of water exiting from this manhole. EPA inspectors did observe standing water on top of the manhole. The manhole appeared well sealed and was not allowing water to enter. Location #5: Thorn Creek Tributary EPA inspectors arrived an unnamed tributary to Thorn Creek near the intersection of Parkside Avenue and Peoria Street at 3:18 PM. Inspectors noted vegetation along the banks of the tributary. See Photos 1 and 2. Location #6: Broadway EPA inspectors arrived at 71 Broadway at 3:22 PM. Inspectors noted an approximately10-inch hole in a culvert in front of this address. See Photos 3 and 4. Location #7: Campbell Avenue EPA inspectors arrived at a manhole near the intersection of Campbell Avenue and Memorial Drive at 3:30 PM. According to City records, there have been complaints of water exiting a manhole at this intersection. EPA inspectors did not observe an overflow. Location #8: West Memorial Avenue EPA inspectors arrived at the intersection of West Memorial Avenue and Willow Drive at 3:39 PM. Inspectors noted a large amount of standing water at this intersection. The pool of water was slowly draining into a stormwater inlet. The inlet appeared to be set at a grade that did not allow effective drainage of stormwater. See Photos 5 and 6. Location #9: Scott Avenue EPA inspectors arrived at 1028 Scott Avenue at 3:57 PM. According to City records, there have been complaints of water coming up front the grass in front of this address. EPA inspectors did not observe any abnormal water near this address. Location #10: Vincennes Avenue EPA inspectors arrived at 1330 Vincennes Avenue at 4:02 PM. According to City records, there have been complaints of sewage backing up in front of the address. EPA inspectors did not observe an overflow. 4 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report October 25, 2022 Location #11: Division Street EPA inspectors arrived at the intersection of West 16th Street and Division Street at 4:15 PM. Inspectors noted a large amount of standing water at this intersection. See Photo 7. Location #12: Adams Street EPA inspectors arrived at the intersection of Adams Street and Brookline Street at 4:16 PM. According to City records, there have been complaints of water exiting a manhole near this intersection. EPA inspectors did not observe an overflow. Location #13: Bunker Street EPA inspectors arrived at the intersection of Bunker Street and Concord Drive at 4:20 PM. According to City records, there have been complaints of a manhole at this intersection holding water. EPA inspectors did not observe a manhole holding water. Location #14: Plymouth Drive EPA inspectors arrived at 281 Plymouth Drive at 4:23 PM. According to City records, there have been complaints of water coming up from near the curb in front of this address. EPA inspectors did not observe any abnormal water near this address. Location #14: Plymouth Drive EPA inspectors arrived at 150 Hickory Street at 4:23 PM. According to City records, there have been complaints of water coming up from a manhole in front of this address. EPA inspectors did not observe an overflow. EPA inspectors completed the reconnaissance inspection at approximately 4:50 PM. Mr. Flatebo called Mr. DelValle to inform him that EPA was concluding its inspection but was unable to get a hold of him. The inspectors left the City at approximately 4:55 PM. III. AREAS OF CONCERN The following areas of concern were identified during the inspection: A culvert used to convey stormwater on Broadway was damaged; The storm water inlet at the intersection of West Memorial Avenue and Willow Drive was not set at a grade that allowed for effective drainage of storm water; and There was a large volume of standing stormwater at the intersection of West 16th Street and Division Street. 5 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report October 25, 2022 IV. ATTACHMENT 1 - PHOTO LOG City of Chicago Heights EPA Inspection October 25, 2022 All photos taken by Ted Flatebo, Environmental Engineer, U.S. EPA Camera: Ricoh WG-4 1: RIMG0095 Description: Overview of unnamed tributary to Thorn Creek. Note vegetation along banks. Location: Intersection of Parkside Avenue and Peoria Street Camera Direction: Northwest Date/Time: October 25, 2022, 3:18 PM 6 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report October 25, 2022 2: RIMG0096 Description: Overview of unnamed tributary to Thorn Creek. Location: Intersection of Parkside Avenue and Peoria Street Camera Direction: Southeast Date/Time: October 25, 2022, 3:19 PM 3: RIMG0097 Description: Overview of hole in stormwater culvert. Location: 71 Broadway Camera Direction: East Date/Time: October 25, 2022, 3:23 PM 7 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report October 25, 2022 4: RIMG0098 Description: Hole in stormwater culvert. Location: 71 Broadway Camera Direction: Down Date/Time: October 25, 2022, 3:23 PM 5: RIMG0099 Description: Overview of localized flooding. Note there is a stormwater inlet at base of street sign (blue circle). Location: Intersection of Willow Drive and West Memorial Drive. Camera Direction: East Date/Time: October 25, 2022, 3:39 PM 8 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report October 25, 2022 6: RIMG0100 Description: Overview of localized flooding. Location: Intersection of Willow Drive and West Memorial Drive. Camera Direction: East Date/Time: October 25, 2022, 3:40 PM 9 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report October 25, 2022 7: RIMG0101 Description: Overview of localized flooding. Location: Intersection of West 16th Street and Division Street. Camera Direction: South Date/Time: October 25, 2022, 4:15 PM 10 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report October 25, 2022