Document MDZJzYVveXvp7kp67kdoqm69

LSASD Project ID: 24-0149 McComb POTW NPDES Compliance Evaluation Inspection Location: 1052 Southyard Road McComb, MS Project Date: March 5th, 2024 Report Date: April 4th, 2024 LSASDFORM-066-R2 052923 Project Leader: Chris McHugh Water Quality Section Field Services Branch Laboratory Services & Applied Science Division USEPA - Region 4 980 College Station Road Athens, Georgia 30605-2720 The ANSI National Accreditation Board attests that U.S. EPA Region 4 Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division fulfills the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 ANAB Forensic Testing & Calibration AR 3125:2019 in the field of Forensic Testing. The activities contained in this report fall within the scope of accreditation, Certificate Number: AT-2628. Expires 08 June 2024. LSASD Project ID: 24-0149 Page 1 of 6 Final Report LSASDFORM-066-R2 052923 Project Requestor: Jairo Castillo, P.E., Section Chief Wastewater Enforcement Section Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Division USEPA - Region 4 61 Forsyth Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30303-8960 Analytical Support: Not Applicable Approvals: Digitally signed by CHRISTOPHER CHRISTOPHER MCHUGH MCHUGH Date: 2024.04.04 15:41:47 -04'00' Chris McHugh Water Quality Section Field Services Branch Approving Officials: JOHN RUIZ Digitally signed by JOHN RUIZ Date: 2024.04.03 13:11:22 -04'00' John Ruiz, Technical Reviewer Water Quality Section Field Services Branch Digitally signed by DEREK LITTLE Date: 2024.04.08 08:03:33 -04'00' Derek Little, Acting Section Chief Field Services Branch DENNIS SAYRE Date: 2024.04.04 11:23:20 -04'00' Digitally signed by DENNIS SAYRE Jairo Castillo, P.E., Chief Wastewater Enforcement Section LSASD Project ID: 24-0149 Page 2 of 6 Date Date Date Date Final Report LSASDFORM-066-R2 052923 1. Introduction On March 5th, 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4, Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division (LSASD), conducted a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Compliance Evaluation Inspection (CEI) of McComb Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) in McComb, MS. The facility is operated by Inframark for the City of McComb. The inspection was conducted under the authority of Section 308 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), as amended. This report presents the results of the inspection. The inspection followed the procedures listed in the LSASD Project No. 24 - 0149 Sample and Analysis Plan (SAP). Table 1 lists the sampling participants and facility staff. Table 1 - Inspection Personnel Name Chris McHugh Asher Sampong Justin Berry Jackson Dear Eddy Russell Organization EPA Region 4 LSASD Inspection EPA Region 4 LSASD Inspection MDEQ Jackson MDEQ Jackson Inframark/ facility manager Date on Site 03/05/24 03/05/24 03/05/24 03/05/24 03/05/24 Contact Info mchugh.christopher@epa.gov sampong.asher@epa.gov JBerry@mdeq.ms.gov jdear@mdeq.ms.gov eddy.russell@inframark.com 2. Inspection Procedures The objective of this inspection was to evaluate the condition of the water pollution control plant and the permittee's self-monitoring program and offer compliance assistance as needed. Specific tasks included conducting an opening conference, interview facility staff, conducting a facility walkthrough, conducting records review, observing the receiving waters, and a closing conference. 3. Facility Description McComb POTW (Figure 1) uses an activated sludge process called vertical loop reactor (VLR) with covered diffused mechanical aerators (Figure 2). The influent headworks consisted of screw pumps, automated bar screens, one manual bar screen and grit removal cyclones. There are plans to upgrade the headworks in the next year according to the operator. There is an eight-bank ultraviolet disinfection system in operation before the final effluent discharge to the receiving stream. LSASD Project ID: 24-0149 Page 3 of 6 Final Report LSASDFORM-066-R2 052923 Figure 1. - McComb POTW Site Layout LSASD Project ID: 24-0149 Figure 2 - VLR Process Page 4 of 6 Final Report LSASDFORM-066-R2 052923 4. NPDES Permit The facility's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination (NPDES) permit number MS0061077, was issued (renewed) by the State of Mississippi on January 23rd, 2024, and expires on June 30, 2028. The NPDES permit allows the POTW to discharge an average of five million gallons per day (MGD) of treated wastewater into Town Creek through Outfall 001. The permit includes effluent limits for Total Suspended Solids (TSS), 5-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Phosphorous, pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Ammonia Nitrogen, Total Nitrogen, and Fecal Coliform Bacteria. It also includes total Copper, Cyanide and Zinc limits. 5. Records and Reports a. Online Discharge Monitoring Sheet Review Below is a review of EPA's Integrated Compliance Information System database for the months of July 2021 through September 2023. Table 2 shows the summary of the facility's compliance history of the NPDES permit effluent limits. Table 2 - DMR Permit Exceedances Period 07/0109/30/21 10/0112/31/21 10/0112/31/22 07/0109/30/23 Parameter Effluent BOD5 Effluent BOD5 Effluent, Total Nitrogen Total Copper Permit Limit 10.95 mg/L 10.95 mg/L 2.19 mg/L 0.079 mg/L Report Value 14.2 mg/L (30% exceedance) 15.4 mg/L (41% exceedance) 2.83 mg/L (29% exceedance) 0.01 mg/L (27% exceedance) Statistical Basis Weekly Weekly Quarterly Quarterly b. On-site Records Review The facility maintains all its DMR and analytical records onsite and had at least 3 years of records available. There were some isolated instances of incomplete benchsheets for January 24 26th, 2024, where an analyst did not completely fill in every date line or initial line on a given sheet. c. Flow Measurement The effluent discharge is measured using an ultrasonic flow meter over a 3 ft Parshall flume. The flow meter was operational and was within 10% instantaneous flow rate of the primary Parshall Flume when checked with the Parshall Flume staff gage. It was last calibrated in April LSASD Project ID: 24-0149 Page 5 of 6 Final Report LSASDFORM-066-R2 052923 2023. The ultrasonic sensor should be placed in the middle of the channel instead of near the side wall to measure the flow level. Figure 3 - Effluent Flow Meter Figure 4 - Effluent Parshall Flume d. Sampling Review The facility collects and analyzes 24-hr composite samples for its permit listed parameters except total Phosphorus and total metals. Phosphorous and total metals are analyzed by Waypoint Analytical. 6. Operation and Maintenance The facility is operating and maintaining its treatment units to meet its NPDES permit requirements. 7. Effluent and Receiving Waters The effluent discharge was clear and free of any solids and foam in the receiving stream. 8. Discussions and Findings The facility should consider additional quality control samples to ensure that the total metal permit exceedances are not because of sample contamination. The facility should also ensure that staff review laboratory record keeping practices to complete laboratory benchsheets accurately with proper documentation. The facility should have its contractor that maintains the flow measurement equipment review the placement of the ultrasonic flow meter to best monitor the flow level. End of Report LSASD Project ID: 24-0149 Page 6 of 6 Final Report