Document XzrkO1kJ9jkQd19Vyz0OO7jqG

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 Dates of Inspection: March 23, 2022 EPA Inspectors: Ted Flatebo, EPA Region 5; (312) 886-9402; flatebo.ted@epa.gov Keith Middleton, EPA Region 5; (312) 886-6465; middleton.keith@epa.gov Illinois EPA Inspectors: None City of Chicago Heights Representatives: None Inspection Trip 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._05_.1_2_1_3:_22_:0_2_-0_5_'0_0'_ Approver Name & Title: Ryan Bahr Section 2 Supervisor, Water Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Branch Section 2 Bahr, Ryan Digitally signed by Bahr, Ryan Approval Signature and Date: ____________________D_at_e:_2_02_2_.0_5._12_1_3_:3_2:_33_-_0_5'0_0_' 1 Table of Contents I. Introduction 3 II. Inspection Activity Summary - March 23, 2022 3 III. Areas of Concern 5 IV. Attachment 1 - Photo Log 6 2 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report March 23, 2022 I. INTRODUCTION On March 23, 2022, EPA inspectors Ted Flatebo and Keith Middleton 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 whether there were active discharges of sanitary waste or there was evidence of recent discharges. Between 6:00 PM on March 22, 2022 and 6:00 AM on March 23, 2022 there was approximately 0.25 inches of rain in the City of Chicago Heights. The City of Chicago Heights does not own a Wastewater 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, they do not have a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The City does have coverage under a general Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). This 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 Public Works Director, Aaron Delvalle, was notified of EPA's inspection by phone call at 10:25 AM on March 23, 2022. He did not join the EPA inspectors as they conducted their inspection. This trip report summarizes the inspection observations. The following personnel were involved in the inspection: EPA Inspectors: Ted Flatebo, Environmental Engineer Keith Middleton, Environmental Engineer II. INSPECTION ACTIVITY SUMMARY - MARCH 23, 2022 Location #1: West Greenbriar Avenue EPA inspectors arrived at a manhole at the intersection of West Greenbriar Avenue and North Arquilla Drive at 9:23 AM. According to City records there have been complaints of water exiting a manhole at this intersection. EPA inspectors did not observe an overflow. Location #2: South Coolidge Street EPA inspectors arrived at a manhole at the intersection of South Coolidge Street and Broadway Avenue at 9:33 AM. According to City records, there have been complaints of water exiting a manhole in the backyard of a residence near this intersection. EPA inspectors did not observe an overflow. EPA inspectors did observe a section of piping that appeared to belong to the storm sewer above ground. The pipe had visible damage and appeared to not be laid at a grade which would effectively convey storm water. See Photos 1 and 2. 3 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report March 23, 2022 Location #3: Hillcrest Avenue EPA inspectors arrived at a manhole in an alley near the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and South Halsted Street at 9:45 AM. According to City records there have been complaints of water exiting a manhole in the alley behind a residence near this intersection. EPA inspectors did not observe an overflow. Inspectors did observe what appeared to be a sanitary sewer manhole in the alley behind the address submerged underwater. The manhole appeared to be sealed and was not letting any standing water flow through at the time of the inspection. This manhole is adjacent to a child-care facility. See Photo 3. Location #4: Hillcrest Avenue EPA inspectors arrived at a manhole near the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and Union Avenue at 9:55 AM. According to City records there have been complaints of water exiting a manhole in front of a residence near this intersection. EPA inspectors did not observe an overflow. Location #5: Campbell Avenue EPA inspectors arrived at a manhole near the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and Memorial Drive at 10:17 AM. According to City records, there have been complaints of water exiting a manhole in front of a residence near this intersection. EPA inspectors did not observe an overflow. EPA inspectors did observe a storm sewer inlet that was holding stagnant water. See Photo 4. Location #6: Vincennes Avenue EPA inspectors arrived at a manhole near the intersection of Vincennes Avenue and Lincoln Highway at 10:32 AM. According to City records, there have been complaints of water exiting a manhole in front of a residence near this intersection. EPA inspectors did not observe an overflow. EPA inspectors did note that the manhole of interest was next to a gutter with a storm sewer inlet approximately 15 feet downstream. EPA inspectors also observed a collapsed storm sewer inlet. See Photos 5 - 7. Location #7: MacArthur Drive EPA inspectors arrived at the intersection of MacArthur Drive and 8th Street at 10:45 AM. According to City records, there have been complaints of a sewer pipe exiting the ground in the backyard of a nearby residence. EPA inspectors did not observe a pipe exiting the ground. Location #8: West Hickory Street EPA inspectors arrived at a manhole near the intersection of West Hickory Street and Buena Vista Circle at 11:22 AM. According to City records, there have been complaints of water exiting a manhole in front of a residence near this intersection. EPA inspectors did not observe an overflow. EPA inspectors did note that the manhole of interest was next to a gutter with a 4 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report March 23, 2022 storm sewer inlet approximately 20 feet downstream. See Photos 8 and 9. Location #9: Bunker Street EPA inspectors arrived at a manhole at the intersection of Bunker Street and Concord Drive at 11:35 AM. According to City records, there have been complaints of a manhole holding water near this intersection. EPA inspectors did observe one storm sewer inlet holding water at the northeast corner of the intersection and a second storm sewer inlet with water flowing out of the inlet and into a gutter on the southeast corner of the intersection. See Photos 10 and 11. Location 10: Adam Street EPA inspectors arrived at a manhole near the intersection of Adam Street and Brookline Street at 11:45 AM. According to City records, there have been complaints of water exiting a manhole near this intersection. EPA inspectors did not observe an overflow. Location 11: Wallace Avenue EPA inspectors arrived at a manhole in an alley near the intersection of Wallace Avenue and East 26th Street at 12:05 PM. According to City records, there have been complaints of water exiting a manhole in the alley behind a residence near this intersection. EPA inspectors did observe a discharge of water from a pipe in the alley which appeared to come from a residence. The source of this water was not immediately apparent but the water itself was free from odor, color, turbidity, and debris. See Photos 12 and 13. EPA inspectors completed this reconnaissance inspection at approximately 12:45 PM. III. AREAS OF CONCERN The following areas of concern were identified during the inspection: Segments of pipe within the storm sewer system are not set at the correct grade to effectively convey storm water; Manholes were observed under submerged under stagnant water; Storm sewer inlets have collapsed; Storm sewer inlets were observed holding standing water; Storm sewer inlets were observed with water flowing out of them; and There are sanitary sewer manholes with documented overflow complaints that are in the immediate proximity of a storm sewer inlet; 5 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report March 23, 2022 IV. ATTACHMENT 1 - PHOTO LOG City of Chicago Heights EPA Inspection March 23, 2022 All photos taken by Ted Flatebo, Environmental Engineer, U.S. EPA Camera: Ricoh WG-4 1: RIMG0052 Description: Storm sewer pipe protruding from the ground. Note damage to the pipe and the inconstant grade at which the pipe is laid. Location: Near the intersection of South Coolidge Street and Broadway Avenue. Date/Time: March 23, 2022, 9:37 AM 6 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report March 23, 2022 2: RIMG0053 Description: Visible damage to storm sewer pipe protruding from the ground. Location: Near the intersection of South Coolidge Street and Broadway Avenue. Date/Time: March 23, 2022, 9:38 AM 3: RIMG0054 Description: Manhole submered underwater. Note proximity to child-care facility. Location: In an alley near the intersection of Hillcrest Aveune and South Halsted Street. Date/Time: March 23, 2022, 9:50 AM 7 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report March 23, 2022 4: RIMG0055 Description: Storm sewer inlet holding stagnant water. Location: At the intersection of Hillcrest Aveune and Memorial Drive. Date/Time: March 23, 2022, 10:18 AM 5: RIMG0056 Description: Collapsed storm sewer inlet. Location: Near the intersection of Vincennes Avenue and Lincoln Highway. Date/Time: March 23, 2022, 10:32 AM 8 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report March 23, 2022 6: RIMG0057 Description: Second photo of collapsed storm sewer inlet depicted in Photo 5. Location: Near the intersection of Vincennes Avenue and Lincoln Highway. Camera Direction: Date/Time: March 23, 2022, 10:33 AM 7: RIMG0058 Description: Sanitary sewer manhole with a history of overflow complaints (red circle) is approximately 15 feet from a storm sewer inlet (blue circle). Location: Near the intersection of Vinceenes Avenue and Lincoln Highway. Date/Time: March 23, 2022, 10:33 AM 9 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report March 23, 2022 8: RIMG0059 Description: Sanitary sewer manhole with a history of overflows complaints (red circle) is approxmitely 20 feet from a storm sewer inlet (blue circle). Location: Near the intersection of West Hickory Street and Buena Vista Circle. Date/Time: March 23, 2022, 11:22 AM 9: RIMG0060 Description: Second picutre of the storm sewer inlet depicted in Photo 8. Location: Near the intersection of West Hickory Street and Buena Vista Circle. Date/Time: March 23, 2022, 11:23 AM 10 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report March 23, 2022 10: RIMG0061 Description: Storm sewer inlet with water flowing out of it and flowing down the gutter to the lefthand side of the photo. Location: Intersection of Bunker Street and Concord Drive. Date/Time: March 23, 2022, 11:38 AM 11: RIMG0062 Description: Storm sewer inlet holding stagnant water. Location: Intersection of Bunker Street and Concord Drive. Date/Time: March 23, 2022, 11:38 AM 11 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report March 23, 2022 12: RIMG0063 Description: Pipe with water flowing out. Water was free from oder, color, turbidity, and debris. Location: In the alley, close to the interseciton of Wallace Avenue and East 26th Street. Date/Time: March 23, 2022, 12:20 PM 13: RIMG0064 Description: Secondary photo of pipe with water flowing out depicted in photo 12. Water was free from odor, color, turbidity, and debris. Location: In the alley, close to the interseciton of Wallace Avenue and East 26th Street. Date/Time: March 23, 2022, 12:20 PM 12 City of Chicago Heights SSO Inspection Report March 23, 2022