Document zbz0JZqDnmQXzmYQdBOeZZBDR

Region 6 - Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Division INSPECTION REPORT Inspection Date(s): Media Program: Regulatory Program(s) 09/29/2021 Water CWA Company Name: Facility Name: Facility Physical Location: (city, state, zip code) Mailing address: (city, state, zip code) County/Parish: Facility Phone Number Facility Contact: City of Carlsbad Carlsbad Wastewater Treatment Plant 45 Blackfoot Road Carlsbad, New Mexico Post Office Box 1569 Carlsbad, New Mexico 88221-1569 Eddy 575-887-5412 Joe Harvey Wastewater Superintendent wastewater@cityofcarlsbadnm.com FRS Number: Identification/Permit Number: Media Identifier Number: NAICS: SIC: 110014410262 NM00226395 N/A 221320 4952 Personnel participating in inspection: Joe Harvey City of Carlsbad Elias Lara City of Carlsbad Kelly Smyer City of Carlsbad Daniel Chasse City of Carlsbad Susan A. Lucas Kamat NMED David A Esparza, P.E. USEPA/ECDWM Wastewater Superintendent Wastewater Operator Wastewater Operator Wastewater Operator Program Manager, Point Source Regulation Section-Surface Water Quality Bureau Environmental Engineer EPA Lead Inspector Signature/Date DAVID David Esparza ESPARZA Digitally signed by DAVID ESPARZA DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=Environmental Protection Agency, cn=DAVID ESPARZA, 0.9.2342.19200300.100.1.1=68001003655879 Date: 2021.12.02 10:17:08 -07'00' Date Supervisor Signature/Date ROBERTO BERNIER Digitally signed by ROBERTO BERNIER DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=Environmental Protection Agency, cn=ROBERTO BERNIER, 0.9.2342.19200300.100.1.1=68001003655586 Date: 2021.12.02 15:59:42 -06'00' Roberto Bernier Date 6ENFORM-020-R8.2 (02/12/2020) 1 Section I - INTRODUCTION City of Carlsbad/Carlsbad WWTP Permit No. NM0026395 Inspection Date 09/29/2021 PURPOSE OF THE INSPECTION United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 inspector David Esparza, P.E., and Ms. Susan A. Lucas-Kamat, Program Manager, Point Source Regulation Section, Surface Water Quality Bureau, New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) arrived at the City of Carlsbad (Carlsbad) Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) at approximately 1:00 PM on September 29, 2021 for an unannounced inspection. I presented my credentials to Mr. Harvey, Wastewater Superintendent, and informed him that this was an EPA inspection to determine the facility's compliance under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. This Compliance Evaluation Inspection (CEI) was conducted under the authority of 308 of the CWA. The generation of this report is based on information supplied by Carlsbad representatives, observations made by the EPA inspector, NMED, and records and reports maintained by the permittee (Carlsbad) and the EPA. Before leaving the facility on September 29, 2021, an exit briefing was held with Mr. Harvey, and Ms. Lucas-Kamat to explain areas of concern noted at the time of the inspection. FACILITY DESCRIPTION The WWTP (constructed after the abandonment of the original WWTP circa 1960 and rehabilitated in approximately 2014) is a major discharger with a design flow of 5.0 million gallons per day (MGD), with an average daily flow of 2.5 MGD. The facility is located at 45 Blackfoot Road, Carlsbad, Eddy County New Mexico (depicted in Aerial Image #1 below). The WWTP serves a population of approximately 29,000 residents. The WWTP is operated by staff within the Public Works Department and consists of 8 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, inclusive of administrative support during the hours of 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM seven (7) days a week. On-call staff is available on an as needed basis. The city maintains 26 lift stations (Identified in Table 1 below). These include 9 onsite lift stations within the WWTP, of which 6 are operational and 3 are on stand-by. All influent flows are lifted by the primary lift station comprised of two (2) main pumps, one (1) stand-by pump, automatic back-up power and an alarm and callout system (identified as Lift Stations #1 and #2 in Table 1 below). The city previously rehabilitated numerous manholes and various lift stations and auxiliary appurtenances or equipment, while awaiting additional State/Federal or private funding to address proposed upgrades. The previous upgrades have significantly cut down on backups and inflow/infiltration (I/I) in the collection system. Upgrades to the current WWTP were completed a couple of years ago, including an expansion of the reuse (disinfected effluent) storage system (totaling approximately 2-million gallons). This reuse storage system utilizes the former chlorine contact chamber, clarifier, and a newly constructed concrete tank. The WWTP headworks is comprised of an automatic bar screen, fine screen compactor, and aerated grit chamber. To prevent overflows, an automatic bypass is incorporated too. The flow traverses from the headworks to a splitter box, then divided between two primary clarifiers which operate in parallel. Residual grit and screenings are removed and transported to the regional landfill. The flow, then recombines into four (4) aeration basins, operating in parallel. The basins have both anoxic and aeration 2 City of Carlsbad/Carlsbad WWTP Permit No. NM0026395 Inspection Date 09/29/2021 zones for nitrogen removal. From the aeration basins, the wastewater is then divided between two secondary clarifiers. After solids are settled out in the secondary clarifiers, effluent flows through a dual bank UV system for final disinfection. These two (2) UV banks were reworked in 2014. A portion (approximately 1-million gallons) of the disinfected effluent flow is stored for reuse on the city golf course and other municipal facilities. The effluent flow is measured using an 18-inch Parshall flume with a secondary Drexelbrook flow totalizing meter. The final effluent is discharged to the Pecos River through an effluent pipeline above the river. Septage and domestic wastewater (primarily shower and other water from oil and gas maintenance facilities in the area) are received at a structure situated next to the sludge beds. This facility is equipped with a bar screen and large solids removal then wastewater enters a converted sludge bed and gradually piped into the WWTP. The facility staff monitors incoming registered septage haulers for pH and grease to determine compatibility with the WWTP for acceptance or rejection. Aerial Image #1- Overall view of the City of Carlsbad Wastewater Treatment Plant. Aerial from Google Earth. Carlsbad currently does not have Industries that would be classified as Industrial Users. 3 City of Carlsbad/Carlsbad WWTP Permit No. NM0026395 Inspection Date 09/29/2021 Table 1: City of Carlsbad Lift Stations Lift Station 1 Primary North 2 Primary South 3 Sunnyview 4 Hall Street 5 Bataan 6 Stevens Street 7 Hagerman 8 Church Street 9 La Huerta 10 Belve 11 Pate Street 12 River Bend 13 Ridgecrest 14 Convention Center 15 Quail Hallow 16 Cascades 17 Farmview 18 Copperstone 19 Comfort Suites 20 Oasis 21 Arrowstone 22 Chapman 23 Sky Ridge 24 Sports Complex 25 Golf Shed 26 City Park Address 304 E. Plaza 304 E. Plaza 3300 Sunnyview Avenue 1003 North Avenue 315 E. Greene Street 109 E. Stevens 107 E. Hagerman 107 E. Church Street 1280 N. Canal Street 2502 Camp Avenue 2207 Mountain View Drive 300 Cimarron Trail 605 Ridgecrest Drive 705 Riverwalk Drive 2015 Quail Hollow Run 699 Park Drive 3901L Jesse James Court 1216 Mahogany Avenue 2530 W. Pierce 3800 S. Sunnyview 4023 National Parks Hwy 3012 Chapmen Road W. Pierce and Skyline Road 3101 W Lea Street 120 Mission Avenue 914 E. Riverside Avenue Additionally, Carlsbad has implemented written policies and procedures to address any potential sanitary sewer overflow events (SSOs), and standard operating procedures (SOPs) pertaining to facility operations and maintenance (O&M). Section II - OBSERVATIONS I observed the following and the following information was provided and/or stated: The WWTP has completed, or is in the process of completing, scheduled maintenance and/or upgrades/rehabilitation with respect to existing infrastructure i.e., retrofitting the aeration basins and holding basin for the reuse water. The WWTP has secure perimeter fencing, limiting access. 4 City of Carlsbad/Carlsbad WWTP Permit No. NM0026395 Inspection Date 09/29/2021 The overall WWTP's operations and maintenance (O&M), and general facility housekeeping, appeared to be in good order It was suggested a visual observation of the WWTP's effluent flow at Outfall 001 into the Pecos River not occur due to the typical infestation of venomous vermin now. The WWTP on-site laboratory maintains and updates its written SOP's as necessary, inclusive of appropriate annual equipment certifications and/or calibrations. Section III - SUMMARY/AREAS OF CONCERN A review of the Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS) database for the period from August 13, 2018 to September 29, 2021 indicates the following areas of concern (AOCs): NPDES permit excursion- Biological Oxygen Demand-5 day (BOD5) - March 31, 2020 EPA Region 6 inspector David Esparza conducted a closing conference at the City of Carlsbad on September 29, 2021 for the inspection. During the closing conference, Mr. Esparza reviewed and discussed Areas of Concern noted during the inspection. Section IV - RECOMMENDATIONS Review and update the Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) Protocol points of contact (POC). Completion and implementation of a written Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) program. Preparation of a Sewer Use Ordinance to address the existing and/or future Industrial Users. Section V - LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1 - A Review of the Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS) Database for the period from August 13, 2018 to September 29, 2021 Appendix 2 - Opening and closing conference sign-in sheet 5 City of Carlsbad/Carlsbad WWTP Permit No. NM0026395 Inspection Date 09/29/2021 Appendix 1 A Review of the Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS) Database for the period from August 13, 2018 to September 29, 2021 9/27/21, 10:32 AM FE&C NPDES ICIS: Search Violation Results AIR Admin Reports Help DESPARZA Logout Search Permits Related NPDES Violations ADD SINGLE EVENT VIOLATION List of Violations Related to the Permit Record 1 to 1 Violation Type Violation Information Effluent Violation 001 A 00310 BOD, 5-day, 20 deg. C Effluent Gross Season ID:0 C2 Violation Code E90 Violation Date RNC Detection CodeDate 03/31/2020 RNC Resolution CodeDate Action Record 1 to 1 ICIS Home Reports Help Logout Technical issues? Contact user support Help Desk at (202) 564-7756 or via email at ICIS@epa.gov https://icis.epa.gov/icis/permit/SearchViolation.do?fromSearchCriteriaPage=true&compositeKey=3601999762@NPD&navActivityId=3601999762&navFacilityInterestId=3358414&facilityInterestID=3358... 1/2 9/27/21, 10:32 AM ICIS: Search Violation Results https://icis.epa.gov/icis/permit/SearchViolation.do?fromSearchCriteriaPage=true&compositeKey=3601999762@NPD&navActivityId=3601999762&navFacilityInterestId=3358414&facilityInterestID=3358... 2/2 City of Carlsbad/Carlsbad WWTP Permit No. NM0026395 Inspection Date 09/29/2021 Appendix 2 Opening and Closing Conference Sign-in Sheet