Collection Systems: Policies and Procedures
- Project Status
- Incomplete Package Returns
- Reliability Requirements for Simplex Pump Stations
- PE Board Referrals
- When Do I Need A Sewer Extension Permit from the Division?
PROJECT STATUS
North Carolina has been experiencing significant growth. Our populations are increasing, and the public and private sectors are investing heavily in development and maintenance of public utility infrastructure. As a result, the Non-Discharge Permitting Unit (NDPU) receives hundreds of permit applications for new projects, as well as applications for permit modifications and permit renewals each year. The NDPU has also experienced severe staff turnover, 13 vacancies in 9 of 12 positions since April 1998. This situation has created a significant number of pending projects.
Even though the NDPU has more projects to review with a smaller staff resource, we still aim to complete thorough reviews as a means to achieve our goals of protecting water quality, public health, and the environment. Unfortunately for applicants awaiting permit issuance, our workload as well as our commitment to quality reviews have resulted in an increase in the amount of time that it takes the NDPU to process permit requests.
It currently takes approximately 90 days before reviewers can conduct an initial technical review. Reviewers try to conduct this review in the order in which the projects were received. Applicants are then allowed 30 days with which to respond to reviewers' questions about their permit applications. Following receipt of an applicant's response, the NDPU has an additional 90 days with which to take final action on a permit application. Please note this extended review time, and plan projects accordingly. Your continued patience is appreciated. We kindly remind you that repeated telephone calls inquiring about permit application status only detracts reviewers from completing their reviews. Therefore, please try to limit calls in order to help us help you.
INCOMPLETE PACKAGE RETURNS
The Non-Discharge Permitting Unit (NDPU) has recently focussed efforts on conducting "pre-reviews" of permit application packages prior to formal acceptance of the project. The goals of this procedure is to improve the quality of all initial permit application submittals with the idea that review of complete submittals is easier and takes less time.
If an incomplete permit application package is received by the NDPU, it will be returned to the applicant before a preliminary technical review is conducted. A cover letter will be prepared and addressed to the applicant detailing the deficiencies that the reviewer noted during the pre-review process. The applicant's consultant will be copied on the return letter. To avoid having a permit application returned, please review all applicable regulations and the list of required items in the permit application to ensure that all of the required materials are included in the package prior to its submittal. Sending an incomplete package to the NDPU will only increase the amount of time that it will take to process a permit request.
Policy for Meeting the Reliability Requirements of 15A NCAC 2T .305(h)(1)(D) for Pressure Sewers Utilizing Simplex Pump Stations
These rules require that multiple pumps be provided with the capacity to pump peak flow with the largest pump out of service and to provide power reliability respectively. Simplex pump stations will only be approved for single family residences, all other pump stations shall be required to meet these rules. To help ensure protection from overflows for simplex pump stations, the following policy will be implemented in lieu of requiring dual pumps and power reliability.
The first option for meeting reliability requirements is to provide 24 hours storage in the wet well above the pump-on elevation as requested in the permit application. However, since this may add to the cost and make installation difficult in certain areas, another option may be pursued.
Alternatively, the applicant may provide documentation regarding both power reliability and response times for pump replacement.
In the case of power reliability, 3 years of power history data in the area from the power company must be provided. The amount of storage required shall be equal to the duration of the longest power outage (minus catastrophic events such hurricanes). Storage shall be provided above the pump-on elevation.
For response times, the applicant shall provide an estimate of the response time to replace a failed pump. The estimate shall include time for answering after hours calls, travel time to maintenance shop, preparing equipment to respond, travel time to site, and time to replace the pump. For existing systems, the Permittee should indicate if they currently maintains a supply of pumps on hand at this time (a permit condition). Also, personnel must be on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as well as a phone number with 24-hour answering service clearly posted on the pump station. Storage shall be provided above the high water alarm. A minimum of 120 gallons of storage above alarm shall be included in the evaluation.
These storage requirement are not cumulative, rather, the storage which provides the largest wet well shall be specified.
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER BOARD REFERRALS
Please be aware that the Non-Discharge Permitting Unit (NDPU) reserves the right to report activities of interest to the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors.
WHEN DO I NEED A SEWER EXTENSION PERMIT FROM THE DIVISION?
Deemed Permitted - Permitting by Regulation - 15A NCAC 02T.0303
The following types of systems are deemed permitted pursuant to Rule.0113 of this Subchapter provided the system meets the criteria in Rule 0.113 of this Subchapter and all criteria required for the specific system in this Rule:
- A building sewer documented by the local building inspector to be in compliance with the North Carolina State Plumbing Code, which serves a single building with the sole purpose of conveying wastewater from that building into a gravity sewer that extends onto or is adjacent to the building's property.
- A gravity sewer serving a single building with less than 600 gallons per day of flow as calculated using rates in 15A NCAC02T.00114 that crosses another property or parallels a right -a way provided that: A) an easement for crossing another property is obtained, a map is created and both are recorded with the land, or in the case of a building sewer traveling along a right-of way, documented permission from the dedicated right-of way owner to use such right-of way; B) the building inspector certifies the sewer to the point of connection to the existing sewer is in accordance with state or local plumbing code; and C) no other connections are made to the sewer without prior approval from the Division.
- New pump stations or sewage ejectors and force mains if all of the following criteria are met: A) the pump station serves a single building; B) the force main does not transverse other property or parallel a street right-of way; C) the force main ties into a non-pressurized pipe/manhole/wetwell (i.e. is not part of an alternative sewer system); D)the system is approved by the local building inspector as being in complete compliance with the North Carolina Plumbing Code to the point of connection to the existing sewer; and E) no other connection are made to the sewer without prior approval from the division.
- The following sewer operations provided that the work conforms to all rules, setbacks and design standards; record drawing of the completed project are kept for the life of the project; and new sources of wastewater flow, immediate or future, are not planned to be connected to the sewer other than previously permitted but not yet tributary:
- rehabilitation or replacement of sewers in kind (i.e. size) with the same horizontal and vertical alignment;
- rehabilitation or replacement of a public 6-inch sewer with a 8-inch sewer provided that the rehabilitation or replacement is to correct the deficiencies and bring the sewer up to current minimum design standards;
- line relocations of the same pipe size and within the same right-of way or easement;
- parallel line installations of the same size and within the right-of way or easement where the existing line will be abandoned;
- point repairs; and
- in place pump station repairs/upgrades and maintaining permitted capacity to within five percent of the original permitted capacity for pump replacement.
The director may determine that a system should not be deemed permitted in accordance with this Rule and Rule.0113(e) of this Subchapter.
MORE BUILDING SEWER INFORMATION...
Any building sewer documented by the local building inspector to be in compliance with the NC State Plumbing Code is deemed to be permitted pursuant to GS 143-215.1(d) and it shall not be necessary for the Division to issue individual permits for the construction or operation of such.
Building Sewer Definitions - 15A NCAC 02T .0302
"Building" - Any structure or part of a structure built for the separate shelter or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or property of any kind and which has enclosing walls for at least 50 percent of its perimeter. Each unit separated from other units by a four hour fire wall shall be considered as a separate building.
"Building Drain" - That part of the lowest piping of a drainage system which receives waste from inside the building and conveys it to the building sewer which begins 10 feet outside the building wall.
"Building Sewer" - That part of the the drainage system that extends from the end of the building drain and conveys the discharge from a single building to a public gravity sewer, private gravity sewer, individual sewage disposal system or other point of disposal.
