Record · Inspections & compliance reviews
Lima WWTP
edoc-4192699
Fields
agency
Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water
district
Northwest District Office
program
NPDES
inspection_type
compliance evaluation inspection
type_code
CEI
facility
Lima WWTP
facility_address
1200 Fort Amanda Road, Lima, OH
permit_no
2PE00000
npdes_id
OH0026069
county
Allen
inspection_date
2026-07-07
report_date
2026-07-16
entry_time
8:55 A.M.
exit_time
12:49 P.M.
significant_noncompliance
yes
units_in_service
All treatment units in service other than backup units
summary
Ohio EPA conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection (CEI) of the Lima WWTP on July 7, 2026, evaluating NPDES permit compliance, operations and maintenance, operator certification, and stormwater controls. The facility was found to be in Significant Non-Compliance (SNC) due to ammonia exceeding effluent limits by greater than 40% in at least two months of the January–July 2026 period, attributable to nitrification tower media replacement and slow bacterial regrowth. Three recommendations were issued regarding operator certification exemption renewal, reduced staffing hours reapproval, and updating the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.
note
—
inspectors
- Peggy B. Christie
- Tom Poffenbarger
facility_representatives
- Shawn Dershem, Plant Supervisor
- Joe Welker, Assistant Plant Supervisor
- Eric Bontrager, Utilities Operations Manager
- Amy Staley, Utilities Industrial Monitoring Chief
- Larry Huber, Utility Field Services Supervisor
observations
- kind finding
- text In the past year, the top two layers of media were replaced in the Nitrification towers. Regrowth of the bacteria on the media was slower than expected.
- number 1
- deadline —
- kind finding
- text The City is in significant non-compliance (SNC) due to violations within the time period of January 2026 through July 2026. SNC is a programmatic definition used to prioritize enforcement. In this case, the facility is in SNC due to ammonia exceeding effluent limits by greater than 40% in at least two months out of a six-month period. A separate Notice of Violation will follow.
- number 2
- deadline —
- kind finding
- text Lima is currently performing a pilot study of NeoWater for settling and phosphorus removal.
- number 3
- deadline —
- kind finding
- text Lima has an Ohio Administrative Code 3745-7-02(D) exemption, which allows the Class III operator to act as the operator of record for up to 2 years. The exemption expires July 31, 2026.
- number 4
- deadline 2026-07-31
- kind finding
- text Lima has approved reduced staffing hours dated July 26, 2021. There have been staffing changes since this was approved.
- number 5
- deadline —
- kind finding
- text The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is dated December 12, 2019.
- number 6
- deadline —
- kind recommendation
- text Because the OAC 3745-7-02(D) exemption will soon expire, we recommend that you apply for an extension. The request should be sent to Anthony Nosko, anthony.nosko@epa.ohio.gov in our Central Office.
- number 1
- deadline —
- kind recommendation
- text We recommend that the City requests a new approval for reduced staffing hours. The form can be found at our website at MinStaffReductionRequestForm.doc.pdf. Until this is approved, you must meet the 40-hour-per-week staffing requirement.
- number 2
- deadline —
- kind recommendation
- text We recommend that you update the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. Ohio EPA has developed a template that may assist you. The template can be downloaded from our website at OHR000007_Template_SWPPP.docx. Sample recordkeeping templates and the Annual Reporting Form can also be found on our website: Industrial Stormwater - General Permit | Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Click on the Permit Guidance, Compliance, and Support Tab.
- number 3
- deadline —
⚠ Gaps in the record
- Page 2 header shows date July 15, 2026, while the transmittal letter on page 1 is dated July 16, 2026; report_date recorded as July 16, 2026 (the letter date). The inspection report form signatures are dated 07/14/2026 and 7/15/2026 respectively.
- OCR text layer flagged as unreliable; all key fields verified against image.
Where it connects
oepa/lima/edoc-4192699.inspection.yaml · p.1 · oepa