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1 <br />FY 1999 -2000 <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COAMSSIONERS <br />GOAL STATE+ NT: To develop a program that assists homeowners in maximizing the life of on -site conventional wastewater <br />treatment systems,, thereby .protecting and promoting the health of the public, protecting the environment and preserving natural resources. <br />Goal Initiated/Proposed By: Orange County Board of Health <br />Most Recent Version Adopted by BOCC: May 1998 - <br />The Wastewater Treatment Management Program (WTMP) was approved by the Boards of Health and Commissioners in 1994 as a program of <br />education, design review, construction inspections, operational inspections, compliance inspections, and enforcement for alternative wastewater <br />treatment systems in Orange County. Technical staff for the program was hired in May 1995 and has implemented the program as designed_. <br />There are approximately 617 alternative systems and 2,000 pump conventional systems currently operating in Orange County. There are <br />another 75 installed systems that are permitted by the state: These alternative systems make up a. small percentage of the on -site wastewater <br />treatment systems prevalent in the county. Conventional systems (septic tanks) are present in approximately 20,000 households in the county, <br />with about 500 new systems being permitted each year. There has been increasing concern in the public arena over the impact of failing <br />conventional septic systems. In some areas failure may be caused strictly by unsuitable soils. In many cases, however, failing systems can be <br />attributed to improper use or maintenance of the system itself. Also, designated repair areas are often times not preserved and this presents <br />another obstacle to proper repair of a failing system. The OCHD Environmental Health staff developed a draft proposal to expand the current <br />WTMP to include conventional septic systems. Staff proposed developing a three pronged approach of education, inspection, and homeowner <br />incentives with the outcome being extending the life of current septic systems, preserving repair areas and protecting both ground and surface <br />water supplies. The Board of Health formed an ad hoc committee with broad representation to develop a proposal for expanding the program <br />and selected options from the proposal at its November meeting. Specific tasks with completion dates are shown in the milestone chart. <br />