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<br />B. Purpose and Need for Proposed Project <br />The purpose of the Buckhorn sanitary sewer improvements north of I-85 and the Efland <br />sanitary sewer improvements is to provide public sewer to property owners who signed a public <br />petition issued by Orange. County, service for lots with failing septic tanks, and to provide <br />sanitary sewer service to undeveloped lots within the service area. <br />C. Alternatives Analysis <br />C.1 Alternative A: No Action: Do not extend the sanitary sewer system. Existing <br />residences with failing septic systems will continue to fail further contaminating surface <br />water and the groundwater supply. Residences may have to be purchased and <br />demolished in the future to prevent further contamination. <br />C.2 Alternative B: Proposed Action: Extend public sanitary sewers to developed and <br />undeveloped lots in the Efland and Buckhorn areas to eliminate private septic tank <br />systems, some of which are failing. With existing sanitary sewer lines for both areas <br />carrying wastewater to an existing municipal wastewater treatment plant, conveying <br />wastewater from these areas via the proposed system is the most environmentally safe <br />and economical option. All piping will be pressure tested and constructed with water <br />tight joints. The proposed system will eliminate septic tanks in both communities for <br />developed lots. Undeveloped lots will be able to connect to public sewer should they <br />ever be developed by the property owner. Eliminating septic tanks will remove a point <br />source of pollution that is prevalent in both the Buckhorn and Efland Communities. <br />Wastewater received will be treated at municipal wastewater treatment plants in Mebane <br />(for the Buckhorn Area) and Hillsborough (for the Efland Community). <br />2 <br />