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7 <br />ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT <br />Board of Health Policy and Procedure Manual <br />Section I: Board Adopted Policies <br />Policy D: Requests for Environmental Services and Assessments <br />Reviewed By: Boazd of Health & Health Director <br />Approved By: Boazd of Health <br />The investigation of acute and chronic diseases would be indicated <br />with confirmed cases of those diseases in rates extraordinary to <br />baseline rates for Orange County or statistically expected rates for <br />that community. Investigations will be carried out in accordance <br />with best epidemiological practices established by the EPI Team* in <br />each individual response. <br />b. OCHD will conduct community studies for acute and chronic <br />diseases suspected of originating from environmental exposures and <br />for wells and septic systems failures when data or reports indicate <br />that study beyond the individual level is needed to confirm or deny <br />multiple sources of contamination leading to acute and/or chronic <br />disease under investigation. <br />1.2 Wastewater and Well Water Studies <br />a. Community studies will be considered and acted on or deferred by <br />OCHD based on several risk factors and other defined <br />considerations. Those include the following: <br />1. The study area consists of more than 5 households. <br />2. Known disease-causing environmental contamination <br />(chemical releases, improper biosolids applications, <br />underground storage tanks, junkyards, etc.) that could <br />adversely affect a natural resource (groundwater, stream, <br />etc.) or negatively impact more than a single property in that <br />community. <br />3. Known geophysical conditions (e.g., underlying rock <br />structure that might lead to high levels of natural radon <br />release, severe disturbances of the underlying structure) with <br />a scientifically documented negative environmental impact <br />potential that could affect the intended use and sustainability <br />of property in the community. <br />4. More than 30% of the individual wells in a given <br />geographical community were drilled prior to 1981 or more <br />than 30% of the septic systems in the community are more <br />than 20 yeazs old. <br />5. Protection of water supply resources (protected water supply <br />watersheds, water quality critical areas, wellhead protection <br />areas, etc.). <br />b. Statistical Studies may be considered in order to gain important <br />information about septic system failure rates or groundwater quality <br />or quantity characteristics. Examples in this category might include: <br />Current Review/Revision Date: October 24, 2007 Page 2 of 4 <br />Original Effective Date: August 24, 2006 Last Revision Date: August 24, 2006 <br />