Orange County NC Website
The Board received a history of events regarding the creation of the Efland Sewer <br /> System and special events thereafter. <br /> Craig Benedict said that the Staff Engineer put this information together and he <br /> summarized the chronological history of the Efland Sewer System. <br /> • 1984 Due to reports of failing septic systems in Efland Estates and at the <br /> Efland-Cheeks Elementary School, the BOCC commissioned the <br /> McAdams Company to perform an engineering study for provision of <br /> sewer in the Efland Community. <br /> • 1984-85 County began gathering tap requests from the Efland Community, with <br /> the understanding that at least 179 taps would be needed in the initial <br /> phase of construction to make the system viable. <br /> • 1985 Sign-up period ends with 137 customers (individuals, churches, <br /> businesses, and clubs) requesting 191 taps. <br /> • 1985 BOCC adopts "Resolution Establishing Rules and Regulations for the <br /> Operation of a Sewer Collection Treatment System to Serve the Efland <br /> Area of Orange County" <br /> • 1985-86 County chooses Hazen & Sawyer to restudy the Efland area sewer <br /> situation and construction phasing plan. The original Phase I of the <br /> McAdams Company plan is divided into two sections. (See attached <br /> map). <br /> County chose to continue with the plan to provide sewer service to the <br /> area, even though 19 of the 191 taps were located outside of the original <br /> Phase I area, dropping the initial number of taps to 172. This was <br /> slightly less than the estimated 179 taps needed for system viability. <br /> • 1987 Construction begins on the portion of Phase I west of Efland-Cedar <br /> Grove Rd. A lack of available funding prevented the County from <br /> constructing all of Phase I. The original system had 109 taps. <br /> • 1988 System construction was completed and began operation. <br /> • 1991 In a memo from the County Engineer to the BOCC and County Manager, <br /> the system is already being described as financially troubled. At that <br /> time, only 75 taps were in service and the Town of Hillsborough, who <br /> treats the wastewater from the system, had just raised their treatment <br /> fees by 24%. <br /> • 1991-1997 Throughout the 90s, memos from the County Engineer were written <br /> regarding cost estimates for expansion of the system and the pursuit and <br /> study of various funding strategies, including Community Development <br /> Block Grants, financing through customer rates or assessments and a <br /> district sewer tax. None of these ideas proved fruitful. <br />