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21 <br />Summary of the Water Quality Assessment Survey <br />The Rogers Road area has predominantly older wells, many which pre-date the more stringent well <br />construction standards currently in place in Orange County. It is not unexpected to find both water <br />quantity and quality issues in older wells ,particularly those with substandard construction. The <br />survey questionnaire allowed the respondent to document any self-reported issues with water quality <br />and quantity. One respondent said that they had problems with water quantity while 10 respondents <br />had complaints about water quality. Testing during the survey revealed that 10 of the 11 well water <br />supplies exceeded one or more water quality standards and six of them exceeded health-related <br />standards. The average age of wells in the survey area is approximately 35 years old according to <br />respondents in the survey. <br />The water sampling survey is a snapshot in time of the relative safety and quality of individual water <br />supply wells. The low number of wells tested limit the ability to draw conclusions as to how well <br />water supplies in the survey area compare with the rest of Orange County. It is expected that <br />individual water quality problems noted during the survey could be remedied by either repairing the <br />wells with liners to seal off contaminants, by installing water treatment equipment, or by connecting <br />the homes to the public water supply system. Relative short-term and long-term costs of specific <br />remedies should be considered in choosing the right approach for each individual well. <br />Septic System Evaluation <br />Objectives <br />• To determine the degree to which septic systems are functioning within the survey area. The <br />evaluation utilizes standardized survey techniques for evaluating on-site systems and <br />included rating the system status as compliant, non-compliant, needs maintenance, or <br />malfunctioning <br />• To determine the failure rate of septic systems in the survey area. <br />Methodology <br />All households in the survey area who completed and returned an application were included in the <br />septic system assessment. Of the potential 70 homes with septic systems in the survey area, 45 <br />applications were returned. <br />Each survey team included a staff member from the on-site wastewater program in the Orange <br />County Health Department. Senior staff members were chosen for the survey because of their <br />experience and expertise in the assessment of septic systems. <br />Septic systems were evaluated by locating the tank and nitrification field with probe rods. Tanks <br />that had riser access ports were opened and the tank liquid operating levels were observed. <br />Hydraulic performance of the drainfield was assessed and note made of any ponding in the trenches <br />or sewage discharges to the ground surface. Septic systems that had pumps were evaluated for <br />proper operation of the pump, alarm, piping systems, and float controls. <br />Inspection forms were adapted for this purpose to document fmdings and to rate the system status. <br />Page9of11 <br />