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Discussion Paper <br />March 12, 1998 <br />Page 3 <br />4 <br />Public water supply is considered to be more reliable than private wells in urban areas. Similarly, public <br />sewer service is much more reliable than septic tanks in densely populated urban areas. When private <br />on -site sewage systems fail, polluted effluent may contaminate groundwater resources and nearby <br />streams and may present a threat to public health. Extending public services to locations where these <br />circumstances exist is desirable in order to alleviate or avoid public health and environmental concerns. <br />In the summer of 1997, OWASA had a consultant prepare a comprehensive study of the unsewered <br />parcels in developed neighborhoods within the OWASA service area. The consultant generally <br />examined 1,000 septic systems with an average age of 30 years and found that 37 systems (four percent) <br />were failing. The report also found that based on the Soils Survey for Orange County, only 16 percent <br />of the total land within these neighborhoods is considered suitable for septic systems. The remaining 84 <br />percent is considered to be marginally suitable or unsuitable, which is expected to result in additional <br />septic tank failures. The estimated construction cost to provide sewer service to the unsewered areas <br />studied was approximately $17 million. Individual lot costs ranged from $9,000 to $29,000 per lot <br />excluding Service Availability Fees and private service laterals. <br />Since 1977, OWASA has received only one petition to extend water service. Due to the very limited <br />interest and lack of documented problems with private wells, OWASA has not commenced a <br />comprehensive study of the areas without public water service. <br />jbrC:Uotsuite\ mipro\dm\reporu \wspol_I0.sam <br />