Agenda - 06-03-2003 - 9d - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

impacts on the functionality and life of the system. A breakdown of the existing use is included as Attachment VII. With the presumed potential design flow of 6,000 gallons per day in a new system and with the current use taken into account, the remaining available flow would be approximately 2,500 gallons per day. Based upon the information obtained from the community surveys, Environmental Health staff has prepared a sample scenario of potential use for the remainder of the flow. A chart illustrating the Expansion Wastewater Design Flow is included as Attachment VIII. In March 2000, the Kennedy tract portion of the NHSC property complex was evaluated by Orange County Environmental Health staff to determine the specifics of its utility for on -site wastewater treatment nitrification (ground absorption) fields. The staffs preliminary finding was that the Kennedy tract contained an area (approximately 6 acres in a more or less contiguous area generally described as being from its southern and southeastern boundaries toward the center of the tract) of soils suitable for conventional ground absorption technology wastewater disposal at a rate of approximately 5000 to 6000 gallons per day (gpd) with 100 percent repair area. Environmental Health staff have indicated that more extensive site evaluation and system layout/design work (involving site topography survey and soil test pit excavation) must be completed before an exact system treatment capacity can be determined. Unfortunately, the portion of the Kennedy tract containing soils suitable for use as nitrification field is also that which contains the large hardwood trees. Many, if not most, of the hardwood trees located in the active nitrification fields would have to be removed during the construction of the nitrification fields. Furthermore, recreational activities in the hardwood tree area that would be set aside for nitrification field repair area would be severely restricted. Activity in this area would be limited to low impact trails and the like. In November 2000, the County made a preliminary offer to purchase additional land (26 acres) adjacent to the Kennedy tract. The landowners expressed interest in selling the land but as of this date the terms for a purchase agreement have not been worked out. An appraisal of the property will be completed by the end of June 2001. The appraisal will be used in further negotiations for land acquisition. An evaluation of the property by the Division of Environmental Health revealed that only one very small portion of the property has soils that appear suitable for waste treatment purposes (500 gals. /day). Options to address the wastewater treatment system, as identified by the County Engineer are included as Attachments IX and X.