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63 <br />Attachment X <br />TO: Northern Human Services Center Task Force <br />FROM: Paul Thames, PE, County Engineer <br />BATE: June 5, 2001 <br />SUBJECT: Updates on issue of wastewater treatment system options for the Northern HSC <br />Since the NHSC Task Force received the July 27, 2000 report on wastewater treatment system <br />options for the NHSC, there have been several developments, none of which have been <br />particularly positive. For example, it has been determined that average flow to the existing <br />NHSC treatment system is approximately 3500 gallons per day (gpd), an amount which exceeds <br />its capacity (2400 gpd) by approximately 40 %. This overloading is definitely harming the <br />existing system and shortening its life expectancy. Unfortunately, no one can predict the <br />system's remaining life expectancy, either under existing flow conditions or under a condition <br />where flow is reduced to .a point at or near design levels after years of overloading. <br />To date, County Environmental Health staff have identified a number of properties just north of <br />the NHSC on both sides of NC 86 that general soils mapping identifies as being suitable for <br />wastewater disposal. However, staff does not yet have permission to enter any of those <br />properties to make a preliminary on -site evaluation (one property owner, Fuqua, has actually <br />refused entry permission). There are certainly no guarantees that: 1) the County will get <br />permission to evaluate other nearby properties not now owned by the County; 2) any properties <br />that. are evaluated will be suitable; or 3) that any properties that are evaluated and found suitable <br />can be acquired by the County. <br />If it is assumed that preserving the area of the Kennedy tract with the hardwoods to the maximum <br />extent possible is — or perhaps the - a core value, I make the following recommendations: <br />1) Preserve the existing nitrification field to the extent possible by: <br />a) immediately revamp any existing program requiring meal preparation to one which does <br />not require washing any dishes, including cookwear and utensils <br />b) immediately replace existing plumbing fixtures with those which minimize water <br />consumption <br />c) abandon plans to convert the existing nitrification field area to some combination of <br />circular drive and parking area <br />2) .limit the proposed expansion of programs that would increase water use inside the existing <br />building. by: <br />a) provide portable toilets for baseball/outside recreational activities <br />b) eliminate the use of the facility for non - County related after -hours uses <br />c) , consider providing pit - privies for passive recreational activities on the Kennedy tract <br />