Agenda - 12-16-1997 - 10d - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 Geof Gledhill, 11-3-97 6 , page 2 At this point, I will digress into my own opinions concerning these matters. Public health professionals are constantly told to use prevention and early intervention to avoid or ameliorate problems or potentially hazardous situations. With the Brookfield situation, I don't believe there is an emergency or imminent hazard existing nor is there likely to be in the near future given the density of houses in the area, the severity of the malfimc Lions and also because the problems have gone on for several years without obvious direct health implications. Many of the systems, however, are failing or noncompliant to some degree with permitting standards and the on-site remedies which are considered by us as "approvable"are extremely limited or non-existent. We have the ability in our rules to recommend repairs that in our"best professional judgment"will enable the system to function properly in an unapprovable situation,but in some instances even this option doesn't work The long term degradation of the public water supply must also be a com9ide*ation in this matter. In the absence of off-site areas for approvable repairs(and there are none apparent in this situation),the only viable option to completely eliminate the problems short of vacating the homes is the use of public sewer. Since the WSBTF is preparing a draft, I would lice to propose that the wording for allowance of sewer into watershed or interest areas be something less than an"emergency"or"imminent hazard"ruling. If protection of public health and watersheds is the ultimate goal and assuming that the vacation of Mmes is not an option at this point and that the long tern degradation of the watershed is a consideration, then I think the language of "correcting an adverse public health condition where wastewater systems are failing and no on-site repair is approvable or recommended by the Orange County Health Department" might be appropriate. Similar verbiage referring to failing or unapproved wastewater systems and illegal discharges can be found in the General Statutes as prohibited acts in a designated watershed(G.S. 130A-325 5dt6). If vacating the hoaxes is the ultimate answer, then some process for those actions should be developed, refined and impkrne<nted and staff should be given clear policy guidance on its use. I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.