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5 <br /> also noted that staff had made no determination of overall <br /> system treatment capacity through evaluation of factors, <br /> other than soil suitability, which could produce additional <br /> limitations on system performance and treatment capacity. <br /> On the basis of the findings and rulings by various <br /> engineers, soil scientists, sanitarians, etc. , Piney <br /> Mountain homeowners have concluded that the existing waste <br /> treatment system is doomed to fail, probably in the near <br /> future and that it cannot be repaired or replaced by any <br /> available on-site waste treatment technology. County <br /> Environmental Health staff and the County Engineer concur <br /> with this assessment. Harrco Utilities is currently under <br /> order to make repairs to the existing system to bring that <br /> system into provisional compliance with Health regulations. <br /> Harrco, without benefit of the knowledge that most of the <br /> existing nitrification field is located in unsuitable <br /> soils, has proposed $200,000 in system repairs. The Piney <br /> Mountain homeowners have chosen to appeal to Orange County, <br /> other parties to the Joint Planning Agreement, OWASA and <br /> Durham to allow the connection of the Piney Mountain sewer <br /> collection system to nearest end of the City of Durham <br /> sewer collection system. That point is near the Kerley <br /> Road-Mount Sinai Road intersection, approximately 5000 feet <br /> east of the Piney Mountain entrance on Mount Sinai Road. <br /> RECOMMMMATION: Pursuant to the provisions, conditions and intent of <br /> the County Water and Sewer Policy, the Manager <br /> recommends that the Board of County Commissioners: <br /> 1) acknowledge the impending and irreversible failure <br /> of the Piney Mountain waste treatment with the serious <br /> potential for adverse public health and environmental <br /> .impacts; 2) acknowledge that waste treatment for the <br /> Piney Mountain subdivision cannot be provided by any <br /> available on-site waste treatment technology; 3) agree <br /> in principle to allow the extension of sewer service, <br /> dedicated solely to the approved homes and homesites <br /> within the Piney Mountain subdivision, from the City of <br /> Durham to Piney Mountain via a pump station and force <br /> main; 4) encourage the homeowners to direct their <br /> consultants to begin design and permitting of the pump <br /> station/force main system; 5) direct staff to work with <br /> the homeowners, the City of Durham, the Towns of Chapel <br /> Hill and Carrboro and OWASA to develop system design <br /> and operational codicils precluding any possibility <br /> that sewer service from this system would be available <br /> to any other users; and 6) direct staff to work with <br /> the homeowners, the City of Durham, the Towns of Chapel <br /> Hill and Carrboro and OWASA to develop a system <br /> ownership and operational proposals satisfactory to the <br /> Board. <br />