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63 <br /> GROUNDWATER & WELLS <br /> I. QUALITAT;YE DATA <br /> Groundwater pollution and well contamination does not <br /> seem to be a problem in the Rural Buffer. Only two areas <br /> within the Rural Buffer and one subdivision in the Transition <br /> area have had any recent groundwater quality problems. None <br /> of them have been serious enough to pose a risk to public <br /> health. <br /> The potential for problems does exist. A parallel exists <br /> between housing density and wastewater pollution due to <br /> septic tank failures. An increased use of systems. with an <br /> increasing number of failures. could increase the hazard to <br /> groundwater quality. - <br /> A more serious threat is posed by the Chapel <br /> Hill/Carrboro landfill as leachate. contaminated seepage. <br /> could potentially infiltrate into unprotected wells. <br /> Monitoring of wells in the Eubanks area during 1984 and 1985 <br /> indicated the presence of some pollutants in amounts higher <br /> than levels recommended as safe. <br /> II. QUANTITATIVE DATA <br /> Groundwater contaminants in levels higher than those <br /> recommended safe have been recorded in three areas of the <br /> JPA. Two of the three are in the Rural Buffer and all are on <br /> the north side of Chapel Hill. Additionally. complaints about <br /> odor and taste in water from a community well system in the <br /> Rural Buffer have been made. <br /> The area of most concern is the Eubanks area east and <br /> south of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro landfill. This area also <br /> includes the Northwood subdivision in the JPA Transition <br /> area. Water sampling in the area during 1984 and 1985 <br /> recorded higher than recommended safe levels of acidity and <br /> turbidity in some unprotected wells. The presence of coliform <br /> bacteria was noted in some samples. <br /> Technical analysis. though. indicated that the levels <br /> found did not pose a health risk and noted that the <br /> contamination problems could be easily remedied with proper <br /> protection and chlorination. In light of similar chemical and <br /> bacteriological results from samples taken countywide. the <br /> findings in the Eubanks area were not considered unusual by <br /> the Orange County Health Department. <br /> Leachate contamination is a potential problem for more <br /> than just the area immediately surrounding the landfill. The <br /> flow of groundwater tends to follow slope. The landfill sits <br /> near the head of the Old Field Creek sub-basin. Leachate <br /> contamination could thus pose groundwater_problems along the <br /> creek corridor towards its confluence with-New Hope Creek. <br />