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i <br /> 11rángcëountv <br /> 732-9361 ext.305 ' <br /> Chapel Hal line 968.450 <br /> c,. HEALTH DEPARTMENT �ebane� 227.2032 <br /> Durham Nee 688.7333 <br /> Cart Min Maly Soho 225 <br /> 100 N.Greensboro street <br /> Carrboro.N.C.27510 <br /> 942.4168 <br /> Jerry Robinswr.M.A.PA. <br /> December 15, 1980 Oiie�tor - <br /> near Homeowner: <br /> In late April and mid-May of 1980, the Health Department conducted an en- <br /> vironmental survey of Efland Estates Subdivision. Department sanitarians found <br /> that 21 of the existing 26 septic systems were failing (See Attachment No. 1). <br /> The area was therefore experiencing an 81% septic system failure rate. This <br /> discovery was surprising since the weather had been unusually dry. 'Under dry <br /> conditions the ground will absorb more septic effluent. <br /> Conversations with residents of your subdivision led to the understanding <br /> that many septic systems have been failing for some time and that several resi- <br /> dents have invested considerable sums of money in unsuccessful attempts to have <br /> their systems repaired. Since mid-May of 1980, the Department has brought in <br /> several experts and conducted its own extensive analysis towards finding a <br /> solution to this significant problem. <br /> On December 12, 1980, the Department again formally inspected the septic <br /> systems. This time we found that 22 of the 26 systems are failimg (See Attach- <br /> ment No 1). The area is now experiencing an 85% failure rate. This finding <br /> was. also surprising in that since May we have had unusually dry weather. Each <br /> of these failing systems is expected to dispose of a minimum of 300 gallons of . <br /> waste water per day. The failing systems would represent a potential of 6,600 <br /> gallons of waste water per d being improperly disposed of. This is an extreme- <br /> ly heavy pollution load on the environment of this subdivision. <br /> Most ditches and many yards are contaminated with human excreta. Therefore, <br /> concern lies with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. They include typhoid <br /> fever, paratyphoids, dysentery, poliomyelitits, infectious hepatitis, hookworm <br /> disease and a few other parasitic infections. The following chart is presented <br /> to show how one of these diseases of concern is spread: <br /> SPREAD of TYPHOID <br /> Excreta ---- Fingers of Humans - ----- - - Mouths . <br /> from of <br /> Carrier "~- Cockroaches Foods .. Persons <br /> . t �' Flies - vegetables <br /> 1 LAI + rJ 1 <br />