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1 <br /> ORANGE C O U N T Y <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: November 16, 1993 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item # Vjx-C.. <br /> SUBJECT: Northern Human Services Center Waste Treatment System <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: Yes X No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> County Engineer Ext. 2300 <br /> Report <br /> Site Plan (under separate cover) TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br /> Hillsborough -732-8181 <br /> Durham -688-7331 <br /> Mebane -227-2031 <br /> Chapel Hill -967-9251/968-4501 <br /> PURPOSE: To report to the BOCC information related to status of <br /> problems encountered at Northern Human Services facility' s waste <br /> treatment system, to provide alternative solutions and to provide costs <br /> for one feasible long-term solution requiring expenditure of existing <br /> CIP funds. <br /> BACKGROUND: The County owns and operates a facility in Cedar Grove, <br /> known as the Northern Human Services Center, which houses County <br /> Recreation and Parks programs and other non-departmental human services <br /> including day care, Head Start, and miscellaneous programs serving the <br /> elderly. The facility was constructed in 1950 and served as the Cedar <br /> Grove school until its closing in the mid- to late 1960 ' s. Ownership <br /> was transferred from the Orange County School system to Orange County <br /> in 1980 and was first occupied under County control in 1981. <br /> In late October of 1993, County staff were evaluating the maintenance <br /> and repair needs of this facility in conjunction with developing CIP <br /> funding priorities. At that time, it was discovered that the facility <br /> was being provided sewer service by means of a sand filter treatment <br /> system which was discharging low quality waste effluent to the east <br /> fork of the Eno River. Further investigation determined that the <br /> system was not permitted, in accordance with state regulation, by DEM. <br /> DEM was made aware of this situation by County staff. DEM probably <br /> will be issuing a Notice of Violation (NOV) citation to the County for <br /> operating a non-permitted discharging waste treatment system. County <br /> staff has begun a process to implement a short-term and temporary <br /> strategy designed to bring the system into immediate regulatory <br /> compliance by eliminating discharge from the system. The discharge to <br /> the Eno will be eliminated by plugging the discharge line in the <br /> existing septic tank, then pumping out the septic tank and transporting <br /> the waste to Efland where it will be discharged into the Efland sewer <br /> system. <br /> 4: <br />