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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE <br />The goal of the proposed monitoring and maintenance assurance <br />(MMA) program is to reduce the risk to ground and surface <br />waters in Orange County and surrounding areas in which Orange <br />County is an integral part of the drainage basin. The <br />program will also provide that sewage treatment and disposal <br />systems included in the program will be operated in a safe <br />and appropriate manner and should be less hazardous or <br />unhealthy to the users or to the general public. <br />The XNA pproggram will address two of the objectives stated in <br />the Comm3.ssioners goals for 1990. These objectives called <br />for -a "monitoring and maintenance program" to ensure that all <br />individual and - community waste treatment systems "operate <br />efficiently and protect the public health and welfare by <br />having minimal environmental impact." It must be recognized <br />however, that it does not propose to dictate the suitability <br />of types of systems for various watersheds, rural buffers or <br />other areas in Orange County. The program will address those <br />systems which are currently permitted and for which there is <br />no clear mechanism to assure proper operation. <br />All sewage treatment and disposal systems included in the <br />program will be inspected and /or monitored on a regular basis <br />to assure proper operation and maintenance of the systems. <br />Currently, the Orange County Health Department is inspecting <br />engineered sewage disposal systems in a program mandated by <br />the Division of Environmental Health. These inspections, <br />along with field experience with other types of systems, have <br />shown a definite need for an ongoing program of system <br />maintenance. The proposed program will require existing <br />regulations to be expanded and will also require a Memorandum <br />of Agreement to be developed with the Division of <br />Environmental Management to monitor systems it permits. To <br />enhance the inspection of systems, the staff is also <br />proposing to conduct effluent sampling, stream_ sampling, and <br />oversight of approved sludge disposal sites. <br />The staff realizes that a major part of a program such as <br />this will be to educate the users and the - public about sewage <br />treatment and disposal. Technical assistance and educational <br />literature as well as individual on -site consultation will be <br />available for all participants in the program or others who <br />are interested in the program. All new permittes will be <br />given an initial packet of information concerning the program <br />and their-system. All existing systems will be sent a system <br />information letter detailing haw their system should be <br />maintained in a bulk rate mass mailing. Such measures should <br />greatly increase user awareness in the operation and <br />maintenance of now and existing systems. <br />17 <br />