Orange County NC Website
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EXISTING PROBLEM <br />CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS - In 1981 a survey of on -site septic <br />systems was conducted in Orange County as part of a state <br />wide septage study. The survey revealed that 10 -11% of the <br />ground absorption systems were failing at the time and that <br />65% of tanks in the county had never been pumped. Current <br />resources will not allow a similar statistically valid survey <br />to determine the exact current failure rate in-the County. <br />With the number of aging systems in operation (76% of <br />individual systems greater than 10 years old), the percentage <br />of failures is not expected to have improved since 1981. <br />In order for a system to function as designed, the septage <br />must be removed from the septic tank periodically. Pumping <br />the tank at least every five years as a matter of maintenance <br />usually accomplishes this goal. By the time a system <br />exhibits problems, (which is when the home owner will usually <br />first have the tank pumped,) it is too late for the system to <br />recover fully. Thus what is actually a routine maintenance <br />procedure is often being used as an ineffectual repair or as <br />crisis maintenance. <br />ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS - With the rising number of septic <br />systems relying on pumps, mechanical and electrical controls, <br />and small diameter pipes, it is becoming imperative that a <br />home owner be educated about how his sewage is treated and <br />disposed of. Through Orange County's re- inspection program <br />of 195 low pressure pipe s stems ( representing about 90% of <br />the LPP systems installed before 1988 ), the staff has found <br />a need for periodic maintenance and evaluations of septic <br />systems. During the re- inspection period, approximately 75% <br />of the low pressure pipe systems were in a state of <br />noncompliance -In addition, 24% were actually malfunctioning <br />by discharging effluent and another 6% had suspected <br />discharges. In many cases the alarms had been disconnected, <br />turn -ups, valves, electrical controls, and tank manholes were <br />broken or covered over, and drainfields or designated repair <br />areas had not been properly maintained or preserved. Many of <br />the noted deficiencies may have been avoided by a program of <br />periodic inspections and education for the system user. <br />DEN SYSTEMS - Package treatment plants, spray irrigation <br />systems and sand filter systems, while not experimental, are <br />systems that require close monitoring and supervision both <br />during installation and while in operation. These types of <br />IV, <br />