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MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />September 28, 2006 <br />Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 7 September 28, 2006 <br />to do so. <br /> <br />Motion to approve the recommendation that Jessica Lee, Matt Vizithum, and Alan Rimer <br />represent the Board of Health was made by Tim Carey, seconded by Sharon Freeland, and <br />carried without dissent. <br /> <br />G. Informational Items <br /> <br />1. Water Research Project at Little River State Park <br /> <br />Tom Konsler, Interim Environmental Health Services Division Director, explained that <br />Orange County has been identified as one of the counties located in the Carolina Slate Belt <br />region where naturally occuring arsenic in groundwater has become a concern. Studies <br />have shown that arsenic in drinking water can increase the risk of cancer. <br /> <br />Rick Bolich, a Hydrogeologist with the DENR Division of Water Quality's Aquifer Protection <br />Section, contacted Environmental Health about Orange County cooperating in a <br />groundwater monitoring project to be located at the Little River Regional Park. The park is <br />located in an area of the county with the type of geology that lends itself to study of arsenic <br />in groundwater. The project would involve the installation of up to 9 wells on the property on <br />3 different landscape positions. These wells would be used for monitoring arsenic as well <br />as the static level of groundwater and potential groundwater movement. <br /> <br />The main subjects of interest to the Division of Water Quality are: <br />· The effects of well construction on groundwater arsenic levels <br />· Studying groundwater recharge and movement down the natural gradient <br />· Evaluating the impacts of housing development on groundwater quality <br />In addition to the research aspect of the project, the site would be used as an environmental <br />education resource at the park. Core samples of rock from the wells would illustrate the <br />underlying geology and would show water bearing fractures. <br /> <br />Collaborators in the project would include USGS, Duke University, DWQ, Durham County, <br />possibly NCSU and others. <br /> <br />The first phase would involve a non-invasive geological assessment of the park and <br />surrounding areas with water sampling of existing water supply wells. <br /> <br />The second phase would require construction of wells using a coring machine to retrieve <br />core columns of the underlying geology. This will assist in determining the depths of the <br />wells needed. <br /> <br />The third phase would be the installation of the deep drilled wells at pre-determined depths <br />and the initiation of the sampling project. <br /> <br />In addition to the environmental education aspect of this demonstration project, there is <br />valuable information that can be gained in the area of groundwater recharge rates, patterns <br />of groundwater movement, and the occurrence of arsenic in groundwater. If any <br />relationship is established between well construction methods and materials and arsenic, <br />the information gained may help guide the development of well construction regulations to <br />help address water quality and quantity. <br /> <br />Matt Vizithum asked about the footprint of the wells and the size of the park. Tom Konsler <br />explained the footprint would be minimal. The majority of the land in this park lies in