Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT <br />Board of Health Policy and Procedure Manual <br />Section I: Board Adopted Policies <br />Policy D: Requests for Environmental Services and Assessments <br />Reviewed By: Board of Health & Health Director <br />Approved By: Board of Health <br /> <br />Review Annually (July) Page 2 of 4 <br />Original Effective Date: August 24, 2006 <br />Revision Dates: 11/2013, 11/2014 <br /> <br />\\kingcharles\Depts_AH\HEALTH\MANAGERS WORKING FILES\BOH\Policies and Procedures\BOH Policy Manual\Annual <br />Review\Track Changes\I.D. Environmental Assessment Policy BOH Manual_DRAFT Aug 2015.doc <br /> <br />related to environmental conditions and exposures. The investigation of <br />acute and chronic diseases would be indicated with confirmed cases of <br />those diseases in rates extraordinary to baseline rates for Orange County <br />or statistically expected rates for that community. Investigations will be <br />carried out in accordance with best epidemiological practices established <br />by the EPI Team* in each community or collective request. <br /> <br />b. OCHD will conduct community studies for acute and chronic diseases <br />suspected of originating from environmental exposures and for wells and <br />septic systems failures when data or reports indicate that study beyond <br />the individual level is needed to confirm or deny multiple sources of <br />contamination leading to acute and/or chronic disease under <br />investigation. <br /> <br />1.2 Wastewater and Well Water Studies <br />a. Community studies will be considered and acted on or deferred by <br />OCHD based on several risk factors and other defined considerations. <br />Those include the following: <br />1. The study area consists of more than 5 households. <br />2. Known disease-causing environmental contamination (chemical <br />releases, improper biosolids applications, underground storage <br />tanks, junkyards, etc.) that could adversely affect a natural <br />resource (groundwater, stream, etc.) or negatively impact more <br />than a single property in that community. <br />3. Known geophysical conditions (e.g., underlying rock structure <br />that might lead to high levels of natural radon release, severe <br />disturbances of the underlying structure) with a scientifically <br />documented negative environmental impact potential that could <br />affect the intended use and sustainability of property in the <br />community. <br />4. More than 30% of the individual wells in a given geographical <br />community were drilled prior to 1981 or more than 30% of the <br />septic systems in the community are more than 20 years old. <br />5. Protection of water supply resources (protected water supply <br />watersheds, water quality critical areas, wellhead protection <br />areas, etc.). <br /> <br />b. Statistical Studies may be considered in order to gain important <br />information about septic system failure rates or groundwater quality or <br />quantity characteristics. Examples in this category might include: