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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: November 3, 2004 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~ _ e, <br />SUBJECT: Approve Design/Build Option for the Northern Human Services Center <br />Wastewater Treatment System <br />DEPARTMENT: Health, County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Living Machine Email <br />Advantex Product Brochure <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Ron Holdway, Environ Health, ext 2360 <br />Tom Konsler, Environ Health, ext 2370 <br />Paul Thames, Engineer, ext 2303 <br />Gwen Harvey, ACM, ext 2307 <br />Pam Jones, Purchasing, ext 2652 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To provide the BOCC with updated information on wastewater treatment system <br />design options and related costs to serve the Northern Human Services Center at Cedar Grove. <br />BACKGROUND: On June 2, 2004, County staff presented the BOCC with a summary of <br />findings and possible options resulting from their review of recommendations from the <br />consulting group, Innovative Design, dated April 19, 2004. <br />Innovative Design proposed that the BOCC authorize the design of a 3000-gpd (gallons per <br />day) system incorporating the "Living Machine" secondary treatment technology and a flow <br />equalization component that could accommodate a wastewater flow of 6000-gpd for four <br />consecutive days, Innovative Design proposed to rely on the existing septic and grease trap <br />tanks to provide primary treatment and the existing front lawn nitrification field to provide <br />subsurtace treatment and disposal. Innovative Design then proposed to build the secondary <br />treatment Living Machine component into the existing sand filter structure adjacent (south side) <br />to the daycare playground area, <br />County staff could not support several of Innovative Design's recommendations on technical <br />grounds. Staff questioned the capacity of the proposed system to provide the treatment <br />required to accommodate average daily flows as well as short-term (heavy facility use) and <br />long-term (infiltration) peak flaws. Staff also noted that the continued use of the existing <br />nitrification field in the front of the building would perpetuate the significant limits on how the <br />front lawn could be used in the future; e.g, constructing a circular drive for easier and safer drop <br />off and pick up of seniors and children. Finally, staff noted that the "Living Machine" secondary <br />