Agenda - 08-29-2005-2a - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: August 29, 2005 Action Agenda Item No. a-~ SUBJECT: Water & Wastewater Improvements DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC NEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Advantex filtration system brochure Water treatment equipment building brochure INFORMATION CONTACT: County Engineer, ext 2300 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To update the Board on the process and timeline far improving the water and wastewater infrastructure serving the Northern Human Services Center (NHSC). BACKGROUND: The expansion of the uses of the NHSC facility (existing building and proposed Northern Park) requires that: 1) the existing well water (potable water supply) system be replaced; and 2) the existing capacity of the wastewater treatment (on-site septic) system be increased. The NHSC facility's existing well, located in the boiler roam (and adjacent to the old coal storage bin) beneath the building, has water quality issues associated with coal storage byproducts and contaminants. The well may also eventually be impacted by contaminants associated with a fuel oil spill a few years ago. Presently the well continues to supply water for NHSC's non-potable uses while potable water is supplied as bottled water. The facility's wastewater treatment is currently provided by an onsite pump conventional septic system with the grease traps, septic tanks and pumping station located on the western (rear) side of the building and the nitrification field occupying the entirety of the cleared grassy area located on the east (front) side of the building between the building and NC 86. The treatment capacity of the existing system is approximately 2500 gallons per day (gpd). That capacity has, in the past, been exceeded for months at a time due to uncertain causes, but most likely involving a combination of higher than normal building use, infiltration of ground water into the plumbing system and malfunctioning plumbing fixtures. Plans to enhance the use of the NHSC building itself have also included proposals for using the area occupied by the nitrification field for an access drive, parking and landscaping in a manner inconsistent with continued use as a nitrification field.