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�f� 57 <br /> — Continue to implement measures that reduce volumes reaching the stream <br /> — Continue to identify and repair potential issues <br /> — Develop grant programs for addressing failing sewer lateral lines <br /> • Address failing on-site wastewater treatment systems (OWWS) and failing discharging sand <br /> filters (DSF) <br /> — Continue to conduct state-mandated operation and maintenance (0&M) inspections to <br /> proactively reduce failure rates, investigate and repair malfunctioning systems, prioritize <br /> inspections in older neighborhoods, and provide grant programs to subsidize homeowner <br /> costs for new systems/repairs <br /> — Continue to allow credits for connecting onsite systems to sewer systems <br /> — Consider that expanding sewer may reduce the number of onsite systems but will increase <br /> development intensity and impervious surfaces <br /> — Address regulatory issues with State-issued new permits for DSF <br /> — Consider financial assistance for system repair or connection to regional wastewater <br /> systems to address failing systems. <br /> Point Sources (Major and Minor) <br /> As noted in the "Key Findings from the Monitoring and Modeling Studies," major and minor WWTPs <br /> contribute approximately six to ten percent of the total nitrogen load and three to six percent of the <br /> total phosphorus load delivered to Falls Lake. One reason these relative contributions are <br /> comparatively small is that the three largest dischargers have reduced their collective total nitrogen <br /> and total phosphorus loads by 57 percent and 73 percent, respectively,from the 2006 baseline <br /> (DWR 2021). Further reductions to nutrients discharged from the major facilities would be extremely <br /> expensive and energy intensive. Some of the minor facilities have also achieved significant <br /> reductions from the baseline period. <br /> These relative contributions are based on actual discharges from each facility. None of the three <br /> major facilities are currently discharging at flows as high as their permit limits. The revised nutrient <br /> management strategy will need to address the potential for future facility expansions. <br /> Based on the cost of additional facility upgrades relative to the percent contribution of delivered <br /> nutrient loads from WWTPs, the UNRBA is not recommending additional regulatory requirements for <br /> the WWTPs in the watershed beyond what has already been achieved. Major and minor wastewater <br /> treatment plant owners should continue to optimize treatment performance using currently installed <br /> technologies. Review of plant performance should be included as a provision of the 25-year review. <br /> Plant and collection system owners should continue to track emerging technologies that may <br /> become technically and financially feasible in the future for further improvements to plant operations <br /> including biosolids handling. Work should continue to identify and eliminate exfiltration from sewer <br /> lines and sanitary sewer overflows. <br /> The revised rules should incorporate requirements for new wastewater treatment facility requests or <br /> expansion requests including provisions for technology upgrades,joint-compliance permits (e.g., the <br /> Lower Neuse Compliance Association's permit), nutrient offsets, and/or nutrient credit trading using <br /> practices on managed lands. <br /> Additionally, the UNRBA recommends that Tier 1 members have the opportunity to fund upgrades <br /> and improvements to reduce nutrient discharges from minor WWTPs serving low-income households <br /> 38 <br />