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18 <br /> Attachment A <br /> Summary Notes <br /> Community Wastewater Systems <br /> Tony Whitaker, PE, presented slides describing onsite wastewater systems. He is a <br /> professional engineer in NC and a principal in a private consulting firm. He is also a current <br /> member of the Orange County Board of Health. <br /> General <br /> Definitions <br /> • Onsite Wastewater System: A treatment system located on or near the property <br /> that generates the wastewater being treated, and which disperses the effluent to the <br /> soil for final treatment. <br /> • Community Wastewater System: A single onsite system that serves more than one <br /> residential or commercial property. <br /> Ownership Options <br /> • Private: Individual property owner, property owner association, mobile home park <br /> owner, business or non-profit entity, regulated water company <br /> • Public: Local government, state government, public utility(e.g., OWASA), sanitary <br /> district <br /> Regulatory Authority <br /> • Subsurface dispersal <br /> o Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) <br /> ■ Has authority over these systems, reviews system designs <br /> o Local Health Department(LHD) <br /> ■ Issues permits, provides inspections and enforcement <br /> o Engineered Option Permit (EOP) <br /> ■ Private engineer designs the system and issues permits (effectively <br /> regulatory functions are shifted to the private sector) <br /> ■ This is a relatively new option, but very popular <br /> • Surface dispersal or discharge to the surface <br /> o Department of Environmental Quality(DEQ) <br /> ■ Has authority over these systems <br /> ■ No formal relationship with local health departments, but does <br /> provide notice to local health department when permit is issued <br />