Orange County NC Website
24 <br /> o The HOA. They hire companies that provide wastewater system maintenance <br /> services. <br /> • How does flooding impact wastewater systems? <br /> o Dispersal fields do not work as well when they're soaking wet from rainfall. <br /> ■ Can address this by requiring additional storage capacity in the tanks <br /> (they can hold water back for a day or two when it's really wet, then <br /> disperse it later) <br /> o Systems are at risk when in floodplains. Note that floodplains are dynamic— <br /> think beyond regulatory maps when considering flood risk to systems. <br /> ■ Keep systems outside of floodplains and near-term future floodplains <br /> o Orange County regulates wastewater beyond state rules, and has historically <br /> been a leader in the state in wastewater regulation. Keeping stormwater <br /> regulations that prevent water intrusion into wastewater systems would help <br /> to protect against the effects of intense rainfall events. <br /> o These risks exist both for individual and community wastewater systems <br /> • Wastewater systems can have progressive failure and remain unnoticed for years. <br /> This is less likely in community systems due to increased monitoring requirements. <br /> Replacement <br /> ❑urability for Materials <br /> System Long-Term Readily Relative Cost <br /> Component Service Available? to Replace <br /> Tanks HIGH YES $$$ <br /> Filters MEDIUM YES $ <br /> Pumps MEDIUM YES $ <br /> Controls& MEDIUM YES $$ <br /> Alarms <br /> Advanced Pre- HIGH YES $$$ <br /> Treatment Units <br /> Dispersal Field MED-HIGH YES <br /> Repair Field) $$$ <br /> Piney Mountain Neighborhood Example <br /> • Neighborhood with community wastewater system was permitted by the NC <br /> DEHNR—DEM (pre-DEQ); OC Health Dept had no role in approving wastewater <br /> treatment design <br /> • Major defects were identified sixyears later by OC Health Dept during permit <br /> renewal; the dispersal field and repair field were not suitable due to inadequate <br /> soils and poor dispersal design. <br />