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52 <br />Disadvanta~ that may be cited for the STEP system collector network and that are closely <br />related to typical utility concerns include that such a system: <br />places system maintenance burdens on homeowners who may not be qualified or motivated to <br />insure that proper maintenance is effected <br />would difficult for a single entity or utility to manage because of the need to deal with many <br />pumping stations (and equipment) and many property owners <br />may involve split regulatory jurisdiction over its components (DWQ for pumps, collector lines, <br />DEH for septic tanks) <br />Advantaues that may be cited for the STEP system collector network and that are not closely <br />related to typical utility concerns include that such a system: <br />• does not require a level of routine maintenance or emergency response that is beyond the <br />capacity of the utility owner <br />• does not set a precedent of allowing developers to enhance the attractiveness or feasibility of <br />development pmject by acquiring sewer utility service not otherwise available <br />Disadvanta es that may be cited for the STEP system collector network and that are not closely <br />related to typical utility concerns include that such a system: <br />requires complex and intensive construction management in terms of coordinating the phasing <br />of housing construction with system construction, assuring quality control and equipment/ <br />installation uniformity for individual on-site system components <br />requires additional landscaping work and house siting coordination and effort by individual <br />home builders <br />Two of the most important considerations of those listed above involve the potential adverse <br />environmentaUpublic health impacts stemming from system failure and the potential financial cost <br />and operating burdens that may fall directly to system customers. When proper operation/ <br />maintenance procedures are followed, probabilities are very low that serious system failures with <br />serious adverse environmentaUpublic health impacts would occur with either the STEP or central <br />pumping station systems. However, if unsupervised system operation/maintenance responsibility <br />for STEP systems falls to individual homeowners, it is unlikely that the systems will receive the <br />level of maintenance attention that they require. Therefore the probability of individual STEP <br />system failure or failures is relatively high. However, the potential adverse enviranmentallpublic <br />health impact of an isolated single system failure is minimal and very localized. Conversely, a <br />County owned and operated central pumping station would get the maintenance attention that it <br />requires, and the probability of a major pump station failure (except as a consequence of storms and <br />other "acts of God") is relatively small. However, with. wastewater from 43 homes flowing to a <br />single pump station, the potential public health/environmental consequence of such a failure is <br />likely to be serious. Nonetheless, if the County had a conventional utility operation/capacity for the <br />Efland sewer system similar to that of OWASA or any of the region's other municipal utilities, a <br />gravity collector/ pumping station wastewater collecrion system would be considered the most <br />satisfactory means of providing sewer service to the Richmond Hills subdivision. <br />