HomeMy WebLinkAbout1 & 2 - Orange County Land Use Plan 2050 – Board Request for Additional Information 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: November 14, 2025
Action Agenda
Item No. 1 & 2
SUBJECT: Orange County Land Use Plan 2050 — Board Request for Additional Information
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
A. BOCC Request for Additional Information, Tom Altieri, 919-245-2579
Part A Cy Stober, 919-245-2592
B. BOCC Request for Additional Information, Perdita Holtz, 919-245-2578
Part B
C. Community Septic and Wastewater
Treatment PowerPoint Presentation
D. Groundwater Resources PowerPoint
Presentation
PURPOSE: To receive presentations in response to the Board's request for additional
background information for the Land Use Plan 2050 process.
BACKGROUND: At its April 8, 2025, work session, the Board reviewed a tentative schedule for
receiving presentations from County staff and guest experts, to provide additional background
information for better informing its direction on the Land Use Plan 2050 process. The Board's
calendar preference was for staff to schedule agenda items through mid-November to receive the
information.
Attachment A is Part A of the BOCC request for additional information grouped into six (6) topic
areas by subject. To cover all topic areas, presentations to the Board were scheduled for work
sessions on September 9, October 14, and November 11, 2025; and at half-day retreats,
scheduled for November 14 and November 21, 2025. The half-day retreats are needed to cover
Part B (Attachment B) of the Board's request for information and will feature guest presenters.
The presentations (Attachments C and D) address Board questions as follows:
Agenda Item 1 - _Independent Scientist to educate us on septic systems - community
and individual
a) Costs to build? Costs to maintain? Failure rates? What can be done if fail?
b) What else do we not know about community septic that we should know to make decisions
for our current residents and our grandchildren/future generations?
Agenda Item 2 - Scientist/hydrologist (independent) to educate us on Orange County
water supply
a) How do the types of rocks matter for water supply to wells?
2
b) Can any portion of our county be predictable or not for water supply/aquifer?
c) Can well be tested ahead of approval for zoning change or building? Guilford Co ordinance
was referenced with Fiddlehead?
d) What is the science re community wells? Impacting other wells? Costs to drill? Costs to
Maintain? Reliability? Failure rates? What is known and what is not known? In face of
climate change?
e) What else do we not know about wells that we should for health and for ample water
supply?
Additional information about the project, including e-mail sign-up for project updates, are available
on the project website: https://www.orangecountylanduseplan.com.
Completed project deliverables, including Fact Book; outreach summaries; and more, are also
available on the project website: https://www.orangecountylanduseplan.com/resources
Why does Orange County Need to Update its Land Use Plan? - In North Carolina, local
governments that apply "...zoning regulations... shall adopt and reasonably maintain a
comprehensive plan or land-use plan (North Carolina General Statute 160D-501(a)). This statute
requires that zoning regulations are "in accordance with a comprehensive plan" and requires that
local governments make statements of consistency when making rezoning decisions on a
development application. The existing Orange County Comprehensive Plan was adopted in
November 2008.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: At its August 26, 2025, Business meeting, the BOCC received cost
estimates for information/presentations requested from independent experts (Attachment B) and
directed staff on which to pursue. Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Amendment #3, approved at the
October 21, 2025 Business Meeting, included $18,270 for funding the additional professional
services.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
• GOAL 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ACTION
OBJECTIVE 4. Incentivize and promote sustainable agriculture and local food systems
development through supportive policy, funding, farmland protection and educational
outreach.
OBJECTIVE 5. Review land use policies to promote and connect Town, County, and
private trails and open spaces.
OBJECTIVE 6. Protect water supply/watersheds.
OBJECTIVE 7. Conserve and protect high priority open space, including Natural Heritage
sites, nature preserves, watershed riparian buffers, and prime/threatened farmland.
OBJECTIVE 8. Include environmental stewardship objectives in the Comprehensive Land
Use Plan.
• GOAL 2: HEALTHY COMMUNITY
OBJECTIVE 7. Invest in services and programs that improve the health and quality of life
of the community (e.g., recreation and public open spaces, arts, etc.)
• GOAL 3: HOUSING FOR ALL
OBJECTIVE 5. Review County ordinances, policies, agreements, and the regulatory
processes to streamline practices, and increase opportunities and reduce barriers to
construct housing.
3
OBJECTIVE 7. Expand resources and invest in housing designed for our aging and
disabled residents.
OBJECTIVE 9. Increase representation of people with lived experience on housing related
matters.
• GOAL 4: MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION
OBJECTIVE 1. Identify priorities and resources necessary to implement the Orange
County Transit Plan.
• GOAL 5: PUBLIC EDUCATION/LEARNING COMMUNITY
OBJECTIVE 1. Foster collaborative relationships with formal and informal educational
organizations and agencies to provide opportunities for community members to meet,
connect, and learn together.
• GOAL 6: DIVERSE AND VIBRANT ECONOMY
OBJECTIVE 2. Review and revise County policies and regulations to support business
investment in Orange County.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the presentations
and provide any comments and questions.
4
Attachment A
Land Use Plan 2050 - BOCC Request for Additional Information, Part A
(Items within Planning staff purview and can be completed in the near-term and with no financial impact)
1. Fact Book, Planning Process, and Implementation
a) The statistics supporting the "Need for a New Plan" can be misleading if taken out of
context. A brief analysis with appropriate statistics would be more informative and
provide a rationale for the updated Plan. E.g. Yes growing 8th or whatever in aging, but
need to know how fast all of NC is growing.
b) Please explain how a land use plan is drafted to reflect changes that may be far in the
future and how it can be amended to be a living document. Please include examples
from the 2030 Comprehensive Plan and the proposed 2050 Land Use Plan.
c) Should we change the policy document (Land Use Plan 2050)(Comprehensive Plan) to
include proposed changes that could take years to work out? Or do not do that; make
sure the Plan is current policy?
d) Do not tie our hands in the Plan.
e) Could amend the Plan? After working through a change with the towns?
2. Joint Planning Agreements (Including WASMPBA) and Rural Buffer
a) Remind us about the rural buffer/Joint planning and distinguish that from the WASMPBA
(Water and Sewer Management, Planning, and Boundary Agreement).
b) What is the rationale for each?
c) Where does the WASMPBA interact?
d) Who are the Agreement partners?
e) Which includes policies and practices that would be implemented if there were failing
wells and septic systems and/or a water/sewer emergency?
f) If appropriate, please reference other joint agreements with the towns and utility
providers.
g) What can be built and/or operated in the rural buffer?
h) What are the processes to make changes to the agreements?
i) If the Board does wish to have an action item say to explore expanding water/sewer at
some location on the map where it is not currently allowed, then is that in the Land Use
Plan 2050? Or is that a separate work as petitioned by the Board? What is the order of
doing things? Seems like it matters? What would that process look like?
j) On that map of Carrboro Transition and/or ETJ area, is that blue dot in the rural buffer?
3. Watersheds and Their Impact on Development
a) Show us map view of watersheds and boundaries.
b) Include any known/potential changes due to regulations.
c) Review the differences between watersheds and how that impacts what can be built or
operate within them.
4. Water and Sewer Service Areas and Providers
a) Where is water and sewer now and who is the provider? (within existing EDDs)
b) Show us map views of the county and the OWASA, Hillsborough water/sewer, Durham
water/sewer, Orange Alamance water/sewer, Mebane water/sewer and any other public
providers with their current boundaries and any proposed boundaries.
5
c) Within these providers' service areas, where is water now? Where is sewer now? Plans
under development for extension? (Planning Staff Note: Release of specific locations of
water and sewer utility lines and connections is prohibited by the utility providers)
d) Give us a map view of the existing EDDs.
e) What is proposed to change? (within existing EDDs)
f) How many residential units are in existing EDDs?
g) Was Blackwood Station dropped from water/sewer expansion? Please explain the
project and the outcome.
5. Rural Activity Nodes
a) Remind us why there are two, what uses are allowed in each of them, and for which sizes
of population.
b) What uses are currently in the existing rural activity nodes?
c) Why combine them?
d) If commercial is allowed, what specific commercial uses?
e) Additional residential? What types?
6. Conservation Subdivisions
a) Are they allowed in the rural buffer now? What parameters?
b) Are they allowed in any area of the county now? What parameters?
c) Are there large parcels remaining in the rural buffer?
d) Distinguish the policy aspect and the zoning aspect where density or# units could be
limited?
e) Can we put the clustered housing on land in the area least favorable for"farmable" land?
6
Attachment B
Land Use Plan 2050 - BOCC Request for Additional Information, Part B
Blue: Within Planning staff purview and can be completed in the near-term and with no financial impact.
Red: Beyond Planning Staff purview and may have financial impacts.
1) WHY does Hillsborough want to constrict their water/sewer boundary?
a) Cost? Of what? Maintenance? Expansion? Other?
b) Lack of water supply?
c) Or combination of factors? E.g., Choosing to be denser in smaller footprint not related to
water supply?
d) Seem like density should be near the train station.
2) Input from Developers
a) What do developers suggest to build more housing?
b) Types of housing?
c) CH Chamber big bold ideas summary for housing w their builders and developers
info; Include Hillsborough Chamber
d) What do nonprofit developers say? What's different for them?
3) Preserving Farmland and Open Space
a) We want to receive the preserving farmland report before we make comments on the
Land Use Plan 2050
b) Concept of"farmable" land
c) Refresh or update from Jan on "smaller" farms in OC
4) Now pull it together and go with map view of county to go over area by area to consider all
the competing trade-offs (Planning Staff Note: Requires some scoping)
a. What are current rules for that area?
b. What is there now?
c. Pros and Cons of plan suggested changes? Segment or small area by segment and tie
these changes to our strategic plan.
d. Housing; Focus on Housing plus Transit/Transportation; Climate Change
5)
a. How do the types of rocks matter for water supply to wells
b. Can any portion of our county be predictable or not for water supply/aquifer?
c. Can well be tested ahead of approval for zoning change or building? Guildford Co
ordinance was referenced with Fiddlehead??
d. What is the science re community wells? Impacting other wells? Costs to drill? Costs to
Maintain? Reliability? Failure rates? What is known and what is not known? In face of
climate change??
e. What else do we not know about wells that we should for health and for ample water
supply?
6)
7
a) Costs to build? Costs to maintain? Failure rates? What can be done if fail?
b) What else do we not know about community septic that we should know to make
decisions for our current residents and our grandchildren/future generations?
7)
a. So does more housing lead to affordable housing in our county?
b. How to think about this issue of supply/demand, elasticity and limits on resources.
8)
a. Provide the report, and go over a summary
b. The number of units needed and does the report say the town can meet that growth
within town boundaries? HOW?
c. Do Carrboro, Hillsborough and/or Mebane have any similar studies? How are they then
planning?
8
Community Wastewater Systems
November 14, 2025
Tony Whitaker, PE
9
Onsite Wastewater Systems
1. General 4. Operational Monitoring
• Ownership Options 5. Community Systems
• Regulatory Authority • Advantages
• Individual vs. Community • Disadvantages
Ownership 6. Failures
2. Treatment Components
• Importance of Soil Solutions
• Effluent Standards Historical example
• Treatment Methods 7. Reflections
• Advanced Pre-Treatment 8. Policy Considerations
3. System Costs 9. Questions
io
Definitions
Onsite Wastewater System
A treatment system located on or near the
property that generates the wastewater
being treated, and which disperses the
effluent to the soil for final treatment.
Community Wastewater System
A single onsite system that serves more than
one residential or commercial property.
11
Wastewater System Ownership Options
Private Public
• Individual Property Owner 0 Local Government
• Property Owner Association 0 State Government
• Mobile Home Park Owner 0 Public Utility (e.g., OWASA)
• Business or Non-Profit Entity 0 Sanitary District
• Regulated Water Company
12
Onsite WWS Regulatory Authority in NC
Dept of Health and Human Dept of - .
Services (DHHS) Quality . .
• Has authority over systems
that use subsurface dispersal • Systems that use
• Reviews system designs surface dispersal
• Systems that
I discharge to surface
Local - . lth Engineered Option No formal relationship
Department (LHD) Permit • ' with local Health
- Departments
• Issues permits, • Private engineer
� • Provides notice to local
provides inspections designs the system and
HD upon permit
and enforcement issues permits
I issuance
Conventional � Cluster Septic
�. Septic System System
Qrinking -
�`
Graundwat — Lj � � 1
4�/ y I I Access tip 1 � _� 1
Drinking Water �Aisers 1 ` ��
Septic `ti- ��
Wastewater � Septic \\\
From Hause 1� Tank 'TYeatment and
Gravel Dispersal Components
-
_...�
13
Individual System vs . Community System
y- ........
e - _ Drainfield �=am�'a�
Wastewater Wastewater
Treatment in Spit �_ Wastewater Fiow
Treatment in Soil
Groundwater Groundwater
Bedrock Bedrock
14
How Do Community Systems
Differ From Individual Systems ?
1. Larger and more complex 5. Subject to higher design
2. Common elements owned by standards (due to size and
HOA and located on HOA land complexity; not due to
3. Common expenses are common ownership)
typically shared by all users 6. Operated professionally with
4. Some homes contribute more more robust monitoring,
wastewater than others inspections and reporting
15
What about the Soil ?
1. Soil used for dispersal must be:
a. Able to absorb and treat effluent w
b. Appropriately located
c. Sufficient in area
2. Soil meeting this criteria is in very
i
limited supply in Orange County
' r
3. Enhanced treatment or dispersals;= -. ; ,; ;
types are required for more limiting `F +` 4 r .�171M
soil conditions`
4. Some soils are not usable at all
16
Usual Wastewater Constituents of Concern
• Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD-5, CBOD)
• Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
• Various types and measures of Nitrogen
compounds (Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, TKN, TN)
• Fecal Coliform (primarily as an indicator of other
sickness-causing pathogens in the water)
n
Standards for Effluent Quality
Septic Tank
Effluent <------------ Advanced Pre-Treatment ----------> 1
NSF
ANSI 40
BOD-S: 350 mg/I CBOD: 15 CBOD: 10
TSS: 100 mg/I TSS: 15 TSS: 10
TKN: 100 mg/I NH3: 10 NH3: 10
7 to 15 x better than DSE
18
Comparison of Treatment Methods
BASIC Septic Tank Soil
Onsite Primary Dispersal into Final
Treatment Soil Treatment
System
DSE DSE
Advanced Septic Tank Soil
Onsite Primary Advanced Pre- Dispersal into Final
Treatment Treatment Soil Treatment
S stem
y DSE TS-1 or TS-1I TS-1 or TS-1I
Package Septic Tank
Treatment Primary Advanced Pre- Di / Stream to
System
Treatment Treatment Ditch Stream
DSE TS-1 or TS-11
19
Why Use Advanced Pre-Treatment?
Overcome a Limiting Site Condition
or
Increase System Capacity
20
Estimated Installation and Maintenance Costs
Installation, Not Monitoring and Maintenance and
System Description Including Design Testing, Annually Repairs, Annually
Conventional system $9,000 - $12,000 - $100 - $200
E
,, z With pump $16,000 - $20,000 - $300 - $400
E
o
Innovative system $25,000 - $50,000 $0 - $l"000 $300 - $400
a�
c � With Advanced Pre-
Treatment $45,000 - $75,000 $750 - $1,500 $300 - $400
J Without Advanced
Pre-Treatment $20,000 - $40,000 $200 - $300 $300 - $400
� a
E
E E
°' With Advanced Pre-
v° L, $40,000 - $60,000 $300 - $500 $400 - $600
N Treatment
21
NC DHHS Onsite Wastewater System Types
Example1W V Inspection Inspection
System • Frequency
ClassificationOrange County
Type I Composting Toilet Owner None Ione
N
4-+
�+ C
'x Single family with
(U Type II Owner None None E
a conventional dispersal i
E Some types of non- .a-
U Type III conventional dispersal Owner 5 years if a pump 5 years if a pump W
tw aA
'Ar LP dishar
Pspersal, ed Certified Operator or Annually or Semi-
Type IV 5 or 3 years I
elements, etc. Public Mgmt. Entity annually
U
Type V
DSE > 3000 gpd AP < Certified Operator or I
Annually - Weekly Annually —
I 3000 gpd, etc. Public Mgmt. Entity
Certified Operator or I
Type VI AP > 3000 gpd Monthly - Daily Semi-annually
L rPublic Mgmt. Entity J
— i =
Any Community System will be classified as Type IV, V or VI.
22
CommunityS stemAdvantagesy
CL
o
Advantages
� V
X X 1. More effective use of limited soil resources
i 2. Better neighborhood design with clustered lots
11 NI
"fm 3. Supports a higher lot yield, within limits
° 4. HOA control and responsibility
S. Requires professional operational management
6. Can provide much better effluent quality (if AP is used)
7. Common maintenance not subject to family budget choices
X 8. Opportunity for BOCC to influence system characteristics
23
CommunityS stem Disadvantages
CL
v
r_ Disadvantages
o v°
1. Higher costs may work against attainable housing goals
2. System problems and costs affect all property owners
3. Some maintenance costs are still incurred by household
4. HOA control and responsibility
5. Can be a higher installation cost, on a per-lot basis
6. Developer bears costs of design and most of installation
24
Failure of System C
Replacement
Durability for Materials
System Long-Term Readily Relative Cost
Component Service Available? to Replace
Tanks HIGH YES $$$
Filters MEDIUM YES $
Pumps MEDIUM YES $
Controls & MEDIUM YES $$
Alarms
Advanced Pre- HIGH YES $$$
Treatment Units
Dispersal Field MED-HIGH YES $$$
(Repair Field)
25
What Happens When SomethingFails ?
1. Is the failure known by the property owner?
2. Is the problem discovered early or late?
3. Is it a matter of normal maintenance / repair?
4. Or something more serious?
5. Is correction optional? ... or mandatory?
6. Is the owner motivated to fix it?
7. Are funds available to fix it?
Answers to these questions may be more satisfying
for a Community system than for an Individual system
26
Historical Perspective :
Piney Mountain Neighborhood
Permit Approval 1992 Transfer of Regulatory Major Defects Licensed
in 1987 by: Authority to: Delegation to: ID'd in 1993 by: Operator
NC DEHNR - DEM NC DEHNR - DHS OC Health Dept OC Health Dept Dissolved 1993
I -I � Fatal Flaws
7 8 single family ots in Rural Buffer � Soil
I Not fully built out when Dispersal
problems Evalua-
F Design
tion
F- Identified by OCHD .
- repairrsal field and Regula- Constr-
� � tory uction
7- Resolved via OWASA & Durham cooperation
I Has left a lasting negative impression Operation
Bad actors; not bad technology� � Multiple Problem Areas
27
Reflections
1. The regulatory environment for onsite wastewater systems doesn't differentiate
between Individual and Community ownership status.
2. Community wastewater systems are inherently unique and customized.
3. Any Community system requires professional operational management.
4. The EOP process shifts significant regulatory functions to the private sector.
5. Current Orange County UDO procedures for Major Subdivision should prevent a
repeat of the "fatal flaw" in the Piney Mountain community system.
6. Community systems present opportunities for the BOCC to shape wastewater
system characteristics in ways not typically available for Individual systems.
zs
Simplified Policy Options for Community
Wastewater Systems
29
Policy Considerations for Community Systems
Assess the level of confidence in:
• Available technology Legal and Are community
• Current and future NC administrative systems desirable for
regulatory framework reviews needed Orange County?
• Practitioners in the industry
Assess Orange County's ability to assure good If desirable, should they be:
practices related to design and operation: • Incentivized?
• UDO Text, SUP conditions
• Permitted in limited areas, or
• Conditional Zoning conditions
more broadly.?
• Development Agreement per GS 160D
• Permitted only with specific
• HOA docs — maintenance fund, surety
conditions or standards .?
• Administrative procedures
Questions ?
Reference Slides Follow
32
Tony Whitaker
• Professional Engineer in NC • 35-Year Orange County resident
• Principal in a private consulting firm • Several terms on Orange County
• Land planning, civil engineering and Board of Health, and current
regulatory compliance member
• 40-year career in the Triangle area • Several terms on Orange County
• Design experience with several types Board of Adjustment
of onsite wastewater systems • 20 years on Site Selection Committee
• No longer designing onsite for local chapter of Habitat for
wastewater systems Humanity
33
Glossary of Terms — 1 of 2
1. Onsite Wastewater System: A treatment 5. Subsurface System: A type of onsite
system located on or near the property system that disperses effluent in the soil.
that generates the wastewater being 6. Surface System: A type of onsite system
treated, and which disperses the effluent that disperses effluent on the soil surface.
to the soil for final treatment. 7. Discharge System: A wastewater treatment
2. Community Wastewater System: A single system that allows effluent to flow directly
system that serves more than one into a stream or ditch, typically after a high
residential or commercial property. degree of treatment.
3. Effluent: Treated wastewater that leaves a g, Package Treatment Plant: A type of
treatment process or device. discharge system that uses a manufactured
4. Dispersal: Distributed application of equipment module providing multiple
effluent to a designated land area, which is stages of treatment, generally producing
often called the "drain field". high-quality effluent.
34
Glossary of Terms — 2 of 2
9. Primary Treatment: This initial stage of effluent constituents. A higher standard
wastewater treatment includes separation provides higher quality effluent.
of solids, fats and oils. For onsite systems 12. Domestic Strength Effluent (DSE): An
this process occurs in a septic tank. Effluent Standard that is generally applied
10. Advanced Pre-Treatment: Additional to wastewater leaving a septic tank.
stages of wastewater treatment which 13. Advanced Effluent Standards: The
include biological decomposition, chemical following levels of effluent quality require
conversions and other processes to remove Advanced Pre-Treatment, resulting in much
organic load and suspended solids, and to better effluent quality than DSE:
convert undesirable nitrogen compounds A. NSF / ANSI 40.
to inert nitrogen gas.
B. Treatment Standard I (TS-1)
11. Effluent Standard: A regulatory
designation which sets maximum allowable C. Treatment Standard II (TS-II)
concentrations of selected undesirable D. Reclaimed Water (RCW)
35
Reinforced concrete tank installation
I
Medium-Sized Advanced Pre-Treatment System
•,,. i I's
I
e —
`
Control Valve Assemblies -
t
r
36
Why Use Advanced Pre-Treatment ?
( Long Answer)
A higher level of effluent treatment can
provide design flexibility to:
a. Smaller footprint for
a. Increase the allowable wastewater dispersal field
loading rate on the dispersal field Which
b. Reduced cost for
b. Make better use of lesser quality can dispersal system
soil for dispersal lead to:
c. Flexibility in dispersal
c. Reduce horizontal setbacks to => field layout
streams and ponds
d. Larger system capacity
These options may generally not be used e. More lots and/or
bedrooms
in combination; only one maybe selected. 16-
f. Improved effluent quality
37
Community Wells :
A KM� Siting, Construction ,
,Po,,.oRESOURCE MANAGEMENT, PC and Testing
C.J. Corvette, PG
38
Outline
• Professional Background Public Supply Well Yield and Water
• What is a Well? Quality Testing
• The Hydrologic Cycle • Downhole Video Survey
• Well Overview • 24-Hour Drawdown
• Public Supply Well Overview • Water Quality Testing
• Final Construction and Permitting
• Public Supply Well Siting • Completion of Drilling and Testing
• Hydrogeologic Evaluation • Design and Construction
• Setbacks
• Well Drilling Costs
• Public Supply Well Drilling
• Long-Term Well Health
• Well Construction
A K M
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT,PC
39
Personal and Professional Background
• Hometown : Hampstead, NC
• Education :
• B.S. Geology - UNC CH J
• M.S. Geology - ECU
• A Family of Geologists:
• Mother and Father both Geologists...
• And Licensed Well Drillers Coastal Studies Institute
• Experience: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
• Geotechnical Geology "%)k
• Environmental and Hydrogeologic Consulting A P, M
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT,RG
40
Applied Resource Management
• Offices in Hampstead, Cary, Oriental, NC
• 10 Level A Licensed Well Drillers
• 7 drilling rigs
• Multiple drilling and excavation crews
• Potable, irrigation, geothermal, and exploratory well
capabilitiesA P, M
• Licensed scientists APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT,PC
• Geologists, soil scientists, environmental scientists
• Design, modeling, and remediation work
• Contract and subcontract with other drillers,
scientists, and engineers across the state and beyond
41
The HydroLogic C
• Humans need water �- - `�--Clouds forming -
Pree p i tat ion Evaporation
• The easiest connections in the ^T
n
�n
hydrologic cycle are rivers.
Over rurtaff
r.,
Wal r z -
►aUle
e
• Wells allow humans to -
�GroWnd water
shortcut the hydrologic cycle
with science and engineering. - - -
Heath, 1983. Basic Ground-Water Hydrology
A K M
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.PC
42
Well Overview
Water-table Artesian
• Well (n) : A pit or hole well well
sunk into the earth to Land surface
� � Patentiametric . . .
reach water `� ` = s�,rtce .\' :
C N UNCONFINED SAND ' ; : Cfpii�la9 ery
AQUIFER cn
1Noter -table __ Well
• Water-table vs Confined screenCL
w _ - - - - -
�,
ells v
CONFINING
BED --- — _— = CLAY
W - - -.�----- - - - - - 1
• Sustainability and
ac CONFINED Opener
susceptibility to LIMESTONES hale ---I ;=
a AQUIFER T r �
contaminants varies
I
Heath, 1983. Basic Ground-Water Hydrology
A K M
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.PC
43
Well Overview cont.
r
• Well uses:
• Extraction
• Information
• Resources like water, oil, minerals
• Contaminants
• Injection - -
• Water
• Heat
• Treatments for contaminants
• Monitoring
• Drinking Waterfill I
AFM
APPLIED RESOURCE P+IA.GEMENT,PC
44
Public Supply Wells
• Wells supplying water to greater than 15 _
residences -
• Installed to higher standards than private
water wells •
• Water Quality . • ' •
• Yield testing for sustainability '• + }•
• Managed by individuals or companies that
maintain Drinking Water Operator
Certifications through DEQ
• 52% of NC residents obtain their water from
wells (NC Groundwater Association)
A K m
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT,PC
45
A K MI"**v
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.PC
Public SupplyWell Siting
• Topographic and
lithologic trends
era
�Aa
�II�� �r.moo.i.ka rrrdm F®i Iily��I.uI�R 1i3�.Ie:mss.�Ia
i�r it vah Pd..a44L�..�R.i ii71.u,.a�i
46
A K MI**v
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.PC
Public SupplyWell Siting
1
• Topographic and
lithologic trends -
• Siteeolo �� ':, _ � :• •� �. ��.� �
g gv
4. 711 r• I t "
- ' ZhuZdl
" ' -
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A K MI"**v
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.PC
Public SupplyWell Siting
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48
Public SupplyWell Siting
Distance ft Potential Source of Pollution•
Setback requirements 100 a From any sanitary sewage disposal system,sewer,or sewer pipe unless sewer is
constructed of water main materials and joints,in which the sewer pipe shall be
at least 50 feet from the well.
a From buildings,mobile homes,permanent structures,animal houses or lots,
cultivated areas to which chemicals are applied.
• From surface water.
• 100' radius controlled by the . From a chemical or petroleum fuel underground storage tank with secondary
containment
operators of the well • From apy other potential source of pollution not listed in this table.
200 • From a subsurface sanitary sewage treatment and disposal system designed for
3,000 or more gallons of wastewater a day,unless your well water source is a
confined aquifer.
300 ■ From any cemetery or burial ground.
500 - From a septage disposal site.
• Requires a PG or PE to * From a chemical or petroleum fuel underground storage tank without secondary
containment.
• From the boundary of a ground water contamination area.
submit a sealed letter to NC From a sanitary landfill or non-permitted non-hazardous solid waste disposal
site.
DEQ certifying due diligence 1,000 From a hazardous waste disposal site or in any location which conflicts with the
North Carolina Hazardous Waste Management Rules cited as 15A WCAC 13A.
regarding setbacks
AKM
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT,PC
49
Private Well vs Public Well Land Requirements
• Private Wells require 50' f rorn • Public Wells require 100' radius*
septic*
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*This is an approximate. Some of the larger setbacks for Public Wells can also impact
Private Wells (hazardous contamination).
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A K MI"**v
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.PC
Public Supply Well Testing
• Drawdown testing for yieLd % �.
• 24-hour testing to determine sustainable yield
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Public Supply Well Testing
• Water quality samples for
contaminants
Is Collected during drawdown testing
• Advises on filtration requirements
• Significantly larger sample spread
AL
than private wells ,
AKM�-
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.PC
56
Public SWeLL Testin Contaminant None established 0.3 XC 03L Standard" W-4Carlcium None established 1'82 tmglL
Chloride 250 mg1L <5 nglL
Fluoride 2 mg/L <0.100 MA
Iron 0.3 mg1L <0.06 Ing/L
• Water quality samples for Manganese
None established. 13.01 mglL
Afanganese 0.05 mg1L <0.Ot0 mg/L
Sodium None established 9.04 mglL
contaminants Sulfate(NW) 250 mg1L <5 my1L
Acidify None established 10 mg1L
• Contaminants can be Zinc 1 mg1L 0.070 MA
Color PtCo 15 units <5 unds
natural or man-made Total Hardness None established 88 mgll
PH 8.5-85 units 7.5 units
Alkalinity None established 103 mg/L
TDS Sao mgr- 142 mg/L
Total Coliform 1 per 100 mL Present per 100 mL
• Inorganic chemicals E Cal None established absent n/a
Toluene 0.6 mg1L 0.0006 nlg/L
• Synthetic organics Uranium 15pC61L 068 PCJL
Radio"icals EPA Standard' Wit
• Volatiles Gross Alpha 15 PCa'L NO pCdl
Combined Radium 5 pCVL a10 pCJL
•
S e m i vo l a t i l e s Radium 226 Sued for coned pCi1L NO pCVL
Radium 228 Radium value. pCVL NO pCJI
• R a d i o l o g i e a l s Gross Beta 50 pCVL 4.5 pCVL
'15A NCAC 02L.0202 GROUNDWATER QUALITY STANDARDS,hnpraldeq nc.gowrdoeumentslnc=s4ds•groundwarer•02602r12
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Nephelometric iA,EityUrc[.
• 'Radloct�gas Kula,EPA.hutpr:/+�w�.epa.govrdwragrNoaratlionuctides•ruta
'This rale prowides a brief owerwlew of signifteanl constituents.Refer to nre full laboratory leporl far planning and recommendations.
ARM
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.PC
57
Final WeLL DriLLing and Testing Report
• Summarizes geology and well construction
• Certifies construction meets 15A NCAC 02C standards
• Certifies yield testing results
• Provides water quality samples for State review and filtration
design
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ARMU
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.PC
58
It Takes a Team
• After completion of drilling and
testing, a distribution system engineer
will need to be consulted with to
design distribution, which Leads to... . •
• Utility operator review o
• NC DEQ final permitting after
distribution design -�
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• Contractors for construction
• What does this cost? What's next?
AKM�-
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.PC
59
Well Drilling Costs
• Expenses vary significantly per well
• Drill costs influenced by: • Maintenance Costs:
• Depth • Pump replacement
• Surface Casing • Well cleaning
• Diameter Requirements • Water quality monitoring
• Site Access
AKM�-
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.PC
60
AFS
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT,PC
Long-Term Well Health
1:t
• xll�
Well lifespans generally range 30-50 years, but
may be extended with proper maintenance. -
• Well cleaning and rehabilitation
• Or additional well construction
61
Long-Term Well Health
• Regional groundwater trends may impact well
lifespans beyond the control of operators.
• Water mining
• Contamination
• Anthropogenic forcings
ARMU
APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.PC
62
Commissioner Questions
• How do the types of rocks matter for water supply to wells?
• Types of rock matters to a great degree, but that is part of the whole for each site.
Rock types vary from site to site and some rock types may be better in one
region due to local deformations as opposed to other regions where they remain
minimally altered.
• Can any portion of our county be predictable or not for water
supply/aquifer?
• Yes and no. Every well is different. We can use the information at our disposal to
reduce the risk or randomness in drilling, but there will always be risk.
• Can wells be tested ahead of approval for zoning change or
building?
• Yes, and they should be. This work can be completed prior to any development
on a property. No development work should be undertaken without ensuring that
well water (or another water source) can sustain the development.
63
Commissioner Questions cont.
• Impacting other wells?
• All wells run the risk of impacting other wells, community or private.
Community wells are typically focused on due to the higher demand they
require with more residences connected. However, the increased
efficiency of operators and distribution systems with the higher scruple of
regulatory agencies means they are also generally maintained and
monitored to a higher degree than private wells.
• 24-hour drawdown tests performed on community wells are a great
opportunity to monitor nearby wells for fracture interconnectivity.
64
Commissioner Questions cont.
• Costs to drill?
• This can vary widely, but the major expenses in drilling are the surface casing, well
diameter, and depth requirements.
• Wells with 1 00' or more surface casing become very expensive due to specialty
equipment holding the borehole stable during casing installation and the expense of
larger piping materials for the casing.
• Deeper wells are more expensive as greater depths frequently correlate with longer drill
times. Footage prices increase with depth which coincides with those longer drib times.
• Access to sites across difficult terrain and strict regulations on sedimentation during
drilling can also increase prices.
• Costs to maintain?
• General maintenance is outside the scope of our work, but most operators will replace
some of the mechanical equipment like pumps and motors in time. Should not have to
replace very frequently if properly maintained.
• Mineral build-up may also require well maintenance, but this can be reduced if the well
is monitored and regulated appropriately.
65
Commissioner Questions cont.
• Reliability? Failure Rates?
• The strict requirements of NC DEQ help provide confidence that at the
end of drawdown testing with water quality results, you have a final idea
of long-term sustainability. However, any aquifer is subject to change with
continued human or natural forces acting on it.
• Aquifer change versus well change will vary per well.
• In face of climate change?
• This is going to be a site-specific discussion, but most wells in the
Piedmont are going to be influenced by immediate anthropogenic forcings
to a greater degree than global scale climate change.
66
Thank You !
C.J. Cornette, PG
Applied Resource Management, PC AKM
1135 Ki ld a i re Farm Rd # 200 APPLIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, PC
Cary, NC 27511
910.270.2919 (Office)
cjc@armnc.com