WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN COASTAL NORTH CAROLINA The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Raymond J. Nierstedt Daniel A. Okun Charles R. OIMelia Jabbar K. Sherwani Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering School of Public Health Milton S. Heath, Jr. Warren Jake Wicker Institute of Government and North Carolina State University Larry D. King Department of Soil Science December 1980 The investigation on which this publication is based was supported through The University of North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute by the Division of Environmental Management of the NC Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Project No. 50020 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract xii Acknowledgments CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION Options for Water Quality Management Study Areas Population Distribution and Growth Northern Area Southern Area Sewerage Computer Program Wastewater Disposal Inland Coastal Sounds Ocean Disposal Land Application Wet land Application Water Reuse Costs Interceptor Sewer System - Gravity Sewers Pump Stations Force Mains Treatment Costs Ocean Discharge Land Application CHAPTER 11: WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN THE NORTHERN (DARE COUNTY) COASTAL AREA Area Description Economy and Major Employment-Generating Activities Land Use Precipitation and Flood Control Water Supply in the Northern Area Water Resources in the Northern Area Wastewater Treatment Water Quality Wastewater Flows Disposal Options Coastal Sounds Ocean Discharge Land Application for Roanoke Island Land Application on the Dare Beaches Land Application on the Dare Beaches and Roanoke Island Combined Wastewater Collection Service Areas Interceptor Sewer Plans Results Wastewater Treatment Coastal Sounds Ocean Discharge Land Application Wetland Application Re sul ts Effluent Disposal Coastal Sounds Ocean Discharge Land Application Results Comparison of Options CHAPTER 111: WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN THE SOUTHERN (CARTERET-ONSLOW COUNTY) COASTAL AREA Precipitation and Flood Potential Economy and Major Employment-Generating Activities Groundwater Water Supply Wastewater Treatment Existing Quality in Area Surface Waters Water Demands and Wastewater Flows Excess Capacity Disposal Options Inland Waters Ocean Discharge Land Application Wastewater Collection Wastewater Treatment Facilities Sewerage System Plans Design Assumptions Costs of Sewerage Options Wastewater Treatment Inland Waters Ocean Discharge Land Application Costs for the Treatment Options Effluent Disposal Inland Waters Ocean Discharge Land Disposal Conclusions Inland Waters Land Application Ocean Discharge Comparison of Options CHAPTER IV: INSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS AND OPTIONS Organizational Arrangements 4-1 Cities 4-1 Counties 4-2 Interlocal Contract 4-2 Joint Management Agency 4-3 County Service District 4-4 County Water and Sewer District 4-5 Sanitary District 4-5 Water and Sewer Authority 4-6 Metropolitan Water District 4-7 Metropolitan Sewerage District 4-8 Private Water and Sewerage Companies 4-8 A Combination of Organizational Arrangements 4-9 Organizational Arrangements and Authority to Control Pollution from Nonpoint Sources 4-10 Standards for Evaluating Organizational Alternatives 4-11 Jurisdictional Adequacy and Appropriateness 4-11 Financial Capacity 4-11 Policy Making Coordination 4-11 Nonpoint Coordination 4-11 Administrative Coordination 4-12 Managerial Capacity 4-12 Democratic Accountability 4-12 Political Acceptability 4-12 Institutional Arrangements 4-12 Northern Area 4-12 Southern Area 4-17 CHAPTER V: LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS Legal Protection of Sources of Water Supply in North Carolina Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC'S) for Public Water Supply Watersheds or Aquifers under CAMA Orders to Correct Generalized Conditions of Water Pollution Permits for Disposal of Waters into Waters Classified as a Public Water Supply Source Public Health Procedure for Protection of Public Water Supplies Septic Tank Regulation General Concepts of Coverage, Jurisdiction and Procedure Local Regulations Detailed Statutory Procedures - Ground Absorption Sewage Disposal System Act Health Services Commission Regulations Enforcement Laws and Regulations Governing the Environmental Management Commission Regulation of Land Application of Wastewaters iii The North Carolina Coastal Area Management Act The Legislation and its Background Areas of Environmental Concern Planning under CAMA Legislation Concerning Ocean Waste Discharges Federal Legislation North Carolina Legislation Conclusions CHAPTER VI: CONCLUSIONS Ocean Outfalls, Evaluation of the Options Northern Area Southern Area Suggested Institutional Arrangements Legal Considerations REFERENCES APPENDICES (On file in the offices of the Water Resources Program Area of the Department Environmental Sciences and Engineering, School of Public Health, UNC) North Carolina classifications for tidal salt waters and applicable water quality standards National shellfish sanitation program manual of operation. Part 1, sanitation of shellfish growing areas Regulation number LXXIX for the treatment and disposal of sewage in the coastal areas of North Carolina Environmental Protection Agency - protection of nations's wetlands - policy statement Environmental Protection Agency - water programs - secondary treatment information Cost functions Population Projection Data a) Northern Study Area b) Southern Study Area Sewerage system alternatives for Northern Study Area Wastewater treatment costs for Northern Study Area Effluent discharge line and ocean outfall costs for Northern Study Area Land application costs for Northern Study Area Total system costs for Northern Study Area Water resources appraisal for the Northern Study Area Sewerage system alternatives for Southern Study Area Wastewater treatment costs for Southern Study Area Effluent discharge line and ocean outfall costs for the Southern Study Area Land application costs for the Southern Study Area Total system costs for the Southern Study Area Financial profiles of Study Areas T Detailed soil series information U "The Use of a Digital Computer Model in Effectively Managing Ground Water Resources in Dare County, North Carolina", Elias Katz, Masters Report, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel HI11, 1978. V "Area Wide Management of Water and Sewer Services: A Case Study in Coastal North Carolina", M. T. McAdams, Masters Report, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1978. W "Technical and Economic Feasibility of Ocean Outfalls in Dare County, NC", Donald J. Spiegel, Masters Report, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1978. LIST OF MAPS -Page Northern study area 1-5 Southern study area 1-6 Northern areas favorable for well field development 2-9 Water quality classification - Northern area 2-14 Effluent disposal sites - Northern area 2-16 Land application sites - Northern area 2-32 Service area boundaries - Northern area 2-42 Recommended plan - Northern Area 2-52 3-1 Existing wastewater treatment facilities - Southern Area 3-8 3-2 Water quality classifications - Southern Area 3-3 Effluent disposal sites - Southern Area 3-4 Commercial calico scallop fishing grounds, Onslow Bay, NC 3-5 Commercial shrimp fishing grounds, Onslow Bay, NC 3-6 Wastewater treatment facility locations - Southern Area 3-7 Recommended plan - Southern Area vii LIST OF FIGURES Page 'Qpical computer output 1-13 Computer program 1-24 Mean annual rates of change of dune line and high water line for Northern Dare beaches and Currituck County beaches Location of sampling stations in ocean waters offshore to proposed Dare County outfall Land application sites and soils on Roanoke Island Land application sites and soil series on the Outer Banks Schematics for treatment and disposal alternatives Overwash intensity between Cape Lookout and Cape Fear Land application site and soils for Beaufort Land application site and soils for Morehead City, Newport and the Morehead City/Newport Township Land application site and soils for Newport 3-5 Land application site and soils for East and West Bogue Banks, Cape Carteret and Swansboro 3-31 3-6 Schematics for treatment and disposal alternatives 3-33 viii -- LIST OF TABLES Page 1-1A Population Projections - Northern Area 1-7 1-1B Population Projections - Southern Area 1-8 1-2 Sewer Pipe Sizing 1-1 1 1-3 Fecal Coliform Removal by Wastewater Treatment Systems 1-17 1-4 Hydraulic Criteria for Outfall Pipe and Diffuser 1-19 1-5 Water Budget for Lynchburg Sandy Loam in Morehead City Area, 1953 1-26 1-6 Heavy Metal Loading Rates 1-28 1-7 Effect of Pretreatment on Pathogen Survival and the Infective Dosage of Pathogens 1-29 1-8 Estimated Quantity of Nitrate-Nitrogen Which Would Enter the Ground Water Below the Roanoke Island Sites 1-32 1-9 Gravity Sewers, Force Mains and Pump Stations 1-36 1-10 Cost Functions for Treatment from EPA (1975) 1-38 Package Plant Cost Function 1-39 Recommended Recession Lines for Dare County Complex Barrier Beach Island 2-6 Northern Area Water Demands 2-12 Northern Area Wastewater Flows 2-13 Ocean Depth as a Function of Distance from Shore for the Proposed Dare County Outfall 2-15 Water Quality Data from Atlantic Ocean Waters Offshore to Dare County 2-18 Effectiveness of Treatment and Ocean Disposal Alternatives for Dare County Area 2-23 Costs of Treatment and Ocean Disposal Alternatives for Dare County Area 2-24 -Page Wastewater Characteristics for Roanoke