UNC water treatment upgrade questioned by Orange County residents

Local residents voiced concern Monday evening about the upgrade of a water treatment system that has violated state water quality rules in the past.

The Bingham Facility — an animal research center that studies genetic diseases such as hemophilia and muscular dystrophy — is in the process of consolidating its waste treatment center to make the system more efficient and environmentally friendly.

In 2009, the facility was found to be in violation of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources regulations when treated waste water leaked into the nearby Collins Creek — which connects to Jordan Lake — possibly threatening Orange County residents’ water supply.

But residents are now concerned about the upgrade because they say the University lacked transparency when announcing the renovation last year.

After giving up a grant to expand the facility in July 2010 because they didn’t have the infrastructure to support it, University officials realized the water system was too large and inefficient for their current needs, said Robert Lowman, a University associate vice chancellor for research.

“For all practical purposes, we’re at the maximum size facility that is reasonable to put out there with existing technology,” Lowman said.

Laura Streitfeld, chairwoman of the board of directors of Preserve Rural Orange, said her group worries that the University hasn’t been honest about plans for the facility.

“We think the University should make clear all the short and long-term plans and be open to feedback from the community,” Streitfeld said.

But Lowman said he thinks those fears are unfounded.

“We are doing in Bingham today exactly what we told them we were going to do last December and January —we’ve made no changes, none at all,” Lowman said.

Residents also discussed concerns about the impact of the construction on the community and the level of machinery noise.

She said she also would like to see the University put in place a system to notify residents of any safety concerns or threats at the facility.

“We’re still asking them to notify us, and to date there’s been no system of notification,” Lowman said.

Ann McLaughlin, a property owner in the affected area, said she was pleased with the level of communication University officials offered at the meeting.

“I feel comfortable I could get in touch with somebody if I needed to,” she said.

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