Stormwater Inspection Updates
Watershed Management implemented a Post-Construction Stormwater Team in August 2022.This team is conducting as built Stormwater Control Measures (SCM) inspections for close out of stormwater permits, coordinating the owner annual inspection program and conducting County SCM inspections as required by the North Carolina Division of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). To support customers with the inspection process, Watershed Management created a new website: SCM As Built Certification | Wake County Government. Customers may also access stormwater inspection forms and checklists in one central location on the website.

What are your pain points in closing out stormwater permits?
The Watershed Management Team wants to hear from you. What challenges do you face in closing out stormwater permits? Share your feedback by submitting comments to: watershedmanagement@wake.gov.
Wake County Environmental Services Receives National Recognition
Wake County Wastewater and Groundwater Programs received achievement awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards recognize program initiatives that incorporate innovative technology and protect public health.

Wake County Well Water Protection

In Wake County, 40,000 households — nearly 10% of residents — use private well water for drinking, cooking and bathing. Contaminated well water has the potential to impact resident health. Wake County Water Quality reviews potential groundwater contaminants near residential properties before permitting new private wells. Water Quality and GIS partnered to create the Potential Contaminant Viewer, an easy-to-use GIS application to improve the process. The Potential Contaminant Viewer allows staff to search for a property and buffer by 1,500 feet to review whether one or more of the 25 potential contaminants are within the buffer. The team began using the Viewer in September 2022. In the first six months, Water Quality staff used the Viewer to screen over 180 sites for potential contamination, saving an estimated 20 hours of research time. The Viewer is being used by Water Quality weekly to reduce research time before permitting private wells. We’ll drink (clean water) to that!
Permitting Changes to Existing Subsurface Wastewater Systems with Increased Field Accuracy, Efficiency, and Safety

Wake County is growing rapidly and there is an increasing demand for wastewater permits. Existing septic system location records extend back to the 1940s and in some cases may not be available at all. To approve accessory structure permits on lots with septic systems or permit modifications to existing systems, staff previously needed to repeatedly use a probe rod to locate subsurface components of onsite wastewater systems. In April 2021, the Wake County Water Quality Division (WQ) implemented a program to decrease turn-around time for issuance of these State-mandated permits by utilizing ground penetrating radar equipment (GPR). This maximizes in-field productivity and decision-making and facilitated the reduction of turnaround time for permitting by 1.5 hours per application. The risk of personal injury and property damage that can be caused by probing also decreased. Implementing this technology improves customer service and ultimately helps protect public health and natural resources by accurately identifying subsurface wastewater system locations.
What would you like to see here?
Is there a topic you'd like to see covered in a future newsletter? Send us your ideas at waterquality@wake.gov.

Know of others that would like to learn more about Wake County Water Quality Updates? Sign Up information is available on our website at the following link: Water Quality Updates for Professionals
Wake County Water Quality | wakegov.com/water