Falls Lake rules require innovative stormwater treatment strategies in Durham

Falls Lake rules require innovative stormwater treatment strategies in Durham

Falls Lake rules take effect January 15, 2011, and Durham is not happy considering the city’s future plans for the Falls Lake watershed. As Durham gears up for major new development in both the Jordan and Falls Lake watersheds, the city will not be able to address pollution reduction goals unless efforts are pursued to address wastewater discharges and stormwater runoff more effectively.

New development also means new sewage treatment infrastructure in the Falls watershed. Durham plans to build a regional sewage pumping station about a mile from Falls Lake. Southeast Durham (Falls watershed) is now an urban growth area. This pumping station is projected to process waste for up to 10,000 acres of development in the Falls Lake watershed. All raw sewage directed to the new sewage pumping station will go to the Northside plant which will discharge into Ellerbe Creek, the most polluted section of the lake.

“The plant now treats about 9 million gallons of waste each day, less than half its roughly 20 million gallon a day capacity,” Durham Herald Sun.

This plant was built to accommodate a lot more growth. The problem is that Ellerbe Creek is already inundated with too many nutrients. How will the upper part of the lake improve if increased development and nutrient-enriched effluent continues to discharge into the upper part of the lake? At a cost of $1 billion, Durham is not eager to upgrade the plant.

Durham is also investing $4 million dollars for a new water tower near Hwy 70 in Southeast Durham. Durham has pushed off addressing the pollutants in the upper part of the lake because of cost, but Durham is also investing millions in infrastructure to develop in close proximity to the lake.

Basic summary of Durham’s growth issues:

  • About 1/5 of Durham County (20%) is off-limits to development. This area is Durham’s own watershed for Lake Michie and Little River (North Durham). If stormwater runoff isn’t a problem, then why don’t they allow development in their watershed?
  • The only place left to develop is the water supply watersheds of Falls Lake and Jordan Lake. Durham allows up to 70% impervious surface in these areas.
  • The soils happen to be some of the worst in NC…Triassic Basin which is highly erosive and impermeable.

What is the answer?   Low Impact Development? Land conservation near the lakes?  Durham is in need of a solution!

-Tina Motley-Pearson, Durham resident and WakeUP Wake County Water Team Member

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