UNC is ?ned for wastewater leak

The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources fined UNC last week for a wastewater leak from a research facility that drained into a local creek.

The Bingham Facility, which is owned by UNC and houses animals for University research, received the $16,612.48 fine for the first of several violations that date back to October.

The total cost includes a $15,000 fine plus investigative costs.

Jay Zimmerman, regional environmental program supervisor at the N.C.  Divison of Water Quality, said there is no standard fine for wastewater leakage.

He said the amount of the fine was determined by a variety of factors, including damage caused and the other violations by the facility.

The facility, located in western Orange county, has received three violation notifications from the state over the past year.

The wastewater leak was discovered in a 1.6 million gallon storage lagoon in October by the University and reported to the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources in December.

The first violation notification was sent to the University on Dec. 18 after UNC reported the leaking lagoon.

The harmful wastewater flowed into Collins Creek, a tributary of the Haw River. The river flows into Jordan Lake — a major water source used by the state.

The University had three options: appeal the fine, pay the fine or ask for a reduction. Associate Vice Chancellor of Research Bob Lowman, who oversees the facility, said the University plans to pay the fine. It has 30 days.

Lowman said the fine was significantly less than what could have been given considering the facility’s record of violations. He also added that the University was not surprised by the fine.

“I think DENR is more interested in helping us get things right out there than giving a large fine,” Lowman said.

The state currently allows the facility to pump and transport wastewater to local treatment plants as the University evaluates  the facility’s water treatment system.

“As long as they are showing progress, we’ll be willing to work with them,” Zimmerman said.

The University hired a consulting firm in February to help with this evaluation.

Lowman said they plan to build a new treatment system and improve the water quality to a reclaimed level.

“To the level where I’d drink the stuff … it’s that clean,” Lowman said.

Laura Streitfeld, the chairwoman of Preserve Rural Orange, a nonprofit organization that has helped express the concerns of residents who live near the facility, said she is concerned with the amount of money the University has invested in a facility with poor results.

“Everything goes back to the taxpayers,” Streitfeld said. “The fine is just one aspect.”

“It is a public university, so every time something happens we are paying for it.”

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.