HomeMy WebLinkAboutEH-06-2023-10111.tif Julia English
From: Megen McBride
Sent: Tuesday, June 6, 2023 12:58 PM
To: Julia English
Subject: FW: [External] Septic Discharged in Riparian Area, Lake Norman 3861 Swanson Rd,
Sherrills Ford NC
Please start a new septic complaint.
From: Robert Phelps
Sent:Tuesday,June 6, 2023 10:07 AM
To: Megen McBride<MMcBride@CatawbaCountyNC.gov>
Subject: FW: [External] Septic Discharged in Riparian Area, Lake Norman 3861 Swanson Rd, Sherrills Ford NC
Robbie Phelps, REHS
Environmental Health Supervisor, OSWP Division
25 Government Drive, Newton, NC 28658
(828)320-3077 cell
https://www.catawbacountync.gov/county-services/environmental-health/
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Original message
From: "Pitner, Andrew" <andrew.pitner(udeq.nc.gov>
Date: 6/6/23 8:53 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: Robert Phelps <RPhelps@CatawbaCountyNC.gov>
Subject: RE: [External] Septic Discharged in Riparian Area, Lake Norman 3861 Swanson Rd, Sherrills Ford
NC
•
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Hi Robbie,
DWR received the concern noted below about a possible septic system or lack thereof. Has your office investigated this
matter? Thanks for any insights you may have.
Andrew
Andrew H. Pitner, P.G.
Regional Supervisor
i
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Mooresville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources
Department of Environmental Quality
704 235 2180 direct office
704 663 1699 MRO main line
704 663 6040 fax
DWR website: http://www
610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301, Mooresville, NC 28115
i„
Department of Environmental Ouahlp
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From: isiordanl@icloud.com <Horddnl r: icloud.com>
Sent: Sunday,June 4, 2023 1:00 PM
To: Pitner,Andrew<andrew.pitner@deq.nc.gov>
Subject: [External] Septic Discharged in Riparian Area, Lake Norman 3861 Swanson Rd, Sherrills Ford NC
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Good afternoon Mr. Pitner,
I was referred to you by Mr. Clinton Cook. I am writing about my concern for the water quality of Lake Norman. We
reside next to the property located at 3861 Swanson Road, Sherrills Ford, NC. The current owner has converted a
former boathouse which is located in its entirety in the riparian zones, both 1 and 2. He has converted it to a a
residential unit and has installed a sink, toilet, shower, and washer/dryer hookups. To handle the wastewater(both gray
water and black sewage), he has installed what appears to be a grinder pump approximately 15 feet from the Lake
Norman shoreline. He has camouflaged this installation by placing stone over the top of the pump, and placing a "drain"
in that. It has a corrugated pipe running from this location (can't see if this is connected to the pump or other water
sources) directly into Lake Norman. I contacted the Catawba County Department of Health and the told be that they
were good with this installation as the grinder pump was discharged into the septic system. It definitely
is NOT connected to the septic system as fate would have it,the prospective buyer of this property had an
engineering firm (AWT Engineers) locate the septic tank and found they have none! The original owner years ago (circa
1970)just dug a hole under the house, filled it with gravel, and discharged the septic into that. It has since caved in and
was uncovered the other day. There are no leach fields, etc. So it is impossible to have hooked this grinder pump to
this. There was no trench dug uphill to connect it even if it were. The installation of the pump was as such....placed into
the ground and surrounded by gravel, then covered up. The cord is then run up to an electrical box and plugged in. Not
hard wired, so that it can be unplugged and cause even more sewage discharge into the lake. In addition to the
egregious water quality disaster waiting to happen,they have run many drainage pipes for the ground and gutters into a
corrugated pipe that discharges directly into Lake Norman. From my research online, there are no septic permits on file
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for this property, and no building or zoning permits exist for the conversion of the boat house into a living space
(shower, toilet, sinks x 2, washer).
Just wanted to make you aware of this for any investigation you deem appropriate. I am extremely concerned about the
impact these violations will have on the lake water quality and the surrounding well water quality.
Thank you.
Regards,
Jeff
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