5-5-17 HB630 Questions

('DUKE
ENERGY
May 5, 2017
Mr. Jay Zimmerman
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources
1611 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
Subject: HB630 Permanent Water Supply Questions
Dear Mr. Zimmerman:
Paul Draovitch
Senior Vice -President
Environmental, Health & Safety
526 South Church Street
Mail Code ECUP
Charlotte, NC 28202
980-373-0408
As Duke Energy is moving toward implementing the permanent water solutions for the eligible
households under North Carolina House Bill 630 (HB630), a few scenarios have been raised
where we would like NCDEQ's concurrence on our recommended actions or direction as to how
to proceed.
• As HB630 includes an installation deadline of October 15, 2018, it is imperative that we
receive selections in enough time for us to provide them their solution and still meet the
deadline.
o If a well owner does not make a selection by April 1, 2018, the solution will be
installed as expeditiously as possible, but it is Duke Energy's recommendation
that the connection deadline of October 15, 2018 does not apply for that
property.
• There is a possibility that a property owner makes a selection, but they or their tenant
does not allow Duke Energy to access the property to install the solution.
o If the tenant is refusing access, Duke Energy will work with the property owner to
obtain access.
o Duke Energy will provide NCDEQ will any access concerns including the steps
that we have taken to obtain access as part of our monthly update report. If
Duke Energy is unable to obtain access after multiple attempts, we request
NCDEQ's help in obtaining access.
o If, even after requesting NCDEQ's help, access is still denied, Duke Energy's
recommendation is that the connection deadline of October 15, 2018 does not
apply for that property.
• There have been a number of well owners who have changed their mind as to their
permanent water solution between the time the selection cards were sent out and the
date of this letter. Therefore, we are anticipating that there may be some selection
changes in the future as well.

o If a well owner changes their mind before the solution is installed, Duke Energy's
recommendation is that:
■ If they want to change to opting out, then the selection change will be
accepted.
■ If they want to change from a water filtration system to a connection to a
public water supply, the changes will be accepted only if a municipal line
is present or if a new municipal line is already planned and/or engineered
at the time of the switch.
■ If they want to change from a connection to a public water supply to a
water filtration system, the selection change will be accepted and the
system installed.
o If a well owner changes their mind after the solution is installed, Duke Energy's
recommendation is that:
■ If they decide to opt out, Duke Energy will remove the water filtration
system if that was originally installed.
■ If they want to go from a water filtration system to a public water supply,
Duke Energy will remove the water filtration system after the property has
been connected to the public water supply. Duke Energy will not provide
the public water supply connection since a solution was already provided.
■ If they want to go from a public water supply to a water filtration system,
Duke Energy will not provide the water filtration system or the long term
maintenance as the solution was already installed.
o If a well owner originally opted out and then changes their mind, Duke Energy's
recommendation is that:
■ If they change their mind before April 1, 2018 and they want:
• A connection to a public water supply, the change will be accepted
only if a municipal line is present or already planned/engineered at
the time of the switch. If not present/planned, a water filtration
system will be offered.
• A water filtration system, the change will be accepted and system
installed.
■ If they change their mind after April 1, 2018, the same recommendations
as above apply, but the requirement to connect by October 15, 2018 does
not apply.
• In many cases, the property owner, tenant, or homeowner must set up an account with
the public water supplier before a water meter can be installed. Duke Energy will
provide the well owner with the steps that need to be completed by the well owner,
tenant, or homeowner of a connected well before the service line connection can be
made. If the account is not set up:
o Duke Energy will continue to provide information to NCDEQ on the steps needed
to be taken by the well owner/tenant/homeowner before the connection can be
made.
o Duke Energy will provide NCDEQ will the names of any property owners where
an account has not be set up. We request NCDEQ's help in conveying to the
property owner the importance of setting up an account with the municipality.

o If homeowner does not set up an account by April 1, 2018, Duke Energy's
recommendation is that the October 15, 2018 connection date does not apply.
We are also waiting for guidance and/or clarification from NCDEQ on the following items.
Confirmation of the interpretation that House Bill 630 vests well owners with the
decision -making authority as to the permanent water supply option selection, and
that as a result the well owner's decision applies to any household that utilizes such
well(s) as a drinking water source. For "shared wells," or wells that are owned by
one entity but used by multiple households, selections made by the well owner have
been applied to all connected wells.
This decision, which was requested in our February 23, 2017 letter to Jay
Zimmerman, is especially crucial in the case of Aqua North America and their
Belmont customers. Aqua North America, which operates three public water supply
wells in Belmont, is waiting for confirmation of their authority to decide on the option
for their customers. Once direction has been received on this issue by NCDEQ,
Duke Energy will work with Aqua and their customers on their permanent solution.
• Duke Energy also requested clarification on how to approach vacant properties with
wells on them in our February 23, 2017 letter.
• As communicated to Debra Watts via email on February 2, 2017, water filtration
systems will not be installed until Duke Energy receives approved screening levels
from NCDEQ. As the majority of the groundwater wells already meet the standards
set by the Federal Drinking Water Act, the ion exchange resins and system
components that Duke Energy is recommending for installation cannot be finalized
until screening values are provided by NCDEQ. Once screening values are
provided, Duke Energy will submit to NCDEQ a Performance Monitoring Plan for the
filtration systems.
Having clear guidance on how to handle these situations will help us provide transparency to
homeowners as we begin to implement the solutions.
We look forward to your response
hem to me at 980-373-0408.
SincE
J
Pa I
Senic
Environmental,
Health & Safety
If you have comments and/or questions, please direct
cc: Sheila Holman, Assistant Secretary, DEQ
Debra Watts, Division of Water Resources, Animal Feed Operations & Groundwater