Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
6 <br /> allocation in a way whereby the associated wastewater from Jordan Lake was <br /> discharged into the Neuse rather than Cape Fear(Jordan Lake) basin. <br /> The primary anticipated functions of the Partnership are to engage in three <br /> activities or Additional Projects (Item 5 of the MOU). It is notable that each of the <br /> three activities is at the discretion of the partner and is optional. These are: <br /> 1. Regional Water Supply Planning Project—to develop a regional water <br /> supply plan for Jordan Lake, including the gathering of information from <br /> Jordan Lake water allocation holders on subjects such as water demand, <br /> conservation, supply sources and future needs. <br /> 2. Jordan Lake Allocation Requests -Jointly prepared and coordinated <br /> allocation requests to the NC Environmental Management Commission <br /> for allocations (or increased allocations) from Jordan Lake's water supply. <br /> This may involve a common letter request and/or specifically tailored <br /> requests from each partner related to their needs. However, the requests <br /> would need to be consistent with the Water Supply Plan. <br /> 3. Jordan Lake Western Intake Preliminary Planning Project—Study of the <br /> potential capacity and associated intake and water supply facilities <br /> needed to access increased water supply. This will include the <br /> preliminary engineering and cost information to support allocation <br /> increases, and would be limited to members of the Partnership that are <br /> interested in the joint capital project investment. Engineering and work <br /> beyond the preliminary stage would require a separate agreement. <br /> The draft MOU is a five year agreement to terminate June 30, 2014, and may be <br /> terminated or extended by mutual agreement. Signatories may withdraw from the <br /> agreement with 30 days written notice (residual financial commitments must be <br /> satisfied). <br /> Key Issues and Questions <br /> As the MOU has progressed, there are several key issues or points that staff has <br /> identified for the Board's consideration. Some have been alluded to in the <br /> previous background section. <br /> 1. Orange County, if it joins the Partnership and makes use of its allocation, <br /> will need to make plans to partner with another water provider (or get <br /> into the water provision business itself) to receive the water, and distribute <br /> it to the areas designated for need. To make an allocation request, the <br /> County must show future and/or existing need, and must define a service <br /> area backed up with current and projected socioeconomic data. This <br /> information gathering will require consideration of two questions: Where <br /> are the most likely water needs (service areas) for the County in the <br /> future? Which water provider(s) should the County partner with? Both <br /> OWASA and the City of Durham are likely to have direct access to Jordan <br />