Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
13 <br />OWASA Water Conservation Standards <br />March 26, 2009 <br />Page 8 of 12 <br />a. Operate dishwashers and clothes washers only when loaded to their maximum <br />capacity or at water level settings appropriate for the size of the load. <br />b. Where not otherwise required, install ultra-low flow toilets, tank dams, flow <br />restrictors (aerators) and low-flow showerheads. <br />c. Repair and maintain plumbing systems to prevent water leaks. <br />d. Use harvested rainwater and/or reclaimed water for indoor and outdoor purposes <br />where allowable and practical. <br />Article IV -Determination of a Water Supply Shortage or Emergency <br />IV. A. Drought CondiHon*Shortage <br />OWASA's drought response strategy and Water Supply Shortage declarations will be guided. <br />primarily by the risk that OWASA's water supplies will decline to 20 percent or less of total <br />storage capacity within the next 12-month period. A Stage One Water Shortage declaration will <br />generally correspond to a two percent (or greater) risk that reservoir levels will decline to 20 <br />percent or less of total storage capacity within the next 12 months; provided, however, that in <br />making such a determination, OWASA will also consider the actual and projected severity of the <br />ongoing drought relative to historical droughts included in OWASA's water supply simulation <br />models; existing and anticipated demand, including expected customer response to water use <br />restrictions; availability of supplemental supplies, including water purchases from neighboring <br />communities; regional water supply conditions, including, but not limited to, the concurrent <br />drought response status of neighboring jurisdictions; guidance or directives from the State of <br />North Carolina; and other elements of reasonable professional judgment and management. <br />More severe Water Supply Shortage Stages will subsequently be declared if the risk level <br />increases and/or if other factors indicate that further action is needed. Similarly, OWASA will <br />reduce the severity of, or rescind, a Water Supply Shortage declaration as the risk level and <br />related factors improve. <br />IV. B. Water Treatment, Storage, or Distribution Capacity Shortage <br />In addition to conditions caused by drought, OWASA may declare a Water Supply Shortage or <br />Emergency whenever customer demand. - as averaged over three consecutive days -exceeds 85 <br />percent of OWASA's capability of treating and delivering water. The stage and duration of such <br />a Water Supply Shortage or Emergency shall be guided by the degree to which customer <br />demands approach or exceed OWASA's capacity to meet those demands, and by the degree to <br />which conservation efforts successfully reduce short-term demands. <br />