Agenda - 03-03-1999 - 10a - Laserfiche WebLink

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P? raw water to Chatham in the near term and to OWASA customers in the long term. Other issues that were mentioned or discussed during the meeting included: a) increasing the level of watershed protection within the Chatham County portion of the University Lake watershed using some manner of land use based density and impervious surface restrictions; b) additional watershed protection measures for the Jordan Lake watershed; and c) developing interconnections of the Chatham County and OWASA water systems with attendant contractual agreements necessary for Chatham County and OWASA to aid one another by sharing water supplies during water shortage emergencies. The meeting concluded with the understanding that each of the jurisdictions represented on the OWASA board would provide some level of guidance or input to OWASA relative to the policy issues discussed. By way of a letter from the mayor to the OWASA chair, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen indicated to OWASA that it could support developing: 1) an emergency water sharing arrangement between OWASA and Chatham County; and 2) a policy whereby OWASA would allow Chatham County to access Jordan Lake by way of OWASA's intake rights. The Carrboro board also went on record as not supporting the use of Jordan Lake water supplies for consumption by OWASA customers. Insofar as Chatham's use of OWASA's Jordan Lake intake rights were concerned, the Carrboro board acknowledged that there were a number of considerations to be evaluated to insure the protection of the interests of all parties. The Chapel Hill Town Council considered a resolution at its 1/25/99 meeting encouraging additional work by Chatham County and OWASA to explore joint development of OWASA's Jordan Lake intake site for immediate use by Chatham County and future use by OWASA. Furthermore, the Chapel Hill resolution proposed that Chatham and Orange Counties, the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill and OWASA work jointly to encourage that a study and long term plan be initiated to protect and preserve Jordan Lake water quality. Orange County staff has created a draft letter from the BOCC to the OWASA Board of Directors recommending that OWASA: 1) develop emergency water supply agreements and infrastructure interconnections; 2) explore the use of OWASA's intake site to provide immediate access to Jordan Lake for Chatham County while preserving future access for OWASA; 3) work with potential Jordan Lake water users to explore watershed and water quality protection strategies; and 4) work with Chatham County to develop enhanced watershed and water quality protection strategies for University Lake. ENGINEER'S NOTE: On 17 February 1999, a number of local governments and water suppliers including OWASA, Durham and Chatham County met with state water resources officials to discuss strategies for drawing water raw water from Jordan Lake by some means other than the Cary/Apex intake /pumping facilities. Strategies discussed included: 1) having the state and/or the water utilities construct the intake /pumping facilities for a western intake at or near the OWASA property, with the construction/development costs allocated on a pro rata share calculated on the basis of the actual quantity of water withdrawn by each user; and 2) having Chatham County construct its own $3.3 million intake /pumping facility on the western side of the lake. OWASA officials indicated a strong interest in participating in developing an intake /pumping facility. Chatham officials indicated that Chatham had forecast an acute need for additional water from Jordan Lake by the end of the next 18 months. There was some discussion about asking the state legislature to address the need for a western intake /pumping facility in this year's session.