Agenda - 02-16-1999 - 10d - Laserfiche WebLink

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February 3, 1999 Mr. Daniel C. VanderMeer, Chair Board of Directors Orange Water and Sewer Authority PO Box 366 Carrboro, NC 27510-0366 Dear Mr. VanderMeer: As per the discussion at the 1 October 1998 meeting involving Orange and Chatham Counties, the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, and OWASA relative to local water supply and water quality protection issues, the Orange County Boazd of Commissioners wishes to provide the following comments. It is obvious that the explosive growth in regional population renders it imperative that all local jurisdictions work together as necessary to protect the quality of all of our nature resources and promote the most environmentally sound usage of those resources. As Orange County is located in the upper and less productive portions of a number of important and environmentally sensitive water supply river systems, it is especially important that we be particularly judicious in our efforts to steward our available water resources. It is therefore incumbent upon the local governmental jurisdictions within and adjacent to the County to work together to develop the strategies and accomplish the goals associated with that stewazdship. In accordance with this philosophy, the Orange County Boazd of Commissioners commends OWASA on its efforts to bring stakeholders in local water supply issues together to discuss issues of mutual concern. In response to the issues raised at the October 1~` meeting, the Board of County Commissioners recommends that OWASA work with Chatham County and the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro as necessary to: 1) develop the emergency water supply agreements and infrastructure interconnections required to ensure that customers depending on the water supplies of both Chatham County and OWASA are assured of an uninterrupted supply of high quality water during emergencies; 2) explore the use of OWASA's intake site to provide immediate access to Jordan Lake water supplies for Chatham County, while preserving future access for OWASA; 3) work with all existing and potential users of Jordan Lake water supplies to study, develop and implement effective watershed and water quality protection strategies; and 4) work with Chatham County to develop and implement enhanced watershed and water quality protection strategies for University Lake water supplies.