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-. ~ ORANGE WATER AND SEWELZ AUT110R1TY - Everett Billingsley, Executive Director STATEr1FsNT GId 'tHL PRO: CSyD PEViSIONS TO T:lE 1'ROr1:CTLb 6dA1"ERS°..ED DxSTRICT IN T11E ORANGE COITrTTY ZONZPIG ORDZNh•,?iCB Presented at bhe November 5, 19II4 Public Bearing Y am Everett Billingsley, }i~:ecutive Director of Orange ldater and Sewer Authority. Orange [dater and Sewer Authority is responsible for providing a high .quality supply of drinking water to more than 50,000 residents of Cha.pe7. Hill, Carrboro and outlying areas in Orange, Durham and Chatham Caunties_ 7 can assure you that this is a responsibility talcen seriously. Ta fulfi.].l this obligation, OWASA must have available adequate sources a~ good quality raw watt~. University Lake, of course, is presenL.ly the primary souxae a£ our supply: The proposed Cane Creek Reservoir will. also soon play an important role in the provision of water to the many O'range County residents served by OWASA. OtdASA's customers have been fortunate that the iniversity Lake water supply watershed has been remarkably undeveloped in L•he 50 years of the 7.ake's e~:isterce. However, increasins development activities in the watershed threaten to adversly impact the quality of waL'er. in the. Rake. Likewise, uncontrolled development activities in the Cane Creek watershed will, decrease drinking water quality in that source of supply. IL is commendable that praage County recognizes this fvrebodfng transition an3 is consider3.ng positive land tiise planning steps to provide a degree of control and direction to futut:e development that occurs in public water supply watersheds in Orange County. OWASA staff has completed its review of Orange County~s proposed "Protected Watershed District" standards which would be applicable to the University Lake and proposed Cane Creek Reservoir drainage basins. OIdASA has supported and will enr_t3.nue to support the implementation of technica]~ly sound, positive,. progressive and balanced approaches toward managing development activities in public water supply watersheds_ The implementation of coordinated and consistent development standards is also a goal which we support. The following comments regarding the proposed Protected '(datershed District. standards are submitted for consideration by the Board of Commissioners and staff of Orange County prior to the adoption of the f3.nal standards for these environmentally sensitive areas. In deciding upon the final set o£ sta~uards, it nest be kept in mind that what is at stake is no less than the health, safety and welfare of all present and future residents who receive water supplied by OWASA, the Toren o£ Hillsborough and Orange Alamance Water-Syste~a, and the City of Durham, if the Little River i2esarvoir watershed is ccas'ldered_ 4.2.2$ -- For ease of understanding, the boundaries of the proposed Water Quality Critical Area should be act at places readily identifiable on T.he o£fical 7.oning t4ap, such as streams, roads or property lines. -1- _..- -~--._..-..__r.....~._ . ~._.,,,_.. ~_~~.. - - -