Orange County NC Website
Department would be looking at its own program to monitor and inspect such systems. If <br /> they found that that program was operating successfully, they would come back to the Boa--"ti <br /> for their consideration on whether or not to allow alternative systems within the <br /> watershed. A similar provision is also applicable to public water service. Until April <br /> 1991 no public water extensions would be permitted except to serve an emergency situation. <br /> During that interim period there would be a study to determine the advisability of <br /> allowing public water extensions within the watershed. With reference to public sewer <br /> there are two options. One option is an outright prohibition on sewer extensions except <br /> for emergency situations. The other option would not allow any extensions until April, <br /> 1991 at which time a study would be done to determine the advisability of allowing public <br /> sewer. He suggests wording in these provisions dealing with water and sewer to indicate a <br /> continuance of the prohibition indefinitely until the Board of Commissioners make a final <br /> decision on whether to allow any or all of the provisions. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENTS <br /> ' ALICE CORDON offered three rinci les that would P P 1 guide any agreement on watershed <br /> protection that may be implemented. The first one is to implement strong measures to <br /> protect the University Lake Watershed. For public safety reasons, it is of prime <br /> importance to protect the water quality of University Lake and the CDM report is a solid <br /> basis for protection measures. The second principle is to address the legitimate g concerns <br /> of the property owners in the watershed. She feels it important to recognize that these <br /> concerns are real and must be taken into account. The third principle is to find a way to <br /> purchase critical lands in the watershed. As part of the overall solution to watershed <br /> protection, the various jurisdictions and OWASA should cooperate to buy the most critical <br /> land such as a quarter mile along the perennial streams and P d more land around the lake <br /> itself. Purchasing the critical lands would <br /> permanentl y protect the lands which are the ' <br /> most important in preserving <br /> water quality and would allow more flexible development in <br /> lands which are less critical <br /> Assuming the 13-point agreement is an impervious surface of 7.1%, with 19,000 acres in the watershed, 1,349 acres would be covered. <br /> Assuming the County staff's proposal gives 7.4% coverage, that would leave about 1,406 <br /> acres paved. The difference equals 67 acres. To remove 67 acres of paving, 800-900 acres <br /> would need to be purchased. This compares with the 550 acres needed to protect the <br /> perennial corridors at 200 feet. She encouraged everyone to work toward finding a <br /> solution that will protect the watershed while also protecting the interest of all the <br /> landowners. <br /> COMMISSIONER HARTWELL ARRIVED. <br /> RICHARD HAMMER stated that the biggest decision ion has already been made. It is <br /> not <br /> necessary to protect the watershed but approaches have been presented that will protect <br /> the watershed. All across America municipalities draw their drinking water from places <br /> that are not perfectly clean. Smithfield takes its drinking water out of the Neuse River <br /> just downstream from where Raleigh dumps their wastewater. Chicago gets its drinking <br /> water out of Lake Michigan. Pittsboro gets its drinking water from the runoff of Chapel <br /> Hill. He feels OWASA can use techniques to clean the water without stopping development. <br /> He feels there are alternatives that have not been disclosed. He is concerned that the <br /> decision has been made to protect the watershed offering the public a variety of that <br /> decision. He feels it important to protect the environment but feels that everything does <br /> not need to be perfectly pure. He stated that Chapel Hill should not be entitled to pure <br /> water at someone else's expense. All other cities take their drinking water and clean it <br /> up enough to drink. <br /> THOMAS JORDAN spoke against the watershed protection measures. He feels that it is -.- <br />