Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Draft Water Conservation Rules and Standards <br />January 10, 2003 <br />Page7of12 <br />leaks. <br />f. Indoor water leaks on property or facilities of OWASA customers must be <br />repaired within ten (10) days of discovery and notification by OWASA. <br />2. Unless superseded by the declaration of a Water Supply Shortage or Emergency, the <br />year-round requirements of III.B.1. above shall not apply to the following: <br />a. Visually supervised operation and flushing of plumbing systems for short <br />periods of time to check system condition and effectiveness. <br />b. Water applied to prevent or abate health, safety, or accident hazards when <br />alternate methods are not available. <br />c. Water used for construction or maintenance activities where the application of <br />water is the appropriate methodology and where no other practical alternative <br />exists. <br />3. OWASA shall periodically publicize and otherwise educate its customers on additional <br />methods to conserve the interior use of water. <br />Article IV -Determination of a Water Supply Shortage or Emergency <br />IV. A. Drought Condition Shortage <br />OWASA shall base its determination of existing or potential water shortage conditions on its <br />analysis of reservoir levels, streamflow, existing and anticipated demand, availability of <br />supplemental supplies, as well as other elements of reasonable professional judgment and <br />management. The determination of drought shortage conditions shall be guided by periodic <br />estimates of the risk (i.e., probability) that water stored in OWASA's reservoir system will <br />decline to unacceptably low levels within the foreseeable future. Until improved or alternative <br />criteria are developed, such guidance shall be based on a five percent or greater risk that total <br />reservoir storage will decline to 20 percent or less of total storage capacity within an 18 month <br />period. This guidance shall apply to the initial declaration of a Water Supply Shortage or <br />Emergency and shall inform subsequent declarations of more or less severe Water Supply <br />Shortages or Emergencies. <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 -exceed <br />85 percent of OWASA's capability of treating and delivering water. The stage and duration of <br />such a Water Supply Shortage or Emergency shall be guided by the degree to which customer <br />