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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 6, 2003 <br />Action Agen~ dQa A <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Proposed OWASA Drought/Water Conservation Standards and Ordinance <br />DEPARTMENT: County Manager <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />3/6/03 Cover Letter <br />2/27/03 OWASA Resolution <br />Proposed Water Conservation Ordinance/ <br />Standards <br />OWASA Response to Question from Joint <br />Meeting of 1 /16/03 <br />Table of Guidelines for Water Conservation <br />Triggers <br />Summary of Existing and Proposed <br />Conservation Standards <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Ed Kerwin, Executive Director, OWASA <br />919-968-4421 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To present the BOCC with information about the Orange Water & Sewer <br />Authority's (OWASA's) proposed water conservation standards. <br />BACKGROUND: At the request of OWASA in the Spring of 2002, Orange County as well as <br />the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro adopted a new set of water conservation ordinances <br />applicable to OWASA customers. In light of experience during the drought of 2002, OWASA <br />decided to reevaluate the conservation ordinance including water use restrictions for water <br />shortages. OWASA officials and staff drafted proposed revisions to its policies and the <br />ordinance. OWASA then initiated discussions with its customers and met with the elected <br />boards of Orange County, Chapel Hill and Carrboro on January 16, 2003. <br />OWASA's proposed new water conservation standards include: <br />Requiring some basic year-round conservation practices such as irrigating no more than three <br />times per week and with no more than one-inch of water per week. <br />Providing greater flexibility for outdoor hand-watering and use of drip irrigation and soaker <br />hoses systems during non-emergency levels of a water shortage. <br />Prohibiting water waste, and including a more detailed definition of water waste. <br />Encouraging replacement of old toilets and showerheads, the use ofdrought-resistant <br />plantings, harvesting of rainwater, etc. <br />