Orange County NC Website
7 <br />1.201 to 1500 square feet, 1501 to 1800 square feet, and greater than 1800 square feet, there is a nearly <br />straight-line increase in average water use. However, unlike the OWASA study which showed afive- <br />folddifference in water use between its smallest and largest bonze size ranges, the Efland analysis shows <br />only an approximate thirty percent increase from the smallest to the largest home size ranges. <br />There are a number of reasons why the Efland study has produced resttits that differ so drastically from <br />those produced by the OSASA study. Among the most telling of these are that: 1}the houses in Efland <br />are much smaller and Less expensive than those in the OWASA service area and have fewer water- <br />consumingamenities such as whirlpool baths, hot tubs, swimming pools and lawn irrigation systems; <br />2) the average income of the residents of Efland is much lower resulting in more financially <br />conservative consumption characteristics; and 3) Efland is still a primarily rural area which would <br />typically be expected to exhibit more conservative water use practices than those of the urbanized <br />OWASA service area. <br />The primary implication of the Efland water use analysis is that a sliding fee scale based solely on a <br />prof ected relationship between home size and system demandlimpact can provide a thirty percent <br />difference between the bottom and top of the scale. Based on a $1000 mid range fee, homes falling in <br />the lowest range would pay approximately $850 while homes in the largest range will pay <br />approximately $1150. . <br />Engineering staff are currently in the- process of preparing a more formal reporting of this analysis, <br />outlining the process of da#a collection and analysis, comparing the Eflazzd report and outcome with the <br />OWASA~ study, noting the problems ofeollecting Efland data and shortcomings in that data, etc. That <br />report wilt be submitted to the BOCC later in March: A simple chart summarizing the relationship <br />between water use and home size is attached to this memorandum. If I may provide additional <br />information at this time, please advise. <br />