Orange County NC Website
mare per gallon in the peak months of usage. The other thrust right now for OWASA is a water <br />conservation ordinance. There is one in effect in Orange County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro, but it is <br />much outdated. OWASA would like the ordinance to remain the same for all three jurisdictions. She has <br />made presentations in Carrboro and Chapel Hill. OWASA would like to have the ordinance changed by <br />April 2002. The proposed ordinance includes encouragement for year-round voluntary conservation and <br />a goal that all irrigation systems be equipped with water sensors. The heart of the ordinance relates to <br />water restrictions because OWASA has na legal mandate to impose these restrictions. One of the <br />triggers of the water restrictions would be haw much water is left in the reservoir. The second trigger is <br />customer demand and how much water could be treated at the water treatment plant. The goal is to <br />reduce the peak demand in the summertime so they do not have to build water treatment plants for just a <br />few days of peak use. The stages of water restrictions are as follows: Stage 1: all irrigation systems <br />used only three days per week (odd and even days depending on addresses} and OWASA water will not <br />be served in restaurants unless the customer asks; Stage 2: irrigation would be limited to one day per <br />week and pools, fountains, and ponds could not be filled {only exception is to replenish water level of <br />pool to the minimum level necessary for operation}; and Stage 3: emergency conditions and na outdoor <br />water use allowed except for fire suppression. <br />Bernadette Pelissier said that OWASA would share with the Board of County Commissioners <br />all of the questions from Chapel Hill and Carrboro and the responses. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis commended OWASA and encouraged them to do more work in <br />educating people as to the value of protecting the water resources that we have. <br />Commissioner Brown agreed with Commissioner Halkiotis and said that this is one more <br />piece to having a superb water system. She supports all of the conservation measures. <br />Commissioner Gordon thanked OWASA for being proactive. <br />Chair Jacobs said that he would like some information on the pros and cons of posting <br />notices at motels and hotels requesting that customers conserve water. <br />Commissioner Brown asked for an update on OWASA's concern about any type of terrorist <br />attack at the CP&L Nuclear Power Plant. Bernadette Pelissier said that OWASA's Executive Director Ed <br />Kerwin sent a letter to CP&L and received a response from the nuclear specialist referring OWASA to <br />the State Emergency Management office and to the state expert an nuclear radiation. Next week there <br />is a meeting with several individuals at the state level and several professors from UNC. The indications <br />from CP&L and the state are that the questions about the risks at the power plant to the water supply are <br />not known. <br />Chair Jacobs made reference to the County's wastewater treatment management program <br />and the need to educate people with septic tanks to have them regularly serviced. He said that OWASA <br />has same customers that do not have OWASA wastewater treatment. He asked if OWASA gives them <br />information about the need to have their septic tanks regularly serviced. <br />Chair Jacobs invited OWASA to came at the beginning of another Board of County <br />Commissioners' meeting to make a presentation far "A Taste of Hope". <br />11. APPOINTMENTS -NONE <br />12. MINUTES -NONE <br />13. CLOSED SESSION <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to go into <br />closed session "to consult with an attorney retained by the Board in order to preserve the attorney-client <br />privilege between the attorney and the Board," pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a){3) in the case of Orange <br />County versus the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />14. ADJOURNMENT <br />With no further items far the County Commissioners to consider, a motion was made by <br />Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to adjourn the meeting at 10:50 p.m. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />