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instead of recommended in restaurants but this would not be a large water <br /> savings. <br /> Commissioner Carey asked Paul Thames about the Government requiring <br /> motels to change linens everyday. He has seen other motels in other areas of <br /> the country that have signs that say that linens will not be changed unless <br /> requested. He asked if we could use this approach. Paul Thames said that they <br /> would look into it. <br /> Chair Jacobs asked if the Board wanted to hear from the water providers. <br /> Hillsborough Town Manager Eric Peterson said that he attended the <br /> Hillsborough Board of Commissioners' meeting last night and talked about what <br /> they discussed at the meeting. They are going to lower the tank levels on the <br /> water system just to decrease the pressure. The Town has 127 days of capacity <br /> left. They want to stay away from rationing. They have just ordered low flow <br /> showerheads and other items in order to educate people and give them away to <br /> Hillsborough Water customers. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis asked the Board of County Commissioners to <br /> instruct the County Manager to implement the same type of program as <br /> Hillsborough in giving away the flow restrictors. He wants to get items to give <br /> away to the public to help them to conserve water. <br /> Paul Thames said that the flow restrictors have been required by plumbing <br /> code since 1994. <br /> Commissioner Brown asked about all the things that have been put in <br /> effect since the restrictions were put in and how much water it has actually <br /> saved. <br /> Eric Peterson talked about the decrease they had seen when they went <br /> through the different stages of water restrictions. He complimented the school <br /> system and said that when the schools opened, the water supply did not <br /> excessively decrease. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis said that they have gone to paper plates in the <br /> school systems. They have severely restricted water usage in the schools. <br /> Commissioner Brown asked Eric Peterson how the water restrictions are <br /> going to affect Hillsborough's discussions in the future about growth. Eric <br /> Peterson said that they use stage 5 as a base level and then make projections <br /> from there. <br /> Chair Jacobs asked about the Town Board's discussions about the <br /> strategic growth plan and Eric Peterson said that they have been discussing this. <br /> Commissioner Carey asked about defining stage 7. Eric Peterson said <br /> that they are about a week from going in to stage 6. In stage 7, they may be <br /> more restrictive and go to water rationing. He said that Asheville did it several <br /> years ago. Administering rationing would take a lot of time. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned an article in USA today where there <br /> was a picture of Lake Orange. He also said that when the City of Greensboro <br /> was down to a 90-day supply of water, they were trying to get contracts from <br /> Burlington and Haw River and trying to replenish their water. They were making <br /> plans for beginning an evacuation of nursing and rest homes and he asked when <br /> Orange County might want to start talking about this. <br />