Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
5 <br /> C. The existing domestic water service line extending from the onsite loop will not be <br /> usable as designed. but will instead require a connection to the new public <br /> (potable) waterline being constructed by Orange County Schools along Grady <br /> Brown School Road. This work has significant cost and schedule implications. <br /> d. The water in the tank system may require periodic discharge and replacement to <br /> maintain a bare minimum level of water quality. The water used for this purpose <br /> would probably be billed from the Town of Hillsborough at the prevailing domestic <br /> water rate.' <br /> In addition to the above,the ground level tank has another unappealing characteristic. The <br /> tank-overflow elevation will limit and define the available pressure and flow conditions of the onsite <br /> hydrant and sprinkler system, at a level far less than the potential that could exist otherwise. In <br /> other words, the Town's water system has quite good static pressure at the school site, but it <br /> doesn't have the ability to maintain adequate pressure during high flow(fire flow)conditions, due <br /> to various water system constraints in the area. Storing the fire protection water in a relatively low- <br /> height tank sacrifices the "quite good" pressure potential for more water volume at "merely <br /> adequate" pressure. If future public system improvements are made by the Town or others, the <br /> ground level tank option will not allow the school to benefit from the increased capacity, because <br /> the tank overflow elevation will always govem the available pressure and flow for the site. <br /> Despite the above complications,the ground level tank option does qualify as feasible and <br /> adequate. The estimated cost of Option#1 is about$350,000,which includes the cost of onsite <br /> waterline re-configurations. The system could be in service before the June, 2002 school <br /> occupancy date. <br /> OPTION #2 - Construction of a new 250,000 gallon elevated water storage tank at the same <br /> location as in Option#1. <br /> This tank would be of a conventional golf ball-and-tee shape, and approximately 132 feet <br /> high (overflow elevation±832'). This height would match the hydraulic pressure gradient of the <br /> Town's water system in the area, creating a fully compatible and integrated component of the <br /> public water system. This option would greatly increase the degree of fire protection for the <br /> adjoining Grady Brown Elementary School, and for Town water customers in the area at large. <br /> This compatibility with the Town's pressure gradient will allow the water in the tank to cycie with <br /> the normal flow of water in the Town's system,maintaining a fully potable condition in the tank and <br /> in connected lines. In addition, the proposed tank volume is large enough to be viable as a <br /> municipal asset. For these reasons, this option assumes that the tank will be owned and <br /> maintained by the Town of Hillsborough, as part of the Town's public utilities infrastructure. <br /> In addition to the obvious benefits of an elevated tank as described above, Option#2 has <br /> other meaningful benefits, as follows: <br /> a. No parallel non-potable waterline would be required along Grady Brown School <br /> Road. <br /> -2- <br />