Agenda - 02-05-2013 - 4b - Laserfiche WebLink

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Drought Response Operating Protocol January 10, 2013 Page 2 and to give the community as much opportunity as possible to intensify its water saving practices. 4. When total water storage in OWASA's reservoirs system declines to the purple block on the attached graph, OWASA must declare a Stage 1 Shortage as required by its State - approved Water Shortage Response Plan. OWASA may, at its own discretion, initiate Stage 1 use restrictions — with or without corresponding drought rate surcharges — earlier than indicated on the graph, but not later. The OWASA Board may authorize purchases from other utilities and /or obtain water through its Jordan Lake allocation only when total water storage in University Lake, Cane Creek Reservoir, and the Quarry Reservoir is below the Mandatory Stage 1 Shortage trigger, but no sooner. Board approval for such a declaration or purchase decision shall not be required, however, during an operational emergency as determined by OWASA's Executive Director per OWASA's Water Shortage Response Plan. Operational emergencies are typically characterized by the need for rapid response and may require the curtailment of water use and /or purchases in a short period of time. Examples of such emergencies include, but are not limited to: • Production problems at the Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant • Failure of pumps, storage tanks, or pipelines • Raw or treated drinking water quality problems • Planned or unplanned maintenance events • Natural disasters. 5. During an extended drought, OWASA staff will initiate discussions with the Board of Directors regarding the need and timing of commencing water purchases or other prudent actions as total water in storage approaches the mandatory Stage 1 trigger levels shown on the attached graph; however, no purchase or use of OWASA's Jordan Lake allocation shall be made without explicit approval by the Board of Directors (except during Operational Emergencies as described above in Paragraph 4). Restrictions shall, and purchases may, continue until storage returns to levels above the mandatory Stage 1 trigger. Water use restrictions shall continue until storage returns to the "rescission" levels specified in the Water Supply Shortage Response Plan. 6. OWASA shall provide regular updates to the community and to the local elected boards throughout the drought as described in Paragraph 3 above. The OWASA Board and staff shall be available to attend meetings of the local governments to provide information about supply and demand conditions and to provide any information or answer questions elected officials may have. 7. The OWASA Board shall review this protocol (a) concurrently with its review of OWASA's State - approved Water Shortage Response Plan (as required in conjunction with Local Water Supply Plan updates that must be submitted to the NC Division of Water Resources at least once every five years); (b) following any drought during which mandatory water use restrictions were implemented; and/or (c) at any time deemed necessary to reflect changes in water supply and demand conditions or other new information, such as when the expanded Quarry Reservoir comes on line. 10