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

Browse Search

Chair Barry Jacobs January 17, 2013 Page 2 Commission (EMC) convert OWASA's existing Level II (future use) Jordan Lake allocation to Level I (current use when needed). We expect the EMC to act on our request later this spring. At our January 10, 2013 meeting, the OWASA Board approved a resolution (Attachment #2) to approve a Drought Response Operating Protocol (DROP). The DROP describes the procedures and criteria that OWASA will use in making water supply and demand management decisions during extended droughts, including provisions for notifying the public about possible Water Supply Shortage declarations, water purchases, and /or the use of OWASA's Jordan Lake allocation. Later this year we expect to submit our application to retain our existing Jordan Lake allocation (currently equivalent to approximately 5 million gallons per day) as part of the State's Round 4 allocation process. The EMC is expected to make its allocation decisions in 2014. Water And Sewer Management, Plan ' And Boundary A-greement The OWASA Board did not take any action during the past year regarding our 2010 request to clarify certain language in the Water and Sewer Management, Planning and Boundary Agreement (WSMPBA). The OWASA Board has not yet discussed what additional actions, if any, may be taken regarding the WSMPBA. Below is an excerpt from our January 9, 2012 letter to the Orange County Commissioners which may put this in context. On December 9, 2010, the OWASA Board adopted a resolution to clarify certain language in the 2001 WSMPBA so that the Agreement cannot be interpreted as constraining OWASA's access to its Jordan Lake allocation for use by OWASA customers. Hillsborough and Orange County adopted resolutions on March 14, 2011 and March 15, 2011, respectively, that would apply OWASA's requested language clarifications to their jurisdictions as well. The Carrboro Board of Aldermen approved the proposed change for Hillsborough and Orange County on March 1, 2011, but not for OWASA. The Chapel Hill Town Council had originally approved OWASA's request on February 28, 2011, but on April 25, 2011 reconsidered its previous action and rejected the language change. On June 9, 2011, the OWASA Board resolved to adopt and maintain a policy to purchase water from other communities or obtain water from its Jordan Lake allocation only after first declaring a Stage 1 Water Supply Shortage — provided that Carrboro and Chapel Hill approve the previously requested clarification to the WSMPBA. At our October 20, 2011 meeting, the OWASA Board discussed its June 9, 2011 policy resolution regarding water purchases during a drought and the importance of securing permanent access to our Jordan Lake allocation without the constraints of language presently contained in the WSMPBA. The Board was in agreement to modify its June 9th position and adopted a resolution stating that: "OWASA shall only purchase water from other communities or obtain water from its Jordan Lake storage allocation during periods of increased drought risk 3