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1 <br /> ORANGECOUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: September 2, 1997 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item 11-14— <br /> SUBJECT: Proposed OWASA Revisions to the University Lake Water and Sewer Extension Policy <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING Yes—x—No <br /> BUDGET AMENDMENT Yes x No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> John M. Link, Jr., Mary Hillis <br /> Letter from OWASA Extension 2583 <br /> Proposed Revisions to University Lake TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br /> Water and Sewer Extension Policy Hillsborough 732-8181 <br /> Excerpt from Orange County Water and Sewer Policy Durham 688-7331 <br /> Excerpt from Orange County Zoning Ordinance Mebane 227-2031 <br /> Map of Proposed Sewer Extension to Brookfield Drive Chapel Hill 967-9251 <br /> PURPOSE: To consider the request by OWASA to provide comments to proposed revisions <br /> to its University Lake Water and Sewer Extension Policy. <br /> BACKGROUND: OWASA last revised a policy pertaining to water and sewer extensions in the <br /> University Lake Watershed on November 10, 1994. The attached letter from <br /> the chair of the OWASA Board of Directors requests Commissioner comments <br /> on proposed revisions to that policy. The proposed revisions would establish <br /> criteria for determining what properties could be included in an assessment <br /> project. <br /> OWASA's existing policy allows extension of water and sewer service into the <br /> University Lake watershed to remedy a public health emergency. The proposed <br /> revisions would expand the current policy to allow extensions where septic <br /> systems are expected to fail, and cause a public health emergency in the future. <br /> The issue was raised by OWASA due in part to a recent petition for sewer <br /> service from homeowners in the Brookfield subdivision to remedy failing <br /> septic systems. <br /> The existing OWASA policy and the proposed changes are inconsistent with <br /> Orange County regulations. Orange County regulations do not allow extension <br /> of water and sewer service into the University Lake Watershed under any <br /> circumstances. The Orange County Water and Sewer Policy does allow <br /> extension of services into the Rural Buffer if needed to remedy a public health <br /> emergency. However, Article 6.23.8 (Watershed Protection Overlay Districts) <br />