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3 <br /> Chair Barry Jacobs <br /> January 13, 2014 <br /> Page 2 <br /> Energy and Odor Improvements at the Mason Farm Wastewater Treatment Plant <br /> Our $10 million project to increase <br /> energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse <br /> a ;# gas emissions, enhance treatment and <br /> eliminate off site odor is 72% <br /> complete. <br /> When completed later this year, the <br /> � � energy efficiency improvements will <br /> _ reduce electricity use at the plant by <br /> about 20%, and save about $125,000 a <br /> �r <br /> year in electric bills (based on current <br /> rates). <br /> New,more energy efficient diffusers being installed in an aeration <br /> basin at the Mason Farm Wastewater Treatment Plant <br /> Forestry Management <br /> In accord with federal requirements for the Cane Creek Reservoir, OWASA continued to <br /> implement the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's (WRC) Forestry Management <br /> Plan for the 490-acre Cane Creek Reservoir Mitigation Tract. In 2013, OWASA built a road and <br /> stream crossing to enable us to access and manage the south end of the tract. All work was <br /> completed in accordance with North Carolina Best Practices Guidelines Related to Water <br /> Quality and recommendations described in North Carolina Forestry Best Management Practices <br /> (BMP) Manual to Protect Water Quality. <br /> Prior to the road construction, OWASA partnered with the North Carolina Forest Service <br /> (NCFS) to install water quality monitoring stations upstream and downstream of the crossing to <br /> obtain flow and total suspended solids data during pre-and post-forest road conditions. <br /> OWASA coordinated a tour for the Orange County Commission for the Environment on May 2, <br /> 2013. The tour provided an overview of the WRC's and OWASA's plans for the tract, the <br /> NCFS monitoring,riparian buffers, and the habitat and wildlife improvements. <br /> OWASA contracted with a timbering company in fall 2013 to implement WRC's Forestry <br /> Management Plan on areas south of the creek. Work has been delayed due to wet weather. <br /> Financial Condition and Rates for Monthly Services <br /> For the second consecutive year, OWASA's financial condition enabled our Board of Directors <br /> to pass a budget that did not include an increase in the rates our customers pay for monthly water <br /> and sewer services. <br />