Agenda - 12-03-2007-6e - Laserfiche WebLink

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Proposed Wastewater Transfer from Durham November 9, 2007 Page 2 / We believe approval of the proposal is appropriate because it is important that all water/sewer utilities in the region mutually support one another when it is feasible to do so (it is important to remember that Durham was standing by to provide OWASA with finished water if it had been necessary in the aftermath of the August 8, 2007 fire at OWASA's Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant), and that Durham has assisted the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community many times during past droughts and emergencies. BACKGROUND The City of Durham has executed an agreement with a developer, East West Partners Management Company, to provide water and sewer services to the Blenheim Woods development that will include 57 residential lots and connect Kinsdale Drive in the Oaks subdivision to George King Road. Attachment A shows the area to be developed and its proximity to the OWASA-Durham Service Area Boundary. Durham has requested that the development be allowed to connect to the OWASA sewer system to avoid the construction of a pump station that would otherwise be needed to convey the wastewater from this new development to the gravity flow portions of Durham's collection system. Durham's request is included as Attachment B. If this request is not approved, the developer would build a new wastewater pump station adjacent to the Chapel Hill corporate limits. Increased energy would be required to operate the station. Future failure of the station due to power outages or equipment malfunctions could result in the release of untreated wastewater. DISCUSSION OWASA believes that an agreement could be reached with Durham for OWASA to accept and treat the wastewater flows from the Blenheim Woods development through an arrangement similar to the one already in place for the Piney Mountain Subdivision, where Durham accepts and treats wastewater from OWASA (Orange County) customers in that area. The City of Durham (or the new customers within the proposed subdivision) would be required to pay all OWASA applicable charges for sewer service, including service availability fees and ongoing charges for the collection and treatment of the wastewater received by OWASA. OWASA would not incur capital costs for construction of the system, and Durham would be treated the same as any other third party developer regarding requirements to connect and introduce wastewater into our system. The collection system would be built to Durham's standards and specifications up to the point where the actual connection is made with the OWASA system.