Agenda - 01-14-1986 - Laserfiche WebLink

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III . INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SERVICES This element addresses the public improvements that have been made to southeastern Orange County and which allow and support urban development patterns . Without public water and sewer service, good roads and other necessary public faci li ti es , urban development is not possible . These components of the public support system , "infrastructure , " will be discussed below: Existing conditions are also described, along with observations about possibilities for further improvement or expansion . Observations are also provided about how the status of these systems affects future growth and development patterns . Wqter an Sewer 'Isag,es In The Joint Plannin° Area The availability of public water and sewer service is the major determinant of growth patterns . In areas where water and sewer are available, development is possible . The form and intensity of' development is then governed by p lens, policies , and ordinances . In areas where water and sewer are not available, development occurs as subdivisions on ,Large Lots with wells and septic tanks , by using small package treatment plants or it does not occur at all . Soi Ls in Chapel Hill , Carrboro and the Joint Planning Area are poor l suited for use of septic tanks . In most areas , an acre or more of land is required in order for a single—family house to safely use a septic tank . There are many instances of malfunctioning septic systems in the area . Maps were presented in the preceding section which identified areas with soilslmore or Lass suitable for septic tanks . The Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) provides water and sewer service to Chapel Hill , Carrboro , and surrounding unincorporated areas , The components of OWASA 's system are: — Raw water supply (University Lake , Cane Creek Reservoir) — Water Treatment Plant — Tanks for storage of treated water -- Distribution system (water Lines) — Sewage collection system (sewer lines) — Wastewater treatment plant . It should be noted that , until the recent availability of the interim Cane Creek impoundment , raw water supply was the most constraining component of this system . Although the raw water supply has been increased by the interim impoundment , inter—basin transfers from Hillsborough must be made during drought situations . When the permanent Cane Creek impoundment is completed , an adequate raw water supply will be avai lab Le . ALL other components of the system have excess capacity . The water treatment plant located in Carrboro on Jones Ferry Road has a treatment capacity of 10.0 MGD [million gallons per day) . The average daily