Agenda - 03-25-1986 - Laserfiche WebLink

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There is no doubt that the pace of development 'will quicken in Hillsborough in the future and that our existing treatment capacity is being committed at a relatively fast rate. However, we feel confident that - adequate treatment capacity is presently available to handle water demands for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless , we are currently reviewing .our water fee structure to ensure that sufficient. funds are set aside to expand • our treatment facilities when needed. Even though we have ample treatment capacity remaining at present, the anticipated pace of future development in the Hillsborough area means that the day when additional water, and for that matter sewer, treatment capacity will be needed is not that far off. We are determined to be• prepared for that day when it arrives by having, plans z; ' money in place to expand our treatment capacity as needed. The issue raised by Scotswood is, therefore, not whether adequate water treatment capacity is available, but whether available water supplies- are sufficient to accommodate Scotswood and other anticipated growth in Hillsborough. Based on the recent County study of water supply in the upper Eno River watershed (summarized in the County Manager's memo of November 15, 1985) , there is cause for concern that the existing capacity of the Eno River and its three reservoirs may have been reached and that a water shortage will occur during a drought. The current safe yield of the Eno' three reservoirs is estimated to be approximated 2.2 mgd under current methods of reservoir operation. As I said, Hillsborough is' currently consuming about 1.3 to 1.4 mgd. The Orange-Alamance System is currently using about. .6 mgd, for a total of around 2.0 mgd total . And then , during the summer, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) has been drawing as much as 1.0 mgd or more from the Eno