Agenda - 06-01-1987 - Laserfiche WebLink

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.._ ..R gp CITY OF DURHAM ` 3 NORTH CAROLINA 18 69: D. 0 NTH C;ao�°® OFFICE OF MAYOR E.J. EVANS approximately 1917 by the Durham Water Company, a private utility. This Company was purchased by the City in 1917 at a cost of $337,063.84, which not only included the filter plant and distribution system, but 43 acres of land including 2 dams on the Eno, and "Water Rights and Damages" , the latter being appraised at $11 ,000. 00 by Mr. Gilbert C. White, C.E. The City still retains title to these properties and Rights, with the full knowledge that while the Flat River north east of the City appeared to be a more attractive source of water supply in 1917, the Eno would be essential in the future. We should like to emphasize the fact that in making this request for reclassification, the City of Durham is acting not only in its own interests, but also in the interests of a large contiguous area. Chapel Hill and Hillsboro areas must look to the headwaters of the Neuse, as must future residents of a large area North of the Eno River, now undeveloped. A water line is being completed from Durham to the Raleigh-Durham Airport. It is a fact that the Research Triangle is today being supplied water from Durham,—and the Golden Triangle belongs to North Carolina! In the past, the City has only had to provide water to residents and a few customers in the fringe areas, and it has been relatively easy to project water requirements well into the future. Growthwas relatively slow, and it appeared that water provided by the City impoundment on Flat River would be sufficient for a great many years. However, the creation of Camp Butner in 1942—now Butner, North Carolina, the great post-war exodus of Durham's citizens into suburban areas , the concept and creation of the Research Triangle, and finally the huge growth of the Raleigh-Durham Airport have superimposed new and unforseen demands upon the City for water which have very materially reduced the reserves of water from Flat River. The City has in fact agreed to supply Butner and The Research Triangle with up to 8 million gallons of water per day. Ten years ago water consumption for the entire City of Durham was just over 8 million gallons per day! The Research Triangle Planning Commission has made very exhaustive studies of future growth in the Triangle area, including Durham, and the City has cooperated with the Commission closely. Our planning has been considerably influenced by the Reports of the Commission, particularly as to projections of area water requirements. The City did not oppose the present classifications of the Eno and Little Rivers for several reasons, one of which was the fact that the Flat River supply appeared adequate for a long period in the future, which no longer is true, as -4-