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The Committee then turned to what has been the crux of <br /> its discussions, the creation of a management system best <br /> able to meet the long term water needs of Orange County and <br /> the best means by which to implement that system. The first <br /> issue considered was whether the management system should be <br /> based on watershed boundaries or county boundaries. A system <br /> based on watershed boundaries would involve Hillsborough and <br /> OAWS Joining forces with Durham to build a new reservoir in <br /> the Upper Neuse river basin, while OWASA would Join with <br /> Chatham County and others in the Cape Fear river basin to use <br /> water from Jordan Lake. The primary advantage to this <br /> approach is that the storage, consumption, and return of <br /> water in both cases would remain within the same ecological <br /> system. A management system based on political boundaries <br /> would involve a coordinated effort by all interested parties <br /> within Orange County and might include the sharing of <br /> resources across basin lines. The main rationale supporting <br /> this approach is that it may provide the political influence <br /> and financial capability needed to Implement a long term <br /> resources management system. While recognizing that an <br /> ecological model had some strong points in its favor, the <br /> Committee concluded that on balance an approach based on <br /> political , rather than watershed, boundaries was the best way <br /> to proceed. <br /> With a determination of physical boundaries, the <br /> Committee settled on three alternative management structures <br /> for review; <br /> 1 ) a County water and sewer authority, which would manage <br /> both raw and finished water; <br /> 2) a County department, responsible for the management of raw <br /> water, operation of County owned sewer lines, and other <br /> management/planning functions, and ; <br /> 3) the status quo. <br /> The Committee compared the benefits and disadvantages of <br /> these three management systems within a framework of five <br /> questions; <br /> 1 Is it feasible? <br /> 2. is it fair to all County residents? <br /> 3 . Will it provide better management? <br /> 4. Will it provide an adequate supply of high quality <br /> water? <br /> 5. What are the cost considerations? <br /> Using the responses to these questions as a guide, the <br /> Committee then considered specific proposals for a County <br /> water and sewer authority and a County department to manage <br /> raw water supplies that had been submitted by individual <br /> b., ..- A <br />