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AREA$ OF AGREEMENI <br /> 1 . NEED <br /> Orange County needs water. A crisis situation is <br /> upon us and is unlikely to abate. Water usage is already <br /> at or near capacity in central Orange County. Demand and <br /> deficit projections prepared by staff and contained in <br /> the I - is - • I - a . i -- i - - indicate <br /> the County, as a whole, could face a deficit within ten <br /> years. <br /> 2. FINANCES <br /> Two of the three systems in Orange County do not <br /> have the financial resources to . individually develop a <br /> new long term source of water. Hillsborough and Orange <br /> Alamance simply do not have the population base to <br /> support a large capital project. All systems, though, <br /> including OWASA, would benefit from the economies of <br /> scale that come from joint action. <br /> 3 . MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE <br /> The Committee has not yet agreed on a specific management <br /> structure. It is a general belief, though, that the <br /> status quo is unacceptable in the long term. <br /> Additionally, a county based organization, rather than <br /> one based on watershed boundaries, is needed in order to <br /> represent the County, its municipalities, and its water <br /> suppliers, as a single unit to outside agencies. This <br /> became apparent in noting some of difficulties individual <br /> agencies experienced in dealing with agencies outside <br /> Orange County. A unified County voice should also <br /> strengthen the County ' s request for an allocation from <br /> Jordan Lake.. <br /> 4. NEW SOURCES <br /> A majority of Committee members believe a new <br /> reservoir should be built, with acquisition of a site to <br /> begin as soon as possible. Some tax money would be <br /> required , although concerns about equity have been <br /> raised. Regardless of the ultimate decision on a <br /> reservoir, the Committee also believes the County, in <br /> cooperation with its municipalities and water suppliers, <br /> should continue to pursue an allocation from Jordan Lake. <br /> 5. WATER QUALITY <br /> Water quality at the source is a high priority. From <br /> this standpoint, sources in Orange County are preferable <br /> to Jordan Lake. The Committee has also placed a high <br /> priority on quality at the tap. <br /> Pane. 0 <br />