Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
7 <br /> 1 • Friday, February 17, 2017, 7:00 p.m. —Special Work Session of the Board of Directors, <br /> 2 OWASA Community Room, discussed the consultants' reports on the February 2nd <br /> 3 fluoride overfeed and February 3rd water main break <br /> 4 • Thursday, February 23, 2017, 7:00 p.m. — Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors, <br /> 5 Chapel Hill Town Hall — Council Chamber, continue discussion from the February 17th <br /> 6 Special Work Session, including public comment <br /> 7 <br /> 8 Contact OWASA: <br /> 9 • www.owasa.org <br /> 10 • Email OWASA at info @owasa.org <br /> 11 • Call us at 919-968-4421 <br /> 12 • Write us at 400 Jones Ferry Road, Carrboro, NC 27510 <br /> 13 • Email OWASA Board & Leadership at: board_and_leadership @owasa.org <br /> 14 How to help: <br /> 15 Contact the Inter-Faith Council (IFC) for Social Service <br /> 16 • www.ifcweb.org <br /> 17 donatenow.networkforgood.org/flood <br /> 18 • Call at 919-929-6380 <br /> 19 • Mail or deliver cash or check to: <br /> 20 Inter-Faith Council for Social Service <br /> 21 RE: Water Emergency Relief Fund <br /> 22 110 W. Main Street <br /> 23 Carrboro, NC 27510 <br /> 24 Primary Durham Interconnect Pump Station Main Break <br /> 25 Orange County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) <br /> 26 Chatham County Interconnect <br /> 27 Boil Water Notices being prepared <br /> 28 <br /> 29 Commissioner Rich thought the communication through this crisis was great, and she <br /> 30 thanked everyone. She encouraged all to sign up for OC Alerts. <br /> 31 Commissioner Price said the public has asked her if there was any relationship between <br /> 32 the fluoride overflow and the water main break. <br /> 33 Ed Kerwin said it is hard to say with absolute certainty. He said the water main was <br /> 34 installed in 1972, five years prior to the inception of OWASA, and was installed on top of the <br /> 35 storm drains, and had limited fill over the top of it. He said it was a recipe for an early failure. <br /> 36 Chair Dorosin said the pipe was doomed for failure, and asked if there was a reason that <br /> 37 the pipe was not in the queue for replacement. <br /> 38 <br /> 39 Commissioner McKee arrived at 7:46 p.m. <br /> 40 <br /> 41 Ed Kerwin said the information about the pipe was not known until after it broke. <br /> 42 Chair Dorosin asked if OWASA is making any financial donations to the IFC. <br /> 43 Ed Kerwin said no, as OWASA is not allowed to do that with its customers' monies. <br /> 44 Bob Epting, OWASA Attorney, said OWASA is authorized to expend its customer's <br /> 45 funds on contributions to the water and sewer system, and it cannot donate to charities. He <br /> 46 said OWASA does provide insurance coverage for its activities, which is available through the <br /> 47 League of Municipalities Insurance Fund. He said this insurance covers things that arise out of <br /> 48 the negligence of OWASA employees. He said people with claims are being directed to that <br /> 49 insurance coverage. He said there is no coverage for interrupted service, as interruptions are <br /> 50 legally considered a natural part of the operation of a system. He said a no-fault restitution fund <br />