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Introduction and Back:sround <br />On October 24, 2005, the Chapel Hill Town Council requested that OWASA provide a <br />briefing about the effects of potential increases in allowable development density on <br />OWASA's ability to meet future water supply and wastewater treatment demands, <br />Copies of Council Member Jim Ward's petition and the Town Manager's letter to <br />OWASA are included as Attaclmnents A and B. <br />This Discussion Paper provides background for that briefing, which is scheduled for <br />February 27, 2006.. The paper will also support presentations to the Orange County <br />Board of Commissioners and Carrboro Board of Aldermen on Mazch Z and Mazch 14, <br />2006, respectively, <br />Purpose and Scope <br />Purpose: To provide information and generate discussion among local elected officials <br />and staff, OWASA Board members, interested citizens, azld the development community <br />about OWASA's water and wastewater capacity and our' ability to meet future demands if <br />higher development densities are allowed. Topics include: <br />• Long-term adequacy of the water supply. <br />^ Demand forecasts -how we generate them. <br />^ Options for additional supply. <br />• Conservation, demand management, and improved water efficiency. <br />^ Wastewater treatment capacity.. <br />^ Pipes in the ground. <br />• Recent and aziticipated development trends in Cazrboro-Chapel Hill. <br />^ Recent trends in water and sewer service demands. <br />Scope: This report focuses primarily on issues related to residential, commercial, and <br />downtown development in Carrboro and Chapel Hill. It does not address increased <br />development density per se associated with UNC's main campus or Carolina North <br />development, although projections for these facilities have been factored into all demand <br />forecasts presented here. OWASA continues to work closely with the University in <br />supporting on-campus infrastructure needs -including water conservation and reuse <br />strategies for both the main campus and Carolina North -and has incorporated the most <br />up to date University information available in our estimates of long-teen water supply <br />and wastewater treatment demands for the OWASA system. <br />The Question: Can OWASA continue to meet ozer• community's water and wastewater <br />service needs if development densities are allowed to increase beyond the levels cza~rently <br />permitted by local comprehensive plans and >oning ordinances? <br />The Short Answer is Yes - To a Degree: We can and will meet the utility needs of <br />increased development density within the defned urban swvices w°ea of Car~•bor•o and <br />OWASA -Water and Sewer Capacity Implications of hrcreased Development Deasiry~ <br />Page 3 of 21 <br />