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Orange Water and Sewer Authority <br /> 400 Jones Ferry Road <br /> [ OWASA J P.Q. Box 366 <br /> Carrboro, NC 27510 <br /> (919) 968-4421 <br /> February 12, 1990 <br /> Mr. John Link, Jr. <br /> Orange County Manager <br /> Post Office Box 8181 <br /> Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> Dear John: <br /> Marvin Collins provided to Ed Holland the County's proposed <br /> impervious surface standards for the University Lake watershed. Ed <br /> has analyzed this proposal along with other scenarios that have been <br /> suggested since last year. The projected impacts on water quality <br /> in University Lake have been charted. The results are of serious <br /> concern. <br /> As various modifications have been proposed to accommodate one or <br /> another land use concern, the movement has been progressively away <br /> from the objective of preserving water quality in University Lake at <br /> an acceptable level of further degradation. It is important to <br /> revisit the CDM report both as to the model that was developed and <br /> the land use criteria the study suggested, 1 :. <br /> The latest County alternative departs from the universe of <br /> alternatives that can be directly examined by the CDM model. The <br /> land use concerns that are being mitigated under the recent proposal <br /> deserve attention. However, it is important to realize that once a <br /> scenario is proposed, and possibly approved, that is outside the <br /> responsiveness of the CDM model, the foundation of the scenario is <br /> uncertain and further departures may be subjectively made. <br /> Therefore, I urge a return to the use of the model which was <br /> developed from the CDM study. <br /> Secondly, the CDM report assumed a level of further degradation of <br /> University Lake water quality. I have always ben uneasy about the <br /> acceptability of even the CDM proposed level of degradation. During <br /> certain climatological and hydrological situations algae in <br /> University Lake become prominent and obnoxious. Water taste and odor <br /> are adversely affected and water treatment is more difficult and <br /> expensive. Even with more intense operating attention, finished <br /> water quality diminishes. With this existing experience, if we are. <br /> at a threshold level, further degradation may have a much greater <br /> adverse impact than has been anticipated. <br /> In summary, I suggest that ( 1) the CDM model be used to evaluate <br /> scenarios in order to provide as reliable a decision basis as <br /> available and (2) that increasing degradation levels beyond that <br /> An Equal Opportunity Employer <br />