Orange County NC Website
Annual Report 4 <br /> January 20, 2017 <br /> Page 3 <br /> continue to encourage our customers to contact us whenever they have any comments or <br /> questions about our water or to request water quality testing including lead testing at no charge. <br /> Drinking water disinfection and plumbing systems <br /> On September 22nd, we received information from staff and recommendations from our Natural <br /> Resources and Technical Systems Committee regarding chloramines, our disinfectant for <br /> drinking water, and its effect on certain types of rubber. <br /> We will continue working to inform our customers,plumbers and other stakeholders about the <br /> need to choose rubber items, such as toilet flappers, that are chloramine resistant. Related <br /> OWASA letter on January 18, 2017 <br /> Long-Range Water Supply Plan Update/Jordan Lake allocation <br /> On November loth, we approved a process and criteria for evaluating supply and demand <br /> management options as we update this plan. The next steps will include receiving population <br /> forecasts for our service area from a regional transportation planning process. Letter to <br /> governing boards on November 4d" <br /> We will not approve an updated plan until after the NC Environmental Management <br /> Commission (EMC)has made a decision on our request to continue our present Jordan Lake <br /> allocation of about 5 million gallons per day (for use only in severe droughts and operational <br /> emergencies). The Division of Water Resources made a presentation on the allocation requests <br /> to the Water Allocation Committee (WAC) of the EMC on January 11; Committee members <br /> were hopeful that the item would be included as an action item on the March WAC and EMC <br /> agendas. <br /> Energy management <br /> On September 8d', we approved evaluation criteria and the approach for energy management <br /> including the use of a"social cost of carbon" based on the methodology used by Federal <br /> agencies. The social cost of carbon is an economic calculation of the damages from greenhouse <br /> gas emissions, such as reduced agricultural yields, disease spread, and loss of ecosystem <br /> services. <br /> The goals of our energy management program include reducing use of purchased electricity by <br /> 35% and lowering natural gas use by 5%by the end of 2020, as well as exploring opportunities <br /> for renewable energy generation. <br /> Mountains-to-Sea Trail(MST) on OWASA land near the Cane Creek Reservoir <br /> On August 25th, we approved conditions for allowing the MST on OWASA land near the Cane <br /> Creek Reservoir. The conditions address water quality protection, risks related to hiking and <br /> ensuring that there will be no costs to OWASA due to the trail. The specific route of the trail on <br /> OWASA land is subject to our future approval. <br />