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f <br />20 <br />M M M � 7 r <br />Continuing cooperation of OWASA, the County and the Towns is - needed <br />to protect these watersheds. <br />V. Conservation <br />Background <br />OWASA has undertaken extensive efforts to encourage conservation, <br />through public education, sale of low -f low showerheads at cost, <br />etc. The community has responded especially well during water <br />shortages. <br />Conservation is important as one way to help limit long -term <br />development costs of the water system, and as a way to preserve the <br />capacity of our present water supply sources. <br />The Triangle J Council of Governments is beginning a study of water <br />conservation for several water systems in the region, and this <br />study may be useful to OWASA, Chapel Hill and Carrboro regarding <br />water conservation possibilities. <br />The NC Building Code Council last year made significant plumbing <br />code changes to require that fixtures in new construction use less <br />water. <br />Comments and Recommendations: <br />We encourage OWASA to continue its support of conservation, and <br />urge OWASA to undertake further studies leading to new initiatives. <br />A key objective of water conservation should be to maintain the <br />adequacy of present water sources so that OWASA will not be forced <br />to use Jordan Lake water. <br />We recognize that successful, significant water conservation could <br />reduce revenue to OWASA relative to what the income would otherwise <br />be. However, we believe the - long -term positive impact in preserving <br />the capacity of our water supply sources is the key objective and <br />is important in limiting long -term costs. <br />We encourage OWASA to consider adopting specific, practical <br />conservation goals. Local governments' goals regarding solid waste <br />management and recycling come to mind as an example of numerical <br />goals which establish a target and define success. <br />We recommend the Council commend OWASA for the high quality of our <br />drinking water and for OWASA's emphasis on maintaining this high <br />quality. <br />Regarding conservation of wastewater system capacity, reducing <br />infiltration and inflow of stormwater into sewers is the most <br />important strategy. The OWASA Board is planning greater emphasis on <br />