Agenda - 11-13-2018 6-c - Triangle Water Supply Partnership Memorandum of Agreement

Browse Search

6. With the addition of Johnston County and Harnett County to the TWSP, might they be awarded a Jordan Lake allocation in the future, which might dilute Orange County’s allocation? Responses: a) The Jordan Lake allocations are like checking accounts; Orange County’s allocation cannot be affected by any other Jordan Lake allocation. b) The allocation request process has expired with the latest round. c) Due to a current “regional-system” interconnection to Harnett County and Johnston County, it is possible both could receive treated water originating from Jordan Lake, but only through others with an allocation. As to whether the North Carolina Division of Water Resources would recommend and the Environmental Management Commission would approve such an “allocation” for permanent water supply, any response provided would be only supposition. Both Johnston and Harnett counties draw twater supplies from outside the Jordan Lake watershed. The current situation is that Harnett County has excess capacity and its interconnection is primarily being counted on for supply to Johnston County and Holly Springs. It is staff’s opinion that it is unlikely that Johnston and Harnett counties would need a permanent allocation from Jordan Lake and that, no matter what the actual outcome of any such future allocation decision might be, it is better for Orange County to be a TWSP partner than not. 7. Is there any mechanism for the members of the TWSP to set higher standards for water conservation across all the membership? Yes. This has, in fact, been one of the concerns of the members and such collaborative efforts are ongoing. Additional comments, as listed below, were received via e-mail after the October 16, 2018 BOCC meeting: 8. We should ensure that no party to the agreement loses their autonomy and cannot have their water "seized" by the larger organization. Response: There is nothing in the Triangle Water Supply Partnership (TWSP) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that would subject any organization to loss of its water supply or allocation from Jordan Lake. 9. What, if any, ancillary agreements with other regional water organizations might be encoded in the agreement? Response: The TWSP MOA contains provisions that facilitate collaboration between the members. It is a democratic agreement and TWSP projects are formulated through that process. 10. What are the implications of the Jordan Lake allocations in regard to those jurisdictions and/or utilities that were not part of the Jordan Lake Partnership? Response: Please see the response to question 6 above. 11. Would it be worthwhile to get a brief report from OWASA that references these issues and any concerns they might have. Response: Ruth Rouse, OWASA’s Planning and Development Manager, has been present at all Jordan Lake Partnership meetings as the TWSP MOA has been in formulation. Ms. Rouse is thoroughly familiar with and in support of the agreement and made the TWSP MOA approval recommendation to the OWASA Board. Ms. Rouse has offered her full support to Orange County staff in facilitating Orange County becoming a member of the TWSP and is a proponent of Orange County joining. The agreement which created the Jordan Lake Partnership expires next year. The Triangle Water Supply Partnership (TWSP) is proposed as the successor to that partnership, to continue providing a forum for coordination and collaboration for sustainable water supplies for the region and provide an opportunity for other regional utilities to join. The Parties (Participants) have 2