Orange County NC Website
4 <br /> Attachment 2 <br /> RESOLUTION APPROVING OWASA'S <br /> RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS AND CHARGES <br /> WHEREAS, Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) highly values water use efficiency <br /> and strongly encourages water conservation practices by all customers; and <br /> WHEREAS, "rainwater harvesting" (the collection, storage, treatment, and use of rainwater for <br /> beneficial purposes) helps to conserve our essential drinking water supplies and reduce demand on our <br /> reservoirs, provide increased capacity and security, reduce the rate and volume of stormwater runoff and <br /> maintain site-scale hydrologic balance, and can have an important role in permaculture design; and <br /> WHEREAS, rainwater harvesting systems and other non-potable water supply systems have the <br /> potential to result in wastewater discharges to the OWASA sanitary sewer system, thereby requiring the <br /> collection and treatment of those discharges at a cost to OWASA; and <br /> WHEREAS, OWASA services are paid for by OWASA's customers through rates and fees, and <br /> under the legal requirement that "there will be no free service rendered" and that charges for service will <br /> reflect the cost that OWASA incurs to provide that service; and <br /> WHEREAS, OWASA wishes to implement a simple and straightforward administrative process <br /> for determining, applying, and collecting the charges applicable to the collection and treatment of <br /> wastewater resulting from rainwater harvesting systems and other non-potable water systems; and <br /> WHEREAS, OWASA wants to ensure that rainwater harvesting systems and other non-potable <br /> water supply systems used within its service area are designed, operated and maintained to protect public <br /> health and the safety and integrity of our water and wastewater systems; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ORANGE <br /> WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY: <br /> 1. That the Board of Directors authorizes and directs staff to apply sewer charges to <br /> wastewater discharges resulting from rainwater harvesting and other non-potable water supply systems <br /> provided that the minimum threshold for which the charges shall apply is 3,000 gallons per month. <br /> Individually-metered single family residential customers with such systems are hereby deemed to fall <br /> below the threshold. <br /> 2. That this policy shall become effective upon adoption. <br /> 3. That the Executive Director is authorized and directed to implement and interpret this <br /> policy and incorporate it into OWASA's Standards and Specifications. <br /> Adopted this 13th day of September, 2007. <br /> Michae . ac)Clarke, Chair <br /> AT T: <br /> on e , <br />