Orange County NC Website
6 <br /> OWASA Rainwater Harvesting Systems Requirements and Charges <br /> September 7,2007 <br /> Applicable Sewer Service and Commodity Charges: <br /> Rainwater harvested solely for irrigation or other uses which do not introduce flows into <br /> OWASA's Sanitary Sewer System shall not be subject to any OWASA sewer charges. <br /> OWASA's sewer charges shall be applicable to rainwater harvesting systems or other <br /> non-potable water supply systems that result in a wastewater discharge of 3,000 gallons <br /> or more per month to the OWASA Sanitary Sewer System. (Effectively, individually- <br /> metered single family residences connected to the OWASA Sanitary Sewer System <br /> would not incur a charge for use of the rainwater harvesting system or other similar <br /> system.) <br /> The applicable sewer charges will be calculated to fairly and equitably recover the costs <br /> of collecting and treating the portion of the harvested rainwater that is being discharged <br /> into the OWASA Sanitary Sewer System. OWASA will bill the customer for those <br /> services on a monthly basis, and the applicable charges will be shown as a component of <br /> the monthly bill sent to the customer. <br /> Sewer charges shall be subject to periodic increases to reflect the current cost-of-service, <br /> as determined by OWASA. <br /> OWASA will use either of the following methods for determining sewer charges <br /> applicable to rainwater harvesting systems or other non-potable water supply systems: <br /> 1. Sewer Charges Applicable to Unmetered Discharges From Rainwater <br /> Harvesting Systems: OWASA may, at its discretion, determine that a separate <br /> meter does not need to be installed to measure the actual volume of discharge to <br /> the OWASA Sanitary Sewer System that the rainwater harvesting system or other <br /> non-potable water supply system may cause. For such cases where the estimated <br /> volume is 3,000 gallons or more per month, OWASA will determine and levy a <br /> flat monthly sewer charge based on the estimated average wastewater discharge <br /> anticipated from those plumbing fixture units that would be supplied by the <br /> rainwater harvesting system or other non-potable water supply system. This <br /> would assume a certain volume of the harvested rainwater is used for these <br /> plumbing fixtures each month. <br /> In order for the service location to be eligible for this option, and for OWASA to <br /> estimate the expected volume and determine the applicable charge, the <br /> builder/owner/occupant must provide the following information to OWASA: <br /> (1) a list of the plumbing fixtures discharging to the OWASA Sanitary Sewer <br /> System that are supplied by the rainwater harvesting system or other non- <br /> potable water supply system; <br /> 2 <br />