Orange County NC Website
OWASA Annual Report 8 <br /> January 29, 2019 <br /> Page 7 <br /> to heat the boilers that heat our anaerobic digesters. In addition, the new HVAC system in the <br /> Administration Building has eliminated OWASA's use of natural gas for building heating, also <br /> supporting our decreased use of natural gas. <br /> 12. Annual fiscal report 2017-18 <br /> In September, OWASA presented its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report(CAFR) for <br /> Fiscal Year 2018 (beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018). OWASA's financial <br /> position improved during the fiscal year with net income less debt service being about$10.7 <br /> million. The financial reserves will be used for planned capital improvements needs. <br /> About 69% of OWASA's $19.2 million capital expenditures for fiscal year 2018 were invested <br /> in replacing and rehabilitating existing infrastructure. The remaining 31% of capital expenditures <br /> were invested in expanding or enhancing the community's water and wastewater systems, for <br /> example, to increase the size of some pipes and install new meters. <br /> OWASA is a special purpose local government entity organized under state law. We are a <br /> public, non-profit agency and are required by law to use cost-of-service rates, meaning we set <br /> our rates, fees, and charges to cover the cost for each of our services. We do not levy or collect <br /> taxes, nor do we receive funding from taxing authorities. OWASA's credit ratings from Fitch of <br /> AA+ and Aal from Moody's remain unchanged. Standard&Poor's increased OWASA's rating <br /> to AAA during the year. <br /> 13. Infrastructure investment <br /> OWASA maintains 750 miles of water and wastewater pipes, a water treatment plant, a <br /> wastewater treatment plant,pump stations, and other infrastructure. Meeting the community's <br /> needs and increasing system resiliency requires ongoing rehabilitation of the water, wastewater, <br /> and reclaimed water systems. Capital investments, including debt payments for capital projects, <br /> account for about half of our costs. In the last fiscal year, we invested about $19.2 million to renew, <br /> replace and improve infrastructure. Our five-year Capital Improvements Program can be viewed <br /> here. <br /> Key accomplishments in 2018: <br /> 1. Construction of a chemical facility at Cane Creek Reservoir to improve the taste and odor <br /> of our treated water; <br /> 2. Completion of a risk and reliability study for the water treatment and wastewater <br /> treatment plants to identify risks that would prevent OWASA from meeting or exceeding <br /> federal, state, and local quality requirements; <br /> 3. Installation of upgraded security equipment at the water treatment plant, water supply <br /> reservoirs, and other critical water facilities; <br /> 4. Replacement of filter media and improvements to the filtering process at the water <br /> treatment plant; <br /> 5. Completion of water and wastewater pipe replacements along Hillsborough Street in <br /> advance of planned resurfacing by the Town of Chapel Hill; <br />