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6 <br />Orange County <br />Water Resources Project <br />c% Environment and Resource <br />Conservation Department <br />306 Revere Road <br />PO Box 8181 <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278-8181 <br />Dr. Steve Halkiotis, Chair <br />Board of County Commissioners <br />PO Box 8181 <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />Dear Dr. Halkiotis: <br />I wish to thank the Orange County Board of Commissioners for the creation of <br />this Water Resources Committee, and for the opportunity to serve as chairman. <br />It is the hope of the committee that the information obtained from the USGS <br />investigations will be used in the comprehensive planning process to assist the <br />citizens of Orange County in achieving a sustainable use of our groundwater <br />resources. <br />To focus on a few .key points that should be of general interest, I offer the <br />following comments: <br />1. Let us put to rest the myths of an underground river or lake from <br />which our groundwater resource is obtained. The ground water in <br />Orange County is found surrounding the particles of sail and <br />weathered rock and in cracks in the underlying rock formations. <br />The water-saturated depth varies seasonally, and with multi-year <br />wet or dry conditions. <br />2. Each well is surrounded by a "recharge area" that varies depending <br />upon geology, topology, ~,nd surface ,use. Changes in land uses <br />,from forest and fields generally result in greater compaction of the <br />soil and allow lower recharge rates of rain and snowfall to the <br />groundwater. Storm water runoff retention structures can improve <br />the recharge where it has •been changed by impervious surfaces <br />and compaction caused by roads, driveways, and lawns. These <br />recharge areas also need to be protected from contamination by <br />petroleum products, chemicals, fertilizers and, septic tanks. Once <br />contaminated, it may be impossible to clean up in one's lifetime - or <br />more. <br />