Orange County NC Website
Information on OWASA's Long-Range Water Supply Plan 14 <br /> January 29,2021 <br /> Page 8 <br /> 4. Identify Alternatives for Reducing Water Supply Risks <br /> What are supply and demand management strategies? <br /> Supply-side options are strategies which increase the total reliable yield of our water supply <br /> system. In other words, they would raise the blue line shown in Figure 3. Demand-side <br /> management options are strategies which reduce raw water demands from existing and/or new <br /> development or lower the black line shown in Figure 3. <br /> How did OWASA identify which supplies and demand management strategies to evaluate? <br /> We met with local government planners and UNC, obtained input from Board members and <br /> neighboring utilities, and reviewed existing plans and documents to identify potential alternatives <br /> to meet our long-term needs through 2070. Through this process we selected demand <br /> management(increased water efficiency and conservation) and reuse strategies, as well as supply <br /> strategies to evaluate in further detail. <br /> 5. Evaluate Alternatives <br /> What supplies and demand management strategies did OWASA consider? <br /> OWASA evaluated nine supply alternatives which can be grouped into three major categories: <br /> 1. Jordan Lake alternatives (4 alternatives) <br /> 2. Quarry Reservoir(2 alternatives) <br /> 3. Indirect and direct potable reuse (3 alternatives) <br /> Each of these alternatives are summarized below along with OWASA staff recommendation for <br /> next steps in its consideration. <br /> The four Jordan Lake alternatives are summarized below: <br /> • Alternative 1 —Full Partner in New Intake and Water Treatment Plant (WTP) on <br /> Western Side of Jordan Lake—OWASA would partner with the Western Intake <br /> Partners (currently City of Durham, Town of Pittsboro, and Chatham County) on a new <br /> water supply intake, water treatment plant, and major transmission infrastructure on the <br /> western side of Jordan Lake. <br /> o Recommendation: Continue to evaluate alternative <br /> • Alternative 2—Continue with Mutual Aid Agreements—This is our existing baseline <br /> condition. Under this alternative, OWASA would access its Jordan Lake allocation using <br /> its mutual aid agreements with the Town of Cary and City of Durham. This alternative <br /> does not guarantee access to our allocation. <br /> o Recommendation: Baseline condition; maintain for the time being <br /> • Alternative 3—Develop New Agreement with Towns of Cary and Apex to <br /> Guarantee Access to Jordan Lake Water—The Towns of Cary and Apex jointly own <br /> the only water supply intake on Jordan Lake and share a water treatment plant. Under this <br /> alternative, OWASA would develop a new agreement with the Towns to guarantee <br /> withdrawal and treatment of a certain amount of water on an annual basis. <br />