Minutes 02-17-2022 Virtual Business Meeting

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11 Todd Taylor said OWASA shares the same concern for water quality and the Western Intake Partners are the same. He said that water quality is before anything else. He said that the good news is this is a brand-new plant, so will be built with state-of-the-art technology. He said the harder thing is addressing a newly developed or previously unknown chemical. He said that they know about issues of emerging concerns in Jordan Lake, and they are aware of the use of technology that would address those issues. Commissioner Hamilton said that she wants a better understanding of the models that will determine demand. She asked how much growth can happen before more water is needed. She asked what demand-side management is. She asked how much the communities can grow before they need more water. Ruth Rouse said that demand is based on potential growth in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. She said that there was major regional transportation planning that was led by TJCOG that helped determine build out scenarios and the demand side management is based on those models. She said that demand side management helps reduce water those demands. She said models include expanding the reclaimed water system at the university. She said they also look at bundling conservation type approached such as requiring submetering in all multifamily residential developments and requiring EPA water savings as well. She said that some of those either did not cost out or save water. Commissioner Hamilton asked if models account for difference in conservation potential in new vs. old builds. Ruth Rouse said that the demand projections assume demand decreasing due to conservation. Commissioner Greene said the development community and UNC have an interest in expanding the water supply for growth purposes. She asked what OWASA did to reach out to individual consumers — especially those that remember that Cane Creek and the quarry were created so that they would not have to turn to Jordan Lake. She asked how they conduct community engagement because she has not heard many people talking about this. She said that she would like to stay within the current bounds of water use. She asked about viewing the community conversations and comments. She asked what the next steps for future engagement are to reach out to individual consumers before making decisions. She questioned how reliable the TJCOG build-out models are and suggested that OWASA rather work with the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro for those plans. She said that it will be a while before the quarry is online but that 2030 is only 8 years from now. She said that she is skeptical of the next step for Jordan Lake. Ruth Rouse said OWASA did not reach out to broader community but worked with local government staff in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. She said that provided a ton of demand side management ideas. She said that they are doing much more in-depth outreach this time around. She said they will engage advisory boards, they will come to each elected board, they are also planning an event at the Chapel Hill Public Library. She said they will be engaging the Youth Water Academy because the youth will be around in the future. She said there will be a much more extensive community outreach this go around. Todd Taylor said OWASA will also utilize social media for outreach because they want to hear from the community and that a community engagement plan was approved during the last meeting. Commissioner Greene said the state environmental agency said that climate change concern in this area of the country is not draught but flooding. She asked where the data is coming from that shows draught as a major concern. Ruth Rouse said that the global climate change models agree that our area, rain fall will stay the same, but will come as intense storms. She said they are not in agreement on what future looks like for droughts. She said that they must prepare for drought. She said that