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OWASA Quarterly Report 4 <br /> January 26, 2023 <br /> Page 3 <br /> OWASA uses a combination of chlorine and ammonia, known as chloramines,to disinfect <br /> drinking water throughout the majority of the year. Each March, however, we only use chlorine <br /> for the disinfection process. This change is only for the month of March and has no impact on <br /> the safety of the drinking water. <br /> The change in treatment process is recommended by the North Carolina Department of <br /> Environmental Quality and is standard practice among water providers, including neighboring <br /> utilities. <br /> We will be sharing this information widely with customers ahead of the change. <br /> Affordability Program: <br /> Affordability and service equity is a key focus area for OWASA. In our Strategic Plan approved <br /> by the OWASA Board of Directors in the fall of 2022, we identified increasing the adequacy and <br /> accessibility of our customer assistance funding through the Care to Share program. <br /> We have submitted two funding applications to the state's Division of Water Infrastructure to <br /> identify, extend, and connect water and sewer services to low-income households within our <br /> service area. This effort was also made a priority in our recently adopted Strategic Plan. <br /> Last summer, the OWASA Board voted to eliminate the $45 account delinquency fee that was <br /> previously charged to customers when their service was disconnected for non-payment. <br /> Town Councils in Carrboro and Chapel Hill have voted to dedicate a portion of ARPA funding <br /> to cover past-due debts of municipal residents on their OWASA bills that were accrued while the <br /> Orange County State of Emergency was in place for the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful <br /> for this funding. <br /> The OWASA Board is scheduled to receive an update of our Affordability Program in February. <br /> Diversity and Inclusion: <br /> Promoting diversity and inclusion is a top priority for OWASA, which has had an active <br /> Diversity and Inclusion Program since 2016. Diversity and Inclusion was also identified as an <br /> OWASA value in the Strategic Plan adopted in the fall of 2022. <br /> We anticipate recruitment to begin in early 2023 for a Diversity and Inclusion Specialist. This <br /> will be the first position at OWASA focused solely on Diversity and Inclusion. <br /> Internal diversity working groups are continuing their evaluation of OWASA's Diversity and <br /> Inclusion Program and how to continue to grow these efforts in the future. <br />