Agenda - 06-02-2004-9c - Laserfiche WebLink

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r~ historically exceeded the Capacity Use specified water supply allocation of each (although Hillsborough's water demand subsequent to the close Flint Fabrics has generally been less than its Stages I through IV allocations). Historically, demand/Eno availability shortfalls have been addressed by acquiring water from other sources -ground water wells and purchases of treated water from Mebane, Graham and Burlington through Haw River in the case of Orange-Alamance and treated water purchases from OWASA and Durham in Hillsborough's case. It now appears that both Hillsborough and Orange- Alamance have developed a sufficient water supply availability (generally at significant impact to their utility budgets and water rates) to meet their demands for at least the near term, regardless of the outcome of County-initiated water conservation/drought ordinances or other efforts. Conclusion While developing a comprehensive drought ordinance has been an ideal of the BOGC, it appears to be increasingly unlikely that the Gounty will be able to create and adapt an ordinance specifying conditions and restrictions that address the widely varying conditions applicable to the OWASA, Hillsborough and Orange-Alamance water supplies. The process developed by OWASA to determine the water use restrictions applicable to its customers depends on a complex probabilistic risk-assessment model developed by its own staff (using historic stream flow/rainfall data in combination with demand/draw down/evaporative loss/storage projections). Given that Hillsborough has two water supply sources -one of which is shared by two other large scale users (and perhaps more given water use by the upstream turf farms) and regulated by the Capacity Use Agreement -and a desire/need to sell more rather than less water, it is unlikely that a model or process similar to those used by OWASA would be acceptable to or practical for the Town. Given that Orange-Alamance has its Eno supply, three high-yield wells, contracts to purchase significant quantities of treated water, and 60% of its customer base outside of Orange County, it is questionable how much effect a County water use ordinance has on Orange- Alamance's Eno River demand under any circumstances. The water conservation goals of the BOCC are likewise in some degree of conflict with a Town of Hillsborough short-term goal of generating greater use of its water resources. This may be a conflict of limited duration as the Town recognizes that it will need to become more conservative with its water resources as its current excess capacity is exhausted. Town staff has also indicated the Town's recognition of the need to become more conservative than indicated by the drought ordinance proposal in the event that the onset of a water supply shortfall occurs early in the season (as with the 2002 drought) as opposed to late in the season (as is the norm). Orange County may wish to focus its near-term water conservation efforts on continuing to; a) monitor and comply with the limitations imposed by the Eno River Capacity Use Agreement; and b) educate water consumers -those using well-water in addition to those connected to municipal water systems - as to water conservation technology (low flow toilets, shower heads, leak detection, rain barrels) and low water demand or xeriscaped ornamental landscaping and planting techniques. Under such a strategy, the County's io