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

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2. Other than a requirement for an instream flow release/contribution, the Capacity Use Agreement does not control how much water can be drawn from the Eno/West Fork Reservoir system. Historically, the County and Town of Hillsborough water conservation/drought ordinances have tracked fairly closely to one another and with the Capacity Use Agreement, although the Agreement functions to limit how much water the utility systems can use while the ordinances function to limit haw much water individual customers/ consumers can use.. 4. The Town's water rates have risen to current levels as a consequence of the combination of recent large capital expenditures (West Fork Reservoir and water plant improvement and expansion) and dramatically reduced water sales (loss of +/- 40% of water sales/demand with closing of Flint Fabrics). 5. The Town hopes to bolster water demand (and generate lower water rates) by relaxing water conservation/drought ordinance restrictions applicable to its customers during times of low flow in the upper Eno River and low water storage levels in Lake Orange. 6. The Town's Water and Sewer Advisory Committee proposes that the Town water conservation/drought ordinance be modified whereupon voluntary water restrictions would be implemented when it has less than 180 days of water supply remaining (counting water supply from bath the West Fork and Lake Orange reservoirs) and mandatory restrictions would be implemented when it has less than 135 days of water supply remaining (given the Town's current water demand rate, Lake Orange would be empty or nearly empty before mandatory restrictions would be implemented). The BOCC has historically placed a high value an water conservation as in accordance with its general emphasis of environmental protection and sustainability. The Board's concerns related to water conservation have been raised to even higher levels as a consequence of the recent severe drought. The BOCC has expressed deep concern and sympathy for the Town of Hillsborough's out-of-town water customers who have complained to the Board of the very high (double in-town rates) water/sewer utility rates they pay.. Unfortunately, water conservation measures generally have the effect of increasing water/sewer unit costs/rates in that a utility's high fixed costs (salaries, capital costs, etc., which represent approximately 80% of total rate structure) must then be spread out over fewer units sold. 8. The BOCC has expressed a goal or at least an serious interest in adopting a comprehensive and cohesive water conservation/drought ordinance that uses common terms and sets common conditions for water use restrictions and conservation measures applicable to all OWASA, Town of Hillsborough and Orange-Alamance water customers falling under County jurisdiction. It is clear that there are a number of contradictory concepts or elements contained in above the "statements of fact". It is likewise clear that it will be very difficult to refine or modify these contradictory elements to achieve some level of congruity.