Agenda - 08-29-2002 - Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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r.. J portion of the intake structure and gate opening or if there were some mechanical failure that impaired the functioning of the gate, the ability of the lake to impound water would be severely compromised, at least in the near term. Accordingly, it is probable that engineering staff will ultimately recommend that the lower gate not be utilized to access the last of the water impounded in Lake Orange. The Stage VI provisions of the County and the Town drought ordinance call for the imposition of water rationing on the Hillsborough and the Orange Alamance water system customers. The nature, extent, methodology, etc., of rationing are not specified by the ordinances. The Town of Hillsborough is not yet ready to impose actual rationing on its customers. It has as much remaining water supply capacity, in terms of remaining days of supply, as OWASA or Durham. Neither of these utilities is planning to implement rationing at this time and both continue to allow some level of outside use of water for plants and so forth. Furthermore, water rationing is very problematic from a financial standpoint for all water utilities, including Hillsborough's. That is, the fixed casts of operating a water utility do not diminish with a decreased rate of water production, while water sales derived income does diminish. Hillsborough's utility funds have already been severely stressed by the costs associated with development of its new reservoir and expansionlimprovement/renovation of its water treatrnent plant. Orange Alamance, on the other hand, might prefer water rationing to purchasing treated water from other utilities at costs which significantly exceed the cost of treating its own water. However, it has no legislative authority to impose rationing ar penalties associated with overuse. Orange County does have the legislative authority to impose rationing, but it does not operate a water system or have water customers and thus lacks any practical means of monitoring and enforcing a rationing strategy. From a practical standpoint, Orange County's role in a water rationing process will be limited to: 1) adopting and enforcing criminal penalties (if the BOCC sa desires} related to the failure of individual water customers (within County jurisdiction) to meet water use limits set by the utilities; 2) taking a lead role in reducing water consumption and implementing water conservation techniques and practices within the facilities under County operation and contml; 3) providing public information and educational outreach to citizens as to water conservation techniques that will allow households to continue functioning with . drastically reduced water consumption; 4) providing material support such as bottled water, paper plates, etc., to those at risk households akeady within the County's social support system; and 5}providing staff support in advisory roles to utilities, as necessary, to devise water rationing strategies. Over the last several weeks, County staff (Health, Emergency Management, Social Services, Cooperative Extension, Natural Resources Conservation Service, ERCA, Engineering, Manager's Office) have been meeting with local utility staff, as well NC Division of Water Resources staff to discuss strategies for dealing with various aspects of drought, water well depletion, rationing, public outreach/education and so forth. Recommendations for BOCC review and approval that are emanating from the various discussions are as follows: • Hold ajoint ---County, Town of Hillsborough, Orange-Alamance, OWASA -press conference, possibly an Friday, August 30`h to provide drought and water conservation information ~ Announce new Stage VI water use restrictions for customers using the Eno River water supply, primarily an outright requirement to use single service plates, cups, utensils at restaurants (requires that the BOCC modify its draught ordinance at August 29`h work session)