Orange County NC Website
<br />4 <br />1201 to 1500 square feet, 1501 to 1800 square feet, and greater than 1800 square feet, there is a nearly <br />straight-line increase in average water use: However, uaiike the OWASA study which showed a five- <br />fold difference in water use between its smallest and largest home size ranges, the Efland analysis shows <br />only an approximate thirty percent increase from the smallest to the largest home size ranges. <br />There are a number of reasons why the Efland study has produced results that differ so drastically from <br />those produced by the OSASA study. Among the most telling of these are that: 1) the largest homes in <br />Efland are smaller and less elaborate than the homes in the OWASA service area and have fewer water- <br />consuming devices such as lawn irrigation systems; and 2}Efland is still a primarily rural area which <br />would typically be expected to exhibit more conservative water use practices than those of the urbanized <br />OWASA service area. <br />The primary implication of the Efland water use analysis is that a sliding fee scale based solely on a <br />projected relationship between home size and system dernand/impact can provide a thirty percent <br />difference between the bottom and tap of the scale. Based on a $1000 mid-range fee, homes falling in <br />the lowest range would pay approximately $S50 while homes in the largest range will pay <br />approximately $1150. <br />Engineering staff are currently in the process of preparing a more formal reporting of this analysis, <br />outlining the process of data collection and analysis, comparing the Efland report and outcome with the <br />OWASA study, noting the problems of collecting Efland data and shortcomings in that data, etc. That <br />report will be submitted to the BOCC later in March. A simple chart summarizing the relationship <br />between water use and home size is attached to tbais memorandum. If T may provide additional <br />information at this time, please advise. <br />