Agenda - 09-12-2000-2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Current O eration and Demand Today, the Orange-Alamance water system has a water demand. that averages approximately 1.0 mgd and that often exceeds that demand during the traditionally high demand periods (the hot and/or dry weather July to November). Its customer base contains approximately 3600 industrial, commercial, institutional and residential customers, of which 1200 are in Orange County and 2400 aze in Alamance County. Orange-Alamance does not keep records that specifically provide an accounting for water use/demand an a by-county basis. However, in the early 1990's, a disruption (of several weeks duration) of the primary water supply main at a paint just inside Orange County (at the Alamance County line, cutting offthe Alamance County portion of the service area) reduced Orange-Alamance's water production and withdrawals from the Eno River by approximately 75%. It is probable that approximately three quarters of Orange-Alamance's current water production continues to be an interbasin transfer that serves a significant portion of the water demand of east-central Alamance County. Demand for water from the Orange-Alamance Water System continues to grow. Historical records indicate that Orange-Alamance's customer base is typically increased by approximately 100 new customers (primarily residential) each year. These customers generate an annual increase in water demand of approximately 20,000 gpd. At least somewhat alleviating increasing demands from some sectors, Orange-Alamance has transferred (in 1999) its lazgest water customer, the GKN manufacturing facility, to the Town of Mebane water utility. There has also been some discussion between Orange-Alamance and the Town of Haw River about the possibility of the Town absorbing some of Orange-Alamance's residential customers into its customer base. Orange-Alamance's largest remaining customer is the Cortina textile plant, which consumes in excess of 100,000 gpd, and is located in Swepsonville. In the past year, Orange-Alamance has agreed to provide water service to some proposed new subdivisions in Orange County such as the Richmond Hills subdivision (projected demand approximately 5500. gpd) and the Ashwick subdivision (projected demand approximately 10,000 gpd), while rejecting others such as the McGowan Creek subdivision (projected demand approximately 50,000 gpd). While it is clear that Orange-Alamance is not taking on new high demand large-scale residential developments or non-residential customers, it is not cleaz what criteria its board of directors utilizes to approve or disapprove the providing of service to smaller residential developments or businesses. Orange-Alamance is limited to a Stage I withdrawal of 820,000 gpd under the terms of the Ena River Capacity Use Agreement. As the water level iri Lake Orange decreases, Orange- Alamance's Eno River allocation may decrease to as little as 370,000 gpd under the most severe droughtllow flow conditions. During the last twelve years, Orange-Alamance's allocation has been reduced to 700,000 gpd on several occasions, once for nearly a month. For as much as six months per yeaz, it must rely on water from its wells and purchases of treated water from Hillsborough, or from Durham wheeled through Hillsborough, ar from Mebane to make up any shortfall between its Eno River allocation and well yield and the water demand of its customers. In the past (though not recently), Orange-Alamance has experienced operational or other difficulties in acquiring sufficient water supplies from Hillsborough and Mebane to meet its water demand, leading it to exceed its Eno River withdrawal restrictions. Given that its average