Water Conservation

Para información en español sobre conservación de agua, clic aquí.

Summary of the year-round conservation standards

Bulk fill program providing reclaimed water for irrigation and certain-other non-drinking purposes

(NEW) How to read an OWASA water meter to monitor your water use and check for leaks

Draft Report And Recommendations Regarding Collaborative Water Conservation Strategies For Local Governments

OWASA's Water Conservation Goal and Objectives

What are the best ways to conserve water?

Indoors - replacing and retrofitting old inefficient toilets, finding and fixing leeks, and faucet aerators, etc. New: focus on showers and showerheads.
Outdoors - smart irrigation, landscaping with drought tolerant plantings, mulching, etc.

How much water do you use at home?

A residential water use calculator for estimating your water consumption for various purposes.

Residential water conservation audit

A do-it-yourself water conservation audit to help you find opportunities to conserve.

Water conservation standards for OWASA customers

Summary of Water Conservation Ordinance (restrictions year-round and during water shortages)
Water conservation ordinance for OWASA customers (full text)

Why and how were the new conservation standards prepared?

OWASA's overall approach to managing water resources.

Related items

Rain Barrels - Local Sources

North Carolina fact sheet on regulations regarding use of gray water

Mechanical timers for watering with soaker hoses, etc. - If you use soaker hoses or a drip irrigation system, etc. connected to a faucet, you may wish to consider installing a simple mechanical timer to the faucet or hose to control the duration of watering. Costs indicated by vendors on the Internet are in the range of $15 to $25, plus any shipping charges.

Implementing the new water conservation ordinance.

Average residential water use.

Seasonal water conservation rates

Websites for more information

The Record Drought of 2002

Reporting water waste. Please call us at 968-4421 or click here to send us an e-mail.

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Draft Report And Recommendations Regarding Collaborative Water Conservation Strategies For  Local Governments

A joint work group of staff from OWASA, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Orange County prepared a comprehensive report titled Collaborative Water Conservation Strategies for Joint Consideration by Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Orange County.A draft set of consensus short- and longer-term recommendations was also prepared. These documents were endorsed by the OWASA Board on February 14, 2008.  Board Chair Randy Kabrick forwarded the Recommendations Regarding Water Conservation Priorities and Initiatives to the Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Orange County elected boards to consider incorporating into their local rules and regulations for both new and existing development.  The Carrboro Board of Aldermen and the Orange County Board of Commissioners endorsed the recommendations and directed their respective staffs to continue to work with the joint staff work group to develop a proposed implementation plan. The Town Council of Chapel Hill is scheduled to consider this matter at its May 19th meeting.

If you have questions or would like further information about the draft report and recommendations and the follow-up work of the interlocal staff workgroup and OWASA on these initiatives, please contact either:

                Patrick Davis, Utility Manager Generalist, 537-4210, pdavis@owasa.org
                Ed Holland, Director of Planning, 537-4215, eholland@owasa.org

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Questions and Comments?
If you have a question or comment about conservation, the conservation standards for OWASA customers, etc, please click here to send us an e-mail or call OWASA Public Affairs at 537-4267.