Water use in July, 2002 averaged more than 10 million gallons per day.

On July 13, 2002 , water use in the community set a new one-day record of 16 million gallons.

We needed to increase our community's knowledge of effective water conservation methods, both indoor and outdoor, at all times of year and to encourage the regular practice conservation habits before future droughts. Significant droughts affected our community in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, as well as in 2002.

We needed to improve the effectiveness of our local water conservation ordinance.

1. In 2003, OWASA developed and the local governments adopted a new water conservation ordinance including year-round conservation standards. This ordinance was proposed after a public meeting in December, 2002 to receive customers' comments about experiences during the drought and their suggestions for addressing future water supply and demand. We also put in place a set of water rate surcharges for excessive water use when mandatory water use restrictions are in effect.
   
2. In order to support the new ordinance, we developed a computer model that estimates the risk of water shortages during a drought based on factors of lake level, water demand, and historic streamflow into our lakes. We use this model to monitor our water supply and demand on a regular basis and determine whether additional water restrictions are needed at a given time.
   
3. In addition to our existing reservoirs, We have a State-approved allocation of 5 million gallons of water per day from Jordan Lake for use if necessary and contractual commitments that will enable an expanded Stone Quarry west of Carrboro to be used as a reservoir by the mid-2030s .
   
4. To address the potential for a water supply shortfall before 2030, OWASA and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill plan to develop a Water Reuse System that will enable the use of highly treated wastewater for non-drinking purposes at certain University facilities, such as chiller plants, that now use drinking water. Operation of the water reuse system is planned to start in 2007. Water reuse will initially reduce the demand for drinking water (and therefore the use of water from our reservoirs) by about 7%. Eventually, water reuse could reduce overall drinking water demand in our community about 10%.
   
   (The reuse system will be financially self-supporting with fees and charges paid by the University and any other future customers of the reuse system.)
   
5. In 2005, we received the State's approval to recycle “process water” at our Jones Ferry Road drinking water treatment plant back to the head of the water plant for treatment instead of releasing that water to a creek. By recycling the process water, we reduce water withdrawals from our lakes by about 8 percent. By 2050, recycling and re-treatment of process water could save 1.4 million gallons of water each day.
   
6. Each year, we update our 50-year projections of water demand and water supply sources in view of expected land use and development, water demand patterns, etc. so that we can identify and take additional steps to prepare for future conditions as needed.
   
   Please click here to read our updated Master Plan findings.
   
   
7. OWASA is evaluating possible additional initiatives to encourage water conservation so that our community will be better prepared for future droughts. By saving water, we can defer the need to develop additional water supply sources and build additional water treatment capacity. That would save OWASA customers money over the long term while helping to protect our essential water resources.
   
8. In April, 2005, the OWASA Board of Directors adopted a long-term water conservation goal and objectives. The water conservation goal is:
   
   “To develop, fund, and implement a cost-effective water conservation and demand management program that will meet our community's long-term water supply needs (through 2050) by making the highest and best use of our local water resources and eliminating the need for costly new water supply sources and facilities.”
   
   The objectives include targets to help assure that future raw water demand and peak-day drinking water demand levels do not exceed our water supply and treatment plant capacities in future droughts. The objectives also include considering:
   
   
   • the cost-effectiveness of potential conservation initiatives in comparison to the cost of future water supply sources,
   
   
   • the cost-effectiveness of conservation methods for individual customers,
   
   
   • the effects of conservation on OWASA revenues,
   
   
   • the need to maintain the community's quality of life, and
   
   
   • the need to assure that conservation measures are acceptable to customers.
   
   The Conservation Goal and Objectives can be revised as needed to reflect new information, changes in demand and supply, the effectiveness of conservation efforts, etc.